F.Y.I.

Treasurer Josh Frydenburg launches Australian made online store

The Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenburg has launched Buy Aussie Now, an online store for Australian products owned by Australian businesses. Frydenburg has also announced a new tick of approval system for Australian made products.

The announcement:

Federal Treasurer, The Hon. Josh Frydenberg, has launched Australia’s one-stop-shop to purchase Aussie made and owned products at a chocolate factory in Croydon, in outer eastern Melbourne.

“Buy Aussie Now” (www.buyaussienow.com.au and @buyaussienow) is Australia’s largest online marketplace supporting Aussie businesses across nine categories – women’s, men’s, kids and baby, home and lifestyle, beauty and health, food and beverage, toys and games, pets, and gifts.

With a soft launch during the post-Christmas sales, an astonishing 15,000 products are already on the marketplace, as the current 6,500 registered businesses start to activate their “stores” on Buy Aussie Now to sell to millions of new, Aussie customers.

Inspired by the Aussie spirit of mateship, Buy Aussie Now started as a simple Instagram page in March 2020, in response to the unrelenting pressure faced by Australian small businesses in the wake of the terrible bushfires and subsequent pandemic, which continues to cripple and challenge many businesses trying to keep their doors open.

With thousands of businesses reaching out needing a helping hand and the founders seeing a gap in the market, the company raised $850,000 in its initial “start-up phase” to develop the online store, and is currently in the market for its significant phase two raise.

Buy Aussie Now Chief Executive Officer, Chris White, is thrilled to be working with what will become hundreds of thousands of Australian businesses in the coming years.

“2020 taught us all that it is important for each of us to always support our friends, family and local communities. We really can make a difference with every conscious shopping decision that we make. So many Australians want to support Aussie owned and made businesses but haven’t had a spot to go. Buy Aussie Now is the answer,” said Mr. White.

“In effect, Buy Aussie Now is an Aussie made and owned Amazon. But the big difference is that the profits and importantly jobs, stay here in Australia. This is something we are all very proud of and is an important part of our ongoing legacy,” he said.

“The support of the Australian Government throughout the pandemic, which continues today, even with state and territory Governments closing borders and adopting lockdowns, has helped many businesses survive. We are thrilled to have the Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg officially open Buy Aussie Now in what we believe is a game-changer for Aussie SME’s,” he said.

According to Roy Morgan, 9 out of 10 Australians prefer to shop Australian made and owned, yet until now, no-one had created a “go to” destination to shop locally.

In addition, Australia Post believes online shopping will reach a staggering $35 billion this year and it forecast to outstrip bricks-and-mortar retail growth by more than 400% for the rest of the decade.

To mark the official opening, Buy Aussie Now also unveiled a new “tick of approval”’ (pictured above) to help Australian shoppers identify businesses that are 100% Australian owned, and products that are 100% Australian made.

Once approved as a “seller” on Buy Aussie Now, Aussie businesses will be able to use the “tick of approval” on their websites, marketing collateral, social media, and of course their products at no charge.

“The Buy Aussie Now ‘tick of approval’ will be free for all Australian businesses once they have been approved for sale. Every cent counts for small businesses, as many are in survival mode, and this is a simple way that can help them drive additional sales and marketing support,” said Mr. White.

“We know the free Buy Aussie Now tick of approval will become shorthand for homegrown quality, supporting local families and communities, and the assurance that profits from all sales stay right here in Australia,” he said.

The tick of approval will be officially available in the next 10-12 weeks with Melbourne’s Ministry of Chocolate the first to receive it during today’s launch.

Source: HotHouse Media & Events media release

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