Integrity, resilience, and the power of small businesses—this is our story.
When we launched our store at midday on June 30th, we had one clear goal: to provide cleaners and business owners with the right products, not just what suppliers wanted to sell us. Before opening, we spent years directing our clients to a national chain in Newcastle, hoping they would create a simple, high-quality cleaning kit tailored to real needs. Time and time again, they dismissed the idea. Their response?
“Stay in your lane, Fiona.”
So, we did what small businesses do best: we built our own lane.
The Fight for Small Business
We sought out the best suppliers—those with high integrity, strong ethics, and a genuine commitment to their customers. Edco was one of them, along with other incredible Australian brands.
Then, at 8 AM on launch day, the phone rang.
“What are you doing, Fiona? I see you’re selling mops.”
Yes. Yes, we were.
What happened next? This national company—one that’s 10, 20, maybe 100 times our size—called every single one of our suppliers, trying to shut us down. For weeks.
Some suppliers wavered. Edco did not.
Standing Strong
I’ll never forget the call I got from them:
“You’ve really pissed this guy off. What’s happening here?”
And my response was simple:
Cleaners have been walking into big chain stores for years, being sold things they don’t need. These companies aren’t ethical, and they haven’t been supporting us. We have every legal right to compete—and we’re not backing down.
Yesterday, when Justin from Edco came to visit us, it was a moment of real pride. Because Edco didn’t fold under pressure. They stood their ground. They backed small business.
A Question for You
If you’re someone who says “support small business,” but you’re still buying from the big guys, are you really supporting small business?
Because small businesses only survive when we choose to support them.
We’re incredibly proud to partner with companies like Edco—companies that care, that operate with ethics, and that back the little guys. And if you’re looking for cleaning supplies from a business that actually gives a damn about you, we’d love to be that for you.
Check out our store here: thecleaningcollective.com.au
Fiona
P.S. If you’ve ever felt like the little guy up against the big guys, know this: you’re not alone, and you are absolutely allowed to take up space.
