Shopping locally makes dollars and sense

LISMORE City mayor Jenny Dowell and fellow councillor Vanessa Ekins have some standing orders for the region's locals this Christmas – go local.

BUY RIGHT: Lismore mayor Jenny Dowell and Cr Vanessa Ekins love locally produced products. Picture: Marc Stapelberg

LISMORE City mayor Jenny Dowell and fellow councillor Vanessa Ekins have some standing orders for the region's locals this Christmas - go local.

"We're challenging Northern Rivers residents to shop local this Christmas for all their Christmas shopping," Cr Dowell said.

Yesterday they were showing off their locally made silk bags, Lismore-branded water bottles, and locally bought reusable coffee cups, shoes, tea towels, candles and much more.

And everything they were wearing, right down to their underwear, was locally bought.

A favoured tradition of the councillors is the Saturday morning "blockie", a walk around the CBD shopping block.

"It's lots of fun... there's shady streets, interesting shops. You know the names of the people in the shops. It's a really social and pleasant shopping experience," Cr Ekins said.

"A Saturday morning blockie is de rigueur," Cr Dowell said.

With a dollar spent locally slushing around in the community for between three and nine more transactions, local spending is a valuable way to invest in the local economy.

Paul Waters, from Byron United, echoed the shop local call from Lismore, but took it one step further.

"In a town like Byron we pride ourselves on things that are locally produced... when you're filling up your Christmas stocking or a hamper, look for locally grown or locally produced products as well," Mr Waters said.

Local foods fit for a Christmas hamper include hams from Bangalow Sweet Pork, Madura Tea, Brookfarm Macadamia Muesli, and wines from Imogen's Winery.