Tasmania our top brand
BEING Tasmanian is about hard work, inventiveness and determination. It’s about a connected community supporting one another on a beautiful but isolated island. It’s about extraordinary products, services and experiences.
In a state with an economy made up of 97 per cent small businesses, Tasmanian communities rely on our entrepreneurs, artists and artisans.
In March, our Brand Tasmania partners reached out to us looking for ways to support their enterprising neighbours through the pandemic, which has devastated the small, the boutique, the micro and the special.
They asked for a directory of businesses that are open in the evolving COVID-19 economy. They wanted to know who is open and how to support them.
Brand Tasmania, the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Tasmanian Government teamed up to build the Buy Something Tasmanian website.
This website provides a way to support one another, searchable by region, by service, by product and by experience. It’s also a way for all businesses to work on their brand stories, to move into ecommerce and to create strong relationships with Tasmanian customers.
There are more than 1000 businesses on the site, owned and operated by Tasmanians, with everything from designer products and delicious food and beverages to finding the right spa for our furry family members.
“The impact of COVID-19 certainly was a shock, but we were definitely not alone feeling this way,” says Dina Gregson of the Tasmanian Tonic
Company. “One of the great things about operating in Tasmania is the supportive nature of small businesses and the informal networks that develop.
“We know we’re in this together. With their encouragement, we’ve been using this time to focus on how we can refine our business to be better in future.
“We are feeling fortunate to be a Tasmanian business, to live and work on this island. Difficult times are ahead, but we are determined to get through this.”
What’s next for Buy Something Tasmanian? During the last couple of months we have spent a lot of time at home. We’ve explored new hobbies – gardening, baking bread and playing the guitar – but we’ve missed our extended family and our friends. We’ve missed enjoying our island.
Now that COVID-19 restrictions are lifting we are free to explore Tasmania again. Tourism operators are adding their listings to Buy Something Tasmanian daily, so we can all get back in touch with our beautiful island and its people. Start planning your trips, visits and excursions today.