Business is booming for one Illawarra family owned venture, who claim COVID-19 has brought a resurgence in local manufacturing and buying Australian products. DESIREE SAVAGE reports.
Thousands of tradies around the nation have helped keep a family-owned and run business alive, which little did they know began as a one-man-workshop under a home at Stanwell Park.
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Buckaroo leather manufacturer has thrived through the COVID-19 pandemic, having moved into a bigger premises six months ago and are preparing to launch their range of handmade tradie tool belts in the United States.
Their 36-year-old CEO Tanya Van Der Water believes the pandemic has renewed community spirit in Australians who also want to support local more than ever.
"[Business] just absolutely boomed and our growth has just been unprecedented, completely unexpected," she said.
"Our US push has just taken on a whole life of its own as a result of COVID-19 changing consumer habits."
Ms Van Der Water has been working in the family business since she was 18, while her older siblings decided to pursue other careers.
She saw the passion her father Kenneth had for leather work, and was appointed the sole owner around 10 years ago after he unexpectedly took ill and passed away.
"This was my dad's identity whereas I've chosen to take it down a bit of a different path," she told the Mercury.
"There was no transition period for us, so I kind of had to build the business off the back of what I wanted.
"My dad didn't have export or global dreams, he just wanted to make sure our family had grocery money. Whereas today, [the business is] definitely a force to be reckoned with."
Kenneth Van Der Water immigrated from South Africa with his family in the 1970s and brought his trade with him.
His passion for leather would see him working tireless hours, crafting belts, handbags, shoes and more in a small workshop underneath their Stanwell Park home.
Eventually it grew beyond the one-man-show when diversifying into specialised tool belts, crafted for miners and tradesman. These continue to be manufactured from start to finish in the Illawarra.
In the last year, Buckaroo produced more than 35,000 belts, more than 22,000 nail bags, and nearly 75,000 attachments (called "frogs").
For the next financial year, the company is forecasting these figures to heavily increase, "especially as our employee count grows and we expand into the factory next door".
It comes at a time of renewed efforts to encourage people to buy Australian made goods, by the Council of Small Businesses Organisations Australia (COSBOA), to help revive local business after a time of financial crisis.
The council has partnered with Australian Made for the Go Local First campaign, to help small businesses through the most difficult period since the Great Depression.
"By calling on Aussies to buy Australian, not only will we get products made to some of the highest quality and safety standards in the world," said Australian Made Chief Executive, Ben Lazzaro.
"We can create local jobs and economic activity that will aid in the recovery process, while also strengthening our local manufacturing capabilities.
"Every dollar spent on locally made and grown products has a direct impact on the livelihoods of Aussie makes, as well as the wider community."
Ms Van Der Water believes the COVID-19 pandemic has encouraged Aussies to support each other more than ever, which has directly impacted her business in a good way.
"Governments around the world haven't really been halting construction and building and ... the trends in that industry directly affect our sales," the CEO said.
"That's where we saw a massive uptake, not to mention the DIY element.
"We do tool belts for professionals, but everybody wanted to give DIY a go because they were at home and we found this new customer base."
Ms Van Der Water said Australia was experiencing a "resurgence" in manufacturing as people specifically sought out goods made here, and home grown businesses to support.
Because of their continued growth, Buckaroo moved their operations earlier in the year from North Wollongong to the former King Gee site on Bellambi Lane.
This was a conscious decision by their owner to breath life back into a building where manufacturing was once thriving.
"We wanted to choose an area that would allow us to explore our history a bit more, which is why we revived that warehouse," Ms Van Der Water said.
"We're now able to operate absolute start to absolute finish with our chain of production and distribution.
"Which is a pretty rare position to find businesses in these days, where mostly people rely on third party manufacturers or a distributor or marketing that's external - whereas we do it all ourselves.
"We are masters of our own destiny."
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Desiree Savage
At the helm of Australia's premier publication for people aged over 55, covering hard hitting issues, travel, lifestyle and entertainment. Got a hot tip? Email me - edit@TheSenior.com.au
At the helm of Australia's premier publication for people aged over 55, covering hard hitting issues, travel, lifestyle and entertainment. Got a hot tip? Email me - edit@TheSenior.com.au
