While one lucky winner drove away in a new car, it is Tamworth’s retailers that were the real winners of the Think Local, Support Local campaign.
The Tamworth Business Chamber registered over $1 million in sales over the 12 week promotion, before Wayne Painter drove away in a new Honda Jazz on Thursday night.
Chamber president Jye Segboer said the promotion not only aimed at increasing foot traffic and sales in the CBD, but also recording sales data from all 112 retailers involved.
According to that data the ladies are in luck, but there is also something for the men as well with lingerie, jewellery, flowers, shoes and meat the big sellers.
“To hit $1 million in sales via a new promotion is a wonderful achievement, we are over the moon,” Mr Segboer said.
“It was encouraging to see a good mix of Chamber member and non-member retailers really embrace the new concept, I applaud them for that.”
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One retailer who got right behind the promotion was Brian Penrose from Penrose Meats. His shop sits directly opposite and in direct competition with Coles, although the butcher still managed to record the highest number of entries.
“It was a great promotion and the $30 limit really fit into our average shop,” he said.
“In business today you always have to push and keep pushing, and this really helped us do that.
“The drought is affecting both our sales and meat prices, so I look forward to looking at the data.”
Athletes Foot owner Paul Lawrence wasn’t certain whether the promotion had increased sales, although only had positive reports from customers.
“I don’t know if it improved business but there was certainly a lot of interest from customers,” he said.
“I will definitely do it again next year.”
Taking Shape women’s clothing store manager Julie Crosby was another retailer keen to have a look at the Think Local, Support Local data to plan out options for next year’s Christmas period and beyond.
“I am not sure if it increased sales or not, but it might of,” she said.
“The customers did like it, and it was exciting to be able to give them that little extra – a chance of winning.”
For the chamber that is what this first year was all about, gauging the communities interest, and setting a benchmark in trends, foot traffic and sales for future years.
“This will really help those retailers drill down on and understand those trends like what weeks were the busiest and slowest, and even what days,” Mr Segboer said.
“It was very well received by both the public and the retailers, with over 5000 entries equating to an average of $200 per sale.
“It has also shown that those retailers who really embraced it and pushed it, even on social media channels, got the most out of it.”
