Empowering communities to GET it all local and online
Supporting local business has never been easier with the launch of to GET, a startup that helps communities shop from their favourite businesses online. For businesses, this means unlocking a new online revenue stream, while for consumers, it’s a great way to help their local communities thrive.
Recently, to GET was recognised as the winning pitch in the UNSW New Wave Cohort 8 Showcase, receiving the prestigious $5000 top prize. Its founder, Cindi Shaw, joined 75 diverse and driven female entrepreneurs across the 23 teams in UNSW New Wave Cohort 8.
“We founded to GET on the belief that the consumer wants their local communities to thrive, and their local providers to still be around after COVID,” explained founder, Cindi Shaw.
“to GET is an online local marketplace where you can purchase your favourite local foods from your favourite local suppliers. This includes vegetables, fruit, bread, pastries, meat, cheese, pantry and prepared meals via a collective ecommerce option,” explained Cindi. “Locals can shop easily via toGET.com.au for quality local produce online with one cart and one transaction for delivery or click and collect.”
Helping busy households source fresh local produce, goods and services
“COVID has irrevocably changed our consumer habits, our lives and expectations, “ said Cindi. “We’re working from home and love the convenience of shopping online. We increasingly demand quality produce, and aim to reduce our environmental footprint. Supporting local businesses is more important than ever to us as consumers, as our villages are where we choose to live. Nothing beats the smell of freshness and quality of local produce.”
However, as Sydney reopens, many are finding their lives getting busier.
“Convenience prevails,” explained Cindi, “to GET makes it possible for you to still shop from all your local retailers conveniently online, delivered to your door.”
She believes the shift to online shopping is a consumer trend likely to endure post-COVID.
“The impact of COVID gave me the impetus to start to GET,” said Cindi. “I noticed local small businesses I knew and loved closing and struggling to survive. With a background in the tourism industry, working cooperatively with small businesses, industry associations and online platforms,plus being a destination marketing specialist, I knew I had the experience that could help small businesses survive and thrive. Plus, I could provide my local community with a valuable service.”
“As a mother, caretaker and shopper, the past 18 months highlighted the time, cost and tedium of provisioning the household,” said Cindi. “Everyone was looking to short-cut this. Lists, online reordering and certainty of quality suppliers and deliveries were key components to developing to GET, and providing a sustainable long term business model.”
to GET helps you outsource the runaround
Cindi’s ambitious startup is in its early days, having recently launched its beta test in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.
“to GET is creating a profile for local business, providing new customers who didn't realise these businesses offered certain services, reminding existing customers to order locally, and providing local options for online shoppers.”
For local businesses, to GET enables better planning and inventory management, while also providing marketing support and an additional revenue stream.
“We are locals supporting locals,” said Cindi. “We understand the business needs and the consumers.”
“Local businesses are the innovators and the fabric of our communities. Many of these businesses have struggled to get online. to GET helps get them online and provide another channel for these largely bricks and mortar based artisans, who are great at making bread or delicious meals but not so skilled in providing a seamless e-commerce offering. Businesses are supported with free onboarding to the platform and can manage orders in the way that works for their business.”
“People want to support the local businesses that they know and love,” explained Cindi. “Shopping local boosts the local economy, builds community, and results in less waste and a reduced carbon footprint. We enable them to enjoy and support local businesses. We provide access to services that our community needs, especially busy working families and elderly residents.”
“We aim to take the hassle out of the “have tos” and give more time for the “love tos” by enabling our customers to get all their local best online - in one place.”
to GET has launched across 6 categories
If you are in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs and would like to get involved from the beginning, you can trial shop your best of local business via toGET.com.au.
Please follow us on instagram @togetitlocal or sign up for our newsletter and let us know the businesses you would like to shop in future via to GET.