Shoppers in Beaudesert have the opportunity to win $500 cash and gift vouchers from local shops as businesses launch their Support our CBD campaign.
Local shopkeepers got together to launch the shop local initiative in the thick of significant disruptions caused by Beaudesert’s long-anticipated major drainage upgrades, which are expected to continue until at least March 2025.
At time of print CBD shops taking part in the campaign were Beaudesert Café, Kalico Country, Beaudesert News, Backroads, Heit’s Quality Meats, Wrights Jewellers, Bean to Café, Furniture Court, Our Little Shop, Star Liquor Warehouse, Buxton’s, Aura Healing House Apothecary Shoppe, Beaudesert Hotel and Café 11:11 (formerly known as Mystic Café).
Beaudesert News owner Sue Weymouth, who has been instrumental in galvanising CBD businesses, said participating operators were donating goods or vouchers for people to win.
She said Support our CBD boxes will be in businesses on December 3 for people to enter.
“When you purchase any item in any participating shop – there is no dollar value limit – you either get a coupon or ask for a receipt, write your name and phone number on the back, put it into the box and it will be drawn on December 23,” she said.
“John Krause has donated $500 cash for the first prize and second and third prizes will be made up of vouchers.”
The Support our CBD competition will continue until March, with a draw each month.
Embrace shopping local
Robyn Kennedy is among locals excited about the Support our CBD campaign, not that she needs an excuse to shop locally.
In fact, one of her favourite activities whenever she has a day off work is to spend her time and money in the Beaudesert township.
“The other day I was in at Kalico Country, then I popped into Backroads, the newsagency, Gillow and Teese to book my tax, Everydays for lunch, the post office and Kymberly at Desert Skin and Beauty,” she said.
“Another day I went into Our Little Shop and bought a headband, Buxtons to pick up some underpants for my dad, paid off a bit more of my layby at Furniture Court… when I have a day off, basically it’s spent locally.”
She said it was rewarding to support CBD shops and encouraged others to join in the fun.
“They’re like family – I find out a little bit more about them and they find out a little bit more about me and we get to know each other every time I purchase something,” she said.
“When I walk down town I see the roadworks, but I feel that’s for our future and hopefully it’s assisting all businesses.”
Shops appreciate support
From the moment Chameera Ranawaka and Rangika Premadasa set up shop in Beaudesert CBD last year, they felt the embrace of the community.
The owners of the newly rebranded Café 11:11 (formerly known as Mystic Café) specialise in crystals and sound healing.
They recently relocated their shop to Brisbane Street near the traffic lights, directly across from major ongoing works to fix the town’s long-running flooding issues.
Despite the undeniable disruptions caused by the temporary lack of on-street parking and the closure of the Brisbane Street northbound lane right on their doorstep, they chose to shift to that location from the arcade nearby.
Mr Ranawaka said they grabbed the opportunity for more street frontage – even amid the chaos of the roadworks – and already they were seeing more walk-in customers.
In testament to how much hope they feel about the future in that location, they are in the process of getting their food license to serve sweets and fresh fruit juices alongside the coffees they already offer. They also hope to have tables and chairs out the front.
“I think once all of this is finished and they open the road there is lots of opportunity here,” Mr Ranawaka said.
“The people here are amazing. We’ve been in Australia for more than 20 years now, but we met the friendliest people here in Beaudesert.”
The Beaudesert Bulletin is supporting the Support our CBD campaign, which has backing from the Scenic Rim Regional Council and Scenic Rim MP Jon Krause. The Beaudesert Times has got on board, in a bipartisan effort centred around the needs of local businesses.
The Beaudesert Chamber of Commerce has added its voice via a focus group liaising with Council and affected businesses.
