Cultural Choice receives first Wesfarmers BOAB Fund grant.

 

Cultural Choice, an Indigenous business products supplier to Officeworks, has been granted $100,000 as the first recipient of the new Wesfarmers BOAB Fund (Building Outstanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Businesses).

 

The Aboriginal-owned and operated supplier of stationery and office products, located on the NSW Central Coast, has become the first business supplying to the Wesfarmers group to access a unique fund established by the company to support the growth of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses.

 

The funding will assist with product development for Cultural Choice’s private label Indigenous range and the purchase of plant and equipment for its first dedicated warehouse in Tuggerah, NSW. 

 

Sarah Hunter, managing director of Officeworks, said: ‘‘Cultural Choice had been a partner for over two years and Officeworks was proud to continue to play a small role in supporting their business growth plans and their important work to prevent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth suicide. 

 

“The BOAB fund is a great example of the value we put on supplier diversity and connecting with communities where we live and work,’’ she said.

 

Cultural Choice was founded in 2016 by Mark Watson, a Gamilaroi man from Walgett, and his wife Jodie, who is general manager of the business. 

 

In August this year, Cultural Choice Office joined dealer group Office Choice. Cultural Choice-branded products are also listed on the Office National website.

 

Cultural Choice currently distributes more than 6000 products to government and corporate customers, including a private label Indigenous range of more than 30 products in hygiene, office and washroom categories, with artwork designed by Mark Watson. 

 

Officeworks currently ranges 11 Cultural Choice products online, including copy paper, notebooks, tissues and hand sanitiser. 

 

Cultural Choice donates 10 cents from every private label product sold to assist in prevention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth suicide. 

 

“As an Indigenous business, it is good to be able to work with companies that do support the community and want to support the business as well,” Jodie Watson said. 

 

“Increasing the diversity of our supplier base is an important area where we can make a real difference to the economic prosperity of Indigenous people and communities, while also enhancing our own businesses,” she said.