Camberwell Traders Association update
Traditionally, retail starts slowly in the new year as families manage seasonal expenses, and rate increases also affect discretionary spending. However, our strategic marketing program for the precinct continues to raise community awareness, build engagement among our traders, and create more business opportunities for service providers.
It's clear that festive shopping is happening earlier each year. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, national retail turnover rose about 7.0% yearon-year in November 2025, reaching approximately $39.1 billion. In December, household spending growth slowed to around 4.8% year-on-year.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are major contributors to these shifts. Many shoppers take advantage of promotions — CommBank iQ data shows around 7 million Australians spent $23.8 billion during the extended "Black Friday period" (two weeks). This is an important promotion to keep in mind in your business plans. We assisted our traders during this crucial period by boosting our social media advertising, reposting trader promotions on Instagram stories and feeds, and sharing them on our website's offers page, where customers can find all current sales in one place. Remember, you can share your deals or business news anytime, so we can help support your marketing activities.
Exciting events are coming up in our promotional calendar, including Easter, Mother's Day, and our signature CamberWELL-BEING event, all with tailored promotional strategies. Now in its ninth year, CamberWELL-BEING is a well-known and beloved local event. If you are a health and wellness trader, this is a great opportunity to connect with nutrition and fitness enthusiasts.
Our digital strategy focuses on increasing your business's visibility. We drive traffic to our website
Mother's Day
For Mother's Day this year, we're promoting Camberwell Junction as the destination for finding gifts and treating mothers. Our gift guide article and supporting social posts will encourage people to shop at the precinct, in turn generating revenue for our retail traders. But it doesn't stop there. We also shine a spotlight on traders who offer great experiences for mum, or the perfect place to spend Mother's Day, such as cafés, restaurants, and studios. If you're doing something special you'd like us to feature in the article or social posts, please reach out to us by sending a message on Instagram or emailing kdaly@camberwellca.com.au, and share your offers to go on our website 'Offers' page.
with engaging articles and fresh content, which enhances SEO and helps customers discover what makes your business unique. This is supported by online advertising for Camberwell Junction, and lively social media – from event coverage and business spotlights to video content highlighting the people and personalities behind our precinct businesses.
To get the most from these efforts, please ensure your business details on our website are updated and that you have subscribed to receive our monthly digital newsletters to stay informed. We also host networking events; you can meet the committee and other business operators.
Since 1996, the Camberwell Centre Trader's Association has been funded by a marketing levy, paid by all precinct businesses, which allows us to operate a professionally managed program of advertising, promotions, and events for retailers and service providers alike. With a new five-year term proposed to begin in mid-2026, your continued support is essential. If you're interested in playing a bigger role in managing the program, applications to join the traders' association committee for 2026/27 are welcome.
You can stay informed about the association and find local business updates and resources by regularly checking the Trader Portal tab on the camberwellshopping.com.au website. Keep your details up to date and share your news with us. For marketing and management inquiries, our manager, Kerry Daly (kdaly@camberwellca.com.au), is ready to assist.
Here's to a successful year ahead!
Regards, Camberwell Centre Association Committee
Love-struck shoppers boost sales for Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day 2026 brought solid earnings for Melbourne traders, even if shoppers were a little more intentional with their spending. Nationally, spending still hit around $550 million, showing love was definitely in the air, with just a bit more budgeting behind it. While fewer people participated overall, those who did weren't holding back, with average gift spend in the mid-$100s. Classic go-to categories like flowers, jewellery, chocolates and beauty performed strongly, and with February 14 falling on a Saturday, restaurants and cafés saw a big lift from weekend date-night bookings. All up, it was a positive trading moment for local businesses — driven by quality over quantity, with customers leaning into thoughtful gifts and meaningful experiences.
CamberWELL-BEING
We are so excited to bring CamberWELL-BEING back this year and shine a spotlight on the many health and wellness businesses in the Camberwell Junction precinct. Taking place on Saturday, May 16, this iconic event will offer a fun and interactive day where shoppers can register to follow the Wellness Trail for a chance to win fantastic prizes.
