Introducing Moonta Monday: Getting to know the people and businesses behind our town

People can't support what they don't know exists.

It's something I've been saying a lot lately, and it's the whole reason I started Moonta Monday.

When I bought The Moonta Collective, one of the first things I did was put a lot of energy into promoting the shop on social media. I wanted people to know who we were, what we stocked and why they should pop in.

What surprised me was how many locals had absolutely no idea the shop existed.

And the funny thing is, The Moonta Collective had already been here for years before I took over.

It got me thinking. If people living in Moonta didn't know about my shop, how many other fantastic local businesses were they missing?

That's where Moonta Monday came from.

So, what is Moonta Monday?

Moonta Monday is a little video series I started to shine a light on the businesses and people who make our town what it is.

Each week, I visit a local business, have a chat with the people behind it and share a bit about what they do, what makes them special and why you should visit.

It's not about producing fancy advertisements or telling people where they should spend their money.

It's about introducing you to the people behind the counter, giving you a look inside businesses you might have walked past a hundred times and hopefully helping you discover something new.

Because sometimes all it takes is a little introduction.

There's so much more here than people realise

One thing I've noticed since moving to the Yorke Peninsula is that people tend to stick to what they know.

Visitors come back to the same holiday spots, eat at the same places and follow the same routines. And even locals can go years without realising what's available just around the corner.

We've got some genuinely fantastic businesses here, run by people who put an enormous amount of time, energy and love into what they do.

But being good at what you do doesn't automatically mean people know about you.

And that's the gap I'm hoping Moonta Monday can help close.

The response has been pretty special

One of my favourite things about the series has been hearing from people who've discovered somewhere new because of it.

I've had locals thank me for introducing them to businesses they didn't know existed.

Others have told me they've always wondered what was inside a particular shop but felt a bit intimidated walking in. After seeing the video and meeting the owner, they felt much more comfortable popping in.

And I've had business owners tell me that people have visited after watching their episode.

That's exactly what I hoped would happen.

Not just people watching another video on social media, but actually getting out, exploring and supporting the businesses around them.

Why it matters

The Yorke Peninsula is a beautiful place to live and visit, but we're also a very seasonal region.

So many businesses rely on the summer months, when visitors flock to the coast. Once the holidays are over, things can become much quieter.

I'd love to see that change.

I want people to realise there's plenty to see, do, eat, drink and discover here throughout the year.

And I want local businesses to have every opportunity to succeed, because thriving small businesses mean stronger communities, more jobs and more reasons for people to stay and build their lives here.

Moonta Monday is only a small part of that, but I think it's a pretty good place to start.

Come along for the ride

We'll be sharing Moonta Monday episodes through The Moonta Collective's Facebook and Instagram pages, introducing you to more of the people and places that make Moonta special.

If you discover somewhere new, go and check it out. Share the video with a friend. Tell someone about a business you love.

And if there's a local business you think deserves a little extra attention, I'd love to hear about it.

Because the more we know about what's available on our doorstep, the more opportunities we have to support it.

And that's good for everyone.

Jacqui
Owner, The Moonta Collective and creator of Moonta Monday