The Chronicle

Enjoy Toowoomba’s retail capability this Christmas

- with CEO Jo Sheppard

OUT AND about getting through my Christmas list on the weekend, it was wonderful to see so many of our local retailers busy during what is their most exciting sales period. This Christmas marks six years for my family and I as Toowoomba residents and it is extraordin­ary to look back on the growth that has taken place during that relatively short period of time.

The developmen­t of the laneway culture in our CBD, the completion of the expansion of Grand Central along with the opening of shopping precincts such as Northpoint and Eastville (just to name a few) have seen Toowoomba grow into a regional retail experience second to none.

This retail capability not only contribute­s significan­tly to our local economy providing nearly 9000 jobs across the Toowoomba Regional Council area, but it also plays a major role in the liveabilit­y of our city. Toowoomba is a regional hub for the Darling Downs and south west Queensland for a range of services but also as a shopping destinatio­n.

Whether you are a local or a visitor, there is very little you cannot buy right here in Toowoomba with a broad cross section of retailers here from large chains right through to boutique and speciality stores.

I encourage you all to enjoy the local retail experience we now have right here in Toowoomba this Christmas. Explore some of the new retailers and check out changes to some of our long-standing stores who have made impressive improvemen­ts to their product lines and in-store experience. Shopping locally has never been so easy or so rewarding.

So, plan your day of Christmas shopping, stop for a coffee or a quick lunch, get your hair done or indulge in a quick massage, explore the retail scene and support our local traders. Take a moment to savour how wonderful it is to be living in what is without a doubt, one of the best regional cities Australia has to offer.

On behalf of the chamber, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous new year. A big thank you to all our members and sponsors for their ongoing support of and commitment to the business community.

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