Media Release from Start Up Shake Up - Buy From Benalla launched
Published on 11 May 2020
Media Release from Startup Shakeup
Buy From Benalla launched last Tuesday 4 May just in time for Mother’s Day trade, with the new online marketplace featuring 28 local stores offering a range of products many selling out of items in the first week.
The new e-commerce platform brings local businesses and the main street online to allow them to continue to trade even if their physical store has been closed due to Covid-19 restrictions. The initiative is a partnership between Benalla Rural City Council, North East Victorian developers Issimo, and regional support network Startup Shakeup.
Next-day delivery to customers within the Midland Freight network proved a popular feature leading up to Mother’s Day. Customer Emma Jones of Wangaratta ordered from a couple of shops on the Buy From Benalla marketplace, making the most of the single checkout feature and next-day delivery.
“I love that I can scroll through shops and products seamlessly one after the other - it’s like shopping on the main street without parking and it’s open 24/7”, says Emma.
With a focus on shopping local and making the entire customer experience easy, local businesses have been eager to come on board. Naomi DeWinne, owner of the The Hidden Nook, sold her first item within an hour of going live on Buy From Benalla. Offering boutique gift boxes of local products Naomi’s boxes were in demand for Mother’s Day.
“I am passionate about supporting local makers with high-quality products and small emerging makers within Australia” says Noami.
Louise Adkins of Lavish Skin Therapy Clinic adds “I absolutely love this concept of being able to buy local online. If we don’t support local businesses at this trying time, they may not survive and that means a loss of jobs and trades in this community”.
The Buy From Benalla platform is the first of its kind for the region and offers a virtual shopping experience with delivery to your door. The project will be expended beyond the Benalla pilot with seed funding from the Ovens Murray Regional Partnership to enable more towns across North East Victoria to come on board.
Customers wanting to explore the online marketplace should visit www.buyfrombenalla.com.au. Any Benalla business is welcome to register their interest in joining the platform by also visiting the site, and support is available to add your products to an online store. More information and frequently asked questions is listed under Support on the home page or follow on Instagram and Facebook @buyfrombenalla.