Supporting Social Enterprise during COVID-19

August 25, 2020

Following a tumultuous year of bushfires, COVID-19 and recent floods in Southern NSW, lots of small businesses and the families and communities they serve, are doing it tough.  One way we’ve seen people showing their support for these local businesses is through the #shoplocal #shopvictoria and #buyfromthebush movements.  We’ve been inspired by this and wanted to share a #shopsocialenterprise guide based on some of the businesses we’ve been working with over the last 18 months.

If you’re looking for a standout feature art piece for your home – check out stunning pieces by Tradara, Mimmim Design, and Miimi & Jiinda.

Miimi & Jiinda artwork.

If you’re looking for standout feature piece to wear, Tradara also makes incredible formal wear and kaftans featuring her bold and colourful artwork.   Or if swimwear is what you’re after – then check out Liandra Swim also celebrating Indigenous art and stories.

Homewares from Tradara.

For jewellery and accessories, Bilum & Bilas create beautiful pieces which give a contemporary twist to the celebrated PNG handicraft bilum weaving.  Perfect to complete your everyday look, or as a gift.  Among Equals sell stunning bilum bags, each one a unique design tied to the weaver who made it.  Buying from either of these businesses, directly provides income women weavers and their families and communities in PNG.

Handmade bilum pieces from Bilum & Bilas and Among Equals.

Songbird also create beautiful jewellery and accessories that celebrate Australian native birds.

For homewares like pillow cases, tea towels, platters, tea cups and more, these two beautiful Indigenous artists from Stradbroke Island in Queensland have some beautiful collections, Chaboo Designs and Delvene Cockatoo-Collins.

 

Tea towels from Delvene Cockatoo Collins.

Nagula Jarndu (meaning Salt Water Women) is an Aboriginal Arts Centre based in Broome, selling incredible fabrics printed by the member artists.

Fabric from Nagaula Jarndu. Artist is Lorraine Hunter and the title of the fabric is ‘mala’ which means trumpet shell.

If you’re instead looking for a home project, why not try growing your own veggies at home with the new Farmwall – resilience growing program starting again in October.  Book your place now.

Or if you’re like us, you might be cooking a lot lately? You can try Game Enough’s delicious food and ingredients inspired by the flavours of the Australian bush. Or cook some damper with boab powder from Bindam Mie.  Boab is only grown in two places in the world, one of which is the Kimberleys, where Rob from Bindam Mie grew up.  He grew up eating boab and has innovated lots of ways to use it.  He also employs young kids from the region to harvest the boab, providing on-country employment and ensuring traditional knowledge is passed on.

Our friends at Tanna Coffee have got you covered for your home coffee machine, or if you’re more of a tea drinker, Kakadu Tiny Tots sell a range of organic and native teas which we’ve all been enjoying here at TDi.   As the name might suggest, they also sell organic cotton baby clothes featuring beautiful dreamtime prints.

A collection of items from Kakadu Tiny Tots.

Maybe self-care is how you’re getting through COVID-19 lock downs?  If that’s the case, check out Mandanga Enterprise’s beautiful range of calming oils and soaps which use native plants known for their healing qualities.

Skin Balm and oil from Mandanga Enterprises.

Starting a new business?  Or maybe setting it up online?  Sarah at Together Business is a great strategic partner and accountant who can help you set up.  Empower Digital can help you build your business’s profile online and Indigico can help you with your creative elements – whether that’s branding, design or your website.

And finally, when borders reopen and you’re looking for your next adventure – check out Kimberley Cultural Adventures to get a taste of the history of Broome and surrounds – led by Rob who also runs Bindam Mie.  Or, for caravaners and adventurers, Peedamulla Campground is worth checking out.   Many of us at TDi have been dreaming about getting to Kakadu – if this is on your list – we recommend talking to James at Kurrih to help show you around.

Kimberley Cultural Adventures.

We hope you enjoy checking out and supporting these incredible businesses. If you purchase something, we’d love to see you share it with #buysocialenterprise

 

 

 

 

 

 

TDi supports the growth of social enterprise.  We have worked with over 500 grassroots entrepreneurs across Australia and the Pacific to create sustainable business models that put people, planet and purpose into focus, instead of profit.  We work with you to prove that it is possible to do good and make money. Find out more

 

Spread the love

Inner Development key to achieve sustainable business growth: Our InsideOut Model

By Anna Moegerlein, Deputy CEO   In the realm of economic development, a critical realization has emerged—the need for a holistic approach that integrates Inner Development with Enterprise Development. We’ve spent years testing and refining our approach to...

Building Resilient Food Systems: Future Healthy Food Hubs

In 2022 we began a project in partnership with VicHealth and STREAT to provide business support to seven regional food hubs across Victoria. Running until 2024, the program aims to ensure the long-term financial viability and sustainability of the food hubs, thereby...

Collaborative Strategy Development for Sustainable NFPs: 5 Minutes with Brigid Canny, YLab

Learn how YLab collaborated with TDi to develop its new strategic plan, gaining clarity and confidence in its business model. Brigid Canny, Executive Director of YLab, highlights TDi’s flexible approach, coaching, and relationship-building in this 5-minute interview, providing insight into how TDi helps NFPs achieve their mission.

International Development: 3 Solutions for a New Approach to Capacity Building

TDi associate Kate Wilson examines the flaws in traditional international development strategies, and offers a new approach to capacity building with three powerful solutions.

International Women’s Day 2023: Driving Economic Empowerment for PNG Women through Digital Accessibility and Innovation

Learn how a comprehensive Inner Development coaching program with digital accessibility helped overcome unique challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in PNG and drive economic empowerment, especially during the pandemic.

Acknowledging Country: A new way to connect mindfully with an important practice

We recently engaged YARN Australia for a series of team workshops on storytelling, focussed on creating relationships and intentional connections between First Nations Australians and settlers. We invite you into our world as we share a practice from these workshops, and gratefully acknowledge the land we call home.

Kylie-Lee Bradford: Forging New Paths for First Nations Business

We recently welcomed Kylie to the TDi team. Kylie brings a wealth of experience in entrepreneurship as well as rich heritage and story from her Kakadu roots. Kylie is passionate about opening up opportunities for First Nations business to support and give back to...

Don’t Underestimate the Impact of Finance

by Isaac Jeffries, Senior Consultant     I recently had coffee with a university student, who is passionate about social impact but unsure about how to get a job in the industry. She’s studying maths and economics, and surprised me with this pearler of a...

Why we’ve switched to Bank Australia

  by Anthea Smits, CEO     There's been excitement around TDi this month – we are now officially a customer with Bank Australia! Why the change? When I first started to think about impact investing many years ago, a dear friend and mentor challenged me to...

9 Mindsets of my Favourite Difference Makers

TDi Senior Consultant Isaac Jeffries shares the philosophies and habits that are the hallmarks of his favourite difference-makers.

This is a concrete list of practices and mindsets for working in community, and maintaining connection to people without burning out or burning others.