From the GM, Hands up for Local, Parnell 29 April 2020

What supporting local can mean.

As we enter Level 3, we are starting to realise the impact of supporting local business and how we can all play our own part, one coffee at a time. 

Our suburbs all have their natural ebb and flow which has been abruptly disrupted. In the first week of our hospitality outlets re-opening their doors, that ebb and flow will be different. Some previously sleepy suburbs are bustling with queues of caffeine junkies dying for that first take away coffee, as there are now so many patrons working from home. On the other hand some urban areas are left wondering where their customer base went to.

The benefits of supporting local businesses are well known. You can help preserve the distinctive character of your area by supporting locally owned businesses, some of whom in Parnell have been here for decades. Locally owned businesses often have strong community links such as having children in local schools, they link neighbours to one another and often contribute to local fundraisers. Locally owned businesses often recycle much of their revenue back into the local economy and in the case of Parnell and many other areas, their survival is essential to sustaining a vibrant town centre.

Similar to several other town centres, shopping malls and city districts across the word, we have devised our own special take on a ‘buy local’ campaign and are delighted to pass this information onto our members as the campaign breaks this week.