The Common Good Ethical Grocer
Organic Convos is an editorial that shines a light on Organic traders during COVID-19. Traders like The Common Good, who are committed to creating a space that can leave a real, positive change upon their community. Learn more about their journey with our Organic Convo.
Pure Blonde, The Voice for Organic.
“Our journey began with wellness. Wholefood and wholefood eating is a lifestyle that benefits our health and our wellbeing. My family and I feel it every day - body and mind.”
The Common Good was born out of a passion for wellness.
Stocking everything you need to maintain a healthy lifestyle, The Common Good prides itself a simple mantra of ethical, organic, and community.
“Everything we stock, every supplier or farmer that we work with, has been sourced ethically and has been grown organically. I work personally with each of them to ensure that our customers can rest easy.”
However, The Common Good take it a step further.
“When we first began The Common Good, it was so important that we create a space that can leave real, positive change upon our community.”
“Community is everything to us. It's the heart of everything I do. You can get most of what we sell at any organic store, but people come because they feel like they're welcome.”
“When you buy something from our store, the money stays in the community - with the staff and our organic suppliers.”
More than that, Meneka uses her store as a space to host others in the community - opening up her store as a forum for local gatherings and as a place where people can come together to share a common passion.
However, with the advent of COVID-19, such gatherings have had to be stopped and Meneka and her team have begun to feel some of the effects.
“We are lucky to have a lot of loyal customers. But people are afraid right now - they are afraid to go outside...with the access to online shopping and delivery, it is becoming harder to compete with some of the bigger players in the industry.”
Meneka and The Common Good are staying resilient though, looking for solutions to help the store push through the effects of COVID-19.
“I think all people want is simplicity in food and where it's from. So I'd really like to give them that with household, biodynamic, and organic goods under our own label. If we're able to work directly with farmers, growers, and makers, we can create a real link between them and the community consuming their goods.”
And once restrictions begin to ease, they're confident they'll be able to reignite the passion and community that surrounds the shop.
“I've had to shorten our trading hours, cut some casual staff and work a lot of hours on my own. But I'm confident we'll get through. Small business has never been for the faint hearted!”
The Common Good
77 Church St, Hawthorn VIC 3122
(03) 9077 3431
Hours
Monday to Friday 9:30am-5pm
Saturday 9am-5pm
Sunday 10am-2pm