Business woman Peggy Byrne has worked on major events around the globe, including as a manager in Formula One racing. But it was Adelaide’s designer and maker market Bowerbird that ignited Peggy’s passion to help small-scale business owners realise their dreams of success.

Genevieve: Why was buying Bowerbird so important to you?

Peggy: I loved this event because as a visitor, it provided me with a wide range of beautifully crafted and considered products. No mass production, just unique pieces. As a business owner, I love Bowerbird because its core purpose is to support other small businesses. Decisions need to be made focussed on people, not profits. What would it mean to this business if I did this, how would I affect their life? It’s very personal and that is what I was looking for when buying a business. Of course, this puts a lot of pressure on me to succeed, grow attendance etc. But supporting others to grow is a great goal to have every morning when I wake up.

Genevieve: Do you think people generally are beginning to appreciate creative bespoke products as opposed to mass produced items?

Peggy: I am a great believer in value. Because value is not just about the price of something, it encompasses what you gain out of the transaction. At Bowerbird, when you purchase a mug or candle or handbag, the money you exchange with the maker goes directly to the maker. There is no distributor, marketing agent or any other third party that gets a cut. You are literally putting food on someone’s table. But on top of that, because you are buying direct from the designer, you can discover so much about the product you purchase. How did they make it? What inspired them to design it? That mug becomes a keepsake, a cherished item, a unique gift. To me that means my money is worth more, that transaction has more value.