Shoppers are being encouraged to buy locally this Christmas.
Dannevirke Chamber of Commerce chairwoman Sue Berry said things are starting to warm up as far as spending is concerned.
"The Chamber of Commerce have just started the three-week promotion called 'Keep Calm and Shop in Dannevirke' which everybody gets behind and supports throughout the town.
"Basically, people shop at any member businesses and they go into win 10 lots of $200 which is drawn on the day of the Christmas parade," Berry said.
"This is the third year in a row that we've done it, and it just encourages people to spend locally because that's the big issue in a small town like Dannevirke."