Fresh features for business book

BANNOCKBURN and District Chamber of Commerce’s third annual directory is now available following its release late last month.

With about 80 businesses featured, the organisation’s president Bronwyn Davie said there’s been a few changes to how people have received the book.

“This year what we’ve done differently is delivered just under 3000 copies to homes around the region,” she said.

“The last two years it was self-collect from the shopping centre but this year the bulk of the order got delivered into households.

“If people didn’t get one they can still pick it up at Bannockburn Central or at our local businesses who are chamber members.”

The directory was sent out following a launch event at the town’s bowls club which saw about 40 people.

With about 15 new businesses in the 2023 book, plans are underway to replace the digital version of the printed copy with a fully-fledged online directory, which is set to launch later this year.

Ms Davie said each new directory has featured more and more locally based businesses.

“We’ve got a few businesses outside the region. In the first year we had business featured from Maude and Meredith and now it’s more internal,” she said.

“We do still have some from Inverleigh like High Eight Home and Living but we’re more getting things like more service businesses whereas a lot of the listed retailers and trades will be more locally-based.

“There’s still some businesses like Barwon Carpet for example, who obviously aren’t local but they’re there if we couldn’t find any locally-based carpet cleaner.

“As well as being a source for local businesses, we want this to be a useful tool for the community.”

Following the digital launch, Ms Davie said the organisation aims to expand to incorporate a digital directory for the region’s norther-based businesses.