One hundred retailers across Launceston’s CBD will throw open their doors this Saturday for a massive shopping event aimed at rallying support for local businesses.
Love Launnie Open Day will feature special deals, in-store activities, free live entertainment in the Brisbane Street Mall and the chance to win a $1,000 shopping voucher along with hourly prize giveaways.
The event is backed by Launceston Central, a not-for-profit group engaged by the City of Launceston to promote events and local businesses in the city centre.
Shoppers who spend $20 or more in the CBD can bring their receipts to the Launceston Central marquee in Brisbane Street Mall between 10am and 3pm to enter the shop-to-win contest.
The Love Launnie campaign has been run in various forms over the years and was most recently revived during the COVID pandemic to encourage local shopping and has been brought back as retailers face fresh challenges with fuel prices.
“The fuel crisis is creating a lot of uncertainty for both customers and business owners. Gratefully, one challenge we don’t have now is that we can safely gather and connect, something we know can be taken for granted,” chief executive of Launceston Central Gab Dicarlantonio said.
“Love Launnie Open Day invites everyone to get out into community and experience the personal attention and expertise you can only get from shopping in person.”
Free entertainment on the day will include live music from all-women brass band The Chromosomes from 11am-1pm, a fashion parade at 1:15pm, balloon art with Marcelle and a circus play area with SuperSillyUs Circus.
Henry Watson from the City of Launceston will also lead guided mural tours of the CBD’s latest additions at 10:30am and 12:30pm.
The campaign doesn’t end on Saturday.
Shoppers can keep entering shop-to-win contests at the 100 participating retailers throughout May and June using a Love Launnie Shopping Passport.
Weekly giveaways will be followed by a grand prize of $2,500 after June 30.
The passport is available online from May 1, with a limited number of physical copies on hand at the marquee on Open Day.
