to GET: eastern suburbs e-commerce platform brings shopping local online

Would you love to buy your produce from Freshdel, meat from The Village Butchery and seafood from The One That Got Away Bondi but don’t have time to traipse the east? Have we got the solution for you.

A new e-commerce platform stacked with small eastern suburbs businesses is proving shopping online doesn’t just have to involve the big guys.

The site toget.com.au was soft launched late last year thanks to a grant from Woollahra council and now has 11 local businesses from Kings Cross Markets produce stall Freshdel to The Village Butchery in Randwick on board.

Shoppers can add fresh produce, meat, baked goods and gifts from any number of the stores to the one online shopping cart and simply select options at checkout regarding whether they would like to click and collect the items or have them delivered.

While orders will be delivered by individual vendors for now, there are plans to combine the deliveries in the future.

Cindi Shaw is the founder of eastern suburbs e-commerce platform to GET

Site founder, Rose Bay resident Cindi Shaw, said if the concept went well in the east there was potential to roll it out across the country to help communities everywhere more easily shop within their own villages.

Currently, customers living in postcodes 2000 to 2050 can place an order.

“It’s a win-win because the platform provides locals with convenient access to purchase from their favourite shops online, while for local businesses, they can access an e-commerce platform without investing money to do it on their own,” Ms Shaw said.

Woollahra mayor Susan Wynne is a big fan.

“to GET is a great initiative that helps to connect local small businesses with customers, and I’m so pleased that Woollahra Council has been able to support it through our Revitalisation Grants Program, which is all about helping to ease the economic burden Covid has placed on the Woollahra community and local businesses,” Mayor Wynne said.

“It’s been wonderful to see how many people have made an effort to shop local throughout the pandemic, and Cindi’s innovative project will help to ensure this continues to be the case.”

Pasta Pantry Rose Bay owner Bijay Poudel was one of the first to sign on to the platform.

“This is great because it gets people interested in buying more local products. Yes, you’re going online but you are still supporting the locals,” Mr Poudel said.

Bijay Poudel owner of Pasta Pantry Rose Bay was one of the first to sign on to new e-commerce platform to GET

“Our lasagnes are always popular and because we do fresh baking, the baguettes and also the chicken schnitzels and salads are good sellers.

“During these difficult times this platform has been one of the elements that has kept us going – along with the community support. We are always so thankful for our local community.”

The One That Got Away Bondi owner Barry Rallis said while they can opt for store collection, most of his to GET customers are requesting delivery.

“We have a very loyal clientele,” Mr Rallis said.

“Our prawns are fantastic – we always have great green prawn cutlets, our flathead is always sweet, skinless and boneless and our very popular oysters come every day freshly shucked.

“It’s another avenue for people to access our fish and for customers it just makes life easier to just click and collect or get it delivered.”

Other vendors include Rose Bay’s Tart by Ursula, Hudson’s Bakery Bondi and Bondi Junction’s Yummee Gluten free.