When COVID-19 hit last year, Jo Auld’s focus on making her South Geelong business Australian made played a major role in keeping sales going.
“Because our stockists are Victorian, [our sales] definitely suffered,” Jo said.
“A lot of our stockists in Melbourne were in lockdown. But our online business doubled during the COVID-19 period.
“Our online community and consumers really got behind us. A lot of consumers and stockists were asking, ‘are your products Australian-made?’
“It was something people were prioritising throughout COVID-19 up until now.”
Jo, a registered nurse at a Newtown skin clinic, and her IT specialist husband Tim started the family-owned business 12 years ago.
The business employs several locals and works with 25 Geelong service providers, along with another 15 nationally.
“For our skincare products, we source our raw ingredients and manufacturing locally,” Jo said.
In 2019 they went through a “rigorous certification process” to obtain the Australian Made label for their skincare products, she said.
During last year’s lockdowns they made a special effort to use local printers, suppliers, couriers and other businesses “feeling the pinch” of COVID-19, she added.
Now the licensing organisation has chosen to showcase their business, along with thousands nation-wide, for its first ever Australian Made Week, which began on Monday.
“We were really honoured, because it’s so important for us to be Australian Made as a brand,” Jo said.
According to Roy Morgan research, each household spending an extra $10 a week on Australian Made products would inject $5 billion yearly into the nation’s economy and create up to 11,000 jobs.
“Look for the Australian Made logo and support people who give back to the community as a best as you can,” Jo said.
