That is the aim of the Southern Highlands Chamber of Commerce (SHCCI) chairman Kurt Newman.

"I believe if we can get the business side right in the Highlands, the rest will flow - such as employment opportunities, and services and facilities," he said.

Celebrating its one year anniversary in December, SHCCI now has 172 members and good working relationships with the Moss Vale Chamber and the council.

It was formed when the Bowral, Mittagong, Berrima and Southern Highlands Business Chambers merged.

To support local businesses, SHCCI has run courses on how to make themselves more visible online and how to grow their business using customer recommendations and reviews.

In the coming year, it will also work closely with Destination Southern Highlands to encourage locals to shop local, as well as encourage visitors to view the Highlands as a shopping destination, and attract new businesses to the region.

Destination Southern Highlands' Steve Rosa said a revamp of the My Southern Highlands campaign was planned.

"The campaign was established seven years ago primarily to reward locals for being tourism ambassadors but it now morphing into a focus on local business.

"We are looking to value add with SHCCI and bring more businesses on board and build up the services section - businesses such as the butcher, baker, florist and tyres," he said.

"We are looking for local businesses to come up with a great offer that is valid between January 1 and June 30, 2015."

Mr Rosa said that a main aim of the campaign was to build community pride in the quality of businesses the Highlands already had here.

"There is also the multiplier effect - when you spend money with a business you are not only helping the people who own that businesses, but those linked to the business such as their accountant, the local suppliers, their cleaners etc.

"We want to keep money in the area and create jobs," Mr Rosa said.

Mr Rosa said that shopping had always been a big drawcard for Highlands tourists.

"It is a boutique shopping destination, with unique experiences and products. Each village has its own positioning - Moss Vale is really coming along as a vintage area, Berrima is established as an arts and craft centre, and a lot more local producers are now open to the public.

"In 2015 we are looking to create shopping time as a dedicated marketing event along the same lines as wedding time and wine time," he said.

Mr Newman believes 2015 will be a big year for local business.

"We have already drawn many stakeholders together to work for the greater good, and we hope to work with more groups to help Highland businesses succeed," Mr Newman said.