More than half (54%) of Australians are more inclined to shop from a small business to help the local economy, with the majority of online shoppers (65%) saying that one of the biggest factors encouraging them to shop local is how easy it is to find online, according to new research commissioned by Amazon.

Three Australian businesses that were front and centre during Prime Day and beyond through Amazon Australia’s ‘Shop Local’ store (among many others) have shared their stories on how they have navigated dynamic consumer expectations and are now thriving.

Meluka Australia

Boasting a range of premium honey products, sourced and farmed from a certified organic tea tree farm in northern NSW’s Bungawalbin Valley, Meluka Australia prides itself on sustainable and eco-friendly values.

As Meluka Australia continues to expand, business development manager, Beck Howe and her team are committed to preserving the natural ecosystem of the farm and creating products that are sustainable and environmentally friendly.

“It is important to us that we’re able to work with a company who can connect us to people who care about the same things that we do, namely making sure that we always put nature first,” Howe said.

Investing time and research into developing a unique product has been key to Meluka’s success and enabled the brand to broaden its reach across the country.

Song Saga

Conceptualised and launched during the pandemic, entrepreneur and founder of Song Saga, Eran Thomson, saw an opportunity to bring families and friends together in a simple yet meaningful way. He created a party game using music and storytelling as a catalyst for conversation and building human connection.

“Games offer a meaningful way for people to disconnect from work and reconnect with family and friends… because if there’s anything that the pandemic has taught us, it’s that we need to get back to basics, look out for each other, and embrace our real-life human connections while we still have the chance,” Thomson said.

By harnessing the emotion associated with current world events and understanding what is important to consumers, Thomson credits these observations coupled with his business acumen, for the expansion of his business beyond Australian borders.

Little Archer & Co.

Little Archer & Co. was founded by Denise Billsborough in 2018 with families like hers in mind, to provide parents with affordable, high quality products.

“It’s all about adding convenience, and a splash of luxury, while aligning with core values of parents and carers, such as safety, environmentally friendly materials, and affordability. Because every child deserves quality products that both help them thrive and won’t break the bank,” Billsborough said.

“I knew that, to reach a large audience and expand Little Archer & Co., selling internationally was the logical next step.”