PayPal Australia is encouraging consumers to ‘shop off the beaten path’ this Christmas and discover gifts they didn’t know existed from more than 100 Australian small businesses.
The campaign was inspired by the idea that Christmas shopping is not always a relaxed affair, with large crowds, time constraints and high expectations leading consumers to buy the same presents each year.
Through an online portal, the Shop off the Beaten Path campaign connects shoppers with merchants offering unique gifts they may otherwise not have found.
“Many of us are time-poor at Christmas yet we still want to give unique and special gifts that our friends and family will love,” says PayPal Australia marketing director, Elaine Herlihy.
“This year we wanted to break the cycle of forgettable gifts by doing something we haven’t done before. We wanted to change how people searched for and found the perfect gift.”
Sunshine Coast company, Swingz n Thingz, is one small business participating in the campaign and founder Barbara Clack says she is thrilled to be part of the initiative.
“We are passionate about our products and love creating things that help families have fun,” she says.
“We have been handcrafting [canvas and wooden swings] in Australia since 1993 and we know the quality speaks for itself. We are excited to be given the opportunity to expand the awareness of our brand through this innovative campaign.”
Gift retailer Byron Bay Gifts has also joined the campaign and owner Zoe Gordon says she hopes it will drive customers to her Australian-made and designed products.
“We are really looking forward to expanding our customer base to a wider audience as part of this initiative,” she explains. “We [are] looking forward to introducing PayPal customers to a positive shopping experience that supports local businesses.”
During the Christmas season Byron Bay Gifts will also offer consumers the option to choose a gift and have it send directly to the recipient.
“The campaign combines two things we are deeply proud of—our local merchants and a frictionless online shopping experience,” adds Herlihy. “By making it easier to find the perfect gift and promoting innovative Australian small businesses, we’re hoping Shop of the Beaten Path will mean this Christmas is even more memorable than the last.”
By Ruth Cooper
