Love Local keeping us connected

Coast Boutiques offering their wares online

The extended COVID-19 lockdown currently in place for the Central Coast is the perfect time to take advantage of the latest round of Love Local online guides.

The Love Local guides feature an extensive range of Central Coast businesses to make it easier for community members to buy local and support operators in the region during this challenging time.

Central Coast Council Director of Corporate Affairs and Chief Financial Officer, Natalia Cowley, said the Love Local guides are featured on the Love Central Coast website and have continued to grow since their launch in 2020.

“Our Love Local online guides highlight the quality, creativity and breadth of businesses that call the Coast home.

“Shopping locally delivers a substantial boost to our local economy and during difficult times such as the current required lockdown this is more important than ever.

“Love Local makes it so easy to connect with local providers and once you’ve made the switch to buy locally you won’t look back,” Cowley said.

Three new Love Local guides are featured on lovecentralcoast.com

These three guides cover shopping that can point locals to boutiques, bespoke retailers and creators such as Buckle My Shoe, Long Jetty Markets and Miki Finn all based in Long Jetty, Montaze in The Entrance, Noraville Green in Toukley and many more.

The second guide connects locals with local produce growers that offer home delivery, such as Alan Foods Farmers Market in Jilliby, Bee Girl Honey from Noraville, Belly Full Farm in Dooralong, Fanelli Organics that supply products from Flour & Co in Toowoon Bay and Rise Mofo in Toukley, and many more.

The third guide shows locals what restaurants and cafes are offering takeway or home delivery such as Budgeecafe in Budgewoi, The General Store at Norah Head, Fade Nation in Toukley, The Secret Café in Charmhaven, Duck Duck Moose in Wyong and many more.

Council Administrator, Rik Hart, said the development and promotion of the guides were an important channel for Council to provide support to local businesses impacted by the measures to control COVID-19.

“Stay at home orders can make it extremely difficult for small businesses to continue to operate and it is vital that local communities rally to support local operators.

“So many exceptional local businesses on the Coast have created ways for us to continue to access their services online and through takeaway and home delivery, so I’d encourage everyone to explore and use the local operators featured in our Love Local online guides,” Hart said.

Local consumer facing businesses can sign up for a free listing.

Community members can explore the diverse range of local businesses and the ways they have shifted safely to provide their goods and services online or through takeaway or home delivery at lovecentralcoast.com/lovelocal.

Harry Mulholland