Online marketplace Spend With Us is ramping up its efforts to help out bushfire affected businesses by organising a ‘Buy from a Bushfire Business Weekend’.
Held on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 March, customers are encouraged to do their shopping with a bushfire business.
The platform has been helping these businesses to receive sales from Australians who would otherwise not know that they exist. These direct extra sales or Pay It Forward gifts have been a lifeline for many of these businesses attempting to keep their businesses afloat.
Small business owners, Geoff and Linda Simpson, own two small home businesses (Fallen Timber Furniture Company & Yarranungara Yurt Retreat―an eco-retreat B&B) as well as a farm in the heart of Victoria’s King Valley.
They lost more than 65 per cent of their annual income during what should have been their peak earning time to see them through the year. Geoff has also been working on the CFA truck with bruised ribs from a fall. After listing on Spend With Us and sharing their Spend With Us stores with previous customers, family and friends, Geoff and Linda received multiple online sales which provided help and hope when they needed it the most. But they still need more help.
“Our goal for Spend With Us is to provide a platform that can change the way we can directly support Australian families and their children who are suffering adversity and in turn positively impact their well-being and livelihoods,” it states.
The point of difference with the Spend With Us website, in comparison to so many other amazing initiatives, is that it is primarily a one stop shop to support businesses in need. It offers an easy to search and purchase platform, with direct shipping available for physical products. Further, it allows businesses that don’t have a way of accepting online payments to easily create a free website store.
So how can you get involved?
Purchase a product, voucher or pay it forward gift from a Bushfire Business by shopping online. if Whether you are searching for a birthday gift, Mother’s day ideas or just want to book your next holiday, there are currently over 300 amazing products listed on the Spend With Us website.
Tag any small businesses that could use the support! The Spend With Us website has over 120 Australian businesses listed so far and growing. Also, share this event on Facebook, via messenger, and in any Facebook groups. The more people share, the more awareness it raises.
If you have a small business that has been affected, register for your free website store listing on Spend With Us. Let buyers enquire and purchase your products directly.
