The countdown to Christmas is gathering pace but Sydneysiders still have plenty of time to support regional NSW retailers and producers by placing their orders for gifts and stocking stuffers as well as tasty treats, wine and spirits, thanks to the Buy Regional webpage.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said it has been one year since the NSW Government launched Buy Regional to help connect city shoppers with regional businesses doing it tough in the face of record drought.
Mr Barilaro said research shows 85 per cent of businesses signed up to Buy Regional to reach more customers and during the challenge of drought, bushfires and COVID-19, two-thirds have been connected to customers through the website.
“What a difference a year makes – most of regional NSW is now in drought recovery but businesses are still doing it tough because of COVID-19, however many regional retailers can now easily reach online customers thanks to Buy Regional,” Mr Barilaro said.
“Buy Regional is not only about giving businesses in the bush the gift of new customers and helping to stimulate local economies, it’s also about boosting morale in rural towns and connecting people in the city with our innovative regional retailers.
“You can’t underestimate the benefit a single purchase provides to a regional business and the flow-on effect of that sale, putting cash into a pay packet or paying a local supplier – now imagine how great it would be if every family in Sydney bought one gift regionally.”
Buy Regional showcases 501 business from Broken Hill to Bega and Bathurst to Byron Bay with everything from alpaca ponchos, cricket bats, emu oil and pistachio nuts – and for the hard to buy for, there is always that bottle of premium wine or hand-distilled spirits.
More than 500,000 people have visited Buy Regional since the webpage was launched in October last year and now shoppers can search by product category or use the interactive map to see what regional businesses have on offer.
Regional businesses can still list themselves for free on Buy Regional and be a part of its social media network by registering online at Buy Regional – Information for businesses.
Visit the Buy Regional website and be sure to share your Christmas gift ideas using the hashtag #BuyRegional.