SisterWorks
SisterWorks is a Melbourne-based not-for-profit social enterprise founded in 2013 that sells handmade products through e-commerce and retail while providing employment pathways, vocational training, and entrepreneurship support to migrant, refugee, and asylum seeker women across 105 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersMelbourne, Australia
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What SisterWorks does
SisterWorks is a not-for-profit social enterprise incorporated in Victoria, Australia (as SisterWorks Inc.) and founded in 2013, headquartered in Melbourne. The organization creates employment pathways for migrant, refugee, and asylum seeker women through vocational training, entrepreneurship support, and the production and sale of handmade goods. Its core technology footprint is a BigCommerce-powered e-commerce storefront (shop.sisterworks.org.au) complemented by two physical retail/partner locations in North Carlton and Richmond, and a donation and program portal on the main website.
The product portfolio spans bath & body, children's items, accessories, food, gift and sustainable hampers, homewares, jewellery, stationery, and a co-branded Richmond Football Club collection. A growing corporate/commercial solutions vertical — including CircularWorks (circular procurement), corporate hampers, custom merchandise, and upcycled tarpaulin products — targets enterprise buyers seeking ESG-aligned gifting. The platform hosts 15+ named individual maker sub-brands representing artisans from Burundi, Mexico, Peru, Turkey, Chile, Hong Kong, Japan, and other origins, functioning as a curated marketplace.
SisterWorks generates revenue through three streams: one-off consumer and corporate product sales priced from $4–$69 per unit (hampers from $69), quote-based corporate bulk and custom merchandise orders, and tax-deductible donations funding its training programs. Its go-to-market relies on storytelling ('Meet the Makers'), Instagram/social media, an email newsletter, and a dedicated corporate solutions sales motion. The organization reports having supported 4,000+ women across 105 countries since inception, with a stated social return of $4.30 of social and economic value per dollar invested.
SisterWorks firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SisterWorks
- Legal name
- SisterWorks Inc
- Website
- https://sisterworks.org.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- SisterWorks is a Melbourne-based not-for-profit social enterprise founded in 2013 that sells handmade products through e-commerce and retail while providing employment pathways, vocational training, and entrepreneurship support to migrant, refugee, and asylum seeker women across 105 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SisterWorks industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Handmade Artisan Goods
- NAICS
- Sewing, Needlework, and Piece Goods Retailers (45913), Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing (33991), Office Supplies, Stationery, and Gift Retailers (4594)
- SIC
- Costume Jewelry & Novelties (3960), Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Crafting Tools & Equipment Retail (Cutting, Adhesives, Heat Tools) (CRALACAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Beading & Jewelry-Making Supplies Retail (CRALADAK), Textile & Fiber Arts Classes (Weaving, Knitting, Embroidery, Dyeing) (THAJAKAB), Arts & Crafts Workshops (Painting, Pottery, Ceramics, Sculpture) (THAJAKAA)
Keywords
Where SisterWorks is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Melbourne
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices3 records
Markets served
SisterWorks business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Product Sales: Revenue generated through the sale of handmade products created by women from migrant, refugee, and asylum-seeker backgrounds. Products include jewellery, homewares (candles, artwork), bath & body products, children's items, stationery (notebooks, greeting cards), food items (tea, preserves), and hampers. Both individual consumer purchases and bulk corporate orders contribute to revenue.
- Corporate Solutions & Partnerships: Revenue from corporate gifting, bulk orders, circular procurement solutions (CircularWorks), and custom merchandise solutions for organizations seeking ethical and purpose-led purchasing options.
- Donations: Tax-deductible donations supporting women to access training, support, and pathways to work. Donations fund the organization's core mission and programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual consumer products |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
SisterWorks product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SisterWorks is a not-for-profit social enterprise that sells handmade artisan products created by migrant, refugee, and asylum-seeker women through an online shop and physical retail locations. Core offerings include jewellery, homewares, bath & body products, food items, stationery, children's items, and curated gift hampers. It also offers corporate solutions (CircularWorks circular procurement, corporate hampers and gifting, custom merchandise) and accepts donations to fund vocational training and entrepreneurship programs.
Product overview
SisterWorks is a not-for-profit social enterprise operating primarily as an e-commerce platform. The core offering is the SisterWorks Online Shop, which sells handmade products created by women from migrant, refugee and asylum-seeker backgrounds across multiple categories: Bath & Body, Children, Accessories, Food, Hampers, Homewares, Jewellery, Stationery, and Richmond FC collaboration. Supporting the retail operation are corporate/commercial solutions including CircularWorks (circular procurement), Corporate Hampers & Gifting, and Upcycled Tarpaulin Products. Individual maker sub-brands include Petronia, LilizLu Studio, Cocokanela Design, Pamdesigned, AdornArtwear, Bijouniq, KELKAY, Bot Workshop, AHM Crafts, Mana by Manaka, Judy Jewellery, Ga Yae Designs, Funda Art Craft, and Bonita. The organization also accepts donations and runs an Entrepreneur Program offering vocational training courses.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CircularWorks: Circular procurement solutions for corporate clients, including upcycled tarpaulin products.
