April 18, 2013

CONFERENCE TO SPOTLIGHT BRIGHT FUTURE

FOR LOCAL SHOPPING STREETS

Mainstreet Australia is holding the Mainstreet Australia Conference at Federation Square in Melbourne on May 12 to 15 2013.

This year’s conference theme is new challenges, new opportunities, new values.

The biannual conference will be attended by business and trader associations; local government officers from key areas including economic development, community development, strategic planning, place making and tourism; and marketing coordinators and those who work in special rate programs.

The last four to five years has seen so much change in our main streets, retailing and small business arenas. Many local businesses have suffered, affecting employment, services to our communities and impacting on community morale.

Steve Bentley, President Mainstreet Australia, says “main streets are at the heart of our communities, and we want them to survive and thrive. A vibrant and successful main street contributes to community wellbeing and this conference will focus on the challenges and solutions to securing main streets role into the future.”

He is optimistic that we have seen the worst of retail trading times and that customer, business and government confidence is on the rise.

“It is amazing how confidence, self-belief and optimism can create success even when the environment is tough,” Steve said.

The conference will present examples of best practice from around Australia and the world including keynote presentations on:

  • Winning the battle for relevance
  • How main streets can benefit from shopping centres’ midlife crisis
  • Rethinking cities and main streets at night
  • Customer relationships in the digital economy
  • The impact of the NBN
  • The role of pop-up shops and a case study on main street precincts from the

city of Melbourne

  • Place branding main street style
  • Integrating online with bricks and mortar

The conference will also feature a Q&A conference section featuring retail and main street experts from Australia and around the world as well as tours of successful main street precincts including St Kilda, Sydney Road, Brunswick, Geelong and Dandenong.

ABOUT MAINSTREET AUSTRALIA

Mainstreet Australia is a membership-based association that exists to support the economic, social and environmental benefits of main streets, town centres and community activity centres.

Main streets are most often orientated towards public streets or places and most are characterised by multiple ownership, shared infrastructure and a broad mixed use.

Other words for main streets include:

  • town centres
  • city centres
  • traditional main streets
  • shopping strips
  • retail precincts
  • commercial precincts
  • activity centres.

Mainstreet Australia provides networking, education, support, professional development and strategic direction to its stakeholders to promote main streets and ensure that they remain at the heart of our community.

Challenges faced by main street retailers in Australia include:

  • online retailing
  • increase in competition
  • the speed and sophistication of major national and international retailers
  • the evolving role of the main street
  • diversity of stakeholder interest
  • strategic land use influences.

Mainstreet Australia advocates that communities benefit from thriving main streets in a variety of ways including:

  • community connections
  • social interaction
  • relationships
  • service
  • experiences
  • cultural celebration and identity
  • small business success
  • street activation and regeneration
  • economic development
  • wellbeing.

For further information about the conference please visit or call Steve Bentley on 0418 311 417 or Nicole Maslin on 0403 230 412.

For further information

Karen Morath

0400 328 789