Eighteen-year-old University of Newcastle commerce student Jake Roxby has launched Dinkum Collective, an e-commerce platform connecting Australian consumers with independent market vendors and boutique artisans. Founded in Newcastle, the online marketplace digitises physical artisan market discovery, allowing shoppers to locate, track, and purchase products from regional small businesses beyond physical market trade days.
The platform was inspired by a trip to the Eumundi Markets on the Sunshine Coast, where Jake purchased artwork from an independent maker but was subsequently unable to locate the business online. Following its soft launch ahead of the Christmas retail trade period, Dinkum Collective currently hosts over 35 Australian market vendors and lists more than 170 unique product lines across handmade jewelry, ceramics, original artwork, homewares, and specialty gifts.
Participating vendors include regional health, literary, and artisanal businesses such as Calm Kids Counselling and Coaching, which utilises the platform to distribute therapeutic books and plush products nationally. Managing platform development alongside his commercial undergraduate studies, Jake plans to expand customer acquisition across Australia during the end-of-year shopping period while scaling vendor onboarding across regional markets.
Founder of Dinkum Collective, Jake Roxby stated that the platform extends the operational reach of physical market stalls without replacing the face-to-face market experience.
“I tried to find the maker again and couldn’t,” Jake said.
“That made me realise how easy it is to discover an amazing small business at a market and then completely lose track of them afterwards. I don’t want Dinkum to replace local markets. I want it to extend them. There’s something special about discovering a product at a market and meeting the person behind it, and I want to make that discovery possible even when you’re not physically there. The marketplace, founded in Newcastle, now has 35+ Australian vendors and 170+ products, giving shoppers access to local market vendors from across the country. There are so many independent Australian businesses making really interesting products, and a lot of them are businesses people might only discover if they happen to walk past their market stall. I’d like Dinkum to make those businesses easier to discover by bringing them online, while making it easier for Australians to support local. I’m still learning as I go, but being 18 has probably made me more willing to give things a go, experiment and learn from what doesn’t work. The first part was getting the platform built and bringing great vendors onto it. Now the challenge is getting more customers to discover Dinkum and the businesses behind it. I’d like Dinkum to become somewhere Australians think of when they want to find something a bit different. Whether that’s a gift, something for themselves or just a new Australian business to support.”
Participating small business owner at Calm Kids Counselling and Coaching, Sharon Cameron added that digital marketplaces provide critical year-round sales channels for boutique creators.
“As a counsellor, children’s author and small business owner, I know how much it means when someone chooses to support local,” Sharon said.
“My Arte books and worry-dog plushies were inspired by my therapy dog Arte to help children understand big feelings, and Dinkum has given them a lovely new way to reach families across Australia. So much of the heart of small business lives at local markets, and Dinkum gives that passion a home all year round. I’m so proud to be part of it from the beginning and can’t wait to see it grow.”
IMAGE | Newcastle entrepreneur Jake Roxby launches e-commerce marketplace Dinkum Collective
