Rotary’s Shop Local Night returns bigger than ever

Rotary secretary Kate Fisher said the event began four years ago as the community was coming out of COVID-19, and has continued to strengthen.

“The event started as we were coming out of COVID-19 to really just encourage local people to shop locally in the lead-up to Christmas,” she said.

“The response from businesses has been great, each one of the shops that participated in the first year have always been keen to participate again.

“The only problem we have had is that we have other shops that have heard about it asking how they can get involved.”

To accommodate the growing number of participants, the format of this year’s event has changed.

In previous years, participants would go out in teams for 15 minutes each to shop at the chosen stores.

However, this year, it will operate as a late night shopping night, so that shoppers can roam freely without a time constraint.

The stores that will be participating this year include: Annabella, Bar Lee @ Echuca Distillery, Candle Scents, Collins Booksellers, Echuca Camping, Echuca Chocolate Co, Echuca Heritage Sweet Co, Fashionably High, Good Ole Country Gifts, I Want I Need, JACS, Mad Hatter Tea Shop, Port of Echuca Store, PS Pevensey, Read Heeler, Revive and Rich Glen Olive Estate.

Each store will be offering exclusive specials on the night such as a percentage off all items in store or a free gift if participants spend a certain amount.

The night will start at 5.45pm and will run until 9pm.

There will be a $5 entry fee, which can be paid to Rotary members outside Bar Lee on High St.

Tickets can also be purchased online at trybooking.com/events/landing/1306008

The entry fee will also secure each shopper a raffle ticket, with all raffle prizes donated by the participating stores.