In a first ever, Australians will be asked to ‘STOP … and SHOP AUSTRALIAN’ for ‘National Buy Aussie Day’ being held next week, Thursday 1 October.
The initiative is a ‘call to arms’ for shoppers to support Aussie small businesses following a string of economic disasters, droughts, bushfires, floods, and overall devastation caused by Covid-19.
It was revealed earlier in the year that Australia officially when into recession for the first time in thirty years. Additionally, Real retail turnover growth is expected to fall -1.4% in 2020.
“In the way that Singles Day in China and Black Friday in the United States have become landmark shopping days, we hope 1 October will forever be our National Shopping Day, supporting Aussie owned business producing Aussie made goods,” says National Buy Aussie Founder, Chris White.
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.
Around 900,000 Australian businesses are surviving on some form of Government support.
“When small businesses thrive, so does the Australian economy – it is quite logical as we create more jobs at home and money stays here,” continues Mr White.
“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.”
National Buy Aussie campaign
Supporting the day is, Sydney 2000 Gold Medal Beach Volleyballers Kerri Pottharst and Natalie Cook.
“Sydney 2000 was all about national pride and national unity and right now Australia needs that feeling again more than ever,” says Ms Pottharst.
Mr White says that he’s thrilled to have Ms Pottharst and Ms Cook, as well as fellow Gold Medal Olympian Grant Hackett as supporters of the day.
“For too long we have been relying on foreign nations when what we produce at home is among the best in the world. If we make conscious decisions in the way we shop then manufacturing can move back.”
Aussies can get more information by visiting buyaussieday.com.au.