Think. Look. Shop. Love. Frankston City.
Frankston City Council’s Think Local Month was held in March 2024, where we dedicated the whole month to encouraging Frankston City workers, businesses and the community to think local first and support small - medium businesses.
Local businesses play a vital role in providing employment and strengthening and sustaining our economy.
From manufacturing, construction, retail and hospitality to home-based services, health care, beauty and real estate, Frankston City is bustling with 44,000 small and medium enterprises helping to boost our economy and make this city the best place to live, work, play, learn and invest.
Over the past decade, Frankston City has witnessed unprecedented growth and there’s no sign of it slowing down but right now, small and medium businesses, which make up 98 per cent of the city’s enterprises, need your local support.
We kicked the month off with a Launch Event at the new Red Gum BBQ at Home in Seaford on Tuesday 5 March, 2024 from 5pm – 7pm.
Local businesses were invited to hear from Mayor Nathan Conroy, Melissa (owner of Red Gum BBQ), Jeff (CEO of Frankston Business Collective) and Frankston City’s Economic Development Team, whilst enjoying delicious food courtesy of Red Gum BBQ at Home and drinks from Mr Banks Brewing and Dainton Brewery.
Frankston City Council had a $100,000 grant pool on offer for eligible local businesses to apply for up to $1,000 each to spend with another local business.
In March 2024, Council received 147 applications, which resulted in $99,989 being awarded.
A total of 163 businesses benefited from these grants, with a total amount of $162,675 being spent in the local economy.
Frankston City Council was proud to host our very first Small Business Expo at the Frankston Arts Centre on 26 March, 2024 from 3pm – 7pm.
The Expo featured the products & services on offer in Frankston City from 46 local businesses, showcasing the extensive range our versatile and innovative City has to offer.
This free expo had over 130 visitors come through on the day, with each person receiving a goodie bag filled with gifts from local businesses.
Exhibitor Stall List
|
Stall
|
Business Name
|
Stall
|
Business Name
|
|
1
|
SPN Co
|
24
|
NetfocusIT
|
|
2
|
Mr Banks Brewery
|
25
|
Sarah Bruce
|
|
3
|
Pawsome Buddies
|
26
|
Aromatherapy Dispensary Pty Ltd
|
|
4
|
Frankston City Council
|
27
|
Art Around Photography
|
|
5
|
Big Branding
|
28
|
Minuteman Press Seaford
|
|
6
|
Ball Abilities and Hoop Culture
|
29
|
Asura
|
|
7
|
TJS Accounting
|
30
|
Superior Etchworx
|
|
8
|
Techni Ice Australia
|
31
|
Open Mind Promo
|
|
9
|
CVGT Employment
|
32
|
The Framers Gallery
|
|
10
|
ALT CVLT
|
33
|
Seaford Flower Studio
|
|
11
|
Yo-Ko Original Boutique
|
34
|
Dainton Brewery
|
|
12
|
Three Bites
|
35
|
The Whisky Company
|
|
13
|
Peninsula Telecom Pty Ltd
|
36
|
Red Gum BBQ at Home
|
|
14
|
Critical Info
|
37
|
Input Fitness
|
|
15
|
Admin Happy
|
38
|
Roving Refills
|
|
16
|
Functional Myotherapy
|
39
|
Grace Professional Services
|
|
17
|
EdgeTel
|
40
|
Just Like This
|
|
18
|
Chris Davies Drafting & Design
|
41
|
Caravan Chai
|
|
19
|
You-Group Victoria
|
42
|
Gloform
|
|
20
|
Sew Fix Sewing Machines
|
43
|
The Sports Injury Clinic
|
|
21
|
Flinders Partners Group
|
44
|
Zephyrson Threads
|
|
22
|
Commonwealth Bank
|
45
|
Space Cadet
|
|
23
|
The Frankston Business Collective
|
46
|
Tempo Insurance Group
|
Local musicians popped up at various shopping strips from 4 – 28 March, 2024, to not only entice shoppers to the areas but also showcase some of our very own Frankston City talented artists.
Frankston City Council together with local industry experts, delivered 22 workshops throughout the month of March. Topics included business start-up sessions, Video Marketing, Wellbeing in the workplace and targeted workshops for Tradies and Builders.
Over 100 local business owners attended these free workshops where they had the opportunity to upskill, connect and continue to thrive in Frankston City.
When you buy from local small - medium businesses, you’re supporting the Frankston City community, reducing your carbon footprint and helping create a strong local economy and workforce.
Here are just some of the ways you can show some love to your local businesses;
- Make Frankston City your first stop for food, shopping, trades and services.
- Use the hashtag #ThinkLocalFrankstonCity to share your discoveries and support on social media.
- If you are a business shop locally for suppliers, trades or services first.
- Host an event or catch-up at a local café or restaurant.
- Follow local businesses on social media.
- Write a positive online review for your favourite local business or a new businesses you have used.
- If you have a local bricks and mortar business here in Frankston City, display the Think Local decal in your shopfront to help encourage consumers to choose local first.
- Get your decal by emailing business@frankston.vic.gov.au and include “Think Local Decal Request” in the subject line.
- Get promoted in our gift bags! If you are a local business and want to get promoted at the various events we are hosting during Think Local Month, you may be eligible to contribute a gift or merchandise to our Think Local Month Gift Bags! The git bags will be handed out at the launch event, the workshops and at the expo. Get in touch at business@frankston.vic.gov.au and include “Think Local Gift Bag Request” in the subject line.
Even small snippets of support can make a BIG difference to a small - medium business. Did you know that if each resident spends just $10 a month at a local business, it would boost our local economy to the tune of $17 million each year?!
