Port Lincoln oyster farmers hit by coronavirus shutdowns turn to social media to sell their stock
With COVID-19 shutting down restaurants across the country, Port Lincoln’s oyster farmers had to get creative and figure out another way to sell their stock. Here’s how they did it.
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After getting past a potentially devastating oyster virus last year, Eyre Peninsula growers thought things were looking up – but then coronavirus hit hard as demand from restaurants and markets disappeared.
Determined to not just sit on their hands and wait it out, many shifted from fish markets to the digital marketplace and embraced the power of social media to sell their wares, turning disaster into a national opportunity.
Their positive story is being highlighted to celebrate the launch today of a new daily news website, The Port Lincoln News, the latest regional site to be unveiled by The Advertiser and Messenger Community News.
Brendan Guidera, manager of Pristine Oysters in Coffin Bay, said before COVID-19 hit they were selling 4.5 million oysters a year.
“Since POMS and now COVID, the market has changed,” Mr Guidera said.
“We created the website when things really hit the fan back in April. Since then, things have really started to build, which has been great and we would like to continue the service even if the market recovers.”
With more than 3000 “likes” on Facebook, Pristine is selling about 1200 dozens oysters a week via its website; with some deliveries making their way to Sydney and Melbourne.
“We do have other competition in those eastern states with growers in Tasmania and New South Wales who are doing the same,” Mr Guidera said.
“But certainly this process has helped us establish ourselves as a brand and we like that we get paid straight away.”
Adelaide resident Rory Bluett is one happy customer.
He used to drive across town once a month to buy himself a “treat”, now his Pristine oysters are delivered to his door.
“The pricing was pretty competitive from my understanding but Pristine were able to deliver the oysters fresh to my door for the same price from where I used to get them after spending the morning driving,” Mr Bluett said.
With prices starting at $60 for five dozen unopened oysters – delivery varies by postcode – Pristine also supplies customers with a glove and oyster knife for an additional $10.
“The packaging they send the oysters in is top class, the foam boxes help keep the oysters fresh and the contactless transaction with everything going on with COVID makes the purchase a breeze really.”
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Another Facebook page finding it hard to keep up with the demand is Oysters2U.
Account manager Julia Churchett, whose brother Chris is also an oyster farmer, was blown away by the demand.
“We focus on a lot of regional towns that probably can’t get access to fresh seafood as much as they would like,” Ms Churchett said.
“People are often ordering multiple dozens at any one time; it’s been a lot more successful that I had originally anticipated.
“One of the reasons an online presence has taken off for many growers is because people are still hesitant to dine out, so to essentially have a contactless transaction like this, people love it.”