A spokesperson says the chamber is taking a stronger lead in creating the platform for a more vibrant main street.

It has identified short, mid and long term actions that will assist in re-energising and empowering the retail community.

But the issue of vacant shops is not unique to Laurieton or the Camden Haven area, the spokesperson said.

While acknowledging that vacancies exist, the chamber says there has been a steady influx of new businesses appearing over the years.

"The rapidly changing retail landscape is resulting in vacant retail spaces across Australia," the spokesperson said.

"This is a trend we are looking to learn from as we have identified examples of vibrant and thriving main streets with boutique shopping experiences in regional towns such as Sawtell, Bangalow and Bellingen," the spokesperson said.

"Collaboration is vital for the future prosperity of the central business district."

One of Bold Street's longest serving business operators, Camden Haven Travel's Jenny Peters agrees but says property owners must be part of any solution.

A former chamber president, Mrs Peters has been in business since 1978 and says the current situation is the worst she has experienced.

Mrs Peters agreed there was no single solution to the issue but has a suggestion.

"Perhaps the property owners could look to relax their rents and look to renovating and upgrading their premises," she said.

"Why would you pay rent when you could, potentially, work from home or operate a mobile office.

"Of course you immediately lose that sense of community and the forming of relationships with people if that trend were to continue. "That is a real downside," she said.

But the long term business operator can see a silver lining in the number of new residents moving to the area.

The Kew and Kendall areas are likely to see an influx of some 5500 people over the next two decades.

Mrs Peters sees that as an opportunity.

"With so many people moving to the area, we need to ensure we meet their expectations and help them enjoy the shopping experience in Laurieton," she said.

"Many of these people are shopping in Port Macquarie or Taree because of the bigger variety on offer.

"But we have to provide these people with what they want and provide that level of personal service they won't get from larger centres.

"We also need to look at high foot traffic businesses that help bring shoppers into particular parts of Bold Street," she said.

The increasing number of online shoppers was also a trend that caused concern for almost every business.

"But that's just not confined to Laurieton, that is an Australia-wide phenomenon," she added.

The chamber says it is committed to improving the success of local retail business through empowerment and advocacy.

Chamber understands the value of tourism and the visitor economy, which contribute to the success of local retail businesses, and supports this through the tourism marketing subcommittee, the spokesperson said.

"The chamber is of the opinion that there is no single solution. Collaboration is needed between business owners, landlords, chamber, local government and state government to innovate and work on projects together.

"A new retail subcommittee has been formed and will have access to the same support and tools that have assisted the Slice of Haven, iKew Visitor Information Centre, the Tourism Marketing Co-op and Creek to Creek Queens Lake Trail to thrive and achieve pleasing results.

"In collaboration with council, a visual merchandising workshop will be held in Laurieton on Thursday May 9.

"The chamber will continue to encourage collaboration, empowerment and advocate strongly, to ensure our retailers, whose fixed costs contribute to the local economy and fabric of the Camden Haven community, thrive," the spokesperson said.