A 19-year-old fashion entrepreneur from Renmark is refusing to let COVID-19 knock him down, launching a new T‑shirt range dedicated to supporting local start-ups and businesses.
Founder of Ryde Clothing, Nathan Woodrow, launched the ‘Support Ya Local’ T‑shirt two weeks ago after plans to open a new retail shop in his hometown were put on hold by the global pandemic.
A participant in the South Australian Business Chamber’s inaugural Regional South Australian Young Entrepreneurs Scheme (SAYES) program, Woodrow said the new design was inspired by the ongoing support he receives from his local community.
“The support local message has been such a big part of my brand for the past 18 months, but now more than ever people can relate to it,” he said.
“The new design focuses on the quote ‘support ya local’ because so many local businesses help push local brands like mine forward and it’s so important for a business to have that local support around you.”
The teenager was poised to open a new, bigger retail space in April, but the COVID-19 shutdown meant the doors never opened.
Despite the setback, Woodrow is remaining positive.
“I’m in a good position because my brand was built online, it’s always had a good online presence so I’m pretty lucky,” he said.
“The past few weeks has been about changing my mindset around what the rest of the year is going to look like and re-focusing and looking at how I can keep pushing the brand forward.”
Woodrow says the support received during the Regional SAYES program was also helping him through the COVID-19 crisis.
“Knowing that there is that support there and I’m not alone and if I do run into an issue there is someone there, I can turn to and get help is a really good feeling,” he said.
Born and raised in Renmark, South Australia, Woodrow launched Ryde Clothing from his bedroom when he was just 16 years-old in 2016, determined to share his passion for the Riverland and the outdoors.
His advice for other budding young entrepreneurs? Don’t let COVID19 get you down.
“Especially now the biggest thing is to look long term. It’s easy to get stuck thinking things are bad but if you look ahead it will help you stay motivated and don’t be afraid to be creative,” he said.
The South Australian Young Entrepreneurs Scheme is open to anyone aged 18 to 35 looking to develop their business ideas. Participants are given access to mentors and industry experts, and take part in workshops covering business strategy, finance, marketing, law, employee relations, leadership and media.
The Regional SAYES program ensures those budding entrepreneurs in regional South Australia don’t miss out with subsided travel and accommodation costs included in the program.
Expressions of interest to the Regional SAYES program for 2020 is now open.
To find out more please contact Jade.Henschke@business-sa.com
