Astrid Jian

“Simply come back”: How are local family-run businesses staying afloat in a world of online reviews and social media?

As a trip to a local cafe, restaurant or bar has dropped down the list of priorities for many, we spoke to those behind the counter about how to capture a steady flow of clientele.

Profiles

Hidden treasure: The best vintage and antique stores in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs

Searching for a gift for that one friend who already has everything? Check out our list of vintage and antique stores across Melbourne’s east.

Guides

Think global, act local: How a Lilydale op shop and cafe built its own community

The cafe now has a fully furnished commercial kitchen, but it had humble beginnings: a coffee machine paid for by a few churchgoers.

Yarra Ranges

Could you get by "buying nothing"? This Croydon community group wants to make it happen

A number of Croydon locals have embraced a new philosophy of "hyperlocal gifting communities" - with participants providing context of why they would benefit from receiving a gift.

Maroondah

"Everything was done by hand": Box Hill fashion students show off their skills

Representatives from Melbourne Fashion Festival, Supré, and Converse attended Box Hill Institute's annual fashion parade late last year.

Whitehorse