TAKING A BIG LEAP OF FAITH
Skydive firms perform a Covid hook up
GOLD Coast Skydive has taken the plunge and bandied together with five other family-run businesses to help boost its market power during the COVID-19 downturn.
Managing director Archie Jamieson said the new group, Skydiving Australia, included businesses in Victoria, NSW, South Australia and Western Australia.
He said they were able to leverage their combined size to obtain improved pricing on advertising and procuring equipment such as parachutes.
“It’s something we’ve been talking about for years and I guess it was spurred on by COVID,” he said.
“There are two businesses you don’t want to be in during a pandemic and that’s aviation and tourism and, unfortunately, I’m in both.
“We have to think outside the box and get more bang for our buck.”
Mr Jamieson said the grouping would enable the businesses to compete against corporate giant Skydive Australia, which is owned by listed company Experience Co.
“It is hard to compete for the little guys. Small business is tough regardless of what business you’re in when you are up against the corporates.
“What they can spend
on an advertising campaign is what I turn over.”
Mr Jamieson said his business was forced to shut for three-and-a-half months during COVID-19.
He said it forced him to take a long, hard look at his business.
“I had that opportunity to sit down and have a really close look at what was going on and where the money was going and what was said.
“I had to let go of a few (staff) but it was the perfect opportunity to put a broom through the place.”
Mr Jamieson said he was surprised at the strength of the turnaround in his business. He said by October he no longer had staff on the JobKeeper wage subsidy.
“That locals market really looked after us. There were a lot of people who normally went to Bali who came to us for an experience at home.
“The amount of repeat business we had was absolutely phenomenal.
“We had people back for their second, third, fourth jumps.
“Suddenly, we were back to 70 per cent (of prepandemic business) and we’re making it work.”
The other businesses in the Skydiving Australia group are SA Skydiving, Skydive Jurien Bay, Skydive Capricorn, Skydive Nagambie and Skydive Oz. necessary,” he