Eva Valley micro-business Mother Cluckers Farm Friendly Products is scaling up from market stalls and online sales to a wholesale operation.
Owner Jess Krauss makes natural skincare from locally sourced ingredients, including beef tallow from a local butcher and fruit, honey and beeswax produced at her Eva Valley home.
Free, one-on-one support from the Territory Business Advisor network is helping Jess build her brand and connect with local stockists.
The Finocchiaro CLP Government’s Territory Business Advisor network is helping Eva Valley micro-business Mother Cluckers Farm Friendly Products take the next step, moving from online and market-based retail to a structured manufacturing and wholesale operation.
Owner Jess Krauss established the business around three years ago, specialising in natural, farm-derived skincare made from locally sourced ingredients. Her range includes creams, soaps, lip balms and deodorants, built around a primary ingredient of beef tallow sourced from a local butcher, alongside fruit, honey and beeswax produced at her Eva Valley home.
The idea grew out of a self-sufficient lifestyle on a remote cattle station, where reducing waste and making use of the whole product became second nature. Since relocating to the Territory, Jess has turned that ethos into a growing local brand, selling online and at markets across the Greater Darwin area, including Fred’s Pass, Batchelor, Berry Springs, and Southport (Litchfield) Markets.
With her Territory Business Advisor, Jess is now sharpening her marketing strategy to boost brand awareness and online sales, and is connecting with local businesses that share her focus on locally produced goods, with a view to supplying them at wholesale prices for resale.
Minister for Trade, Business and Asian Relations Robyn Cahill said small and micro businesses were the heart of the Territory economy.
“Micro-businesses are beginning to play a larger role in the Territory’s small to medium business sector, demonstrating how innovation can drive growth in niche markets,” Minister Cahill said.
“It is great to see Territory business owners like Jess back themselves and use the support of our Territory Business Advisors to grow. If you are thinking about starting a business or improving how you operate, a Territory Business Advisor can offer valuable insights and practical guidance for the journey ahead.”
Mother Cluckers Farm Friendly Products owner Jess Krauss said the support had come at the right time.
“Using natural ingredients matters to me because I want my family to have a healthy lifestyle, and that isn’t just about diet, it’s also about what we put on our skin,” Ms Krauss said.
“I started out small, selling to workers and passing tourists in the hope that one day the business could grow. I’m now connected with the Territory Business Advisors who are helping me take it to the next stage.”
Territory Business Advisors work with businesses of all sizes, as well as incorporated associations, not-for-profit organisations, and registered training organisations across the Territory.
