Why We Must Support Local Business and How We Can Do It
2024 has been a year unlike any other for our entire planet, including Australia. Aside from the ongoing challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, Australia has faced severe weather events, including devastating floods and cyclones. Additionally, prolonged drought conditions continue to affect multiple regional areas, impacting the people living there and their businesses.
A recent survey has shown that around 9 people out of 10 prefer buying Australian products when given the chance. This is an encouraging result, illustrating the growing trend of buying local. Through support of local business, we encourage growth and stability within our communities and numerous other benefits:
Access to a variety of products
Did you know Australia produces a wide variety of products, including clothing, skincare, toys, fresh flowers, produce, building materials, furniture, trucks, caravans, and more? You can source many of the products you use daily from manufacturers and sellers in regional Australia.
High quality of products
As Australians, we take pride in producing some of the highest quality products in the world. Other countries highly demand our goods, so we have a responsibility to provide top-notch produce. Our highly regulated food industry ensures this quality. All locally manufactured or grown products must meet these standards, or they will not reach shop shelves and consumers’ homes.
Traceability
When you buy a locally manufactured product, you receive a much higher level of accountability for the components and packaging. The reason you may want to know more about the supply chain behind the product is encouraging sustainability, as well as good workmanship and product quality.
Supporting ethical and fair treatment of workers
Items made offshore are often cheaper due to the very low cost of labour. Australian-made products may cost more, but this ensures fair treatment, high safety standards, and workers’ rights. Australia boasts top workplace health and safety regulations and the fourth highest wages globally, ensuring ethical, high-quality products.
Protecting the environment
There are two main ways that your decision to support local business will also have a positive impact on the environment:
- Products sourced from regional Australia will have traveled less than those from abroad. Incurring reduced fuel consumption, less need for packaging and storage facilities, less traffic congestion, and generally less pollution.
- Australian agricultural businesses operate under some of the strictest environmental controls in the world. A number of improvements have been made to land management and manufacturing processes, thus protecting ecosystems and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Supporting local industries and the economy
Anytime you buy regional Australia products, you support jobs, economic development, and prosperity for Australians, which creates a flow that has a positive impact on the local community.
According to the latest data from Australian Made and other sources, every $1,000,000 of manufacturing business in Australia generates:
- $326,000 worth of tax revenue
- $972,000 worth of value-added
- $93,000 worth of welfare benefits saved
- 9 full-time jobs
To illustrate this further, imagine you buy from and support an Australian-made product. The company manufacturing the product can grow and employ more Australians. When more Australians have jobs, families have more money for bills, groceries, and recreational activities like holidays or dining out. Companies and employees pay taxes, providing the government with more funds to support schools, hospitals, and other public services.
Products made for the needs of the Australian market
Some products need to be manufactured to specifically deal with the challenges presented by Australia’s harsh climate, goods like vehicles and construction materials. Australian producers understand better and can therefore design and create high quality products that suit the specific needs of the Australian market. Attention to detail that you may not see with an imported product.
Reliable warranties
Australian products and services are sold with automatic guarantees. These supplied guarantees protect you, as a consumer, against faulty or non-working products. Australian products and services must meet certain criteria in order to be acceptable. Products must be safe, lasting and have no faults. They must also look acceptable and do all the things a consumer would normally expect them to do. As an Australian consumer, you are entitled to a repair, replacement, refund, cancellation of a service, or compensation for any damages or loss you suffer.
Better customer service
If you need to file a complaint regarding a product purchased from a regional business, the staff will be more likely to solve your issue efficiently. It is likely that as a local consumer you will find it easier to get in contact with a local business, easier to communicate your issues and an effective response and solution to those issues will be provided in a timely manner.
How to support these regional companies:
In recent years, Australia has faced numerous extreme weather events that have significantly impacted businesses and communities. Notably, the record-breaking rainfall in December 2023 and Cyclone Jasper resulted in an economic loss of AU$1.98 billion. Cyclone Jasper alone brought over 2250 mm of rain, making it the wettest tropical cyclone in Australian history. Based on recent data, this historic weather event, along with severe thunderstorms, led to more than 65,000 insurance claims.
These extreme weather events have had profound effects on local businesses. In Victoria’s agricultural sector, which produces a third of Australia’s milk, floods and storms have caused significant livestock losses. The accommodation and food services sectors have faced heavy impacts, including operational disruptions and financial losses. Businesses in Queensland and New South Wales have reported extensive damage to infrastructure and housing, affecting their ability to operate effectively. Statistics show that in Queensland, 12% of businesses reported severe impacts, while 11% of businesses in New South Wales faced similar challenges.
Throughout these crises, the Australian Government has implemented various assistance and recovery grants to support affected communities and businesses. However, the compounded effects of these natural disasters and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have underscored the importance of supporting local businesses to aid in full economic recovery.
By choosing products and services provided by regional Australia companies you are not only helping these businesses to recover, but also creating a healthier community in which you and your family can prosper. A positive step towards a full recovery of regional business is through checking our local business directory whenever you need to research products and services online – the more you use our directory, the more it will grow and the better it will be for everyone.
