NEXT week’s edition of News Of The Area launches the Nambucca Valley Shop Local campaign, where advertising businesses will be showcased across print and digital media throughout October and Small Business Month.
The campaign is an initiative of Nambucca Valley Council (NVC), in partnership with Nambucca Valley News Of The Area (NOTA), and is being led by NVC’s Economic Development and Tourism manager, Jan Rooney.
Ms Rooney says the idea was outlined as an action in Council’s Delivery Program 2025-2029, to help support local businesses.
“Small businesses are the heart of our communities – they create local jobs, support community organisations and help shape the unique character of our towns,” she said.
“This Small Business Month, we’re encouraging residents to think local first and support the businesses that support us every day. “
Every dollar spent locally helps strengthen our regional economy and keep our communities vibrant.
“Our Shop Local campaign is designed to put the spotlight on the outstanding businesses that keep our communities thriving.”
NOTA Nambucca Valley Advertising Manager Johnny Wilson says that businesses participating in the Shop Local campaign will have their goods or services front and centre during a campaign that has 12,000 print readers in the Nambucca Valley a week and an engaged online audience.
“Many of our Nambucca Valley readers, and businesses, see News Of The Area as a core voice in our community,” Mr Wilson says.
“All advertisements associated with the campaign will be published in the Nambucca Valley News Of The Area on October 2, 9, 16 and 23, 2026.”
Businesses involved in the dedicated Nambucca Valley NOTA advertising feature can promote the Shop Local competition to win a $200 gift card, access free marketing resources, learn how to customise campaign materials, and share weekly campaign content on their business’s socials.
NVC’s support has encouraged some businesses who may not have previously advertised in the NOTA to put themselves in front of a new audience, while current advertisers can solidify their presence in the minds of readers.
“It has been extremely popular,” Mr Wilson says.
“The response has been very positive and the uptake has been strong.”
Businesses are encouraged to subscribe to Council’s business e-news to receive campaign updates, access free Shop Local promotional resources and templates, and stay informed about opportunities to get involved throughout Small Business Month this October.
To sign up to Valley Business News, visit https://www.nambucca.nsw.gov.au/Business/DoingBusiness-in-Nambucca-Valley/Valley-Business-News
Free workshop to support Shop Local campaign
To support local businesses to use the Shop Local visual assets, Council is running a free workshop on Friday, 2 October.
The Canva for Business: Shop Local Workshop, will help any interested business owners to learn Canva essentials, gain practical design tips, and learn how to customise the free Nambucca Valley Shop Local Canva templates.
The workshop will cover:
- Canva navigation and essential tools
- Setting up your brand colours, fonts and logo
- Creating social posts, flyers and other marketing assets
- Editing photos, videos, text and layouts
- Simple design principles for professional-looking content
- Exporting designs in the right format and size
- How to customise the Nambucca Valley Shop Local templates
- Hands-on time to create your own business assets with support.
Attendees will leave with customised, ready-to-use Shop Local assets for their own business.
When: Friday, 2 October 2026
Time: 8:30am – 10:30am
Where: Nambucca Heads TAFE Connected Learning Centre
What to bring: a laptop and charger, business logo, and a selection of good-quality photos and anything else the business owner likes to use in their own marketing. A subscription to Canva Free is fine, and no Canva experience is required.
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