success stories / ms debbie fallon

Ms Debbie Fallon - Entrepreneur

Passion, unstoppable creative energy and a desire for quality have been driving forces for Debra Fallon throughout her career.

A dynamic entrepreneur, she currently runs five businesses and is establishing a charity organization to raise money for projects in the local community.

She has been a client of CKG for the past decade and has received invaluable advice on how to grow a business sustainably, raise capital as well as guidance on a variety of business structure systems.

However, Debra says the work being done by CKG to help set up a non-profit organization to help the community, has shown another side to the company.

"CKG has never charged for helping me get a non-profit company to fundraise for community groups in the Newstead area off the ground," she said.

"It shows a strong social responsibility, commitment and willingness to give back to the community by CKG, which I hugely appreciate."

When Debra first came in contact with CKG Partners, she was selling one business, Pink Ribbon Printing and moving into property development.

She wanted to have an accounting firm on the ground in Brisbane and CKG was an associate business of the accountants she was using in Sydney, so the move to CKG was geographically appropriate and she says has proved an excellent business decision in the 10 years since.

"It made sense to centralize with accountants who could help me steer my new business and its growth in the right direction.

"CKG gave financial advice to build a future, stay safe and spread risk. They also helped me grow as a business person, assisting me through the growing pains of new business.

"Since the beginning, the team at CKG has helped us grow and move into different areas where there is now an umbrella company that manages four businesses, Orno Furniture Design, MOVE property management, The Work Station and the property development arm."

Being a highly creative person, Debra says there are times when she needs to be grounded and looks to CKG for that instruction at times.

"My advice to others looking to start their own business is: find a mentor first, then make sure you know what you're financial capabilities are and keep abreast of the accounts," she said.

"You need someone to give you financial advice from the start and have a business plan that will grow with you, keep up your enthusiasm and at times have the courage to just go with your gut feeling at times.

"And when it comes to getting opinions and advice, don't listen to everybody; only your mentors and accountants."

Debra's enterprises grew out of practical need; when it came to furnishing the properties she had developed, she found there was a shortage of good quality, cost-effective furniture packages available.

So, she enlisted designer friend Lisa King and Orno furniture packages was conceived. It now supplies to hotels and other developments around Brisbane and beyond.

Then she discovered a need for furnished office space for small business that provided a central receptionist and common area, thus The Work Station of serviced offices in Newstead was born.