Recap: Belonging – The New Business Metric?
The Newtown Enmore Business Community (NEBC) recently gathered at Dendy Cinemas for a powerful panel and networking session focused on the future of our local precinct. Local operators, creatives, and leaders across Newtown, Enmore, and Erskineville joined together to explore whether cultivating genuine community belonging is the key to high-street business survival in a digital-first economy.
Highlights & Key Takeaways
Purpose Over Transaction: Panelists Claire Van Vuuren (Bloodwood), Yumi Lee (Older Women's Network), Amy Low (The Social Outfit), Blanca Perera (Olotl), Amelia Birch (Famelia Wines), and Juana Granados (Foxy Fuzz) emphasized that reciprocal community engagement—not purely transactional business—is the core strategy driving our local precinct.
The Challenge of Complacency: As broader economic pressures move consumer behavior toward convenience, the room confronted a vital question: If we can't explicitly define what belonging looks like on the ground, how do we defend it?
Local Champions: A special thanks to Dendy Cinemas for hosting in their revitalized space, Marani Deli for catering, and La Foxy Fuzz for bringing Latin vinyl beats to set the mood.
Put Belonging Into Action: Love Where You Live
Sydney Community Foundation CEO spoke on turning these panel conversations into immediate, local impact through the Love Where You Live campaign. Every dollar donated is currently matched to support three vital local organisations:
Newtown Neighbourhood Centre
Plate It Forward
The Social Outfit
What’s Next?
The clear feedback from the room was to keep this momentum going. NEBC is actively planning the next session in our ongoing Conversation Series to continue sharing strategies on protecting our independent high streets.
Stay tuned for details on our next gathering—we look forward to seeing you there!
Event photos please credit Lachlan Bruce via @gooddecisions.au
