About this archived page
This material is retained from Web Team Adelaide's earlier website so existing links still lead to their original subject.
I acquired the business on 1 July 2024.
The historical wording, contributors, offers and platform guidance below describe their original period.
My current services are website design, SEO, Google Ads, branding and graphic design for Adelaide businesses.
Read the ownership history or ask me about your current project.
Original page content
Over a decade ago, South Australian woman Joy Marshall travelled to Cambodia with her daughter and volunteered to teach English in a small rural school.
Witnessing the extreme disadvantage within the local community, Joy decided to set up a fair trade business with family-based craft groups. She sold the handmade fashion accessories at markets here in South Australia at markets, festivals, and through other retailers and supporters.
Before the pandemic, Joy had planned on making yearly trips to Cambodia to support a small sewing collective of women and children living with HIV in Phnom Penh, who were outcast by their community. The group also faced emergency food and medical supply shortages at the onset of the pandemic, with no Government support.
Covid made the planned trips to Cambodia impossible, but Joy found a way to work within the travel restrictions when the need for good quality, 3 layer, reusable face masks here in Australia, became an opportunity to adapt.
The need in Australia for reusable face masks made to health standards kept the group together and provided a dignified way for them to look after their families.
Through the sales of face masks, the group purchased much-needed food, medical supplies, school uniforms, and stationery, as well as emergency relief funds and building a safe community home.
What makes this small business unique?
Joy responded to the disastrous impact of the pandemic by orchestrating a win: win opportunity for us as buyers and the group as sellers through her small business, and created Sew So Good Face Masks.
We all need face masks to venture out in public and now have the opportunity to purchase them consciously, knowing every dollar is supporting this amazing group of Cambodian families.
Sales of the face masks are going so well that the group is now able to set aside money to finance the next stages of their group home.
How & why we became involved
I had known Joy through working with her in her former fair trade business days and by coincidence, I heard her talking about the project in a radio interview. I approached her about creating an online shop for wider distribution and easier sales. Joy agreed and the Sew So Good Face Masks website became a reality.
It was an honour to support Joy's incredible business in this way, as her amazing work aligns with our core purpose - making a difference. It was one achievable way we could get behind a unique social enterprise business and use our expertise to make the buying, selling and marketing process smooth for everyone.
The website's supporting role
The Sew So Good Face Masks website is a one-stop shop to buy and sell the face masks, providing regularly updated fabric styles as they become available.
Joy can get on with her work, knowing that the website is ticking along in the background, taking care of the shopfront side of things.
The site is also a place to read more about the history of the project, each stage of development and see beautiful photos of the women and children who make the face masks.
The website provides updates on the latest work that is happening with funding from face mask sales and serves as a reminder of the everyday necessities we often take for granted.