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One of the biggest groups to emerge through the 2020 pandemic lockdown was the Port Macquarie EaTs page on Facebook. Gaining a huge amount of momentum and driving news to locals about places offering takeaway and delivery was instrumental in keeping many of these small business open. Creator of the group Ellen Crepaz has now amassed a following of 12,000 fans and has big plans for the group in 2021. We caught up with her to find out more.
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llen, last time we caught up you had just launched Port Macquarie EaTs during the 2020 lockdown. For those who do not know can you tell us why you started the
group? Hi, my name is Ellen Crepaz, and I am the owner of Port Macquarie EaTs. I created the group at the start of COVID in March 2020. I have always been a foodie and have loved supporting local businesses. When COVID hit I knew a few friends in hospitality panicked as to how we will get through this. One night I was scrolling and saw a local business doing home delivery and said to my husband what a brilliant idea. Next thing I created a group and invited a few friends and shared my page. By the next few days, I had more businesses contact me and we had a few thousand members. The group is a way to connect 16 GREATER PORT MACQUARIE
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with businesses too. Knowing and planning what I would like to post to keep it interesting. Working full time and being a mum as well as running this group has kept me on my feet but It I spent most of was worth it, and I would my nights do it again and again. responding to Looking back now locals and now tourists messages and making you have amassed a with local hospitality loyal 12k following. posts that I could venues. A place to Do you have other share great experiences schedule for during the people supporting the and recommendations day. I would use my Facebook group now as well as a group lunch breaks to go and to deal with the many for business to post meet with businesses posts? free marketing and too. Knowing and I could not have had advertising. planning what I would this success if it were not The group took off like to post to keep it for my adoring husband fairly quickly, can you interesting. Peter Crepaz. He has tell us how you kept been my rock and my up with the pace? greatest supporter. He The group has has helped to follow up leads and helps me grown very quickly at that. We have had to with great ideas. Also, a shout out to my implement some joining rules to make sure main Admin Cathy. She is a great help with that our members do adhere to the “Keep it memberships as well as helping businesses by Positive” vibe of the group. I spent most of my sharing in the group as well. I also could not nights responding to messages and making have done this group without the help of the posts that I could schedule for during the day. amazing businesspeople in our community with I would use my lunch breaks to go and meet