Narnoo enjoys a robust cash lift
Appliance shop team tap into creative side with Santa film
CAIRNS-BASED tourism software technology firm Narnoo will receive a $100,000 State Government grant.
Director James Wells (right) said the funding would be used to develop a bookings integration system and a mobile app, to run in conjunction with the existing media platform.
“Developing a mobile solution will enable sales and marketing managers to do business more easily while they are on the road by updating product descriptions and images on the central media platform from their phone,” he said.
“Activity stream notifications will be integrated into mobile and desktop applications so travel desks and wholesalers using Narnoo are automatically notified if an operator has new images or products available to use.
“It will work in the same way a Facebook feed delivers notifications to your inbox so there is no need to pick up the BRENDAN Turner has drawn on his cinematic skills to help his family’s longstanding Cairns business in the leadup to Christmas.
The result was a witty parody phone or email distributors of your product to let them know that you have made changes.”
Mr Wells said 450 tourism operators were currently using Narnoo as a “one-stop shop” to streamline the management and distribution of marketing material.
Expected to be in operation by June next year, he said the improvements would help Narnoo “increase productivity in the tourism industry”.
The grant money was received through the Advance Queensland Ignite Ideas Fund.
Far North tour booking platform Travstar is trialling the new technology. “Operators use a variety of reservations systems which meant we would have needed to develop our platform further to integrate with each one, but Narnoo will do the matching and integration for us saving expensive development costs,” said director Jodi Nelson. of ’Twas the Night Before Christmas in which a frustrated Santa Claus decides to visit Turners Home Appliances in search of “gifts for parents”.
The short film stars Mr Turner as the jolly bearded bloke, with Turners staff member Anthony Davies providing the narration.
“I don’t normally like being on TV and doing that sort of stuff, but decided to do something special for Christmas,” he said.
“I had this idea … and managed to smash out the poem in about 15 minutes.”
As a former president of rugby club JCU Mariners, Mr Turner said his poetic flair had previously been reserved for presentation night speeches.
“I thought doing something different might pique people’s attention,” he said.
Mr Turner said, after a slow November, trade had improved recently at Turners Home Appliances, which was founded by his grandfather Sydney in 1936.
“November was so cool temperature-wise that we weren’t selling much in terms of airconditioning,” he said.
“But it’s finally getting hot and things have definitely picked up. We’re always busy at Christmas.”