CamberWELL-BEING began in 2017 and has since become a popular, well-recognised event. We get many returning participants who love everything the event offers and enjoy discovering the range of health and wellness traders at Camberwell Junction.
On the day, participants swing by our Headquarters booth to grab their branded tote bag and the Wellness Trail Passport, which lists all activities taking place at participating businesses. As they explore the precinct, they'll discover hidden gems, sample what's on offer, and collect stamps along the way. Once their passports are complete, they'll head back to HQ to enter the Wellness Trail competition for a chance to win prizes generously donated by our amazing traders.
And if last year is anything to go by, we're in for something special. Every year, this event grows, with fantastic engagement, strong participation, and glowing feedback from both traders and trail-goers. There was buzz. There was energy. There were very full passports. Best of all? The event now has brand recognition, and people are excited to see it return. We strongly encourage traders to jump on board. This is your chance to welcome new faces through your door, showcase what makes your business shine, and turn curious visitors into loyal customers (with a little help from an irresistible offer, of course). Don't miss your opportunity to be part of a feel-good, high-energy community event that gets people moving, connecting, and spending locally.
How can you be involved? Here are some ideas to get you started:
• Organise an activity, event, demonstration or special guest for the day.
• Offer a free session or class on the day to introduce your business to new customers.
• If your business offers private classes or
consultations, host an open day to give people a taste of what you offer.
• Create a special offer for your products and services, such as a discount or a ‘buy one, get one free' deal, on the day or for another time.
• Give away free samples, such as a taste test of health foods or a sample of a cosmetic product. Consider offering vouchers to bring people back into your store.
• Hire promotional staff to engage trail walkers at your business or roam the precinct and invite guests into your business.
• Provide gifts, vouchers, or products for inclusion in the official event goodie bags.
• Provide a major prize for the competition — we love to have lots of winners!
We would love to hear how you want to be part of Camber-WELLBEING. Reach out to Association Manager Kerry Daly by phoning (03) 9813 4190 or emailing kdaly@camberwellca.com.au
Join the Committee
If you are interested in playing a more active role in shaping the Camberwell Junction precinct's future, we invite you to apply to join the traders' association committee. Committee members help set the business and marketing plans to steer local marketing initiatives, ensuring campaigns and promotions reflect the needs and ideas of the trader community. You'll also be among the first to receive key updates from Council, giving you early insight into projects, changes, and opportunities that may impact your business and the wider precinct.
We have a precinct manager and professional marketing team to do the heavy lifting, but your input is welcome, or you may be interested in a particular area of advocacy or governance. The committee is well-managed and friendly. If you're interested, contact Kerry Daly - kdaly@camberwellca.com.au
Marketing snapshot
A year in review
So much has happened this year, and we're really proud of how our community continues to grow, both online and in person. Our strong marketing presence allows us to reach a wider demographic and position Camberwell Junction as the place to be for all things food, shopping and socialising. Events like our Christmas Family Day, Halloween, and Camber-WELLBEING are big drawcards that help visitors discover the extensive range of traders in the precinct.
The sight of so many happy families filling the streets at our events is a highlight, and our events are designed to encourage people to roam the precinct with a trick-or-treat trail at Halloween or the Easter Hunt. Our Christmas Family Day featured a photo wall with a photographer to motivate visitors to post photos on their own social media and spread the word even further.
The Camberwell Culinary Awards is where our vibrant food scene can really shine, with participants voting on their favourite restaurants and cafés in a variety of categories. Entrants had to spend to enter, and the prize of a $500 shopping voucher also supported traders.
Here's a snapshot of the marketing activities we completed in the past year:
• Produced promotions, including advertising and competitions, for Valentine's Day, Easter, Mother's Day, and Christmas.
• Additionally, we assisted the council with the famous Kylie and Dannii Day, providing print and digital assets.
