New shopping campaign to encourage Alice Springs residents to support local businesses.

ALICE Springs Chamber of Commerce, Alice Springs Town Council and the Centralian Advocate have launched the Shop Alice, Buy Local campaign.  

Michelle Garrett and Bernard Rosemond from Afor are getting behind the the Buy Local campaign.

ALICE Springs Chamber of Commerce, Alice Springs Town Council and the Centralian Advocate have joined hands to launch the Shop Alice, Buy Local campaign to encourage Alice residents to support local traders and business.

Chamber of Commerce executive officer for Central Australia Kay Eade said they had been motivated by the new wave of upcoming businesses in town.

‘‘Due to the prevalence of online shopping, we want to encourage residents of Alice Springs to support local traders and the local economy,’’ Ms Eade said.

‘‘A strong local economy is good for everyone, consumers and traders alike. Retailers are always bound to have a slow time after Christmas. If people do not shop local but choose to buy interstate, we miss out.

‘‘The town is coming alive and there is a vibe with new businesses opening up in town. We just thought we needed encourage our community to buy from shops in town,’’ she said.

Centralian Advocate business manager Shaun Barclay said the campaign was being responsible to the community. ‘‘The idea is to get people to support the local economy.

‘‘These are the business that support the community through sponsorships and various donations.

Once they get that support, businesses will then be able to advertise locally and further boost the economy of the town.

‘‘We are being responsible to the community.

‘‘The last thing we want to see is empty shops in the mall,’’ he said.

Alice Springs’ latest fashion shop Afor Fashion owners said they opened their business specifically for local people.

Michelle Garrett and Bernard Rosemond said their business was committed to delivering the best customer service in town.

‘‘We love the idea of giving the best to locals, that is why we opened this business so that people would not have to travel interstate for shopping,’’ Ms Garrett said.

The campaign will not only offer businesses editorial support and exposure in the Centralian Advocate but also give customers supporting these stores and business the chance to win a major prize bundle.

If a customer spends $50 in a participating store the customer will go into the running to win the major prize which will be drawn at the Lighting of the Christmas Tree event on December 13.