It makes sense when you think about it. Unemployment is up, more people are either out of work or not getting the hours they want. These people and those close to them are more likely to preference Australian made is they have a choice.
Buying Australian made is a choice plenty of Aussies lean into. This is more true I think in economic conditions in which we find ourselves at the moment.
In the greeting card space it is easy for us to pitch Australian made in newsagencies. All we have to do is to turn the card over and point to printed in Australia, which you will see on cards from several Australian card companies. That these businesses are also Australian owned is a bonus. That their cards perform well, driving good year on year results, extends the bonus.
If you stock Australian made cards, pitch that on social media and in-store. Be grateful and proud to support Australian made. This is a good shop local pitch without sprouting the cliche chop local lines. A photo is a good social media pitch, each too.
When people talk about unemployment or the economy we can join in the conversation, or we can show through our actions that we are doing what we can to support Australian jobs and the Australian economy. Greeting cards are an excellent place in our businesses for doing this.
I think it is better for us to show through our actions and for me the easiest and best step we can take is to preference Australian made products. It’s an easy step we can take, too, with a guaranteed win based on the data I see from hundreds of newsagencies.
If you have Australian made cards, be sure your staff know how to pitch Australian made, talk about it on social media, talk about your commitment to Australian made in the context of helping address unemployment, show them at the counter, use shelf-talkers in-store and be proud.
card companies with non Australian made cards may pitch deals to buy your business. While it’s up to you, I am of the firm view that Australian made is a big selling benefit here right now, and we have hundreds and hundreds of wonderful Australian made cards we can stock.
The local Aussie newsagency should, in my view, be the best place in town pitching Australian made.
I work at an Australian owned card company that prints locally and I can’t tell you how much this means to me and to all of us I think. I am sure we will discuss it tomorrow because we are a small business competing with big American companies and to be seen like this makes my heart sing so thank you very much.
I do agree with your advice to newsagents about how to promote Australian made cards as I think it matters a lot in their businesses if they want locals to shop with them rather than overseas owned businesses like amazon.
Thanks again.
Olive.