Buy From The Bush and PayPal are calling on Aussies to shop local and support rural communities ahead of Christmas this year, thanks to a new online marketplace launching today – changing country lives with the click of a button.
The new Buy From The Bush Marketplace, sponsored by PayPal, is an easy-to-use, safe and secure online hub to discover beautiful and unique products while supporting rural and regional small businesses. More than 250 small businesses have already signed up to the marketplace to give Aussies more opportunities to buy local while bridging the gap between the city and the bush.
It’s been a year since Buy From The Bush (BFTB) took the nation by storm. Founded by Grace Brennan in October 2019, the movement champions businesses doing it tough due to drought and bushfires. With 450,000 followers on social media, BFTB has created real, sustained change that has rippled across the country. The Buy From the Bush movement also champions regional Australian women, with 97% of participating businesses being female-owned[i].
Grace Brennan, Buy From The Bush founder said: “We are so excited to have worked in partnership with PayPal to build this unique marketplace. We are connecting our amazing network of bush businesses with the wider Aussie community, just in time for the Christmas gifting season. Our makers and retailers all have a unique story and we can’t wait for Aussies to discover and support these talented individuals.
“With the pandemic driving so much Christmas shopping online, people will want to get in early to make sure everything arrives on time. We hope Aussies in the cities and suburbs look to the bush for Christmas shopping this year and by so doing, invest in helping rural communities recover and thrive.”
Now, more than ever, the Australian community is coming together to support local businesses and communities in the wake of COVID-19 and the economic downturn. PayPal’s recent 2020 eCommerce Index reveals two-in-five Australians (38%) are already consciously supporting local businesses to help their recovery from the pandemic.
The PayPal study also found that fifteen percent (15%) of Australian consumers started shopping online for the first time due to COVID-19 and nearly two-in-five (38%) respondents said they will continue a higher level of online shopping once the pandemic is over.[ii]
Many of the rural small businesses involved in BFTB don’t have a website with the ability to accept sales. At a time when eCommerce has never been more important, the new BFTB Marketplace gives these businesses a safe, efficient, and permanent home to sell their products online for the first time. It also helps connect city dwellers with the bush, which is particularly important as many Australians are currently restricted from travelling to rural communities.
Danielle Grant, PayPal Consumer Shopping Expert said of the partnership: “With Christmas just around the corner and Aussies starting to think about buying gifts, we knew it was the perfect time to support local bush businesses by building a platform that could bring these unique brands to everyday Aussies. Through the marketplace, Aussies can find something for everyone this year – from Australian made clothing and handcrafted homewares through to gourmet jams and handmade jewellery.
“With so much to choose from we have no doubt that Aussies will embrace the new Buy From The Bush Marketplace and discover beautiful gifts for friends and family – with the added bonus of supporting Australian rural communities.”
PayPal is the first official sponsor of Buy From The Bush and worked closely with them to design and build the new marketplace. The partnership brings together PayPal’s ecommerce expertise and BFTB’s network of authentic bush businesses. A 100% Australian project, the new Buy From The Bush Marketplace was sponsored by PayPal Australia and is built on Australian-developed technology from Marketplacer.
Grace Brennan, Founder of Buy From The Bush said: “The resilience of our bush communities and businesses across Australia has been inspiring in the face of devastating drought, bushfires and now the ongoing effects of COVID-19.
“One year after launching Buy From The Bush, the movement has created real relationships between strangers, injected hope into isolated communities, created jobs and undoubtedly saved bush businesses. Our vision for this exciting new marketplace is to future-proof these businesses, and we’re excited to bring their stories, and beautiful, unique products to Aussies all across the country.”
Visit the marketplace and start your Christmas shopping early at BuyFromTheBush.com.au.
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