National Buy Aussie Day – backing local businesses

The retail and business initiative is a ‘call to arms’ for shoppers to support Aussie small businesses dealt a string of economic disasters in 2020 following droughts, bushfires, floods and now the financial devastation caused by COVID-19. Earlier this month it was revealed Australia officially went into recession for the first time in thirty years, with gross domestic product (GDP) falling by 7% – the worst fall on record and worse that most economists predicted. It is also expected that Real retail turnover growth is expected to fall -1.4% in 2020 which will be the worst year on record in Australia.

National Buy Aussie Day Founder Chris White is hopeful every Australian will do their bit on the day whether it is $2, $20, $200 or $2,000.

“In the way that Singles Day in China and Black Friday in the US have become landmark shopping days, we hope October 1 will forever be our National Shopping Day, supporting Aussie owned businesses producing Aussie made goods,” said White. “As we grow year on year, hopefully other nations that love Aussie made products, such as the US and UK, will also support our National Shopping Day and therefore open more Aussie businesses to global markets.”

There are 2.2 million small businesses across Australia, with the sector accounting for almost half of Australia’s entire workforce, which is in excess of 5 million workers, and just under 60% of total employment growth in the private sector. Small business makes up one-fifth of our entire national GDP and contributes to more than a third of all production across the country.

“I, like hundreds of thousands of Australians, have a small business that has been impacted throughout 2020, and it is the great unknown that is the scary thing for us all, particularly when income support is wound back” said White. “When small businesses thrive, so does the Australian economy – it is quite logical as we create more jobs at home and money stays here. I think we all want to look for ways to support each other right now and this is a simple way people can make a difference,” he said.

National Buy Aussie Day was launched last Thursday by Sydney 2000 gold medal beach volleyballers Kerri Pottharst and Natalie Cook, 20 years to the day after the pair stood on the Olympic podium together to take gold in one of the highlights of the Games on the iconic Bondi Beach. Pottharst and Cook were thrilled to be lending their support to the day.

“Sydney 2000 was all about national pride and national unity and right now Australia needs that feeling again more than ever. It’s hard to comprehend the year the nation has endured,” said Pottharst.

Cook added: “Every Aussie can join together next Thursday to help a mate in a small business. It’s the Australian way to support each other during the toughest of times.”

Fellow gold medal Olympian Grant Hackett will be the “face” of the day on 1 October, which marks two decades since the Sydney Olympics ended.

“The first of October 2000 will be a day that is forever etched in my memory,” said Hackett. “And while we should choose Australian made first when we shop, I hope that 1 October will always be a day when Aussies stop and shop Australian.

White is thrilled to have such iconic Aussies supporting National Buy Aussie Day.

“For too long we have been relying on foreign nations when what we produce at home is among the best in the world,” said White. “If we make conscious decisions in the way we shop then manufacturing can move back.

“Research continually shows that Australians prefer to buy Australian, so National Buy Aussie Day is a tangible opportunity for every one of us to make a real difference and support the businesses of our families and friends that are the real cornerstone of our national economy, and are struggling like never before.”

www.buyaussieday.com.au