Central Coast residents are being urged to buy local for Mother’s Day, with the NSW Government’s Buy Regional webpage featuring more than 800 businesses directly supporting regional shopping options.
One business which features is Home Ground, based at Woy Woy, which delivers hampers of local produce ranging from pre-mined cocktails to home-made sweets and pamper packs.
Run by husband and wife Deiniol and Dallas Berridge, the business uses only items sourced from small and medium-sized Central Coast businesses.
Inspired by difficulties the couple encountered when trying to find locally-sourced honey on a trip to the Blue Mountains, the business had its beginnings early last year.
“We decided we wanted to highlight produce from our own area and started preparing things in February, 2021,” Deiniol Berridge said.
“We had to find a reasonable number of suppliers (collaborators) on the Central Coast to ensure we had 8-10 hampers to start with and when the lockdown hit last August we decided to launch.”
Berridge said the business “went ballistic” almost immediately.
“Nobody enjoyed lockdown – it was incredibly hard- but it did give our business a kickstart,” he said.
“We launched just in time for Father’s Day and supporting our region just resonated with people.
“When people realised we were new and different and all suppliers were Central Coast-based they jumped on board.
“Even the boxes our hampers come in are made on the Central Coast, so you can be assured that when you buy with us you’re supporting local businesses and receiving the finest products that the Central Coast has to offer.”
“It’s amazing how many Central Coast businesses are out there that people aren’t aware of; we have discovered incredible quality items for our hampers.”
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the Buy Regional website offers multiple options to find the perfect gift before Sunday.
“This is also an opportunity to support small businesses … that are recovering from the devastating effects of the recent floods,” he said.
See the range of hampers on offer at https://www.homegroundcentralcoast.com.au/ or check out more options at www.nsw.gov.au/buyregional.
Terry Collins