- SisterWorks Hampers
Products and services
- SisterWorks Online Shop E-commerce platform selling handmade products created by women from migrant, refugee and asylum-seeker backgrounds, featuring categories including Bath & Body, Children, Accessories, Food, Hampers, Homewares, Jewellery, and Stationery. Targeted at individual consumers and gift buyers worldwide.
- CircularWorks Circular procurement solutions transforming waste materials (including upcycled tarpaulins) into sustainable products for commercial clients seeking ESG-aligned purchasing.
- SisterWorks Corporate Hampers & Gifting Curated corporate gift hampers (Gift, Pamper, Sustainable, and Food hampers) and bespoke bulk gifting solutions for businesses seeking purpose-led workplace purchasing.
- Upcycled Tarpaulin Products Products manufactured from upcycled tarpaulins, providing circular economy offerings for commercial and retail customers.
- Richmond FC Collection Co-branded handmade products created in partnership with Richmond Football Club (AFL), supporting the club's community engagement initiatives and merchandise offerings.
- Donations Program Tax-deductible donation program providing funds that support women to access training, support, and pathways to work through SisterWorks' entrepreneurship and employment programs.
- Entrepreneur Program (Vocational Training) Vocational training and entrepreneurship courses including food handling, barista, RSA, art (crochet & sewing), small business, and English language training, provided to migrant, refugee and asylum-seeker women.
Quantifiable outcome
- 4,000+ women supported through programs
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use SisterWorks
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
SisterWorks technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
SisterWorks partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Richmond Football Club (Richmond FC)coreSisterWorks has a dedicated Richmond FC collection featuring products inspired by the club's branding. This partnership creates employment opportunities for migrant women while supporting the AFL club's community engagement initiatives and merchandise offerings.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SisterWorks competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Made Trade: Ethical and sustainable marketplace curating handmade and fair-trade home goods, fashion, and accessories. Comparable in values-driven artisan retail but operates as a multi-artisan online marketplace rather than an employment program.
- Accompany: Ethical home décor and lifestyle brand sourcing handmade products from artisans in developing countries. Comparable in impact-led artisan homewares positioning, though organized as a for-profit brand.
Direct peers
- NOVICA: Global artisan craft marketplace featuring handmade products from artisans worldwide, with a social-impact positioning. Comparable in the handmade-artisan e-commerce category, though much larger scale and broader geographic coverage.
- The Social Studio: Melbourne-based social enterprise providing employment and training for refugee and migrant women through fashion and textile production. Comparable model — same beneficiary population, same city, same handmade-retail-plus-training structure.
- Ten Thousand Villages: Fair-trade nonprofit retailer selling handmade products from artisans in developing countries. Comparable in combining handmade craft retail with a social enterprise mission and artisan storytelling.
- The Citizenry: Direct-to-consumer homewares and lifestyle brand sourcing handmade goods from global artisans. Comparable in artisan-made product positioning though not a nonprofit and focused on higher-end home décor.
- Tjanpi Desert Weavers: Indigenous women's social enterprise producing handmade fibre art and crafts for retail and wholesale markets. Direct comparable in women-led artisan craft social enterprise model, though focused on Aboriginal rather than migrant women.
Broad incumbents
- Etsy: Global marketplace for handmade and vintage goods. Overlaps heavily in handmade craft e-commerce serving the same consumer profile, though Etsy is a generic platform rather than a mission-driven social enterprise.
- Goodwill: Large nonprofit social enterprise using retail and workforce programs to support disadvantaged populations. Comparable in nonprofit+retail+workforce model, though Goodwill focuses on secondhand retail rather than handmade artisan production.
Regional players
- Fitted for Work: Australian nonprofit supporting women experiencing disadvantage with employment pathways, including refugee and migrant women. Comparable in beneficiary population and mission, though not retail-handed in its model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
SisterWorks social profiles
Digital presenceSisterWorks compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
SisterWorks financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SisterWorks leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
SisterWorks funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SisterWorks M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SisterWorks
What does SisterWorks do?
SisterWorks is a not-for-profit social enterprise that sells handmade artisan products created by migrant, refugee, and asylum-seeker women through an online shop and physical retail locations. Core offerings include jewellery, homewares, bath & body products, food items, stationery, children's items, and curated gift hampers. It also offers corporate solutions (CircularWorks circular procurement, corporate hampers and gifting, custom merchandise) and accepts donations to fund vocational training and entrepreneurship programs.
Is SisterWorks a public or private company?
SisterWorks is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was SisterWorks founded?
SisterWorks was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is SisterWorks based?
SisterWorks is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does SisterWorks make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are corporate Solutions & Partnerships and donations.
Who are SisterWorks's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Made Trade and Accompany. Direct peers are NOVICA, The Social Studio, Ten Thousand Villages, The Citizenry and Tjanpi Desert Weavers. Broad incumbents are Etsy and Goodwill. Fitted for Work is listed as a regional player.
Does SisterWorks have an API?
No public API is recorded for SisterWorks.
What industry is SisterWorks in?
SisterWorks's product category is Handmade Artisan Goods. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRALACAC, Crafting Tools & Equipment Retail (Cutting, Adhesives, Heat Tools), with a secondary code of CRALADAK, Beading & Jewelry-Making Supplies Retail. Its NAICS code is 45913 and its SIC code is 3960.