Rockingham community reminded to support businesses and shop local this Christmas

This festive season, Rockingham community members are being encouraged to support their favourite businesses and shop locally.

Little Beach Road and Beach Road Merchant owner Tracey Bonser said she hoped people would remember to shop locally this year to help struggling businesses recover from COVID-19.

“It’s been on the quieter side this year. It’s been a difficult winter and we had hoped to recover a lot over summer but we are still finding it hard. I find people are still just going to big shopping centres because it’s convenient or it has air-con,” Ms Bonser said.

“We are trying to bring things to the area so that people don’t need to go and shop online. I know it can be easier sometimes but they can’t physically touch or try things and then they have to pay postage. So we are bringing in the brands that people love online, here in person for them.

“We are a local family and we have invested a lot of our time, money and effort into making everything beautiful, and we appreciate public support to shop local more than anything.”

The City of Rockingham is also advocating for residents to support local businesses through its Go Local, Shop Local, Buy Local campaign.

Go Local, Shop Local, Buy Local is a proactive City initiative that is focused on driving economic growth within the Rockingham community.

Mayor Deb Hamblin said the campaign was an important way community members could support the 6151 active businesses within the City.

“Supporting local businesses and the local economy through purchasing products and services locally was identified as a key priority in the City’s Economic Development Strategy,” Ms Hamblin said.

“The active pursuit of tourism and economic development is also a strategic aspiration for the City, and community support for the City’s Go Local, Shop Local, Buy Local initiative will be integral to fulfilling these goals and supporting thousands of local businesses this Christmas.

“The vast majority of these are considered to be small businesses, employing less than 20 people, and many of the workers in the businesses also live locally.

“No matter how big or small, community members are strongly encouraged to spend their money within the city of Rockingham this Christmas.”