As Christmas shopping begins to ramp up across the region, there is one simple decision we can all make that can have a much bigger impact than we might realise — choosing to shop local.
Every present bought from a local retailer, meal enjoyed at a local café or pub, appointment booked with a local service provider or gift card purchased for a local business helps keep money circulating within the Mid-Western Region.
And at Christmas, when household spending naturally increases, that collective buying power can make a real difference.
Business Mudgee is encouraging locals to think about where their Christmas dollars are going this festive season, with its Mudgee Money Gift Card providing one easy way to give local while still giving the recipient plenty of choice.
Delivered in partnership with WhyLeaveTown, Mudgee Money can be purchased as a gift and spent at participating businesses throughout the region.
That means instead of sending money outside the area through a generic gift card or online purchase, those dollars stay here, supporting local businesses, local jobs and the families behind them.
Business Mudgee estimates that increasing spending within the Mid-Western Region by just two per cent each year has the potential to create 23 additional jobs and generate up to $4 million in additional economic value.
It is a good reminder that shopping locally isn’t simply about supporting the person behind the counter.
More customers create greater demand for products and services, businesses purchase from suppliers, staff receive wages and those wages are spent again throughout the community. Business Mudgee notes that for every $1 spent locally, economic activity can increase by approximately $2.
Mudgee Money also makes Christmas shopping particularly easy for those difficult-to-buy-for people.
Cards can be used across a broad range of participating businesses, including hospitality venues, boutiques, jewellers, accommodation providers, tourism businesses, homewares, sporting and outdoor retailers, beauty businesses, food outlets and other local services.
For employers, they can also provide an alternative for staff Christmas gifts or end-of-year thank-yous, ensuring that money allocated to staff rewards ultimately finds its way back into the local economy.
Of course, Mudgee Money is just one way to shop local this Christmas.
Buy the Kris Kringle present from a local store. Order the Christmas ham from a local butcher. Book the family lunch locally. Choose a locally made product, grab a voucher from a favourite café or restaurant, or spend an afternoon wandering the shops rather than automatically heading online.
Small choices, multiplied across thousands of local households, can add up to something significant.
Behind every local business is someone employing people, paying bills, supporting sporting clubs, donating prizes, sponsoring events and contributing to the community in countless ways throughout the year.
This Christmas, we have an opportunity to return that support.
Shop local. Gift local. And wherever possible, keep those Christmas dollars right here in our region.
More information about Mudgee Money and participating businesses is available through Business Mudgee at businessmudgee.com.au/mudgee-money.
