A Hive of Activity
Connecting with customers is the highest priority for Morwell-based creative hub, The Bee & The Spider. The local store is staging an exciting return to face-to-face business following a period of closure during the pandemic. While owner and creative-force, Matilda, is still hosting the popular virtual art and craft workshops she pioneered during lockdown, limited numbers of participants can now attend instore workshops – and they are selling out fast.
The niche local store is normally a hive of activity, selling a wide range of hand-made local products, from 45 different micro-businesses, and hosting a variety of workshops, from knitting to textile sculpture and sterling silver jewellery-making. Groups, such as the Crochet group, also meet online. Matilda runs an active Facebook page, ‘The Bee & The Spider HIVE’, where community members post, connect with one another and, over past months, have accessed live feeds and enjoyed virtual shopping tours showcasing goods including art and craft supplies, accessories, candles and bath and baby products.
The young businesswoman stocks and supports the products of so many Latrobe creators that choosing favourites is impossible. These include Newborough painter and ceramicist Mandi Thorpe, Sugar and Violets (earrings) in Traralgon, Post Code Hives (raw honey) from Glengarry and Yinnar and The Biscuit Shop in Boolarra.
Matilda said the ongoing support of her own loyal customer-base had sustained her during these challenging times. ‘It has shown me how much of an impact we make to so many people and I’m really proud of that,’ she said.