• Created and distributed 12 x detailed online monthly newsletters to our email database
• Created unique content, including 'Meet a Trader' business profile stories and short-form videos for social media, as well as guides for seasonal fashion, New Year, back to school, food and dining, Black Friday, and Halloween
• Ran regular Business Networking events and the trader's Christmas Party
• Produced 3 x issues of The Camberwell Citizen newspaper with 30,000 copies of each issue distributed to local homes, shops, and key locations
• Refreshed several SEO articles to improve our online profile and search engine performance
• Ran our fourth Camberwell Culinary Awards campaign, which included a competition, to highlight the food and dining category
• Advocated and petitioned for traders at the local council on key matters such as parking, dining parklets, and placemaking improvements
• Delivered regular updates to traders, including quarterly email and print newsletters.
Our online marketing activities continue to yield strong results. Here's a snapshot of Camberwell Junction’s digital audience numbers:
• More than 8000 email addresses in our subscriber database
• More than 183,000 visits to the websites over the past year
• More than 8300 followers on social media.
Easter and the Great Camberwell Easter Hunt
The Easter bunny and fairy are warming up for a visit to Camberwell Junction on Saturday, March 28. From 11am to 1pm, the duo will roam the streets of Camberwell Junction, handing out chocolate eggs. We'll keep everyone updated on the day via Instagram and Facebook stories, and we highly encourage you to post your story when the Easter bunny comes to visit your store (don't forget to tag us @camberwellshopping).
At the same time, the Great Camberwell Easter Hunt will be well underway, with shoppers taking to the streets to search for the golden eggs. This annual promotion is a favourite tradition for many families. The golden eggs will appear as posters in shop windows across the Camberwell Junction precinct. The prize? A $500 Camberwell Junction gift card. The game is all about exploring the precinct's new areas and stores. The more eggs they find, the more chances they have to win.
Leading up to the day, there will be scheduled social posts promoting the event and competition, including quality static grid posts, dynamic reels, and an extensive landing page on the website.
Marketing calendar
MARCH
✓ Labour Day (March 9)
✓ Easter promotions begin, including The Great Camberwell Easter Hunt
✓ St. Patrick's Day (March 17)
✓ Afterpay Day (March 19 – 22)
✓ Camberwell Business Forum - Camberwell Business Social Sessions (March 26)
✓ Autumn sales and promotions
✓ Easter activation (March 28)
APRIL
✓ School holidays (April 3 – 17)
✓ CamberWELL-BEING promotions begin
✓ Easter (April 3 – 5)
✓ Anzac Day (April 25)
MAY
✓ Mother's Day (May 10)
✓ CamberWELL-BEING (May 16)
Trader Portal
Regularly check the Trader Portal tab on the website for helpful business advice and resources. Examples of current articles that can help your business include tips and links for improving your digital security, government grants for small restaurants, and a business recycling and waste toolkit.
Visit: camberwellshopping.com.au/cca-association-news
Networking events
Meet other traders, professionals, and community members to share ideas and issues
Visit camberwellbusiness.com.au for details and subscribe to be kept abreast of local business events.
TRADER AND BUSINESS FORUMS
We're relaunching the Camberwell Business Forum with a new approach. Welcome to Camberwell Business Social Sessions — a space where you can come and connect with local businesses over drinks and nibbles after work.
The first Camberwell Business Social Sessions will run on Thursday, March 26, from 5.00pm to 7.00pm at East End Wine Bar. The event is open to all retail and service-based businesses in the local area.
This is a great opportunity to network with other traders and businesses in Camberwell Junction. Exchange ideas, share tips, and even find ways to collaborate.
The Camberwell Business Social Sessions are FREE for Camberwell Junction traders.
To book your tickets, visit: camberwellbusiness.com.au
CAMBERWELL BUSINESS CLUB
The Camberwell Business Club meets over a light lunch on the first Thursday of each month (from February to December). Meetings are held upstairs at Deco (211 Camberwell Rd) from 1pm – 2pm sharp, and feature a guest speaker. Casual guests are welcome, or membership packages are available. It's a great chance to meet fellow business operators.
