Buy Australian: Degraves Street boutique a mecca for Victorian-made goods

As Melbourne’s retail industry bounces back from the pandemic, laneway boutique, Clementine’s, is supporting regional businesses by showcasing locally-made produce and goods.

Clementine’s owner, Melanie Ashe, is happy to be back in business. Picture: Jason Edwards

One of the positives to emerge from the pandemic is that it’s helping put Victorian-made goods on the map.

As the retail sector recovers across the state, Melburnians are more conscious than ever of the businesses they support, buying local where possible.

It’s welcome news for Melanie Ashe, Melbourne city resident and owner of Clementine’s Fine Food and Gifts on Degraves Street, which specialises in Victorian-made goods.

“I’m cautiously optimistic,” said Ms Ashe. “The customers that are coming in have been so kind and are just happy to be out. Many are visiting my store with the intention of supporting small businesses, which is a great thing to see.”

Melanie Ashe is happy to be operating her laneway boutique, Clementine’s, once more after lockdown forced its temporary closure. Picture: Jason Edwards

Established in 2011, Clementine’s has always championed Victorian makers. “I launched my business when Australian-made products weren’t really on the radar,” said Ms Ashe. “Australian-made goods, or in my case, Victorian products, were extremely under-represented in the retail industry.”

After travelling abroad and struggling to find locally-made souvenirs, Ms Ashe realised the experience was no different back home. “If you look at the souvenir shops in Australia and turn them upside down, much of the products are made elsewhere,” she said.

Prior to launching Clementine’s, Ms Ashe spent six months sourcing locally-made food products, homewares, gifts and souvenirs from across Victoria in an effort to put local goods on the scene.

Clementine’s prides itself on stocking quality, locally-made produce and products sourced from across Victoria. Picture: Jason Edwards

“It was the best fun; The talent out there is extraordinary, but small regional businesses don’t often have the platform to showcase it,” said Ms Ashe. “Everything stocked on my shelves has a story behind it about a small Victorian business.”

Refusing to be consumed by the recent setbacks to her business, Ms Ashe is happy to see local goods being embraced by the wider community.

“I don’t want to be pessimistic. What happened to us happened to every small business in the city,” she said. “It’s been really hard, and my heart goes out to the businesses that didn’t make it. Some of us have just got by and are able to reopen, but now shoppers are returning because they love the city and genuinely want to support small business,” she said.

Find more local businesses to support at Click for Vic.

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Buy Australian is a News Corp Initiative – in partnership with Woolworths and Australian Made Campaign and supported by Red Energy – to help put money back in to our economy by supporting our producers, makers and manufacturers.