Firstly, congratulations to the 6 Shoalhaven events, who were awarded funding through the DNSW 2025/26 Regional Event Fund, this includes:
- The Bay Games
- Coastal Forage
- Milton Folk, Jazz and Blues Festival
- MAKE GOOD Festival
- SOW GOOD
- Bloomfield Festival.
We are excited to see these events come to life across the Shoalhaven over the next 12 months.
This month our focus is on how Collaborating with Local Businesses to Boost Your Event’s Reach.
Why Local Partnerships Matter
Local businesses are deeply embedded in the community and often have loyal customer bases. By collaborating with them, you tap into their networks, gain promotional support, and create a shared sense of ownership around your event. This can lead to increased attendance, stronger word-of-mouth promotion, and a more vibrant event atmosphere.
Ways to Collaborate
- Cross-Promotion: Ask businesses to display event posters, share social media posts, or include flyers in customer bags.
- Vendor Opportunities: Invite local cafes, food trucks, or artisans to participate as stallholders or sponsors.
- In-Kind Support: Seek donations of goods or services—such as catering, printing, or venue space—in exchange for promotional benefits.
- Workshops and Demos: Feature local artists or experts in your event programming to add value and showcase local talent.
Seeking Sponsorship
When approaching businesses for sponsorship, be clear about the benefits. Offer tailored packages that include logo placement, shout-outs on social media, and opportunities to engage directly with attendees. Include data on expected attendance, demographics, and past event success to strengthen your pitch. The events team have a sponsorship prospectus template you are welcome to use, if you need some assistance getting this started, email the team to request a copy.
Building Long-Term Relationships
Successful partnerships go beyond a single event. Follow up with sponsors, share event outcomes, and express gratitude. Building trust and showing appreciation can lead to ongoing support and deeper community ties.
Always remember: If you are hosting an upcoming event in Shoalhaven please remember to list it with the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW) or www.shoalhaven.com please reach out to the events team here. If you need any assistance, we’d love to hear from you.
