17. Local Gems
In a city of creatives, opportunity to support local is in abundance. Businesses that see beyond the horizon and have turned their crafts into successful careers, inspire us on the daily! The devastating impact of the global pandemic had made it clear that small businesses really had to fight to keep their heads above rough waters, but boy did they rise to the challenge. Through the uncertainty of restrictions, lockdowns and the inability to hop from state to state, these businesses have been the heart of what it means to support local. From our beloved Burleigh Heads to the shores of Coolangatta we’d love to share with you a few of our favourite local businesses on the Gold Coast. We LOVE to support local. We love the feeling we get when we know we are supporting a small business in our small town - we usually find that these gems are made locally, sustainably sourced and made with love. It really gives us the warm and fuzzies to know that we can support the farmer down the road, the mum with a side hustle and the established businesses that have been in the community for years (just to name a few)... We are currently LOVING The Damn Good Store in Burleigh Heads, Sobah Beverages Burleigh & Salty Collective in Currumbin. All inspiring, all doing good, all local.
Sobah
Based on beautiful Kombumerri country, a part of the Yugambeh language regions, known as the Gold Coast, Queensland, Sobah is Australia’s first Aboriginal owned non alcoholic craft beer company by a husband and wife duo Clinton and Lozen Schultz. Described as the ‘Truly social drink’ - Encouraging the break down of the stigma surrounding socialising sober & also raising positive awareness of First Nations culture. Lozen and Clinton explain ‘Sobah functions from the philosophies of Gamilaraay Lore ‘dhiriya Gamil’ along with other lessons he has been fortunate to learn from Elders from around Australia. SOBAH are really playing their part to provide not only an education to the community, but awareness and promotion of mindful drinking and sobriety, as well as healthy living and mental health.
Instagram: @sobahbeverages (they also have a wonderful podcast that you can find on your regular podcast streaming platform!)
Salty Collective is the epitome of a local gem. Locally designed, ethically made and Eco Friendly, Salty Collective support local Australian designers to provide shoppers with products that are ethically created. Bek at Salty Collective has owned her own swimwear label - SALTY SWIMWEAR for 7 years and always dreamed of opening a boutique where she could support her favourite brands along with her friends labels, so when the store became available on Currumbin Beach, Bek knew it was meant to be. Bek knew this was her calling when she decided to use the deposit she saved for her dream home, and invested it in her dream collective instead. Salty Collective has been open now for 4 weeks and she is loving every minute. Bek loves her locals and the way they support small, she appreciates each and every one of you. If you haven’t yet, check out Salty Collective the next time you’re in Currumbin!
Instagram: @salty.collective
The Damn Good Store in the heart of Burleigh has a plan to challenge how people shop and encourage them to keep their hard earned dollars in the local economy. Their manifesto is to educate their consumer to shop consciously to support local artists and economies. We LOVE their gift boxes! Home grown gifts with a story behind each product… sounds pretty damn good to us. The Damn Good Store came about was due to Covid and the detrimental affect it had on so many small businesses and friends in the creative industry that were struggling economically. Sarah and Jarrad at The Damn Good Store asked themselves… What can we do to help? And the answer was really simple... spend money in our local community, shop more consciously and support small business.
As they began to make a conscious effort to put this action into place, they soon realised that they would love the opportunity to have all of these small businesses under one roof, to create store where someone can walk in and no matter what they buy they know with confidence that they are shopping ethically, supporting their local economy and having a direct impact on a community of small businesses. So when you put all of that together with our values and passion - The Damn Good store is what you get! A gift store that sells really awesome Aussie Made brands, amazing fine art prints and beautifully curated and branded gift boxes full of local goodies!
Instagram: @thedamngoodstore
