Live, shop, stay, use local

RESIDENTS who have recently moved into the Shire, and local businesses servicing them, will be linked for another year with the council’s New Residents Guide.

The booklet will include a new feature in 2020, presenting exclusive vouchers with offers from traders and services, to keep business local and share what’s available in the community.

Leanne Treloar opened Peppercorn Florist just over two weeks ago and has already taken the free advertising opportunity to promote her business.

She heard about it via the Shire council’s Facebook page, and is putting a free delivery voucher into the booklet for anyone that buys an arrangement or bouquet in Golden Plains.

“Any new business wants to have as much advertising as it can get, so I figured this is my audience, let’s go for it,” Ms Treloar said.

“Lots of people moving into the new area aren’t aware of all the facilities that Bannockburn has, so I’m hoping to reach out to those people. Word of mouth travels quickly around Bannockburn.”

The town may be only 20 minutes away from some facilities and services, but Ms Treloar wants to keep money circulating close to home.

“Anything that will keep people local, shopping local, staying local, using local is definitely important to small businesses,” she said.

“We’re here for the community and if they don’t know we’re here, then they can’t support us. We’ve just got to try and keep people in the town as much as we can.”

Support through initiatives like the guide are invaluable for traders like Peppercorn Florist.

“It helps a small business, which is just starting out, having a support network like the council and the papers to help people get on their feet and get the word out.”

Greg Alexander’s partner let him know about the New Residents Guide opportunity. He’s the operator of Teesdale’s Out on a Limb Tree Services.

A social media advertiser, he said the guide will be another ideal way to directly build on clientele in his new local area.

“We’re an established business of 30 years but we’re originally from Melbourne. We’ve been in Golden Plains since May last year, establishing ourselves as a premiere service,” he said.

“We want to share our knowledge and provide a service to the local community. The booklet is a great initiative and we want to make the most of this free advertising.

“We hope this is of benefit to our customers as well as us.”

Golden Plains Shire mayor, Cr Owen Sharkey said utilising the booklet is one of many ways the community can support and promote traders throughout the local government area.

“We hope many [businesses] will take this free opportunity to connect with new residents,” he said.

Businesses can apply to be in the booklet by Friday, 14 February via goldenplains.vic.gov.au/forms/new-residents-guide-2020-business-vouchers-form.

The New Residents Guide will be published soon after. Vouchers will expire on the last day of 2021.