FRANKSTON mayor Cr Michael O’Reilly has pleaded with Christmas shoppers to stay local this festive season.
Cr O’Reilly said that “Christmas shopping equates to around 20 per cent of the annual $20.25 million spent in the Frankston city centre.”
“When you shop locally you’re helping small business owners to send a child to dance class or get them their new football boots, to pay off a mortgage or to pay for an education, amongst other things. That has a huge impact on Frankston’s economy and goes a long way towards boosting local employment,” he said.
“More and more, shoppers want to support their local communities, they want products that are sourced and made locally and ethically, and they want to reduce their impact on the environment.”
Cr O’Reilly said there were a wide range of shops in the municipality to cover all needs in the Christmas period.
“Frankston has a proud history of strip shopping and I want to see this continue into our future. Streets like Wells, Thompson, Station and Shannon Mall in the city centre boast many shops stocking all kinds of wonderful items that would make great Christmas gifts,” he said.
“We’ve got great shopping centres at Bayside, Karingal Hub, The Gateway and Carrum Downs shopping centres. Of course there’s also our wonderful markets like Little Beauty Market, the Sunday Market, Frankston Maker’s Market and Seaford Farmer’s Market, just to name a few.
“You can purchase something unique for your loved ones and know it’s been made lovingly by hand. I think you’d agree there’s something really special about that.”