Do you want to support small bush businesses but haven't been able to visit because of COVID-19 or find online websites difficult to use?
Then you'll be happy to hear that Tori McGregor from Wentworth Falls encountered exactly the same problems and has created a one-stop-shop that makes shopping in the bush easy as pie.
Her new business, Dusty Roo, is an online boutique full of goods sourced purely from small bush businesses all across Australia.
"I've been working with small businesses all over the country for over eight months now, to create a collection that has something for everyone. From Katherine in the Northern Territory and Gatton in Queensland, to Penguin in Tasmania and Canowindra in NSW - we've got products from all over," she said.
"Since launching I've been able to go back to some of those businesses and place follow up orders to restock, and even start conversations with new businesses. The flow on effect is already visible. Plus there is the happy dance that comes with the notification you get when someone places an order. You don't get that with the big department stores."
When asked about the motivation behind creating Dusty Roo, Ms McGregor sighted her country upbringing and the challenges of 2020.
"I grew up in the country and know the reality of empty dams and dusty paddocks, and now living in the Blue Mountains, I've seen the impact of bushfires and a pandemic on the local economy. It's just devastating," she said.
"This is the time we need to back each other and we need to spend our money where it matters most. So I wanted to create a really easy way for people to shop responsibly, with the hope that it'll encourage more people to do it.
"Plus, I've put a lot of time, effort and money into sustainable and environmentally friendly packaging. Our stickers are printed on paper using soy-based ink and our bubble wrap is made of cardboard, and that's just the beginning."
If you want to support this new small business and Dusty Roo's ever-growing list of bush businesses, head to: www.dustyroo.com or search 'dusty roo' on Facebook.
