BOQ Beerwah’s owner-manager Martin Kavanagh this month celebrates 12 months in business. GC&M News caught up with Martin to see how his first year has been, and his plans for the future.
Investing in business at any time is quite the achievement, let alone in the midst of a global pandemic – how have you found this has impacted on you?
When the opportunity to buy into BOQ’s unique franchise model came up, it was too good to turn down. I am blessed to have an amazing hard working team and the flexibility they have shown over the last 12 months to adapt to all the change has truly helped us succeed in an otherwise really tough landscape.
Why did you choose to invest in the Glasshouse Country region?
My wife went to school at Landsborough State School so that was the initial connection. My home town in Ireland has a population of just 6,000 people, and there is an amazing sense of community there – I’ve found the same sense of community here in the Glasshouse Country region.
What makes the region unique for you?
The genuine community spirit and appreciation really highlights that there will always be a place for relationship based banking. At a time where other banks have left the area, I’ve found my customers have really appreciated the assurance that we’re committed to the area for at least the next ten years.
What have been some of your highlights over the past year?
I am very proud of the number of customers we have helped buy a home – particularly the support we have provided to first home buyers. The number of businesses, sports clubs and local community groups that have moved their banking to us has also been a great endorsement of our work.
How have you been able to support locals and local businesses over the past year?
Mainly by helping to make their banking as easy as possible. We’re really proud of the fact we can meet with personal or business customers at a time and place that suits them. Time is so precious at the minute, so if we can help save customers time, we know we’re positively contributing to their lives.
Can you share little about your community involvement?
As a member of the executive committee of the Glasshouse Chamber of Commerce I am very keen to help showcase Glasshouse as a great place to set up and do business. We also sponsor Beerwah Bulldogs, the Landsborough Loggers and Glasshouse Hinterland AFL, along with a number of other fantastic charity/community groups in the area.
We are keen to help out with volunteer work wherever we can.
What are you most looking forward to in the year ahead?
Touch wood that we’re back to a bit of normality now – I think everyone needs it! The start to the year obviously came with a real heavy COVID impact, and then the recent storms have unfortunately impacted a number of our business customers too. It would be great to get everyone on a good run and spending/supporting our local businesses for the rest of 2022.
Main image: BOQ Beerwah team
