mmg.com.au

Cobram businesses continue their push to promote local shopping and development opportunities.

D’Vine Ideas’ Melissa Crisafulli said a radio advertisement promoting local shopping through a conversation between a young girl and her mother had people talking.

The girl has purchased clothing online, but the mother reminds her online shopping could affect local businesses and job opportunities.

Cobram-Barooga Business and Tourism Development Inc president Wayne Gould said the river towns offered good shopping, particularly for women’s fashion.

Mr Gould said visitors to his Colonial Motor Inn were continually in awe of what businesses offered to the community.

‘‘The general comment from visitors is the shopping seems to cater well, particularly for ladies’ fashion,’’ he said.

‘‘We can well and truly entice people to shop here.

‘‘If we shop local, the business’ income increases and trade increases and they can provide more variety, too.’’

Mrs Crisafulli said the homewares and gift shop continually evolved its layout and extended its trading hours when required to ensure the business catered for its customers.

Late-night and weekend trading at Christmas time gained a positive response, she said.

‘‘You have to make it worthwhile for people to come out at night — we might offer specials or take that extra step,’’ she said.

Kath Noonan, of Noonan’s Showcase Jewellers, said she found the majority of people shopped locally — and she had regular customers from towns such as Jerilderie and Deniliquin utilising Cobram’s shopping.

She said good service was key to attracting, and retaining, customers.

‘‘Shopping local is important for me too, because I have two teenage children and eventually they will need jobs,’’ she said.

Builder Darrell Bowden is concerned tenders for local projects are being awarded to out-of-town tradesmen and he urged people to think local first.

‘‘(Katamatite) Rec Reserve went to a Shepp builder, it’s already way behind schedule. The Sporties was a big tender they are currently doing and Auselec are the only local up there,’’ Mr Bowden said.

‘‘No local builder is allowed to be short-listed for the Cobram Hospital tender and now the Barooga Rec Reserve tender has gone to a Mulwala builder.

‘‘That’s about $6million worth of work that’s gone out of town, no locals working on them — except we are still expected to employ local kids.’’