Katrina Barker's Summer/Reliving store is a collaborative that showcases her own work, and a myriad of local businesseses that would normally struggle for main street attention.

That collaboration has worked effectively the last six years.

"My business is based on designing and producing ethically-made goods," Ms Barker said.

"As a designer of 25 years, I work for nine months creating and producing a unique range of hand-made cotton products before selling over the summer period. 

"My products are ethically produced out of India where women and women's groups are engaged in meaningful employment, where they receive a wage.

"At the local level, pop-ups work because they add a high level of vibrancy, colour, life and interest to a shopping area.

"We also engage with landlords of empty buildings."

Ms Barker says in her six years' experience, once her lease expires the landord is able to secure a longer term tenant.

"It's just a winning situation all round," she added.

Another successful collaboration and testing the pop-up market is Social Grounds and Pretty Rad.

Both have established stores elsewhere in Port Macquarie but decided to take the plunge and test drive the pop-up experience.

Social Grounds’ Andrew Bourke says the exposure of being in the CBD helps regenerate conversations with customers that may not have visited them in a while.

“This exposure helps our business, definitely,” he said.

”Also, it is a good vibe just being in town and being able to chat with locals and visitors. This is a prime position with lots of foot traffic and lots of engagement with visitors and locals.

“It is also good for our brand. As part of the Port Collective, we can also help locals and tourists navigate to similar thinking businesses.”

Mr Bourke says he will continue to look for further pop-up opportunities throughout the CBD.

Pretty Rad’s Matt Dobson says pop-up stores help fill empty stores during a peak period and provide a much more active and vibrant shopping experience.

”We are using this experience to further showcase our core store and our wholesale outlets,” he said.

“So it made sense for us to be involved.

"From our perspective, there is massive value in being involved in a pop-up and it helps create a vibe that we would not generally get in a smaller store.

"The value is in getting people to understand and know where our core store is and what we can provide to locals and visitors.

"Because a pop-up is new, it is an exciting time and busy time of the year and that generates a real vibe in the store.

"You can really notice that pop-ups generate a real energy."

Matt and Andrew says the pop-up experience also boosts their branding.

Member for Cowper, Luke Hartsuyker, says the holiday season is when many small businesses work their hardest and employ more locals to meet the demands of the Christmas retail trade period.

“It is important we back our small businesses which are the engine room of our economy and we can do this by shopping local this holiday season," he said.

“Locally you can find something special and truly unique for family, friends and loved ones to enjoy and the Mid North Coast has wonderful small businesses offering an abundance of choice.”

“The Christmas season provides a vital injection of cash and confidence boost for our community, and it is a chance to help our small businesses employ more local people and keep money flowing around our local economy,” Mr Hartsuyker said.

Mr Hartsuyker has also backed the Minister for Small Business Michael McCormack’s call to Australians this Christmas—buy local and shop local.

Summer/Reliving is in Horton Street Port Macquarie, near the clocktower while Pretty Rad and Social Grounds' pop-up is in Clarence Street opposite the old courthouse.