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The demise of Ferrit may have seemed ominous for the Kiwi online sales experience, but operators of a Buy NZ Made website, say there's still money to be made selling online.
The website www.getNZmade.net, was launched four months ago. It allows manufacturers to list products to be sold either online or at their stores.
Thirty-seven people were made redundant earlier this week as online retailer Ferrit, dubbed Telecom's answer to Trade Me, announced it had become too expensive to run and would be shut down.
The site, which is run like a shopping mall allowing customers to compare prices across stores and buy products over the internet, will stop taking orders tomorrow.
Ralph Brayham, general manager of Ferrit and director of Telecom Home, said the recession had made it difficult to sign up new retailers. Struggling retailers were reining in marketing spending and online shopping fell into that category for them.
Buy NZ Made director Marcia Dunnett said the getNZmade.net site now had 2,648 products listed.
"Retailers of New Zealand-made goods have shown their willingness to connect with our manufacturers and provide an effective set of options for shoppers," said Dunnett.
"We expect the site to continue to grow as support for shopping for Kiwi-made goods grows."
She said research carried out by the Government's Buy Kiwi Made media programme shows around 1.5 million adult New Zealanders always or often consider whether goods are New Zealand made before purchasing.
HERALD ONLINE
