Echuca's Shop Local Night a success

The evening's offerings spanned a comprehensive range of products, from giftware and cosmetics to camping equipment, fishing gear, clothing, confectionery, local produce and homewares.

“From there, people went out from 6pm to 20 participating stores and shopped until they dropped at 9pm,” Echuca Moama Rotary Club committee member Rob Foran said.

“Then we brought them back to Bar Lee and did the lucky door prizes and raffle prizes.”

Mr Foran reflected on the success of the night.

“It was fantastic,” he said.

“We had 140 shoppers signed in and we reckon there were probably another 30 to 50 people, at least that popped in off the street to have a look at the shops, just because they were open.”

The event generated significant business activity.

“(There were) lots of shopping bags coming out of stores, with people having to do one, two and even three trips to the car to drop off bags and keep going,” Mr Foran said.

Twenty businesses participated along High St, plus Custom House around the corner, offering prizes valued at $30 or more.

“Of the 20 businesses that took part, 19 of them gave us a $30 gift voucher, Bar Lee donated two $50 vouchers and Rich Glen, on top of the voucher, gave us a gift box,” Mr Foran said.

A scavenger hunt encouraged shoppers to explore different stores.

“It just forced people to go into stores that they probably otherwise would have skipped,” Mr Foran said.

“Last year was our fifth year of running the Shop Local Night and we feel like we are starting to find that magic formula of what works and what needs improving.”

Rotary Club of Echuca Moama members thanked the businesses that took park.