Longer evenings, stronger local connections
5 ways Kingston small businesses can make the most of October!
There’s something special about living bayside when daylight savings hits. An evening walk along Mordialloc beach feels possible. Popping into a shop in Mentone becomes part of the afternoon. “Let’s grab something to eat” suddenly sounds better than heading straight home.
Melbourne’s coming out of hibernation! And the social calendar is filling up: Halloween on 31 October, spring racing celebrations and, before we know it, Christmas catch-ups will be booked in.
For our local business community, it’s a lovely opportunity to reconnect and help make those fun moments happen close to home. Don’t worry: You don’t need a big spring campaign. Start with something small that gives the local community a reason to stop and discover what’s on their doorstep.
1. Give locals a reason to say “hi”
A new spring menu offer, a mini workshop experience, a free product demo or a relaxed meet-the-team afternoon. Think about what would make someone say, “Actually, let’s go and have a look.”
The calendar offers plenty of inspiration: a Halloween window display, or a first look at locally made Christmas gifts. Pick something that fits your business and your customers. If you offer services, consider sharing something useful that helps locals tackle a job they’ve been putting off before the year gets away from them.
2. Meet the business next door
Been meaning to introduce yourself? Make October the month you do it!
A café and a fitness studio could organise a post-class coffee catch-up collaboration. A retailer could feature a local maker of the month. A hair salon and a beautician could team up to help locals get ready for celebration season.
Start with: “What could we do together that our customers would enjoy?”
3. Show your patch some love
Your social media content doesn’t have to be all about you: Share your favourite lunch spot! Celebrate another local business’s milestone. Show the people and places that make your working day better. If a day-in-your-life features other small local businesses - show the community how you practive what you preach. Good vibes are contagious.
4. Get ahead of the festive scramble
Before the end-of-year rush, think about where your own business will spend it’s festive dollars this year. Could a local caterer handle your team lunch? A nearby maker supply client or partner gifts? Another small business help with printing, photography or hosting your next event?
Booking early gives you breathing room and gives another business something valuable to plan around. Shopping locally starts with the choices we make as business owners, too. Local communities thrive when small businesses thrive too.
5. Take one connection offline
Send the coffee invitation. Attend the networking event. Follow up with the person you enjoyed chatting to months ago.
Running a small business can mean spending a lot of time in your own head. Sometimes a conversation with someone who “gets it” is exactly what you need, especially before the busiest stretch of the year kicks in soon! At Kingston Collective, we’re all about making those local connections easier and you can always come to one of our upcoming events or something from the Kingston Business Team.
This October, pick one: meet a neighbour, plan a collaboration, or spend with another local business. Let’s keep a little more of the celebration close to home, together!
Find your next local connection in the Kingston Collective directory!
