SUPPORTING the city\u2019s individuals of enterprise every day, Commerce Ballarat\u2019s team knows plenty of local legends in business.<\/p>\n
A new video series, Local Legends<\/em>, is part of their #shoutoutballarat<\/strong> initiative, encouraging buyers to see the personalities behind the businesses they\u2019ve known, engaged and shopped with over many years.<\/p>\n Commerce Ballarat CEO, Jodie Gillett said these people are looking for support more than ever.<\/p>\n \u201cLocal Legends<\/em> is about helping the general community, and people who are not in small business, to understand the different affects that COVID has had this year, so far,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s turning into a celebration of their courage and resilience, and they have lovely stories.\u201d<\/p>\n The ongoing series has been releasing two clips a week. Featured faces have included Ballarat Seafoods\u2019 Phil Maher, Ballarat Engineering Plastics\u2019 Justin Kent, The Underground Movement\u2019s Dylan Lesock and The Foundry\u2019s Liz Green.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re choosing people who are much loved in our community. Maybe they\u2019re the faces you don\u2019t see very often in the media, but so many of us shop or eat there,\u201d Mrs Gillett said.<\/p>\n \u201cLiz\u2019s video shows her quiet strength. All their generosity and ability to just soldier on under incredibly difficult circumstances is something to be celebrated.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got an episode this week where an accommodation provider makes a statement about the positives of the COVID period.\u201d<\/p>\n Mrs Green first opened doors to Mair Street\u2019s The Upholstery Gallery, 13 years ago, which has since moved down the hill, becoming The Foundry.<\/p>\n During the pandemic, she\u2019s been mindful of staying positive, perseverant, respectful of others\u2019 space, and patient.<\/p>\n This hasn\u2019t been difficult for her to do, impressed by Ballarat people doing their best to buy local and keep small businesses like her homewares, clothing and coffee shop alive.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople are not going on holidays, so they\u2019re putting new carpet in, ordering a new couch and buying cushions, a throw or new bed linen,\u201d Mrs Green said.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve been extraordinary, and very supportive of my business. From what I hear, a lot of people are buying takeaway from restaurants as well, and spreading the love around.<\/p>\n \u201cThey need to be congratulated. They\u2019re really focussed on spending their money locally.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" SUPPORTING the city\u2019s individuals of enterprise every day, Commerce Ballarat\u2019s team knows plenty of local legends in business. A new video series, Local Legends, is part of their #shoutoutballarat initiative, encouraging buyers to see the personalities behind the businesses they\u2019ve known, engaged and shopped with over many years. Commerce Ballarat CEO, Jodie Gillett said these […]<\/p>\n