In an increasingly electronic world, in-person connections can seem rarer than ever. Yet people crave face-to-face connections for their emotional wellbeing, which means events that bring communities together can have an outsized impact.

Supporting local businesses with events focused on shopping regionally is a great way to build local connections. When you are able to shop at local businesses and support community associations, you strengthen both the economic and social bonds amongst your neighbours and friends. Farmers’ markets, for example, offer a chance to shop local for fruits, vegetables, dairy, and other regional products. Visitors enjoy the opportunity to get to know or even befriend local farmers, who in turn provide fresher – often healthier – produce. Let’s take a look at other inspiring creators and their community event ideas to see how they helped bring their communities together.

What shop local events can look like

Australia is blessed with plenty of vibrant suburbs, free cultural institutions, and great weather – a fantastic recipe for a buzzing day or night shopping event in a local suburb. Here are some tips for finding the right event for your community:

Focus your buy local event on a theme

Let your local shopping event be inspired by what your community does well or is renowned for. Your community event ideas should focus on one theme to help you communicate your event concept to sponsors, stakeholders and attendees clearly. Once you’ve figured out your drawcard, you could approach community institutions for support. Ask your local council or Chamber of Commerce how they can help. Perhaps invite local stores to offer a discount or special offer for the event period.

Name your event after a day of the week to help it stick in the minds of your attendees – call it First Friday or Small Business Saturday, and locals will naturally remember when the event is taking place and be more likely to come along.

Make food your “shop local” focus

Food events are always a popular drawcard – restaurants are often a mainstay of urban neighbourhoods, as are businesses and workplaces filled with people who will inevitably be hungry for lunch or dinner. Organise a monthly local food truck night, with a designated outdoor area where the trucks can set up, and a relaxed seating area right next to it. Alternate it with a “taste of” night where restaurants offer tastings of their new or favourite dishes.

Get your monthly culture fix

Cultural works and performances are a great way to invigorate a community and attract visitors from further afield. They provide communal experiences that are more about emotional connection than simple consumerism. Ask local galleries or museums to offer free or discounted admission one night a month. Point out that a once-a-month discount night can bring new attention and new business for gift shops and on-site restaurants.

How to create your first “shop local” event

Creating and organising your community event ideas to support local shopping and community is a noble endeavour. We’ve summarised the key activities into three sections – Before, During, and After – to help you manage your event.

Before

Before your event, it’s all about preparation and organisation. Time to determine who your audience is and what your goals are.

  • Set goals. Take the time to consider what you, your attendees, and participating businesses want to achieve from your event.
  • Which businesses will you invite? You can use your event’s theme as a starting point when selecting businesses to invite.
  • Get your permits. Make sure you’ve satisfied local regulations. You don’t want the police shutting down your event mid-bite!
  • Break it down. Now that your event is officially registered and you have a sense of what it will look like, make it a successful one by breaking down your organisation into a simple to-do list: ticketing and admissions, vendor relations, marketing and promotions, decorations and design, and whatever other help you will need. Eventbrite can help keep you organised – take advantage of tools that help you create unique tickets, manage exhibit registrations, and gather unique attendee data.
  • Communicate. Keep in continuous touch with participating businesses and with your team. You don’t want to get a business to commit, and then go silent for weeks or months. They may forget all about it! Good communication is key.
  • Promote. Be sure to let the community know about your event. Place brochures in the participating businesses so customers know about it, and get permission to post flyers in windows for passers-by to see. Hanging banners and signage from nearby street lamps is another effective method of promotion.

During

A well-prepared event should run smoothly, but unfortunately, that doesn’t mean you get to sit back and relax on the day. You play an important role in the success of your event.

  • Team participation. Make sure your team is mingling with participants and taking part in the festivities. The more people out and about during the event, the more people you will attract. Team members can add to the fun while helping to ensure things go well and solve problems as they arise.
  • K.I.T. (Keep in touch). Stay in contact with local business owners and officials so any concerns can be addressed. You may want to think about backup plans or secondary facilities if your event draws more people than expected.

After

Afterwards, it’s time for cleanup – and getting prepared for the next event. Here are some key things to plan for:

  • Check-in with attendees. If you used Eventbrite’s registration tools to help organise your event, you’ll have obtained email addresses from your attendees when they registered. Send them an email to thank them for joining in the fun and remind them of the next event.
  • Debrief with business owners. Send the participating business owners an email or surveyto hear how the event went for them and get their thoughts on improvements for the future.
  • Keep it going. Now it’s time to start the campaign for your next event! Get city officials and business owners excited by sending them a weekly or bi-weekly email with updates on the event, new community event ideas and new participants. Keep your team pumped up with encouragement and your own enthusiasm – harness your energy to keep everyone motivated and moving.

Make your “shop local” events truly communal

It’s essential that your Shop Local Saturday or other community events actually involve your community. To make your event truly local, survey your local neighbourhood and make note of the key businesses and shops. Determine who the major players are and make sure you include them. Among your invitees, consider:

  • The Chamber of Commerce: The Chamber of Commerce is an organisation of local business owners who work to promote business interests. Getting their support for an event focused on a “buy local” theme should be easy.
  • Your local retail district: Your local retail district usually consists of the shops and stores on the main street of town. They will likely be eager to support an event designed to promote their businesses.
  • Local small businesses: There are countless local small businesses that may not be directly involved in retail but may be willing to support the community. Check with boutiques, hair salons, and other service businesses.
  • Local restaurants: Restaurants will likely see a monthly event as a boon to their businesses, as more foot traffic will inevitably mean more hungry people looking for good food.
  • Community centres: Community centres are often places for people to come together for yoga classes, educational events, kids’ activities, and other community-focused events. They’re also a prime location to place flyers and other promotional materials – and could even serve as your next event venue!
  • Customer lists: Many local businesses store the email addresses of their customers to let them know of their special deals and other promotions. Ask these businesses to spread the word about their participation in the “shop local” event.

Successful creators show the way

We checked out community event ideas from successful event creators who are helping to promote and support their local communities. Here’s how they’re making their programs stand out.

Love Me Again Bi-Monthly Market

The Love Me Again Market brings together fashion lovers to give pre-loved outfits a new home. Held twice monthly at different locations around Brisbane, the Love Me Again Market offers plenty of eco-friendly community connections, as well as discounts from local retailers for attendees.

Bourne Local

Bourne Local’s Elwood Markets in Melbourne celebrate the best in local handmade crafts. Guests can enjoy music, friendly stalls from emerging and established retailers, and great gourmet foods that can be savoured on the picnic lawn.

Tasting Night at Local Connections

Local Collections restaurant in New South Wales puts the focus on local producers and artisans. Their monthly tasting nights feature a different local vineyard every month, with a menu of carefully matched canapés and three courses made with seasonal and local ingredients.

Feeling inspired by our community event ideas?

Promoting your own “shop local” event can be a great way to show your support for your community while establishing your own brand – and have fun in the process. We’ve made it easier than ever to gather your community together with our advertising guide on how to get the locals in your neighbourhood mingling. Then, once you’re ready, let us help you get your local event underway so you can bring your community together.