These are challanging times. If you were to believe the fear mongering media, it seems like the world as we know it is going to end and there is nothing we can do about it. However, there are many things that you can do to support your own health, community and country as we emerge on the other side, safely and strongly.

As a retired heath professional, there are many things you can do to increase your resistance to viruses and speed up recovery if infected. Wash your hands….lots. Eat “real” food including a wide range of vegetables. Drink lots of water. Get enough sleep. Go outside and move. Connect with your community. Prioritise finding calm as fear can reduce your immunity. For me, I prioritise meditation, yoga and spending time in my garden. Others may want consider activities that also involve time outdoors eg. surfing, cooking, bike riding, craft and having a laugh with friends!

Despite the uncertaintity, you can make a BIG difference to your local community and our Australian economy by reviewing how you choose to spend your money. We know that buying local is important however, I want to share with you how important…

Within our business (other than Luke & myself), we have 5 staff (3 full time, 1 part time, 1 casual). In our wider business ecosystem, we collaborate and support many other local businesses, small and large. Some of the businesses that help us to manufacture our furniture…

Cabinet maker - A local Torquay based cabinet maker creates all of the internal structures for our timber vanities as well as working with us on larger projects such as timber kitchens. This business hires 3 other local people.

Metal facricator - We work with a Melbourne based company who manufacures all of our metal dining table legs plus other mental compontants for custom projects. They are also a family owned business with young children..

Recycled Timber - We source our recycled timber from two different timber yards. One in Geelong, around a 30 mintue drive from our workshop or and another in Melbourne.

New timber - We primarily source our new timber from a family owned and run timberyard in Melbourne but also a small amount from a local agroforesty practitioner.

Hardware - We purchase screws, hinges, drawer runners etc from a couple of small distributors based in Geelong and Melbourne.

Glue - Purchased from a small famaily business in Melbourne

Finish - We purchase our timber finish, Osmo, from a family business who has been importing the product from Germany for over 10 years.

Delivery - There are several one man operators that bring timber from the timber yards to our workshop in Torquay.

Aside from the businesses that supply products that go into the manufacturing of our furniture, there are several other businesses that help us run our business.

Bookkeeper - Local Geelong based company balance our books

Accountant - Local torquay based accountant

SEO - Melbourne based comany manages our online presence.

Computer doctor - local based magicion who has saved us many times

Workshop - we rent our showroom and workshop

Delivery to customers - we work with local Geelong based furniture removalists to deliver furniture to our clients in the Surfcoast, Geelong and Bellarine Peninsula areas as well as Melbourne. We also support another Melbourne based company with a larger crew who help to freight our pieces interstate.

So everytime you take your wallet out and spend your dough, you are not just helping to provide a jobs in the business you are dealing with, you are injecting much needed funds into many businesses that hire many staff. These staff then go on the spend their money and so on and so on….

And remember…. wash you hands!!

Alison Collins