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BUY LOCAL PROMOTION
Local
winner
Eumundi Markets and Louise Formosa (inset)
A great place to start
The region’s markets are not only incubators for new local businesses,
but also provide wider economic and community benefits.
One of the most organic ways for
small business owners to get
established and connect with
customers is through markets.
Louise Formosa from Eumundi
Chamber of Commerce says markets are
important for homegrown success.
“The markets provide visitors with
the opportunity to actually meet local
fashion designers, musicians,
woodcraftsmen and jewellery makers,
and there is always that amazing feeling
of connection and building of
relationships,” Ms Formosa says.
“In today’s world of centralised
shopping facilities and mass production
lines, it’s the very opposite at the markets
as visitors often go home with a story of
a market stall owner they met or how the
product they purchased was made. This
adds so much more value to local products.
Then each visitor tells a friend their story
and by doing so, more and more people
learn to reconnect with buying locally.”
Ms Formosa says markets provide a
unique starting point for small businesses.
“Markets also provide a brilliant
opportunity for micro business start-ups
as there is relatively lower risk in setting up
and renting a market stall compared with
renting a retail shop,” she says.
“The markets enable entrepreneurs
to test their product, and make
improvements, if needed.
“One of the most satisfying things to
watch is a micro business start up, grow
and eventually step into retail shops in
other areas of the Sunshine Coast, or start
exporting or manufacturing, which in turn
leads to job creation and building a more
resilient economy.
“The markets enable people to become
self-employed, or downsize, re-start or
achieve work/life balances they haven’t
been able to do before.”
Ms Formosa says pre-COVID, Eumundi
Markets attracted around 1.2 million
visitors per year. It is one of the most
significant tourism attractions on the
Sunshine Coast. The markets, which
support 600 micro businesses weekly,
also bring significant economic benefit to
other aspects of the town, with the market
space and car park leased by local
not-for-profit organisations.
“With funds raised from market stall
fees or parking fees, these associations
have been able to improve the market
facilities, invest funds into other historical
buildings, purchase land, employ people
and engage local contractors.”
Visit buylocalsunshinecoast.com.au.
BUY LOCAL, WIN LOCAL
We’re calling on the Sunshine Coast community to support local
businesses by buying from a store with a door or online from a local win
business. When you buy local, you are directly supporting local families,
jobs and helping our local economy to bounce back from the impacts of
COVID-19. The council is giving four lucky winners $2000 to spend on their
chosen products and services in the Sunshine Coast region. To enter spend $10 in
the Sunshine Coast Local Government Area, and enter your details and receipt on the
Buy Local Sunshine Coast website to go into the draw to win $2000 to spend with
local businesses.
Buy Local Sunshine Coast is an initiative
supported by Sunshine Coast Council.
YOUR SUNSHINE COAST
LOCAL MARKET GUIDE
Wednesday
Eumundi Markets
Friday
Currimundi Lake Twilight Market
Nights on Ocean (every second Friday)
Marcoola Market
Caloundra Twilight Markets (last Friday of
the month)
Saturday
Eumundi Markets
Marcoola Market
Kawana Waters Artisans & Farmers Markets
Landsborough Market
Pomona Country Markets
Yandina Country Markets
Sunday
Mill Street Markets
The Caloundra Street Fair
Arthur Street Country Markets
Cotton Tree Markets
Fishermans Road Market
Maleny Sunday Markets
Noosa Farmers Market
Noosa Marina Markets
Peregian Markets
(first and third Sunday)
Sunshine Coast Collective Markets
(second and fourth Sunday)
BUSINESS PROFILE
Eumundi Pavilion Markets is a beautiful
outdoor shopping area offering an array
of boutique shops, a restaurant, barber,
locally roasted Clandestino coffee,
masseuse, dog groomer and a wellness
studio available for hire. Owners Gabby
and Scott Fletcher-Ralph took over this
‘hidden gem’ in June with the focus of
creating a space for the local community.
Whether it be a yoga class followed by
coffee and shopping, or a special event
organised by the on-site management
team, everyone is welcome. Located off
79 Memorial Drive, the space is open
Wednesday and Saturday, 8am to 2pm.
Q&A Gabby and Scott
Fletcher-Ralph
What does it mean to you to be a local
business?
Having a local business on the Sunshine
Coast, especially in Eumundi, is an honour
Congratulations to Nicola Thomson, the
week one winner of the current Buy Local
Win Local campaign. Having not worn
makeup for most of the year due to masks,
Ms Thomson re-stocked her makeup kit
during the recent sales at Sunshine Plaza.
Hearing about the Buy Local campaign,
she entered the competition and won. A
Sunshine Coast resident for 21 years,
currently living in the Glass House
Mountains, Ms Thomson is organising her
street’s annual Christmas party and says
the prize money will be put back into the
community. “I was very excited to learn I had
won the prize as I was shopping locally in
preparation for the Christmas street party,
which I am the host this year,” she says. “I
will be using the money to support my local
businesses and trades. It is so important to
support local businesses as it creates jobs
and provides income in these difficult times.”
and a dream we’ve always had. Knowing
we are playing a part in supporting and
creating new opportunities for our locals
is what makes it rewarding.
How important is buying local to
support Sunshine Coast small
businesses?
When you buy local you are supporting
local families and our local economy.
We are helping to create jobs and
opportunities for our friends and
neighbours.
What opportunities do local market
spaces give small businesses to be
successful?
Many small businesses have struggled
during the pandemic and more recently
we’ve seen a decline in stallholders. We
believe that now is a better time than
any to believe in yourself and share your
talent with others. At the Pavilion we
also offer casual market stalls for
creative individuals wanting to showcase
their talents to the local community and
visitors.
How can the Sunshine Coast ensure
they are supporting local businesses
this holiday season?
As the holiday season quickly
approaches, small businesses are
counting on local support more than
ever. Whether it’s buying a gift or
meeting with friends, please be sure to
stop by and support all the wonders our
hidden gem has to offer.
24 My Weekly Preview | December 9, 2021
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