Logan Regional Chamber of Commerce launches virtual market to help stallholders reach customers

The ongoing event was set up in response to coronavirus putting an end to the Logan Regional Producers Market on the vVillage Green.

A live social media broadcast will help businesses spruik their products and allow customers to connect with them.

"The customers will access the market through the virtual market album on our page," president Chyerl Pridham said.

"This will take them through to a choice of going through category albums or individual stalls' albums.

"They will then have the option to visit your Facebook, your website, contact you directly via messenger or your stall on our site where they can message if they want to buy something, and the seller can contact the customer."

The virtual market will help many stallholders who would not survive the coronavirus.

"A lot of stallholders are people on pensions," Mrs Pridham said.

"This is their extra money.

"We had a desire to keep the small businesses that rely on this additional income and exposure.

"We had to look at an alternative. Three to six months of no markets was not an option for some of these businesses."

The markets, which started last year, showcase homemade products from stallholders.

"It is a make it yourself, bake it yourself, grow it yourself type market," Mrs Pridham said.

"Some of these businesses are actually new small businesses. The markets provided the shopfront they couldn't already afford, as a way of getting their products out to the general public, get some brand identification and following.

"People have invested a lot into these small businesses and it is important for them to have some sort of cash flow coming in."

About 12 businesses had signed up to take part. Mrs Pridham said there was scope for more to get on board.

"Anyone that would like to join our virtual market needs to email Liane on office@logancountrychambr.com.au," she said.

"She will walk them through the registration process."