Business Focus Groups - 2024 Christmas Campaign

Thanks to everyone who has connected with Lismore City Council's Destination and Economy team as we prepare to make this Christmas season unforgettable.

To get involved in Christmas activations and promotions this year, email business@lismore.nsw.gov.au by 25 October.

Your ideas and insights are helping to shape festive plans that bring joy to the community and boost business success.

Thanks to all the amazing businesses and organisations that took part in focus groups centering around key Christmas themes and link various CBD sectors. You can see an overview of the focus groups and insights below.

Focus group sessions included:

• EXPERIENCE - food & entertainment 🎉🍽️
  📅 Date: 9 September 2024
  ⏰ Time: 10:00am-11:00am
  📍 Location: Dark Horse Espresso, 74/78 Molesworth Street

• PAMPER - beauty & wellbeing 💆‍♀️🌿
  📅 Date: 10 September 2024
  ⏰ Time: 5:00pm-6:00pm
  📍 Location: Mayumi's Kitchen, Star Court Arcade

• GIFT - retail & creatives 🎁🛍️
  📅 Date:11 September 2024
  ⏰ Time: 9:30am-10:30am
  📍 Location: Ma Ma Moi, 24 Carrington Street

Each session brought together a diverse group of leaders from CBD businesses and organisations, representing a variety of sectors. Together, we are exploring exciting opportunities for activations, promotions, and collaborations that highlight the best Lismore has to offer.

With targeted discussions in these small focus groups, we aim to co-design ideas, solutions and great outcomes for Lismore. We will share findings and invite further input after the focus groups.

Activations and promotional outcomes are supported through the Lismore Business Activation Plan 2024-2026 (BAP), and ideas beyond the scope of the BAP goals and budget are valued for future planning and funding opportunities. These focus groups build on previous Business Renewal Engagement in 2022 and 2023.

Along with the online survey below, you can email us at business@lismore.nsw.gov.au to share your ideas and get involved in Christmas activations and promotions.

🎄 Lismore's Christmas Campaign Feedback Is In! 🎄

Thank you to everyone who participated in our recent focus group sessions and online survey! We gathered some amazing insights from local businesses to help shape this year’s Christmas Campaign in the CBD.

Here’s what we heard:

✨ Festive Atmosphere - You highlighted the need for a lively, joyful, and welcoming environment. Suggestions included vibrant decorations, festive lighting, music, and interactive experiences to make the CBD feel magical this Christmas.

🛍️ Lismore's Unique Offerings - Many of you emphasised promoting Lismore’s diverse shopping, food, and experiences, as well as our unique, independent businesses.

🎶 Top Activities - The most popular ideas were live music, kids and youth activities, creative workshops, promoting activities led by local shops, festive window displays and lighting installations.

📣 Support for Businesses - You asked for assistance with footpath trading, joint marketing, and social media promotions through Visit Lismore to help attract more visitors and boost the local economy.

We’ll be using this feedback to develop a detailed plan for the Christmas campaign, and we’ll be sharing it with everyone soon.

Lismore business leaders and Council team brainstorming festive Christmas ideas at a local cafés

Image credit: the Christmas Belles performing in front of 'In the Heart' 2021 public sculpture by Holly Ahern and Eden Crawford Harriman, as part of Lismore Delights 2022.