By Alesha Capone
A Tarneit resident has started an online list of Wyndham businesses to help create trade and save local jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kapil Thakkar, who also founded the not-for-profit organisation Stay Well and is a community ambassador for AFL Victoria and Cricket Australia, said he came up with the idea after speaking with Wyndham business owners and employees.
“I am sharing the list on various Facebook groups in Wyndham and Melbourne, sharing on many business groups too, eg, Promote your Business, Melbourne Business Advertising, Wyndham Business Community, and many community platforms too, like Point Cook Indian Community, Tarneit Truganina Williams Landing Community,” he said.
Mr Thakkar said he was also sharing the list in Whatsapp and Telegram groups, and that businesses were sharing it too.
“I am also in the process of preparing a Facebook Small Business Group too where each business can promote as many times they want, we will have video presentations on there as well,” he said.
Mr Thakkar said he found businesses to put on the list by looking at Facebook pages and shopping centre lists, and then contacting traders to ask if they would like to be included.
There are now more than 40 businesses on the list.
“When I first shared the list on Facebook there were eight businesses, but since then, business owners have contacted me and requested to add their business on the list,” he said.
“I received a lot of appreciation and positive feedback from business and communities and this idea is actually working.
“The idea behind this is to support small and local business during this challenging time which can help save jobs too.”
Contact thakkarkapil1@gmail.com for details.
