Young mother of two and founder of Hamperart, Fiona Allardyce is used to seeing a look of surprise and delight on the faces of Canberrans. After all, she has been creating and delivering hampers for years, with this week marking her fifth anniversary.
And what better way to celebrate this achievement, than with recognition as a finalist as the Telstra Business Women’s Awards.
What sets this home-grown hamper queen apart is that she sources only the best local products to showcase in her hampers. By doing this, she supports other local businesses and is helping the growth of our small business community.
Perusing through the shelves of her shopfront, Fiona is eager to let you know her jams are made by Walsh’s in Boorowa and her tea-towels designs are dreamt up by a lady from There Goes a Pig in Sutton. This makes it overtly obvious that these businesses are not just her suppliers but friends that she wants to share with you so that you too may support local.
“I’m ecstatic to be a finalist in this years awards for just finding local products that I love and sharing them with the rest of Canberra,” said Fiona.
“Our customers are always delighted to learn the items in their hamper can be easily bought in Canberra. It’s important to support local businesses if we want to develop the wider community, especially during times of down turn.
“Sometimes it may be cheaper to get products from interstate or overseas. You might save $5 on one purchase but if a local supplier closes down they can no longer contribute to our economy, and then it’s society who loses out.”
Fiona understands the importance of community and buying local. Every one of her ‘local hampers’ allows customers to directly support a minimum of six local businesses.
Hamperart has gone from strength to strength since their humble beginnings in Fiona’s garage in Tuggeranong and she is pleased that she is able to do what she loves… shopping and helping other.
“People motivate and inspire me, and being able to help others makes me feel good. I am very passionate about local businesses and supporting them wherever possible,” said Fiona Allardyce.
Fiona is nominated alongside many other outstanding local ladies including:
Business Owner Award
- Mary-Anne Apps, The Apps Learning Centre, Ainslie and Weston
- Tammy Garratt, TG’s Hair Studio’s, Fyshwick
- Karen Groves, Successful Alliances, Deakin
- Jillian Hart, Show Pony Events Australia Pty Ltd, Fyshwick
- Riana Janse van Rensburg, Riana’s Health and Skin Care Clinic, Monash
- Laurie McDonald, Canberra Furnished Accommodation, Canberra City
Private and Corporate Sector Award
- Samantha Kourtis, Capital Chemist Charnwood, Charnwood
- Karen Skinner, Scentre Group, Phillip
- Carol Sutton, Codarra Advanced Systems Pty Ltd, Weetangera
Community and Government Award
- Margo Andrae, Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation, Barton
- Vanessa Little, Libraries ACT, Territory and Municipal Services Directorate, ACT Government, Lynehan
- Jan Mason, Department of Finance, Canberra City
- Gail Morgan, Osteoporosis Australia, Curtin
- Christina Ryan, Advocacy for Inclusion, Canberra City
- Amanda Thomas, Transport & Logistics Industry Skills Council, Barton
Business Innovation Award
- Tammy Garratt, TG’s Hair Studio’s
- Jillian Hart, Show Pony Events Australia Pty Ltd
- Samantha Kourtis, Capital Chemist Charnwood
- Amanda Thomas, Transport & Logistics Industry Skills Council
Young Business Women’s Award
- Fiona Allardyce, Hamper Art, Fyshwick
- Alison Bailey, Dare to Dance Canberra, Holder
- Sally-Anne Clark, Australian Government, ACT, Canberra City
- Jane-Rose Naylor, Jamison Flowers, Macquarie
- Jennifer Wyborn, Meyer Vandenberg Law
(Agency9.com.au Media Release)
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