More than two dozen artisans have combined to help launch a new e-commerce platform to promote their wares.
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Gerringong-based entrepreneur Kate Mather designed South Coast Artisans Online Shop to support local businesses impacted by bushfires and COVID-19.
Ms Mather said some local artisans have experienced a 90 per cent fall in taking.
"With many artisans relying on local markets to sell their wares or workshops to teach their skills, social distancing measures and lockdowns have torn the hearts of out their businesses," she said.
"Especially those without a robust digital presence".
Ms Mather operates holiday and accommodation website South Coast Experiences and said the new platform was part of a long-term business expansion plan.
The arrival of COVID-19 brought that forward and she designed, built and launched the website within a month.
"When social distancing measures were introduced, and visitors started postponing bookings, I could see that I needed to pivot rapidly into South Coast Artisans Online Shop," Ms Mather said.
South Coast artisans were quick to respond and ensure the platform hit the web with a wide variety of products and services to offer.
"South Coast Artisans is a way for the public to support the South Coast SME community that's been so affected by business and visitor losses in 2020," Ms Mather said.
Caroline Bloomfield, who makes handcrafted luxury candles and diffusers at her business Willowvale Road, said she signed up to be part of the online shop because being grouped with other like-minded local businesses provided more chance of being noticed by online shoppers looking to support small businesses in the region.
South Coast Artisans Online Shop features many small to medium sized enterprises ranging from potters, fashion designers, candlemakers, jewellers, photographers, freelance writers, kelp farmers, beauticians and card designers.
Read more:
- NSW Government business support fund expanded to include wineries, cellar doors, spirit distilleries and microbreweries
- Survey of independent breweries raises concerns about them surviving COVID-19
- Small brewers and wine producers on the South Coast offered a lifeline by Dan Murphy's and BWS
- Easing of COVID-19 dine-in restrictions at eateries from Friday welcome in Wollongong
- Wollongong's Headlands Distilling Company expands its range of spirits
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