Bulk buying pays off

A desire to reap the benefits of buying in bulk led to the creation of a thriving community of like-minded people for Sandi Jeffrey.

“I was communicating via Facebook with a farmer who had a picture of meat she was selling,” Sandi recalls.

“But 20kg was too big, so I put it on my own Facebook page to see if my friends wanted to share it.

“Our first order ended up being 125kg.”

That was three years ago, and Sandi’s Brisbane Bulk Buys and Discounts Facebook group now has more than 4600 members and her network of suppliers has expanded dramatically.

Making a difference

The Arana Hills mum is a finalist in the Making a Difference (Community) category of the AusMumpreneur Awards, presented by The Women’s Business School. The awards recognise the growing number of women who successfully balance motherhood and business in a way that suits their life and family.

Group expands

From ordering meat in bulk, the group expanded to bulk orders of toilet paper through Who Gives a Crap, produce from a farmer who had a stall at the now-defunct markets at The Gap and pasta from Storia on Queen.

Other suppliers joined the movement – many of them local, such as Blue Dog Farm at Mt Mee and Basilea Living Herbs at Burpengary.

New direction

Like many business people, Sandi was forced to pivot as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

She was working in sales for Vegepod and had just returned from the Philadelphia Flower Show in March when the pandemic escalated, forcing her to find a new source of income.

Sandi joined Thermomix in May, swiftly climbing to the number one spot for new signings in Queensland and number three in Australia.

Supporting locals

At the same time, interest in Brisbane Bulk Buys and Discounts surged.

“When COVID hit people needed more things, like oil and flour and yeast,” Sandi says.

With restaurants struggling, Sandi reached out to see if she could tap into their wholesale network and give them an alternative source of income.

She’s proud the Brisbane Bulk Buys and Discounts community has enabled many local businesses to stay afloat, and delighted to be supporting the region’s economy.