Central Coast web designer Sarah Britz was one of the lucky ones, her property survived the recent bushfires that threatened her neighbours and she and her family escaped unscathed. Now Sarah has shared her good fortune by launching spendwithus.com.au to help consumers connect with bushfire and drought-affected businesses.
Article by Kochies Business Builders – https://www.kochiesbusinessbuilders.com.au/spend-with-us-is-helping-bushfire-affected-businesses-get-back-on-their-feet/
Using her skills and knowledge as a designer and developer, Sarah has built a site that provides small business owners in bushfire and drought-affected areas an online listing and marketplace to engage with customers and spruik their businesses. With tourism on the wane in bushfire affected areas, Sarah suggests spendwithus.com.au gives these communities an opportunity to reconnect with everyday Aussies who are keen to spend.
“Once I started speaking with business owners who were unsure how they would be able to pay their rent or staff due to the complete lack of tourism trade, which these towns rely on so heavily during the summer months, I knew I had to do something to help. I would love for this site to be able to make a difference to every small business that is suffering within these communities,” Sarah said.”
The aim is to provide customers with an accessible site to discover and purchase local products, accommodation and services. We also give convenient methods to pay it forward with gifts and donations for Bushfire and Drought impacted businesses.”
Ann Orchi the owner of TU Vietnamese street food restaurant in Myrtleford is one business owner who is already seeing the benefit of Spend With Us. Ann contacted Sarah to ask if she could help with setting up a directory for Myrtleford and other towns in North East Victoria as she was concerned about how all the local businesses were going to survive the summer.
“Spendwithus.com.au can be used by everyone, you don’t need your own website, or to be tech-savvy, a directory listing is simple to set up, and all you need is a PayPal account if you want to receive payments or donations. Sarah is amazing, and she set me up so quickly and easily, we need to share this to help our region!” Ann said.
Visit spendwithus.com.au if you’d like to support small businesses affected by drought or bushfire.
