Joint Chambers Buy Local Buy Online

MEDIA RELEASE

19 June 2020

The recent NBNCo study into changing consumer behaviour has put the spotlight on the real need for North West businesses to expand their marketing effort to include an online presence.

Business North West President Ian Jones said the joint Chamber regional e-commerce platform, Cradle Coast Market, will support local businesses to take advantage of the trend toward online sales.

“The NBNCo report says it loud and clear, that COVID-19 has made even more people to want to buy online and want to buy local,” Mr Jones said.

“Unfortunately, it also shows that consumers are finding combining the two to be a major challenge because many of the small businesses they are used to shopping at do not have an online presence.”

“The new Cradle Coast Market is about bridging that gap because the focus is clear: Buy Local – Buy Online.”

The regional e-commerce platform is free to get set up on and has been facilitated by a $16,600 Tasmanian State Government grant to support regional Chambers of Commerce to continue to provide services to regional businesses.

Devonport Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) spokesman Rod Bramich said businesses are able to access free digital mentoring to help them set up a presence on the platform.

“Both State and Federal Governments have free digital-ready support services through organisations like Switch and this is a great, cost-effective way to begin selling online right away,” Mr Bramich said.

“Whether you’re a retailer, a service provider, tourism operator, or even a muso, you’ll be able to reach more customers because the Cradle Coast Market is a genuine e-commerce platform that can take bookings, take payments but most of all take the hard work out of setting up online.”

“The Cradle Coast Market will be the place we can all come together to support local North West businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.”

The key findings outlined in the NBNCo report were:

• 49% of respondents say their households have increased their online shopping activities since the COVID-19 crisis began;

• 70% say they are now consciously supporting local businesses online; and 70% would like to support more local businesses, but felt they only had a limited online presence.

Any North West businesses that would like to have their business included on the site can register their interest at admin@cradlecoastmarket.com.

ENDS

Media Contacts:

Business North West – 0412 061501

DCCI - 6420 7585