Project Overview

Balmain & Rozelle Chamber of Commerce (BRCC) is a not-for-profit local business association in Sydney’s Inner West. It has been supporting local businesses for over 20 years, but its transformation really began in 2021. At that point, the Chamber committed to modernising its operations and digital presence — a move that would see membership grow from just four businesses to nearly 200. Working with Avocado, BRCC now has a vibrant online platform that has become a hub for local businesses, residents, and visitors.

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Challenges

  • The Chamber needed a system that combined dual demands: to attract and inform the general local community (via high-traffic public content, events, “Darling Magazine”, etc.), and to manage a complex membership system (profiles, renewals, payments, advertising, sponsorships).
  • Build a platform that was robust but user-friendly, allowing a largely volunteer-run organisation to manage memberships with minimal administration.
  • Ensure the website performed well in SEO and attracted significant organic traffic from the local community and visitors to the area.
  • It was crucial to preserve the character and culture of the local area (arts, community, heritage, etc.) and the design had to feel fresh yet rooted, not generic.

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Our Approach

Design

We completely rebuilt the BRCC website in 2021 and again in 2024, improving usability, aesthetics, and SEO with each iteration. The design reflects Balmain and Rozelle’s character — local, lively, and proud — while maintaining a clean, modern look.

Web & Technical System

The public-facing website and membership backend are built as a single, integrated platform. Business owners can join online, update their profiles, renew memberships, and manage payments without requiring manual intervention from the Chamber. Regular upgrades and maintenance ensure the system stays secure, reliable, and aligned with the Chamber’s evolving needs.

Content & Strategy

We helped structure the site’s content to highlight local businesses, news, events, and initiatives — including the creation of the Heritage Pub Trail. This unique feature, illustrated by local artist Cindy Scheule, draws both web traffic and foot traffic to historic pubs in the area, fostering local tourism and engagement. The site also integrates Darling Magazine, BRCC’s flagship local publication, offering an online platform for stories that celebrate the community’s people, businesses, and culture.

Ongoing Maintenance & Growth

We continue to work closely with BRCC, providing hosting, security, content support, and new feature development. Our partnership ensures the website grows with the organisation, staying fresh, secure, and valuable for both members and the public.

Results & Impact

  • Membership grew from 4 to almost 200, making BRCC one of the most active and successful chambers in NSW.
  • Website traffic and engagement increased dramatically, creating a genuine hub for locals and visitors.
  • The Heritage Pub Trail became a standout feature, driving real-world engagement and supporting local venues.
  • The site’s automation saves the Chamber countless hours of administration, freeing volunteers to focus on advocacy and events.
  • The BRCC platform has become an attractive channel for advertisers and sponsors, strengthening its financial sustainability.
  • The Chamber has become a more visible, trusted voice for local business, culture and community, not just as a network but as a creative cultural hub (e.g. heritage pub trail, Darling magazine, directory and events).

Ongoing Support

We continue to work side by side with BRCC, helping with upgrades, feature enhancements, and content strategy. We host and secure the websites, review performance and SEO, and adapt to changing member needs, technology standards and design trends. We ensure magazine issues, directories, advertising and sponsorship features remain functional and effective.