Our Impact
Since October 2019, Buy From The Bush has been making a difference in rural Australia. We’ve driven revenue, empowered founders and changed perceptions of what is possible in the bush.
The Impact of Buy From The Bush
BFTB has created real change in rural communities. In the first 4 months the following milestones were achieved:
$5M
in revenue generated for small rural and regional businesses
20%
of businesses employed new staff as a direct result of Buy From The Bush
19%
of businesses started shipping internationally
98%
business owners said BFTB improved their quality of life
70% of surveyed BFTB followers said BFTB had changed their perception of rural communities
“Yesterday I processed 66 sales in a day. Normally I wouldn’t make 66 online sales in a year. I sold $2000 worth of greeting cards in a day! And although I’m exhausted, I’m over the moon.
This morning I spent $160 at the post office, I bought myself breakfast because I felt so rich and with the orders still rolling in I have decided to hire the local painter to paint my spare room (a job I’ve been putting off for ages) and take the local window covering business up on their quote for new blinds in my house.
Thanks from me, the post office, the café, the painter, the blind business and all of our town.”
— Jill Kelly, Miss Vet
In their own words…
Hear from just a few small business owners about the impact of BFTB.
"Buy From The Bush absolutely changed our lives."
— Chris & Nerida Cuddy, Perennialle Plants
“Buy From The Bush has given me the confidence and finances to take the business to the next level.”
— Lucy Moss, mink & me
“Buy From The Bush was crucial to help rural local businesses and communities because it had this incredible ripple effect. Had these businesses not stayed open, people would have left town, post offices wouldn’t have stayed open and the communities would have suffered.”
— Emma Barrett, Emmanate Creative
Project Highlights
Through our Big Break initiative, we’ve redirected $60K to small rural startups
With our Hour for Eugowra auction, we raised over $55K for a flood impacted community
By hosting capacity-building workshops, we’ve provided training for over 200 participants
PayPal x Buy From The Bush
Big Break
A social media pitch-fest for small biz in the bush. From sheepyards to boardrooms, people threw their hat in the ring! Winners included a youth mental health app, an online mother’s group and the development of a retail store/cafe in a tiny town.
2M media reach
4000 people’s choice votes
$60,000 prize money
The Rocks x Buy From The Bush
Christmas Market
A pop-up activation on the lawn of the MCA in December 2022. Twenty rural makers travelled to Sydney to sell their wares. An opportunity to claw back lost income due to the impact of flooding and for urban customers to meet the maker. Pop up markets provide essential visibility for rural small businesses.
Meta x Buy From The Bush
Impact Report ‘20
Buy From The Bush - Economic Impact Evaluation is a report produced by research agency AlphaBeta. It seeks to quantify the impact that BFTB has had on remote and regional economies, female entrepreneurship and communities over it’s first four months. This report was commissioned by Meta and received over 300+ media mentions.
Various Partners
Capacity Building Workshops
Buy From The Bush has worked with various organisations to create capacity building activities for small business owners. This has included both virtual and in-person events such as social media workshops, Q&A panels, mentoring and ‘speed dating creatives’ sessions.
BFTB x Flemings & Auctions Plus
Hour For Eugowra
A fundraising auction to support the flood-affected community of Eugowra. Partnering with Boorowa-based auctioneers, Flemings, and online auction platform Auctions Plus, we held a hybrid auction event at The Rocks in 2022 and created a country saleyard atmosphere in the middle of the city. $55,000 was donated to buy essential items for the Eugowra community.
birdsnest x Buy From The Bush
Hatch
A capacity and social capital building exercise for talented rural founders. BFTB partnered with birdsnest in Cooma (Best Online Retailer 2023), to create an intimate and unique development opportunity aimed at hatching big ideas and big business in the bush. We believe there is great competitive advantage to be gained from strengthening rural founder networks. Over the two days founders were mentored by Jane Cay, Founder and CEO of birdsnest.
Meta x Buy From The Bush
Impact Report 2022
Harnessing the power of digital tools to create lasting change in rural Australia is a report that explores the potential of digital business and Buy From The Bush to enable rural communities.
The report was created by Buy From The Bush in partnership with Meta.
Martin Place, Sydney
Martin Place Pop-Up
BFTB’s first activation! A sell out market in Martin Place, NSW. Twenty bush makers, artists and creators popped up in the centre of the CBD to sell their wares and form beautiful connections with urban customers. One seller said ‘the Martin Place market will forever be one of the greatest days of my life’. Another said ‘it changed my business forever, it validated my product and introduced me to customers I never had access to’. Supported by City of Sydney, Harry The Hirer, GPJ and Gemma McFarland PR.
