News

South Australian businesses have a strong local story to tell, from where they operate and what they produce to the people and places behind their work – and these stories have a way of showcasing the unique qualities that make the state a special place to live, work, visit, and do business.

On the back of the recent Buy SA Week, Brand SA Associate Director Kristen Eckhardt outlines how local businesses can use the iconic – and free – State Brand to promote themselves and South Australia.

As South Australia’s economy continues to grow, businesses across a wide range of sectors are increasingly using the State Brand to showcase their products, services and connection to the state.

The State Brand captures what makes South Australia unique – from our pioneering spirit to our strong sense of community and commitment to collaboration.

Brand South Australia was re-established by the South Australian Government in 2022 to promote the state locally, nationally and globally, to strengthen our reputation, and to facilitate the State Brand so our businesses can proudly display their origin while South Australians can make the choice to support local.

We know from our latest research that 83 per cent of consumers want to support local businesses.

Our Buy SA. For SA. campaign harnesses this desire, guiding them towards locally made or owned products, services and experiences by encouraging them to look out for the State Brand mark when they shop.

And businesses continue to recognise the value of the State Brand, with nearly 800 new businesses registering to use it in the past year, a ten per cent annual increase and a 44 per cent increase since 2022.

Brand SA also provides opportunities for registered businesses to participate in Buy SA Week, which is held annually in early August.

This year's Buy SA Week, which was held from 1-9 August, celebrated the people, products and businesses that make South Australia special. Brand SA partnered with local businesses and Seafood Industry South Australia (SISA) to deliver free events, tastings, cooking demonstrations, giveaways, discounts and competitions.

More than 150 South Australian businesses participated across the week, either by submitting their own offer or tasting, or by supplying local products to the 16 pop-up activations designed to help more South Australians discover local products, services and experiences.

More than 17,400 products were put into the hands of consumers during Buy SA Week, with 94 per cent of shoppers saying they were more likely to look for South Australian products when shopping after participating in an activation.

We have a lot to be proud of in South Australia, whether it's our progressive values, our global green credentials, our world-class major events, our natural resources, or our way of living.

Brand SA is here to champion these attributes here and around the world, and support our people to promote their locally made products and share their status as Proudly South Australian.

Kristen Eckhardt is the Associate Director of Brand SA in the Department of State Development.