Close×

A viral meme satirising Australian politics has given Boxer & Co packaging design agency owner Gwen Blake the chance to launch a new business virtually overnight.

It started when she created an image of a tote bag with the words "Ban the single-use prime minister" on it.

Boxer & Co's Gwen Blake with the bags, ready to ship. Image supplied.
Boxer & Co's Gwen Blake with the bags, ready to ship. Image supplied.

"I never had any intention to make it," she told Fairfax Media.

"Then the post got shared like a zillion times, and everyone was asking for the bag. So I've created a business overnight."

Blake is the co-owner of Sydney packaging and design company Boxer & Co, a brand and packaging agency which she co-founded with creative director Mark Haygarth.

It counts Nestle, SunRice and Woolworths, and a host of entrepreneurs, as its clients.

Blake, who recently spoke at the New Frontiers in Packaging Print Print 21+PKN LIVE event in Sydney, said she already had the knowledge she needed to start the business, which she has called Sans Sheriff.

She has made merchandise in the past, and so she decided to use that experience and make the bags available to the public via online marketplace Etsy.

She said the business turned over more than $30,000 in its first three days.

Blake said the bags have already been copied by another company, but she has a trademark lawyer on-side now.

While Sans Sheriff will continue, she said she would probably close orders for the bags this week.

"That said, things clearly change fast around here!" she said.

Food & Drink Business

Months after announcing its exit from food science research, CSIRO has released a regional food system strategy for South East Queensland, calling for coordinated action on supply chains, land use, and food security ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

A further $6.9 million has been allocated to five successful applicants through the federal Industry Growth Program (IGP), including several developing technologies to support the Australian food system. The latest round includes Bioborne, C Sea Solutions, Seascape Restorations Australia, and Levur.

Methane-reducing feed additive developer, Sea Forest, has entered into an agreement with New South Wales-based farm, Avondale Ag, to supplement 5000 cattle with SeaFeed, for an initial term of 12 months.