A letter from the president

Dear fellow traders and professionals,

I hope you are getting ready for a busy Christmas. The Australian Retailers Association predicts a 3 per cent year-on-year increase in Christmas spending, with shoppers expected to shop early to avoid supply issues.

While we still face challenges, the outlook seems promising. Experts predict inflation will rise slightly before falling to 5.5 per cent by mid-2023. Our current unemployment rate is 3.5 per cent which is extremely good and should give us confidence going forward.

Congratulations to the winners in the Camberwell Culinary Awards. This promotion was a great success for its first year with locals voting for their favourite food businesses. Having to upload a receipt ensured they were legitimate customers but no doubt the businesses that promoted the competition benefited, so hopefully more cafes and restaurants get behind this again next year.

Another new event held recently was the Kylie Appreciation Day, hosted in conjunction with the Camberwell Sunday Market. We featured in so many feeds including posts from Kylie and Dannii Minogue who loved this fan-driven recognition of Kylie’s connection to Camberwell. The queens will return next year so there’s time to plan how to trade off this fun event.

Christmas promotions are rolling out, including our annual Christmas Family Day on December 10. This is our biggest marketing promotion so make the most of it by running specials, having your own in-store activations, decorating your windows or playing festive music.

Remember to regularly visit the Trader Portal at camberwellshopping.com.au – we post important information relevant to businesses, including government updates, support programs and workshops.

And finally, don’t forget to read the monthly email updates so you don’t miss out on what’s going on in the precinct. If you’re not getting them contact our manager Kerry Daly and update your details. Also remember to email her your offers so we can help promote your business: info@camberwellca.com.au

All the best for the festive season.

Regards,

Henk Kelly-Kobes President, Camberwell Centre Association