They’re proud to be a local business and their combined voices are saying it loud through the #lovebundy campaign.
Interest to participate in the buy local campaign coordinated by Bundaberg Regional Council has increased with 36 traders in Bundaberg, Burnett Heads, Bargara and Moore Park Beach registered for the second quarter of the year-long campaign.
Club Hotel owner and program participant Anthony Burrows said he owned businesses in three regional locations but no other location offered the support found through the #lovebundy campaign.
“Bundaberg Regional Council is the only Council doing any program to assist a buy local campaign,” Mr Burrows said.
“Bundaberg also has the cleanest centre of any of the areas I operate in. The support that traders are receiving here is more than anything I’ve seen anywhere.
“I call for all traders to rally together to make sure we all support local businesses.”
Bundaberg Furniture Court and Beds R Us owner Melinda Scheuer echoed support for the campaign.
“We’re proud that the Council and businesses are coming together to try to create some activity in the local business community and encourage people to shop locally because it does create a flow on effect,” Ms Scheuer said.
“My husband and I are Bundaberg born and bred and we are proud to support #lovebundy because we do love Bundaberg and we are proud to own a business here. We would like to see more people supporting local traders.”
This week’s traders meeting revealed exciting new features of the campaign including the launch of a new app in early February.
Council’s Governance portfolio spokesperson Cr Helen Blackburn encouraged local businesses to develop an online presence.
“The app will feature special offers and a digital wallet where coupons can be stored for use in store,” Cr Blackburn said.
“If push notifications are enabled the app will provide alerts to people in the CBD with special deals not available to the general public. If you’re in the CBD you can also search businesses by category to make sure you can find just what you’re looking for.”
With recent discussion focussed around how to reinvigorate interest in CBD shopping Cr Blackburn said it’s important to shop locally.
“Council is working hard to try to assist traders with making the CBD and buy local tag important and relevant to you, the residents and consumers of the region. Traders are going out of their way to try to entice you to shop with them or even just give them a chance to show you what they’ve got.
“But what is increasingly evident is that many people click to buy and don’t use local shops.
“It’s time to change that – we can be like all the other towns that say our CBD and local trade died and we don’t know why or we can support our local traders!”
The Love Bundy app will be available to download on Apple and android devices from February 5, 2019. To find out more about the campaign and local traders involved the lovebundy.com.au website will also be launched on February 5.
