Story courtesy Coast Lines Magazine

Words: David O’Brien

Since its inception in 2017, the Bendigo Community Bank Fleurieu Leaders Program has cultivated something extraordinary: a vibrant network of established and emerging business leaders across the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Abbie Smith of Buttoned Up Co. captures its essence perfectly, calling it ‘Your Forest’ – a flourishing community of businesses supporting one another.

Nicole Ellis, a 2024 program participant and member of Buttoned Up Co., joined with a background in conveyancing. Her initial goal was straightforward.

“I wanted to gain confidence as a leader and business owner and explore how I could make a greater impact on my community. What else could I do?”

Little did she know how transformative the journey would be.

At first, Nicole admits, it was overwhelming. But the approach quickly drew her in.

“You meet such a broad range of people,” she says. “It kept things interesting. There were no boring PowerPoint presentations – everything was visual and hands-on. It was a great way to learn.”

One of the leadership program’s key elements is collaboration. Nicole Ellis found herself in a syndicate tasked with developing a project.

“We met between sessions to work on it, organising people and resources.”

Her group pooled their diverse expertise from a variety of backgrounds to create something meaningful.

The result is Buttoned Up Co., a social enterprise launched last year. Abbie Smith picks up the story.

“Each syndicate is required to create a project during the Future Leaders program. As a group of mums, we all deeply understood the importance of sleep and the ripple effects it has on children’s mental and physical well-being,” she says.

Their solution was clear. Drawing on her experience with charities like Life in a Bag – which provides personalised care packages to those in need – the team identified a critical gap in access to children’s bedding and sleepwear. “Children’s items were always in high demand,” Abbie says. “We knew there was a real need there.”

Buttoned Up Co. aims to meet this need directly, bypassing traditional charity models. The team’s goal is to provide ‘sleep bundles’ – packages including pillows, bedding, and other essentials – to families in need.

There have been some challenges along the way.

“The legal hurdles surprised us. Even gifting a pillow or a toy required extensive approvals. Our insurance broker had to navigate a lot of red tape before we could proceed,” Abbie says.

Strict regulations also dictate that all items must be brand new.

“We purchase everything ourselves, ideally from local retailers,” she says. “In the future, we’d love to work with companies to secure wholesale prices or have products made specifically for Buttoned Up Co.”

Despite the challenges, the team remains optimistic. “It’s grown into something much bigger than we anticipated,” Abbie says. “But we’re excited to be at this stage.”

With a background in event and winery management, for her the project was a natural fit.

“I remember lying awake one night thinking, ‘How can we make this work?’ I pitched the idea to the team, and they all loved it.”

With its roots firmly planted in the Fleurieu community, Buttoned Up Co. embodies the spirit of the Bendigo Community Bank Fleurieu Leaders Program: collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to making a difference.

For more information about the Bendigo Community Bank Fleurieu Future Leaders Program, visit fleurieu.com.au.