The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the emergence of a ‘fandom’ in support of local small businesses, with new research today released by Fiverr revealing that almost three-quarters (71%) of Australians feel their connection with local business has been strengthened as a result of the pandemic and subsequent “support local” trend.
The research, commissioned by Fiverr, the company that is changing how the world works together, explores the strength of the ‘support local’ sentiment in Australia, revealing that almost two-thirds (63%) of Australians are shopping more locally as a result of COVID-19.
More so, almost all (97%) of these local shoppers will continue to shop local in the coming year.
This increased desire to shop local has elicited a greater connection for Australians to small businesses in their local area, with more than half (61%) feeling that they now know local owners and staff better as a result.
This connection is so strong that three in five (59%) Australians say their local businesses are so dear to them that they’d refuse to visit a larger business for the same offering.
“Australian small businesses have been some of the hardest hit during the pandemic, with many set to feel the lasting effects for months and years to come”, commented Peggy de Lange, VP of International Expansion at Fiverr.
“Despite this, they have played a pivotal role in supporting Australians through lockdowns and immense challenges by continuing to provide the high-quality products and services they’re so well known and loved for.”
How is Fiverr helping?
To provide support to Australian small businesses recovering from the devastating impacts of the COVID pandemic, Fiverr has launched its new campaign, Bill’s Billboard.
The campaign is celebrating the resilience of more than two million Australian small businesses, by gifting five lucky business owners a share in $250,000 worth of outdoor billboard advertising space together with professional designed billboard creative.
“At Fiverr, we’re committed to giving back to the small businesses that have been central to supporting Australians throughout the pandemic, and helping them thrive on their road to recovery.
This is why we are providing them with the opportunity to win a share in $250,000 worth of free advertising space and professionally designed creative”, continued Ms de Lange.
The winning small businesses will be announced throughout the day on Friday 26 February with one of Australia’s leading creative consultants and Fiverr freelancer designing the creative live on top of a billboard in Southbank in real-time.
The winning small businesses will be gifted much-needed exposure in high profile locations in Richmond, Southbank, South Melbourne and Bentleigh in Melbourne, Parramatta, Canterbury, Greystanes and Rozelle in Sydney, and South Brisbane, Kangaroo Point, Palm Beach, Fortitude Valley, Chermside, Coorparoo in Queensland/Brisbane.
The competition will run until 12pm AEDT Friday 26 February 2021. To win a share in $250,000 worth of free advertising space, visit here. Download the Fiverr Small Business Fandom Research here.
