National Regional Challenge Shop Local Week launch webinar: five ways to shop local
Money leaves regional towns every day through online and national retailers. Australians spent a record $82.6 billion online in 2025. Shop Local Week gives every town the same week and five ways to spend locally: Feast Local, Glow Local, Gift Local, Fix Local and Enjoy Local.
Shop Local Week runs from 13 to 19 September 2027 (proposed), the week after SIITR27. It starts with a Christmas pilot in the week of 7 December 2026: shop at a local business, then post a photo of what you bought, ate or had fixed with #ShopLocalWeek.
This webinar launches the Local Economy national action of the National Regional Challenges 2026–27 (https://nationalregionalchallenges.com.au/).
What we will cover
- How Shop Local Week came out of the Ready Communities Flagship Program in Stanthorpe and the SIITR26 Impact Lab
- The five categories, and how towns, businesses, councils and chambers take part
- The Christmas pilot in the week of 7 December 2026
- What Stanthorpe is planning
- What Why Leave Town has learned from local gift card programs in more than 80 communities
- Your questions and ideas
Who should come
- Chambers of commerce and business associations
- Council economic development and main street teams
- Local business owners
- Residents who want to keep money working in their town
Hosts: Ashley Watt, Why Leave Town; Michelle Feenan, Stanthorpe & Granite Belt Chamber of Commerce; Dr Chad Renando, Ready Communities; Kerry Grace, Ready Communities
Register your interest in Shop Local Week at ShopLocalWeek.com.au.
More about the national action at nationalregionalchallenges.com.au/challenge-local-economy