Ways to shop at and support local businesses

Reasons to support small businesses

There are many reasons to support local businesses. Some examples include:

• Find unique items: Nurture your individual style or buy a special gift for a loved one at a local store rather than a large franchise.
• Help promote local jobs and skills: Independent businesses often employ locals and help them to learn new skills on-the-job, improving their future employment opportunities.
• Contribute to local development: Local shopping strips add character to a suburb and can encourage local councils and other businesses to invest in the area.
• Enjoy personalised experiences: With unique personalities and diverse styles, small businesses add a personal touch to the shopping experience.
• Empower future entrepreneurs: Many innovative startups began selling out of their garages. By supporting local businesses, you're encouraging their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit.
• Support ethical production: Buying from small businesses that source local ingredients and produce in ethical ways can improve and promote sustainable practices.

How to support small businesses

There are many ways to support independent businesses, such as:

• Discover: Whether you're buying weekly groceries, trying out a new restaurant, or searching for a gift in person or online, actively look around for new places to try.
• Subscribe: Many stores offer subscription services that are convenient and help them maintain and grow their business.
• Share: If you love a local store or product, don't keep it to yourself — spread the word to your network.
• Give: Find something unusual for someone special or purchase a gift certificate, so they can visit the store and pick out something they like.
• Explore: Online local marketplaces like Etsy, Buy From the Bush, and Welcome to Country bring many small businesses together for you to explore.

Shop online with PayPal at thousands of Australian stores

Finding local places to shop is fun and it's helpful if you can pay in an easy and safe way. A simple way to shop online is with PayPal, as you don't need to remember your payment details. All you need is your email address and password or mobile number and PIN to buy from thousands of local stores.

Some small businesses may also let you spread the cost of your purchase with payments over time, using a buy now, pay later option. PayPal Pay in 4* lets eligible PayPal customers spread the cost of purchases into four interest-free instalments with no late fees.

How to support indigenous businesses in Australia

Indigenous businesses in Australia experience challenges that other small businesses may not. Social and economic factors mean many indigenous Australians have limited access to educational resources and financial services due to their remote locations.²

There are specific requirements for how to register as an Indigenous business through the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations.³ If you want to support indigenous businesses, you could:

• Buy: Look for indigenous businesses that you can buy from through sites like Welcome to Country.
• Support: When travelling, search for indigenous tourism operators who have a unique perspective of the region.
• Attend: Local councils often have indigenous events where you can learn about the culture and find businesses selling their wares.
• Join: Several local, state, and national organisations have indigenous business networks that offer the opportunity to connect with small businesses.
• Share: Spread the word about the businesses you love on social media.
• Donate: Whether it's time, money, or skills, donating to or volunteering for indigenous businesses is a great way to learn more about them.

How to shop at Buy from the Bush

Of Australia's 2.3 million small businesses, 31% are located in regional areas.⁴ Regional businesses often find it challenging to grow due to limited foot traffic or their remote location.

Many rural and regional businesses are part of Buy From the Bush, which supports small businesses by connecting them with international customers. Founded in October 2019 as an Instagram account, the platform has since grown to become a shoppable website offering a wide range of products.

Products to shop for from local businesses

You can shop for sustainable and ethical products at local small businesses. Here are some examples:

• Arts and collectibles
• Homewares
• Fashion and clothing
• Baby accessories
• Food and drink
• Jewellery and accessories
• Holiday decor