Vibrant and active precincts
Explore initiatives, tools, and support for thriving precincts, including our guide: Shops that Shine: Visual Merchandising.
About Brisbane’s business precincts
Brisbane's business precincts are alive with shopping and dining opportunities.
As Brisbane prepares for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Council aims to promote precincts and enhance their value.
Brisbane’s has 3 types of precincts, each with unique identities:
- central precincts
- industrial precincts
- retail precincts.
If you’re a business owner, we offer tools and resources to help attract customers to your local precinct.
Support for local retail precincts
Growing Precincts Together program
Local retail precincts are the heart of our communities.
Council’s Growing Precincts Together program supports retailers with resources to promote, refresh, and activate their businesses and local areas.
Some of the areas that have benefitted from our hands-on support include:
- Banyo Village
- Racecourse Road, Hamilton
- Rosalie Village
- Wynnum Town Centre
Learn more about the Growing Precincts Together program.
Artwork for vacant shopfronts
Property owners or agents with vacant shops can apply for vibrant decals on their front windows.
The themed decals are designed to attract new tenants by making vacant shopfronts more visually appealing.
They also highlight their potential business use of the store and help to improve the streetscape.
Find out more and how to apply for art decals.
Support for Brisbane’s nighttime economy
The city's nighttime economy supports thousands of jobs and generates millions of dollars in revenue each year.
To support this vital part of the economy, Council promotes initiatives and activities to encourage people to enjoy Brisbane's nightlife.
Visual merchandising guide
Our Shops that shine - Guide to visual merchandising has been developed to help retail businesses to:
- improve store presentation and customer experience
- maximise sales opportunities.
Download the guide.
The guide provides expert information and tips that can help:
- attract customers to your store
- keep customers in-store for longer
- boost sales
- build your brand recognition and customer loyalty.
Why visual merchandising matters
Visual merchandising helps products stand out and encourages more sales, whether customers are browsing in person or online. It turns shoppers into buyers by guiding decisions, boosting transaction value, and showing how products work together.
Real retail success comes from crafting experiences that connect with customers and bring them back for more. From windows and signage to layout and sensory elements, visual merchandising helps turn foot traffic and online views into revenue.
How to use the guide
The guide includes simple steps, top tips and checklists to maximise the potential of your retail space. The guide offers quick wins and advanced visual merchandising principles, covering topics suitable for all retailers, such as:
- signage and kerb appeal
- window and in-store displays
- store layout and customer flow
- planning and product strategies
- building your display toolbox.
More information
For more information about the guide:
- email Council
- phone Council's Business Hotline on 133 263 (133 BNE).
Engaging with customers and the community
Council encourages business leaders, trade groups and individual retailers to build relationships with each other and the local community.
This can contribute to additional foot traffic and potential customers for businesses in your local precinct.
You can get involved in initiatives, activations and activities to help drive connections with customers and residents in your area.
Boost your precinct
Discover our Precinct Playbook online resources to help make your local centre more active, attractive and connected.
The information and advice can be applied to all retail precincts, regardless of their size.
Increasing the visibility of your area can drive customer growth.
Tips for events and activations
Events and activations can help your local retail precinct engage with customers.
We’ve pulled together some ideas, including coupon flyers and pop-up markets, and provided simple steps for success.
Pop-up shops
Pop-up shops can help draw new interest to retail precincts. They can showcase new products to local customers and draw potential new customers.
Pop-ups can also show how empty spaces and premises can be used by new businesses.
Find out how to get started when planning a pop-up shop.
Precinct data
Find and analyse precinct data with community profiles using the latest demographic, social and economic data.
Discover more with our community profiles tool.
Better access for your customers
Improve business access and connect with people using the steps, tips, and checklist in our Better Access, More Customers guide.
Simple changes can make a big difference.
