Council to launch toolkit to help grow local retail precincts

As part of Queensland Small Business Month, Redland City Council is launching a toolkit to support local small retail businesses.

The Redlands Coast Local Retail and Activation Toolkit aims to help businesses in suburban retail strips drive customer growth through collaboration.

Redland City Mayor Jos Mitchell said small businesses were at the heart of the local economy.

Of the more than 12,500 registered businesses in the city, 98 percent are small businesses – about 57 percent are non-employing such as sole traders; and about 41 percent are micro or small businesses employing less than 20 staff.

“With such a large proportion of the Redlands Coast economy comprised of micro/small businesses, retaining and growing these businesses is a fundamental requirement of a strong local economy,” the Mayor said.

“Council regularly organises business workshops and networking events that aim to support businesses to strengthen their capability.

“We also foster partnerships and collaboration with other government agencies, businesses, and community organisations to promote services and resources available to businesses.

“The toolkit provides information and tips on how to enhance the customer appeal of retail precincts where small businesses operate.

“A key role of the toolkit is to borrow the techniques of successful shopping centres and to show how these can be applied to retail strips/precincts.”

The toolkit has been produced in collaboration with consultants Urbis.

Funding has been provided by the Australian and Queensland Governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements under the Locally Led Economic Recovery Fund to support the rollout of the toolkit and for proposed activation initiatives for Cleveland.

Member for Redlands Kim Richards said the Redlands can’t run without its vibrant small business community.

“This toolkit is a great initiative and will help spread the word about our wonderful small business community in Redlands and help them grow,” Ms Richards said.

“Our local small businesses are not just the engine room of our economy, they are the lifeblood of the community–delivering growth, innovation, and new jobs to locals each and every day.

“The new Miles Labor Government is proud to have backed them, providing more than $940,000 in grant funding to small businesses in the region.”

Member for Capalaba Don Brown said Queensland Small Business Month was a great opportunity to showcase and highlight the vital contributions small businesses in the Redlands make to our community.

“We encourage everyone in the Redlands region to shop with their local small businesses, promote their services and products on social media and by word-of-mouth, during May and throughout the year,” Mr Brown said.

“With Queensland’s Big Build delivering the biggest decade of infrastructure deliver in our state’s proud history there’s never been a greater opportunity to share in growth and prosperity on offer from the Miles Government’s plan for the future.

“Labor will continue to provide a range of supports to help small businesses grow, including our record cost-of-living relief package, helping businesses save on their power bills.”

Minister for Employment and Small Business, Lance McCallum said small businesses were vital to Queensland’s economic wellbeing, contributing more than $117 billion each year, and fuelling the cycle of growth by providing employment for over 40 per cent of the state’s private sector workforce.

“During Queensland Small Business Month, the Queensland Government is not just recognising the importance of our more than 482,000 small businesses, but we’re thanking them for growing our economy and supporting our regions and local communities,” Minister McCallum said.

The toolkit will be launched at the Redlands RSL on Tuesday 14 May during Queensland Small Business Month.

Council in partnership with Queensland Government, Straddie Chamber of Commerce and Redlands Coast Chamber of Commerce, are inviting small businesses to the following free events:

Redlands Coast Retail Toolkit Launch

Tuesday 14 May 2024, 5.30pm – 7.30pm Redlands RSL, 8 Passage Street Cleveland

Redlands Coast Small Business Financial Health Workshop

Tuesday 21 May 2024, 4pm – 6pm Alexandra Hills Hotel, 332 Finucane Road, Alexandra Hills

Redlands Coast Social Media and Digital Marketing Workshop

Tuesday 28 May 2024, 10am – 12pm St Stradbroke, 9 Ballow Road, North Stradbroke Island

Event information and registration page https://redlnd.cc/smallbusinessmonth