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Cole Supplies keeping Australia safe through bushfires and COVID-19

COVID-19
Two men in dark shirts stand facing camera. In the background are posters and a woman with arms folded.

Noongar owned Cole Supplies has expanded its offerings in response to the global pandemic, diversifying to include personal protective equipment and COVIDSafe products.

Proudly Noongar owned and operated, Cole Supplies was founded in late 2013 (as Cole Workwear) by Perth businessman and Noongar community leader, Gordon Cole, and experienced importer Michael Cima.

The Supply Nation-certified business supplies high-quality corporate apparel and industrial products. Originally only selling work wear, Cole Supplies changed their business model in early 2020 in response to the bushfire and pandemic crises.

The company began to supply masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Australian Government – initially into remote areas for bushfire support, and then in response to the global pandemic, selling over 100 million units of medical PPE.

‘With the onset of COVID-19, Cole Supplies has been able to diversify our product offering to include medical personal protective equipment and COVIDSafe products, including hand sanitiser and face masks,’ Director Michael Cima said.

‘We have also been able to supply cleaning products for the health workforce and other sectors to protect against COVID-19.’

Michael said hard work; understanding target markets and trends to ensure products are in demand; and research, development and innovation are factors which have contributed to business success. The challenges have included cash flow issues, marketing, delivering to meet customer requirements, and, of course, the competition!

The Government’s Indigenous Procurement Policy and having their business certified with the Supply Nation Indigenous Businesses Directory has provided a huge boost to the company over the years.

‘There has never been a more exciting time for capable Indigenous businesses to succeed,’ they said.

‘We’re a part of Australia’s leading directory of verified Indigenous companies, dedicated to supporting supplier diversity to create a more inclusive economy.

Cole Supplies seeks to position itself at the forefront of this movement.’

Cole Supplies also maintains a focus on supporting local communities. CEO Gordon Cole, who led the establishment of the Noongar Chamber of Commerce, said he ‘works across a broad spectrum of sectors and industries, but primarily I work towards improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Islander people and communities’.

It’s a sentiment exemplified by the company’s financial support of community groups such as the Noongar Wellbeing and Sports Association, the Nollamara amateur football club, and the Young Aboriginal Girls Program in Perth’s Mirrabooka area.

So what does the future look like for the company?

Michael said the business currently has six employees, three of whom are Indigenous Australians (from WA and NSW). But in ten years, he and Gordon would like to have increased that number substantially, and for the business to be one of the biggest and best supply companies in Australia.

Find out more

To find out more about this Indigenous business, visit Cole Supplies.

The Australian Government’s Indigenous Procurement Policy is assisting thousands of Indigenous owned businesses to grow so they can be a source of wealth, training and employment for Indigenous Australians and help Close the Gap.

Indigenous businesses can register for free with Supply Nation’s Indigenous Business Direct (IBD). The IBD is Australia’s leading database of Indigenous businesses.

Read more about other businesses benefitting from the Indigenous Procurement Policy (IPP) such as Chemworks, DCL Locksmiths and Security and Integrity Health & Safety.