'Keep Calm and Shop in Dannevirke'; Christmas campaign kicks off encouraging people to buy local

Dannevirke Chamber of Commerce chairwoman Sue Berry. PHOTO / File

Shoppers are being encouraged to buy locally this Christmas.

Dannevirke Chamber of Commerce chairwoman Sue Berry said things are starting to warm up as far as spending is concerned.

"The Chamber of Commerce have just started the three-week promotion called 'Keep Calm and Shop in Dannevirke' which everybody gets behind and supports throughout the town.

"Basically, people shop at any member businesses and they go into win 10 lots of $200 which is drawn on the day of the Christmas parade," Berry said.

"This is the third year in a row that we've done it, and it just encourages people to spend locally because that's the big issue in a small town like Dannevirke."

Retailers are also offering incentives.

Keeping with tradition, Gifts and Souvenirs on High St is offering 15 per cent off storewide in the lead-up to Christmas.

"Its just something that we offer our customers as an incentive and to help pre-Christmas," Helen Exeter said.

The shop is well into the Christmas spirit with festive window displays and decorations.

"We also always have good displays and we change our windows frequently, so they're a really good insight into the shop."

Helen said Facebook is a good tool to notify people about the new products coming into the shop.

After 19 years in business, the shop has built up what Helen called a "true customer base".

"I guess people know us and I think people enjoy coming into the shop for that experience."

Recent eftpos figures for the Tararua region show spending in Dannevirke has increased recently.

Economic development and communications manager at Tararua District Council Mark Maxwell said electronic card retail spending for the district had "a good sized rebound" and increased slightly in October.

"As we head into Christmas we are hoping people will look to spend local."

Electronic card retail spending is up 4.4 per cent in the Tararua district, nationally it is up 3.4 per cent.