Details and event tickets: camberwellbusinessclub.com.au
Professional service businesses
It is difficult to keep up with all the new businesses opening in the precinct – especially those located on upper levels – so if you're aware of any that need to be listed or removed from our website, please let us know.
The camberwellshopping.com.au website isn't just for retailers. If your business is located within the Camberwell Junction precinct and serves the public or collaborates with other small businesses, you're welcome to be featured as well. We can create a web page for you at no cost.
Our camberwellbusiness.com.au website promotes local business events. If you're planning a seminar or event, we're more than happy to help spread the word. Simply send your details to info@camberwellca.com.au
We have also set up a WhatsApp group chat just for Camberwell Junction traders so we can share relevant business alerts and keep you updated while on the go. It’s as simple as downloading the WhatsApp app on your mobile phone and scanning this QR code to keep up with our initiatives or simply to keep in touch.
Shop news
Catch up with new businesses, store moves and
other news
360 FINANCIAL STRATEGISTS
Suite 2, Waterman Business Centre, Level 1, 793 Burke Rd
Working with you to get financially fit, grow your wealth and pay down debt faster so you can live the life you want without worrying about money.
GOLDEN POTS HERO
662 Burke Rd
Try their signature Malatang claypot dishes. This restaurant brings together delicious, comforting flavours and a warm, inviting atmosphere.
NH BAKERY
Rear, 831 Burke Rd
NH Bakery is a hidden gem in Camberwell Junction serving up satisfying breakfast, lunch and snack options. It's the perfect spot to grab something on the go or enjoy a relaxed bite between errands.
MIZUKA SPA
Level 1, 706 Burke Rd
Mizuka Spa is a tranquil retreat in the heart of Camberwell Junction, offering authentic Japanese-inspired head spa, rejuvenating massages and relaxing reflexology treatments.
AUDIKA
Shop 2, rear, 576 Burke Rd
To celebrate World Hearing Day on March 3, Audika has professionals on hand to share information about the latest technological advances, tips and advice to support people with hearing loss.
ALTERIS FINANCIAL GROUP
Level 3, 293 Camberwell Rd
Alteris Financial Group provides financial advice and management for individuals and families across generations.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
PRESIDENT Henk Kelly-Kobes 9882 0032
SECRETARY
Bev Wooffindin Camberwell Secretariat 9813 2707
MEMBERS
Ray Orr Mail Boxes Etc 9813 2200
Wayne Chen
The Gift Bargain Store 0433 159 949
Neil Earle Earle & Company 9882 0233
George Keskerides
Terry White Chemist 9882 6655
VICE PRESIDENT Di Gillies Former Boroondara Councillor 0438 002 749
TREASURER
Brittany Unwin SC Accounting 8840 9188
Chris Risteski itsagame 0401 916 082
Kathryn Campbell Hats Off Handmade Headwear 0455 046 467
If you would like to become a member of the association or take a role on the committee contact the president to discuss.
SUPPORT FOR TRADERS
All traders are welcome to contact precinct manager Kerry Daly to discuss any marketing or relevant issues. Call (03) 9813 4190 or email kdaly@camberwellca.com.au
STAY INFORMED
The trader’s association sends out monthly email newsletters with current business, news and marketing updates to ensure you stay informed about what’s going on in the precinct. If you are not receiving these emails then we either do not have your current email address or you need to check your spam filters. Please contact us if you are having any issues with receiving the email newsletter.
CONTACT US
Our traders are also customers, so remember to check this webpage to see what special deals or offers are currently available when shopping or dining in Camberwell Junction. camberwellshopping.com.au/offers
For further information regarding topics in this newsletter, please contact Kerry Daly Camberwell Centre Association Manager
Lvl 1, Camberwell Place, 793 Burke Rd Camberwell VIC 3124
Phone / Fax: (03) 9813 4190 info@camberwellca.com.au