Where there’s a will there’s a way.

In a time where bad news just keeps coming (ie. Bunnings sausage sizzles suspended) comes a good news story of never say die attitude. Perth Upmarket has innovatively responded to the large gathering ban by creating a 48-hour virtual marketplace for over 180 local small businesses, artists and producers. 

Justine Barsley – Director of Perth Upmarket – commented that since the organisation had to cancel its first market for 2020 on Sunday 22 March, due to the Coronavirus pandemic she knew that over 180 of the market’s regular retailers would be hit hard by the loss of income. 

“Many of our retailers rely on being part of Perth Upmarket to showcase and sell their products to over 10,000 visitors and shoppers,” said Justine. 

“While we had to make the difficult but right decision to cancel the market – the first time we’ve done so in our 12 years of operation – we also knew that our retailers, like many other small businesses around Australia currently, will be set back without support from the wider community.” 

“So we decided to quickly and effectively devise a way to allow thousands of our community members and shoppers anywhere, to still shop for presents, supplies, clothes, food cravings and art produced by our retailers but from the safe comfort of their own homes.” 

Perth Upmarket has creatively developed a virtual 48-hour marketplace – the first of its kind in WA since the COVID-19 ban came out – where up to 180 of its retailers will place special offers, new products, bundling packages, free postage and more – that can all be purchased online.

For those looking for health care products currently not available in our supermarket shelves, Upmarket retailers such as Pure Aussie Balms, Perth Soapworks and Bare Naked Body will be offering handmade soap, sanitisers, dishwashing bars at the online marketplace.

Virtual Upmarket will go live at 9am Saturday 21 March and finish at 9pm, Sunday 22 March from the Perth Upmarket website – perthupmarket.com.au/virtual-upmarket-coming-soon

This will only be the start though with the Perth Upmarket’s 48-hour virtual marketplace to be a part of a series of creative online campaigns planned by the organisation to support local small businesses, artists and producers over the next 8 weeks. 

More Perth Coronavirus reads:

• Latest Coronavirus stats: Live Interactive Dashboard
• Don’t Get Scammed By This Hoax Coronavirus Text Message
• Massive Stimulus Package Announced For WA
• Spread Good Advice, Not Coronavirus A Message From Mark McGowan