Nimbin Business Survey 2025

Background

Outcomes placed significant responsibilities for action on the Chamber. It was agreed that a business survey would give valuable insights to assist us in establishing priorities and focussing on areas that matter most to our community. Surveys can also deliver crucial data that support efforts to secure funding and attract grants for specific purposes. As the Nimbin business chamber is small it’s vital our resources are used wisely and efficiently.

Survey Overview

• 82 surveys were distributed via email to all businesses in our data base, with a link provided through social media platforms.

• We received 31 responses, representing a solid sample size for valuable insights.

• 64% of respondents were located in Nimbin village.

• Of those 28% operated retail businesses, 17% health & fitness.

Priorities identified by respondents as a focus for the Chamber:

• Enhancing the visitor experience emerged as a top priority, (68% of respondents)

• Establishing a physical Visitor Information Centre (61% support this idea).

• A calendar of local events and activities (48%).

• Expanding the Buy Local initiative (45%).

• Creating more opportunities for youth including events, youth focused activities, work experience and employment opportunities

Key Findings

• 3% of businesses identified as completely reliant on tourism (compared to 22% in 2017)
  

• 26% reported no dependence on tourism (compared to 14% in 2017). 
  

• Over 60% of respondents have been in business for over 5 years, meaning most predate bushfires, the COVID-19 pandemic and floods. 
  

• Most Nimbin businesses are small. 44% of business respondents were owner-operated, while 19% employed 2 full time equivalent employees (FTEs). Only 4 respondents employed 6 or more FTEs.

• Communication Preferences

  • Respondents overwhelmingly identified email as the most effective communication tool for the Chamber (followed by social media). This has been noted. We will continue to prioritise work on our website which not only provides detailed information about our activities but also serves to promote local businesses. 

• Challenges Facing Local Businesses were identified as:

  • Economic conditions, including rising energy costs and insurance challenges (61% of respondents don’t have flood or fire insurance).

  • Staffing issues, particularly in hospitality—this was identified by 6 businesses.

  • The complexity of regulations and red tape that often slows progress.

Two recurring themes for action emerged from the survey responses:

• Main Street Maintenance - many respondents called for greater Council maintenance of the main street and the western car park.

• Beautification - there’s strong interest in improving village aesthetics — greening the main street, enhancing shopfronts, and sprucing up the rear of shops.
  

The Nimbin Business Rate

The funds we receive from the Nimbin Business Rate, $18,000 this financial year, is collected by the council from local village business property owners. This is the Chamber’s main income source.

We also have mural donation tins in many village businesses that raise funds to support our work on maintaining and enhancing our murals.

The survey showed a variety of responses regarding how Nimbin Business Rate funds should be allocated, with no clear consensus on a single priority. However, some common themes emerged:

• Main street improvements (ambience, greening, murals) were consistently ranked high.

• Promotion of events via social media, and the Buy Local campaign also emerged as priorities.

• Support for Chamber-managed events and workshops to further the business community’s growth.

Responding to the findings:

• Enhancing the visitor experience Alongside other initiatives the Chamber will make a submission to Council’s budget for funds to be set aside to establish a visitor information centre (VIC). The Chamber is also lobbying for the St Vincent’s building in Cullen Street to be purchased by Council to provide a home for a VIC.
  

• Working with local schools, businesses and government agencies to provide meaningful work experience for our youth and expanding their training and employment opportunities will continue as a focus of the Chamber’s work.
  

• Main Street Maintenance This will remain a top priority for the Chamber. We will continue to lobby the Council for increased maintenance, and we’ll submit a budget proposal to address these concerns. 
  

• Greening & Beautification It’s clear that businesses want a greener, well-maintained and more aesthetically pleasing environment. In determining initiatives it’s necessary to consider ongoing maintenance. Who will be responsible for caring for the greenery and keeping the murals intact? The Chamber has been the main driver of mural restoration for decades. In an ideal world a property owner decides to restore their mural and approaches the Chamber for financial support. This doesn’t happen often enough, and it's invariably left to the Chamber to oversight the process. For now the Chamber will be the main driver of mural restoration but will also support approaches from local businesses who would like to contribute to public art.
  

• Event Promotion The survey registered strong support for events like Mardi Grass and the Farmers' Market, with 65% of respondents identifying Mardi Grass as one of their top 3 events. We’ve already allocated sponsorship to Mardi Grass and, following Aquarius50 celebrations, have directed funds to the Aquarian Archive who are planning to digitize much of Nimbin’s post Aquarian history, material that has been collected over decades. The Chamber will consider sponsoring other events on request.
  

• Buy Local Moving forward the Chamber is working on:

  • A more robust promotional plan for local markets.

  • Utilizing social media to raise awareness and attract customers.

  • Supporting initiatives like Visit Nimbin and Local Heroes.

  • The Nimbin Village online platform, a new project from Aether, will also help promote local businesses.

  • While the Chamber supported the Council’s recent Mother’s Day Buy Local initiative, the feedback suggests it wasn’t as effective as hoped. We plan to work on making this more effective next year and maybe implemented for other significant calendar events.
    

• Chamber membership Promoting the benefits of Chamber membership with a view to increasing our membership base is considered important to the ongoing viability of the Chamber.

Looking Ahead

The current management committee of the Chamber is committed to being a resource for local businesses, advocating for the changes you want to see, creating solutions that respond to concerns and needs while creating a thriving business environment in our community and reflecting priorities identified from the survey.