Hot off the press
What’s happening in the Junction? June 2012
It’s been a while since we have done a newsletter, but felt it timely to ensure you all get an update on what the NJ Strategic Working Group have been doing for the Junction.
Your probably aware we have some new owners of businesses – the following have changed hands recently: Lazuli Blue (now Shades), Continental Cafe, Alice Palace (now XS Fashion), Forget-Me-Nots (now called Nest), Snack is having a refurb and will be called Cafe Noisette and Eat Me will have new owners in the next few days.
A couple of businesses have moved location: Happy Herbs has moved across Sunshine Beach Road and Thai Massage by Sunantha has moved to the old NAB building.
There have been a few empty shops filled: tBase has moved into the shop on the corner of Arcadia, Jay India into Arcadia, the Reject Shop into the Noosa Fair and Underground Surf into Noosa Drive. There is a new tenant moving into the shop next door to Computer Troubleshooters. And finally there is a New Mexican Restaurant moving into a long time vacant shop and rumours are, another Restaurant in Sunshine Beach Road.
Our Face book page is doing well – I encourage everyone to take a look www.facebook.com.au/noosajunctionand if you haven’t already, become a fan. Our fan numbers are growing consistently and is currently about 280, check-ins have broken 2,000 and our reach has been as high as 5,000. We are happy with the progress but would like more of the Noosa Junction Businesses to get involved – this page is for you! It has been designed to spread your word to a wider audience. A number of training sessions have been held and some one-on-one help conducted over the last couple of months.
The Noosa Junction Web Site www.noosajunction.orgis constantly updated with your latest information and some minor changes have been made to the home page. Please check that your information is current and correct.
Destination Brochure(the one with the map in the middle) has been reprinted and is being distributed through resorts, accommodation houses and Information Centres around the Sunshine Coast. This means our first 12,000 brochure are out there in circulation and the next 12,000 are well on their way.
Customer Satisfaction Surveyhas been underway through June – perhaps some of you have seen the ladies in the street. 300 people (plus those completing the on-line survey) will be asked a number of relevant questions about Noosa Junction. These results will be available shortly and will give us information and a base line that will help us plan and measure future programs. We will share this information with you as it becomes available.
Free WiFi for the Junction– equipment is now ready for a whole of Junction roll-out of a public WiFi network. This will mean that our visitors will be able to access the internet from anywhere in the Junction. This is a great initiative that will give us a point of difference from other shopping precincts. Computer Troubleshooters will be rolling out the equipment in a progressive manner and will be approaching some businesses in key locations for their help. We would ask that businesses help out where they can (there will be no additional costs to any business) to make this a huge success. Further details will be circulated in due course.
Art in Empty Windowsinitiative – we have been negotiating with property owners to display art in their empty shop fronts. There are currently 2 windows one displaying pottery and the other photography and we have 2 artists with paintings waiting on access. This is about getting some life into those shopfronts that are currently empty. If you know of anyone who might be interested in displaying their talent please let me know.
A Major Promotion for July/ August is being finalised to inject cash back into the Junction. Details will be available very soon and will involve all businesses in the Junction. The prize will be a serious cash spending spree that will be spent back into the Junction through August. We are not asking business for anything other than your participation, which will be helping customer with their entries. Details coming soon. It should be noted that the local press will be helping us to promote this program.
Last thing is that the Trans Ocean Women’s Golf Challenge in July has been cancelled. Unfortunately with the state of the economy, there were a number of last minute player withdrawals which made the competition unviable. (It is interesting to note that the PGA comp in Townsville for later in the year has also been cancelled.) As a result of our sponsorship/involvement in this event the organisers have been able to give us a couple of accommodation packages at the RACV Noosa as compensation, which will now be used as additional rewards in the above promotion.
By for now
John Waterhouse
Town Centre Officer - Noosa Junction