In a globalised marketplace, the power of local procurement often gets overshadowed. However, Australia produces a diverse range of premium products across various sectors, from office supplies to furniture and health and safety materials. Certified ‘Australian Made’ products must have undergone their last substantial transformation locally and are labelled with the iconic green triangle and gold kangaroo to help identify them as such.
With Australian Made at the forefront of national interest, Winc understands the role it plays in enabling organisations to buy local.
Highlighting the economic impact.
When Australian Made products are purchased, several positive outcomes are triggered across the supply chain, such as creating new job opportunities and bolstering the economy. Recent Roy Morgan data1 shows that if every household spent additional $10 a week on Australian Made products, $4.8 billion would be injected into the economy each year and up to 9,500 new jobs would be created.
Sentiment towards buying Australian Made.
It is estimated that 67 per cent2 of Australians ‘often’ or ‘always’ buy Australian Made products. Motivators to buy local include support for local employment and the economy as well as the quality and reliability associated with Australian Made goods.
Industry expert, Mark Daniels, Company Director at Social Procurement Australasia believes buying local offers an opportunity to for organisations and businesses to create a connection within a community.
“Tell stories about the local businesses you buy from, either directly or indirectly through a provider like Winc, and explain why it matters to them that you are procuring from them and how your support benefits the broader economy.”
How organisations can purchase Australian Made in the workplace.
Purchasing Australian Made goods is a deliberate choice that workplaces should consider in their procurement policy. Encouragingly, a Winc commissioned Taverner survey3 found 68 per cent of Australian procurement professionals say their company has a commitment to ‘buying local / Australian made / Australian owned ’ products and services.
Mark Daniels also advocates for the development of robust local buying strategies within businesses.
“Companies should set targets and strategies for increasing their local procurement, including supplier identification, and changing procurement policies. This may involve changing your request-for-tender process, looking at the current supply chain and identifying Australian Made products that are already being used or finding new suppliers, or partners like Winc, that can provide local products,” Daniels says.
“Consider how much your organisation is willing to spend on local products and set targets for increasing your local procurement over time.”
All Australians have a role to play in the future of Australian Made products and services through their purchasing decisions. Kickstarting a local procurement strategy can both bolster local industries and create economic benefits into the community.
Winc offers an extensive range Australian Made products for all workplaces which can be viewed here. For details or assistance in setting local procurement goals, contact your Winc Account Manager.
References:
1Making the business case for Australian Made economic benefits- Making the business case for Australian Made economic benefits – The Australian Made Campaign
2Four in five shoppers believe buying Australian-made is important- Four in five shoppers believe buying Australian-made is important – Roy Morgan Research
3Research conducted online by Taverner Research Group between 11 March – 20 March 2024 (22 procurement professionals participating).
