It is that time of year! We excitedly welcome Santa to town in our new COVID-19 safe update to the usual street-lined pageant. 35 000 families filled Adelaide Oval on Saturday night to get the first sighting of the jolly old fellow himself, bringing Christmas cheer to us all. With the borders soon opening, many business owners are also hoping for some Christmas cheer to go their way.
In the September quarter the South Australian Business Chamber William Buck Survey of Business Expectations, we heard that supply-chain disruptions continue to be a genuine issue for many businesses. With this in mind, I take this opportunity to encourage you to hit the streets for your Christmas shopping and support your local retailers. You will save money in delivery charges, and you can support local restaurants and cafes by having a meal out while you’re shopping. As importantly, you will be underwriting thousands of local jobs.
As the peak independent body for business in South Australia, the South Australian Business Chamber continues to drive the #BuyLocalToSaveYourLocal public campaign to inspire South Australians to purchase local products and services upon the easing of COVID-19 restrictions. In doing this, you’re supporting local businesses, local jobs and local communities. When small businesses grow, it boosts the local community in so many ways.
Whether it is in the CBD or a regional high street, local businesses help create the identity of your community. Unique and vibrant businesses are where we socialise and create soul and character for our favourite places. We also create attractive tourist destinations. Think of the main streets of Hahndorf or Norwood. These experiences do not just happen by accident. Instead, they are the result of determined effort from local businesses, local governments and local communities.
And with COP26 just recently finished, Santa says that shopping local is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. Locally owned businesses with locally produced products require less transportation, which means fewer greenhouse gas emissions. As an additional benefit, local businesses are just that, local. You can leave the car at home and get a nice walk in there and back.
In another year of highs and lows and ongoing uncertainty, it is pleasing to see business confidence rising in the September quarter of our recent surveying. Over the years of asking the business community how they feel about business conditions and their confidence for the future, we have seen that these two aspects usually share a similar trend. So let’s imagine what a real show of support can do for the South Australian business community in the lead up to Christmas.
Our State is built on the shoulders of many thousands of small businesses, of risk-takers, job-makers and entrepreneurs. As the independent representative voice of employers and business owners across South Australia, the South Australian Business Chamber exists to create the best possible environment for businesses to succeed. Now more than ever, let’s #BuyLocalToSaveYourLocal.
Originally published in The Advertiser’s South Australian Business Journal on Tuesday 16 November 2021
