Wagga's small businesses are doing it for themselves - a group of online and home-spun traders coming together for a unique in-store experience.
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From Monday, about 15 businesses local to Wagga and the Riverina have banded together for the Riverina Local Pop Up Shop, a collective store on Baylis Street that will be trading in the lead up to the Christmas season.
The retail space will host a variety of small, local businesses, each with a small space to display and sell their wares in a bid to help them back to their feet after the pandemic.
The concept is the brainchild of Wendy Smith, owner of Lifted Up By Angels, who said she was inspired to hire the space to give businesses who have struggled with covid a space to make some money, and get their names out there.
"My business is seven years old now and I still remember how hard it was starting out, so I thought, I'm in a position where I could have the shop and organise the lease for everybody then they just pay an amount to be in here each week," she said.
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"We've all struggled through COVID and the lockdowns so this is an opportunity for people to be able to pay some bills and take care of their families as well as to give the local Riverina people the opportunity to buy handmade, and buy from a smaller business."
From candles, to homemade teas, dog outfits and tarot cards, many of the brands were started only in the last year and were hit particularly hard by the pandemic.
Jordan Donohoe started Serenity Scents with her business partner in December 2020 and said for her the store is an opportunity to promote her brand.
"Markets have just restarted but we haven't been able to do them for some time, so this event is providing an income and boosting our name," she said.
Local creator Ashley Hills runs Grounding from Within and makes art from crystal resin.
The pop up is her first in-person point of sale after starting up selling her crystal wreaths and decorative statues on Facebook.
"Wendy approached me about the store, otherwise I probably would never have done it," Ms Hills said. "She is always going that extra mile to make sure our businesses are out there and advertised well."
Joanne Wilson is also in-store, and has been selling homemade soaps, herbs, skincare products and teas for over 20 years.
Ms Wilson said the pop up was a great initiative for businesses to support one another back to their feet after the lockdown.
"Lockdown meant no markets, no money, the cost of freight from the city has been horrendous," she said. "COVID has been an interesting thing for everybody who has a small business."
The Riverina Pop Up is open from Tuesday to Friday between 10AM and 4PM, and on weekends between 10AM and 3PM.
The store will run from October 18 until January 7, 2022.
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