A letter from the president Dear fellow traders and professionals, I hope you have all had a good start to the year. While I hear many of us had a healthy Christmas trading season, the sudden spike in the Omicron variant in January and ongoing staff shortages has been challenging. But if the past couple of years have shown us anything, it’s that we are resilient and we have found ways to bounce back. I am sure we can approach this year with the same attitude. In positive news, the Australian Retailers Association released some interesting data which showed Australian retail sales were up by 4.8 per cent in December 2021 compared to the same time last year. The data, provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), also showed that Victoria was the leading state for sales growth, which rose 6.5 per cent compared to the year prior. This is promising news which I hope marks the start of our recovery as we adjust to trading in this ‘new normal’ environment. In this newsletter we’ve highlighted key marketing opportunities coming up like Easter and Mother’s Day, and finally we can once again put on our annual
CamberWELL-BEING health and fitness event. This event helps to promote the many businesses in this category, of which we have over 100 in Camberwell Junction, and creates a fun experience to entice customers to the precinct, so we urge you all to get involved and help advertise the event. You will find the Trader Portal on the camberwellshopping.com.au website the best way to stay informed about relevant and reliable information for businesses, including government and local news, grants, support programs, workshops as well as copies of our printed newsletters and links to local council initiatives. The traders’ association can also help promote your business on the website and via our online resources. We can reach people outside of your database, so use the association’s leverage whenever you can. Send your specials and offers via email to: info@camberwellca.com.au Have a great Easter and stay well. Regards, Henk Kelly-Kobes President, Camberwell Centre Association
NEED IDEAS? Here’s how your business can get involved: • Organise an activity, event, demonstration or special guest for the day. • Offer a free session or class on the day to introduce your business to new customers. • If your business runs private classes or consultations, host an open day to give people a taste of what your business offers.
CamberWELL-BEING returns this year to support and promote the health and wellness businesses in the Camberwell shopping precinct. Held on Saturday, May 21, CamberWELL-BEING is a fun day that invites shoppers to register and follow the Wellness Trail for their chance to win some great prizes. Customers will collect their branded sports bag from our HQ event booth on the day, which will include a trail passport. Entrants will follow the trail to discover what’s happening in the participating businesses and get their passports stamped. When customers return to the booth with a stamped passport, they can enter the Wellness Trail competition for a chance to win one of the many prizes donated by our traders. Being a part of the trail is a fantastic opportunity for traders, who can tell potential customers about their products and services and entice them back with special offers.
• Create a special offer on your products and services like a discount or a ‘buy one, get one free’ deal on the day or during the months of May and June. • Give away free samples, such as a taste testing of health foods or a sample of a cosmetic product. Consider offering vouchers to bring people back into your store. • Hire promotional staff to engage trail walkers at your business or roam the precinct and invite guests into your business. • Provide gifts, vouchers, or products for inclusion in the official event sports bags. Still struggling for ideas but keen to get involved? Talk to us and we’ll be able to help. Contact Kerry Daly by phoning (03) 9813 4190 or emailing kdaly@camberwellca.com.au
