Trawling Instagram and Pinterest and calling it work seems to good too be true, but for the team at online marketplace Wallabuy, it’s all in a day’s work.
“We source our designers from all over the place,” says editor Niki Comparti. “We’re constantly keeping an eye out at markets, trade shows, on Instagram, Pinterest, blogs, publications and Etsy. We’ll regularly search for things we’d love to have in our own homes or wardrobes and find artisans making exactly that locally and approach them from there. I rarely come home from any kind of market without a few business cards in my handbag.”
Having launched a couple of months ago, Wallabuy aims to connect its customers to beautiful, locally made designs and already has over 100 Australian designers on the site. Believing Australia has an incredibly unique creative community that doesn’t get enough attention, they’re passionate about supporting local talent.
“The creative souls making amazing ceramics and paintings in tin sheds out the back of their homes are the people we love and want to support,” explains Niki. “If we can help someone turn their hobby into a career like we have, we’ve served our purpose.”
Led by director Dale Brett, Wallabuy is a small team of design fanatics and self-confessed suckers for a great story. “I love hearing how our designers come up with their products, what inspires them and how they have come to do what they are doing,” says Niki. “We handpick every item and designer that appears on Wallabuy. If we don’t have some kind of connection with the products or the stories of the people who make them, we can’t genuinely recommend and share them with our community.”
With their exceptionally designed website and quirky name (they wanted to have something iconic to Australia but with a twist: wallaby became Wallabuy, get it!?) they hope Wallabuy will become a number one destination for supporting local artists and designers while simultaneously helping customers find the products they want but can’t find.
“We built Wallabuy from scratch for people like us – creative, inspiration-thirsty individuals who love to learn and look after themselves,” says Niki. “We’re really trying to build a community where ideas are shared and loved; a place to turn to find the most unique products, inspirational designers and passionate people within the industry.”