Australian Made Louvre Windows from Safetyline Jalousie

Australians Now Prefer Australian Made More Than Ever

Australians have shown a shift towards Australian-made products following the global COVID-19 pandemic. Recent survey from Australian Made and Roy Morgan has identified this significant change in consumer behaviour in July 2020 after a worldwide economic downturn. Because of the slowdown in business and access to resources, more and more Australians have realised just how much we have relied on foreign suppliers when we have Australian manufacturers capable of providing the same, if not higher quality, products to the Australian market.

The "Buy Local" Revolution

As the world has gone on lockdown, countless establishments have had no choice but to scale down or shut down, and lot of jobs have been lost. We are now in the middle of a recession and most people have the urge to contribute to reigniting the economy to survive the pandemic.

Consequently, the "buy local" outlook has been more amplified than ever in Australia. Consumers have had to make lifestyle changes and new decisions and look into local products and services to help support the local economy. This could be in the form of food, produce, gadgets, home appliances, and more.

But now this "buy local" mindset has become a cornerstone for Australian businesses. From food production, clothing, to industrial construction, there is now a focus on Australian-made products and Australian manufacturers. This switch is wholly in support of jumpstarting the economy, Australian innovation, and protecting Australian companies from closing up shop.

The Australian Made Badge

The Australian Made and Roy Morgan research showed that the Australian Made logo is a trusted icon. 99% of respondents said they recognise the logo and 92% said they trust the icon, meaning they would immediately trust the brand bearing this icon. This provides a lot of confidence in consumers that whatever product or service they may be getting is of high quality. More than high quality, Australians associate the badge with supporting local employment, safety, ethical labour, and sustainability, among others.

According to the survey, Australians prefer Australian-made products in terms of agricultural and gardening equipment, products for children, and building and renovation materials. Australian manufacturers of these products are generally trusted and patronized by most people across the country. The photo below shows the percentage of preference for Australian-made products.

Consumer Behaviour Reinforced by COVID-19

Prior to the pandemic, Roy Morgan had already noted a change in consumer behaviour - 88% of Australians were more likely to buy products made in Australia.

Since the start of the pandemic, 52% of Australians have shown a higher preference for Australian-made products. 45% are more likely to buy more Australian-made products, and 43% are more likely to look for the country of origin in products.

Michele Levine, CEO of Roy Morgan said, "The impact of COVID-19 on Australians is unprecedented in so many ways not least of which is our shopping behaviour. More Australians are now organising delivery of products; doing online research prior to making a purchase; shopping online, both in stores they would usually visit and different stores. And critically since COVID-19 Australians have an ever-greater preference for Australian Made products."

Similarly, Kate Carnell, Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, said, "If COVID-19 has done anything, it has exposed the long-term need for local manufacturing to ensure Australia can be self-sufficient in producing essential products."

Call for More Australian-Manufactured Products

The report indicates that a staggering nine out of ten Australians think that we should be producing, and manufacturing products made in Australia for a number of reasons. 38% of the respondents say that the pandemic has highlighted Australia's reliance on other countries for business as it would be prudent for businesses to have access to locally made products to reduce delays and prioritise Australian-made products.

26% said Australia should produce more local products to create employment opportunities, and ultimately keep Australian jobs in Australia. 26% also said there needs to have bigger support for Australian businesses and industries to diminish the impact of the recession.

20% also said that the pandemic has highlighted vulnerable international supply chains, subsequently postponing different parts of business processes and contributing to the economic slowdown.

"Australia's over-reliance on imported products has been highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic," according to Ben Lazzaro, Chief Executive at Australian Made. "This research indicates that Australians are placing priority on manufacturing self-sufficiency and job creation along with a renewed appetite to address the imbalance between locally made and imported products, to ensure Australia's long-term prosperity."

Carnell also said, "The federal government has already committed to increasing domestic manufacturing of products such as medical supplies, but there would be tangible benefits to broadening this approach."

The Final Word

Safetyline Jalousie is proud to be part of the many businesses in the country that are producing Australian-made products. Our range of louvre windows are specifically designed for Australian homes and commercial spaces to support people's health and wellbeing especially during this time. Contact Safetyline Jalousie to know more about our proudly Australian products.

Read our recent blog to discover how COVID-19 is also redefining architecture.

Source:
Australian made products enjoy popularity spike, Retail World Magazine.
9 in 10 Australians believe Australia should produce more products locally, Australian Made.