The Inverell Chamber of Commerce has welcomed a new president, with local business owner Monique Krause stepping into the role, bringing with her a mix of marketing expertise, community spirit, and fresh ideas for the future of local business.
While Ms Krause didn’t initially set out to take on the position, she says the opportunity came at the right time.
“I definitely didn’t have a plan to become the next Chamber President,” she said. “But there was a vacancy that needed to be filled, and I looked at my career experience and realised I have some skills to give that could be valuable.”
Krause and her husband purchased Inverell Furniture Court in October 2023, marking their second move to the town she describes as “an amazing place” to live and work.
“The second time I moved here was to purchase Furniture Court, and my husband and I looked at all sorts of businesses across three states,” she said.
“But in the end, it was hard to look past this town for the combo of a great shopping district and a happy lifestyle.”
Before joining the retail world, Krause built a dynamic career in marketing and tourism, working with rural committees and regional events across Queensland and New South Wales.
“My career was working with non-profit rural committees to help them achieve great results on a shoestring budget – and that’s our Chamber in a nutshell,” she said.
Her experience includes developing campaigns and managing events for destinations such as the Granite Belt Wine Region, Boulia Camel Races, Mount Isa Rodeo, and the Stanthorpe Apple and Grape Harvest Festival. From writing marketing plans to training small operators in social media and launching tourism initiatives, Krause’s background gives her a unique understanding of how communities and businesses thrive together.
Now, she’s keen to channel that experience into practical outcomes for Inverell’s business community.
“I’d like to see Inverell Chamber be very targeted in what we put our efforts into, because everything we do should have a strong link to Inverell businesses making more money,” she said.
One of the first initiatives under her leadership will be a series of late-night shopping evenings on the final two Thursdays before Christmas, a project designed to boost local trade during the festive season.
“It’s too early to say what the next projects will be,” she said, “but I can see potential in a welcome booklet for new residents which would include special vouchers or offers from our business community.”
Ms Krause is also passionate about helping Inverell businesses make better use of technology.
“I get excited by the opportunities our Inverell businesses have to work better with IT tools,” she said. “I’d love to see Chamber assisting our businesses to discover these.”
She believes simple digital tools – such as online booking systems like Calendly, or email marketing platforms such as Mailchimp and Klaviyo – can make a huge difference for local operators.
“There’s a huge opportunity for almost every business to grow with email marketing, and I am convinced of the ongoing power of Facebook for business,” said Ms Krause.
Returning to Inverell after 12 years away, Krause has noticed the town’s evolving lifestyle and business culture.
“When I returned, I saw a town with more gyms, more wellbeing and health conscious, new running clubs, a stronger ‘coffee culture’. This direction is only going to continue, and I can see lots of opportunity for our businesses in this space.”
Looking ahead, she’s focused on strengthening connections within the business community through regular networking events.
“A priority for the Chamber will be regular networking events for businesses not just to meet up, but to actually learn from each other,” said Ms Krause.
“We’re looking at alternating breakfast and twilight events, so there’s a time to suit all businesses. I can’t wait, because I think we can be awesome when we’re seeing each other as ‘community over competition.’”
As she settles into the presidency, Krause is taking a practical and inclusive approach to leadership. She says major advocacy issues like housing and workforce shortages haven’t yet emerged as priorities but will be on the table if members raise them.
“We’ll be involved later if the Chamber members identify it as a priority,” she said.
For now, her focus is on building engagement and enthusiasm among local business owners – both Chamber members and those who aren’t yet involved.
“Our priority is to get initiatives going that businesses really want to be part of,” she says. “I want local businesses asking to be part of what’s happening because they love what’s going on so much. If we’re doing that, there’s no need to worry about how many financial members we have – that will just grow.”
Ultimately, Ms Krause’s motivation comes from the same source that drew her back to Inverell – its people.
“I love how friendly Inverell is,” she said. “In our furniture store, we’re constantly talking to people who are new to town, and it’s so common to hear how friendly people are finding our town. That’s been my experience too, and it makes me proud and happy to be part of the business community here.”
For more on the Inverell Chamber of Commerce and upcoming events, visit inverellchamber.com.au.
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