As the saying goes, ‘alone we are strong, but together we are stronger’, partnerships offer businesses the opportunity to pool resources, build on each other’s strengths and collaborate in new ways to get the best of both worlds.
Combining innovation, sustainability and digital to transform and renew e-commerce and bricks and mortar retailing. World’s Biggest Garage Sale has been pioneering the re-commerce revolution. Renewing, repurposing and repairing products to bring them new life and maximise their value within the economy. Reducing the negative impact the demand for new products has on our finite resources.
Market-Making made easier through partnerships
WBGS, and social enterprises like WBGS, are in the business of market-making, going where no business (or very few) have gone before to create radically new industries which are not only profitable but also create benefits for the economy, the community and the planet. This market-making isn’t being created in a vacuum. It is built on partnerships with major businesses who can support and benefit from the circular and sustainable initiatives social enterprises offer.
In 2020, in the middle of the global pandemic, World’s Biggest Garage Sale not only launched and opened Australia’s first circular economy precinct in Brisbane, they also secured a resource recovery partnership with major national Australian retailer Officeworks.
World’s biggest garage sale and officeworks partnership
Officeworks are committed to selling quality home and office furniture, but inevitably there is a small amount that may be unfit for sale due to damage incurred whilst in transit that would typically need to be disposed of in the landfill bin. To reduce the company’s environmental impact, they were looking for solutions that would enable their team to divert these products from landfill. It was a perfect fit with WBGS, whose mission is to activate the circular economy and dormant goods for good as a way to make purposeful profit that creates a positive impact on people and the planet.
This partnership is ground-breaking in its dynamic, goals and the broader impact it has created. In addition to diverting potential landfill, revolutionising people’s relationship with stuff, and having positive social and environmental impact, the partnership and support of Officeworks have helped WBGS grow.
partnering for positive impact
As a result the business has created job opportunities for marginalised and vulnerable Australians. 50% of WBGS’ workforce is now made up of vulnerable Australians. This gives vulnerable members of our community the chance to upskill, feel valued and like they belong to a part of a movement. Together Officeworks and WBGS are literally taking (potential waste) and turning it into wealth that is distributed across the entire community.
Recently, WBGS and Officeworks were awarded the Banksia Minister’s Award for the Environment for their partnership and the environmental impact their resource recovery co-initiatives have created in such a short space of time.
Find out more about World’s Biggest Garage Sale and Officeworks award-winning partnership by watching the video below!
