It’s time to break out the sensible shoes and loosen your purse strings; the annual Sidewalk Sales (aka Geelong’s largest sale day) is back for another year.
Held on Melbourne Cup Day (Tuesday, November 5), businesses right across Central Geelong will trade on the footpath, offering a huge range of special offers and sale items for you to throw your credit card at, with many more offering in-store specials as part of the Central Geelong Shopping Festival and Sidewalk Sales.
With thousands of shoppers flocking to the streets, it’s an exciting day both for the race itself and the opportunities it gives to local retailers. The places we shop, where we eat and where we indulge, all make up a part of our community home, especially the unique one-of-a-kind businesses that locals know and love.
As local businesses are usually owned by people who live in this community, it is clear there is an invested interest in the community’s future and local shopping needs – especially as many carry a higher percentage of locally-produced goods and use local services themselves to help run their business.
Buying from locally-owned businesses is not only good for our local retailers, but it’s a great way to generate and strengthen the economic impact for our own community. Basically, when you buy locally, the local city sales tax revenue is derived from the purchases you make. This money is then recycled back to the community.
So before you start pouring the bubbly on race day, head into town and take advantage of all the one-day-only deals.
An event hub will be located in Little Malop Street Central offering further special offers, pop up shops, sale items and a range of entertainment to enjoy along the way. Here you’ll find live music performances from the big band soul sound of The Sweethearts; a ‘Garden Party’ area with pop-ups from Central Geelong’s Andrew Mauderer Photographer, Books Around, Kings Funerals, Leega Korean BBQ, Saffron Indian and Suitswell; be entertained with a fitness and aerial trick demonstration by Kylie J Pole Studio; and even a ‘Pamper Marquee’ offering free pamper treatments from Adina Salon for all you dedicated shoppers.
There will also be a hub up the other end in Little Malop Street West that will include a ‘Sweet Street’ with dessert treats from Black Bull Tapas Bar & Restaurant, Cakesmith, Ferguson Plarre Bakehouse, James Street Bakery and Twisted Dessert Bar, while The Green Spine will see a ‘Street Runway’ fashion parade hosted by GT editor Jemma Ryan showcasing the latest Spring fashion; and meet and greets Ambassador and Geelong Cats AFLW player Anna Teague.
For those who aren’t heading up to Melbourne for the races, the annual Sidewalk Sales is a great way to stay entertained, support local businesses and, of course, save some money with the sales. However, a range of venues around the CBD will be broadcasting the action from Flemington so you can still keep an eye on your winning horses.
The official Form Guide (with a full list of the businesses involved, race deals and locations) will be available from Friday, October 25 via www.centralgeelong.com.au/sidewalksales
This event is an initiative of Central Geelong Marketing