Australian made is having a moment in the sunshine. Right now, people are seeking out Australian made products.
We can grow sales by promoting Australian made products. I have seen this first-hand in-store and even online. If you lead with the Australian made opportunity it can be easier to win a purchase of that ahead of similar non Australian made.
There are social media groups, local and national, dedicated to promoting businesses that support Australian made.
I think this is an opportunity for newsagents. It’s hard work though, much harder than buying in cheap China product and marking that up by 150%.
The Australian made shopper is more loyal in my experience.
If you want to engage with promoting Australian made, it starts with making sure you know the source of what you sell. This means asking suppliers and listening carefully to their answers.
You could test it out for yourself, focus on one supplier and even one line that you know is designed and 100% made in Australia. Promote it through that prism and cause shopper engagement. Use social media to explain your story, the research you did. Build trust.
If shoppers engage, respond well and spend, that could be the encouragement you need.
Australian made matters more today as a result of COVID-19 than it did before. It’s an opportunity for engaged retailers.
As rare as the Tasmanian Tiger: Manufactured Product, made in Australia by Australians, using only Australian sourced materials and working for an Australian owned business. Needs to be price competitive, particularly in the current environment and significantly better quality than competitors.
There are plenty of suppliers in the Australian designed, Australian made ethically sourced space in my experience. I’ve found price less of an issue. Local sourcing and good quality are the key factors.