Case Study: Makers & Merchants Barossa

Makers & Merchants Barossa - Case Study

Drawing from the rich tapestry of our experiences at Makers & Merchants Barossa from 2020-2023, we've cultivated many of our toolkits, so they are tailored for small businesses. 

Our e-commerce and retail venture, spearheaded by Shelley Cox, went through many challenges especially at the peak of Covid, where regional tourism and international visitation was an all time low - even in the Barossa!

These insights gained from Makers & Merchants serves as the foundation for The Regional Collective, providing practical tools to amplify your collaboration, customer connections, and community engagement.

We've walked the path, and now, we're sharing the guide with you.

What is Makers & Merchants Barossa about?

For us it's about the makers & merchants from our region; the sense of place that shines through in their creativity and how we can connect them with their customers who want to buy mindfully & locally.

We provide them with an online platform that promotes their product. And after 18 months of operating a large bricks and mortar store, we adapted our model to focus on a pop-up shop-front in Tanunda for 6 months - as well as seasonal market stalls around Australia. 

We don't just want to be selling their products; we connect them with their customers, share the stories of the people behind the brands, their creativity and quality. We help build their brands and support their business journey as a collective - together we can do great things!

We connect our producers with their customers - leaving them more time to create.

We have a great network and a can-do attitude so that we can help get these brands in front of more customers, sharing the products of the Barossa nationally and internationally.

We do the work online to build brand recognition, strong social media marketing, blogs and curate seasonal bundles of great, regional products.

An incubator for creative businesses

Managing and effectively marketing an online ecommerce store takes skills and time, and markets involve a lot of preparation and energy to execute.

For some makers, committing to the membership was the first step in realising they were running a business rather than dabbling in a hobby. They no longer had to put off marketing, finance, and administrative tasks until they had time.

By taking on the day-to-day marketing and selling so they can focus on making, Makers and Merchants also allows members the opportunity to scale and diversify their offerings.

Bespoke premium market opportunties 

As selected for their alignment with our overarching brand values - bespoke pop-up market opportunities are sought each season by our collective.

As a home for regional brands to discover, connect & indulge we were excited to join in the fun at the Anlaby Station Spring Festival over the weekend of October 15 & 16, on the outskirts of Kapunda - attracting over 3,000 people to the historic homestead & beautiful gardens. 

Gorgeous jewellery and artwork from the talented Anthea Louise Pisscsuk Art Creations and Chocolate by Peter M were just some of the goodies on show from our collective. 

There is such a vibrancy at markets that you don't get online - so we feel it's a fabulous chance to chat, share stories and of course meet the makers.

Our makers & merchants share the meeting times throughout each event - so they can continue to create while we help take care of managing the stall.

“The team know my product so they can represent my brand online and in person...I feel loved as a family of locals together.”

Anthea | Creator and Artist | Anthea Louise Creations

So...where should we go next!??

Discover our Makers & Merchants online - anytime.

REFLECTIONS:

The journey from Makers & Merchants Barossa to The Regional Collective has been a rich tapestry of experiences, offering valuable lessons for artisan small businesses. As pioneers of e-commerce during challenging times, we've honed toolkits tailored for small ventures. Makers & Merchants, spearheaded by Shelley Cox, navigated peaks of adversity, adapting models from a large store to pop-ups and market stalls, sharing the guide with you.

Key Lessons for Artisan Small Businesses:

1. Adaptability: Respond to changing circumstances by evolving your business model.
2. Connection: Forge genuine connections with customers by sharing the stories behind your products.
3. Collaboration: Joining a collective strengthens your brand and supports your journey.
4. Effective Marketing: Delegate day-to-day marketing tasks to focus on creating, fostering scalability.
5. Community Engagement: Participate in bespoke market opportunities for vibrant, in-person interactions.

Makers & Merchants served as an incubator, realising that running a business, not just a hobby, requires consistent marketing.

Scaling and diversifying offerings become feasible with day-to-day selling support. Bespoke market opportunities, like the Anlaby Station Spring Festival, enhance the vibrancy, offering chances to chat, share stories, and meet fellow makers. 

The collective spirit at events mirrors the love shared within a community, making every venture a collaborative success. 

Explore our Makers & Merchants online, anytime, and uncover the lessons to thrive in your creative journey.