COFFS Harbour Chamber of Commerce is encouraging people to support local small businesses and services these holidays and into 2021 by spending their money on home ground.

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The Go Local First campaign was launched last week and is an initiative coordinated locally by the Chamber and is being run nationally by the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA).

While the extension of JobKeeper and JobSeeker payments has brought some temporary relief, many of the country’s three and a half million small businesses face ongoing challenges to keep their doors open.

Here on the Coffs Coast over six thousand small businesses employ around thirty thousand local workers.

Ray Smith, President of the Coffs Harbour Chamber of Commerce, is calling for locals and businesses alike to rally behind our small businesses.

“Just like we’ve done before during the bushfires, we’re calling on local people to back local businesses and put their community first,” he said.

“Small businesses are the first to lend a hand in our communities when it comes to supporting local school fetes, sporting teams and charity initiatives.

“Now it’s our turn to show them we’ve got their backs too.

“Because unlike big businesses, small local businesses don’t have deep pockets to weather this downturn,” Mr Smith told News Of The Area.

“From the local food producer or restauranteur to gift shop, allied health professionals and corner store, small businesses together make something far more valuable than anything they do or sell.

“They are vital to our everyday lives – especially now in our economic recovery.

“By spending locally, we help keep money in our town, save local jobs and get the Coffs Coast going again.

“When small businesses thrive, local communities thrive,” he said.

Spending money is not the only way the Chamber is encouraging support for small businesses, also encouraging some digital spend as well, such as online reviews which Garth Shipperlee, also of the Chamber of Commerce, says are proving just as vital as first hand recommendations.

He said, “The ‘Go Local Campaign’ will have a strong digital presence with the Chamber of Commerce actively sharing local businesses stories across their social media channels.”

Mr Smith said, “By posting stories and reviews online it provides the opportunity to hear about what others are doing to support small business, to learn from them and to also to be able to share in their experiences.

“It all helps convey the importance of supporting small businesses and helps build the momentum.”

A range of social media assets have also been developed for use across business and personal social media profiles too.

Mr Shipperlee encourages business owners and customers to use the #CoffsGoLocalFirst hashtag on their own posts too.

By Sandra MOON