With stay-at-home orders in place across the state the NSW Government is encouraging people to jump online and buy regional.
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Deputy premier and minister for regional NSW John Barilaro said with many businesses in regional areas doing it tougher than ever now was the perfect time to support them.
He said more than 500,000 online shoppers have visited the Buy Regional website since it was launched in 2019 and encouraged more people in NSW to use it during lockdown.
"Buy Regional continues to go from strength to strength and provides critical economic stimulus to hundreds of businesses who have battled through drought, bushfires, floods and the continuing impacts of COVID-19," Mr Barilaro said.
"Many rural towns are seeing good harvests after much needed rains across the state over the last year, but in the face of the pandemic they still need your support, and there's no better way to help regional businesses than by giving them your business."
Among South Coast businesses registered on the buy regional website is 34 Degrees South Trading Company on the corner of Belinda and Noble Street, Gerringong.
Owner Tracey Buckley said she originally started the business online four years ago after moving to Gerringong a year earlier. She had been commuting to Sydney every day and wanted to start working closer to home. Then a year later added a bricks and mortar shopfront.
"It is a coastal inspired business," she said.
"We have shells, coral, coastal homewares. We wanted to try and cater for the local community with a gift shop as well. People can come and buy fresh flowers, cards and small pieces of furniture and home decor.
"I make my own candles, do my own flowers and we have a lot of local businesses who supply us with jewellery."
Mrs Buckley said the most difficult thing about the present lockdown is no one knows when it will end.
She is doing some click and collect at the shop door but is predominantly relying on online orders and doing deliveries in the Kiama local government area.
Mrs Buckley said the Buy Regional website was great because anything that encourages people to support regional businesses was very welcome.
"Every little bit helps," she said.
"We aren't doing well but we are surviving."
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Mrs Buckley said originally starting her business online really helped when she had to shut the shop door.
She was able to get everything online quickly in 2020 and then prepare for what might follow.
She said her husband Darrell Buckley had really helped her promote the business on social media.
"We have a local following which is really good," Mrs Buckley said.
"People in Gerringong are staying pretty close to home and only venturing out if they have to. Further afield we are getting more orders from NSW than any other state. I think that is because there are so many people in lockdown just like us."
Regional businesses can register on the Buy Regional website here.
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