Spend Local

Spend Local is the latest initiative from the South Waikato District Council (SWDC) and South Waikato Investment Fund Trust (SWIFT) to support our local businesses, economy and community as we navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by the COVID-19 situation.

Information and advice is available through our website Space to Grow and to support the transition to Level 2 we are launching a campaign to encourage our community to ‘Spend Local’ on goods and services.

The ‘Spend Local’ campaign will be broadcast to all businesses within our database and consumers within the South Waikato. Consumers will have access to stickers and digital materials that state “I Spend Local”, and businesses will have digital materials, posters and stickers that say “Spend Local”.

South Waikato District Mayor, Jenny Shattock has sportingly agreed to literally be the ‘poster girl’ of the campaign, with a fresh take on the classic wartime posters. In supporting this campaign, Mayor Jenny acknowledged how tough lockdown has been for local businesses.

By spending locally we can do wonderful things for our community.

Studies on campaigns similar to this one show that by supporting local independent businesses we can help them grow which means the jobs and money they make will have a much greater impact on our community.

Every $100 spent at locally owned businesses contributes an additional $58 to the local economy and in times of high unemployment, small businesses both retain and create more jobs.

How can you get involved?

If you’re a local business owner and you haven’t already received your “Spend Local” stickers and posters, please get in touch with our Marketing Officer Anton Sudano - anton.sudano@southwaikato.govt.nz , These can be displayed in your store to show that you’re a local business with local staff.