Julia Nielson - My Local Buy Story

Written by Julia Nielson, Graphic Designer

I recently had the privilege of speaking with businesses across the Moreton Bay region about my interactions with Local Buy - the good, bad, and the success. It was a great morning and I’d like to share my story again here.

Throughout my career, I’ve worked with various councils and government agencies in full-time employment. But as a sole trader, I never thought in a million years that I’d have access to those clients on my own. It wouldn’t have been possible without Local Buy. 

To set the scene, prior to 2020 BC (before Covid), I’d been a sole trader for over 4 years where a good part of my working week was spent contracting at different design studios and lecturing at a design college. The plan was to slowly build my own client base.

Covid hit and work dried up overnight. 

By July 2020, a friend told me about Local Buy and, after doing a bit of research, I found an Arrangement in my field for pre-qualified suppliers to work with councils across Queensland, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory. 

In all truth, the application was tedious and it took me two full days. At the end of the first day of wading through and updating insurances plus a whole pile of form filling, I was in two minds. One, there was no way a little sole trader like me would be accepted. And two, just do it - you’ve got nothing better to do right now. So, I kept going.

And it paid off - I now secure projects with numerous Queensland councils through Local Buy Arrangements.

Visit my website to check out some of the projects I've worked on through Local Buy View Website 

Would you like to be featured in our newsletter as a supplier? Contact your Customer Success Manager, Liz McFarlan or Audrey Dobell to share your story.