January 16, 2021

Sixty years after his parents founded Mortel’s Sheepskin Factory in Maitland, NSW, owner Tony Mortel says 2020 has been his best year yet. Online sales of the company’s signature sheepskin UGG boots, seat covers, home decor and outdoor wear are booming.

The pandemic and a subsequent desire for Australian-made products led to big changes for the Hunter Valley business, and Tony was run off his feet at his two shopfront locations. But it wasn’t until a friend turned him onto the Bartercard-backed Qoin last July that he decided to buy into one of Australia’s fastest-growing digital currencies.

Discovering the potential of Qoin

Tony, a loyal Bartercard member since the early 90s, says he initially took no notice of the new digital currency, as his regular business took all his focus during the middle of the year.

However, a short illness and stint in hospital during November slowed Tony down enough to see Qoin’s trading potential.

“I fell in love with it almost immediately and started trading my goods and services from the comforts of my hospital bed.”

It’s become a lucrative exercise for Mortel’s Sheepskin Factory. Tony says that Qoin sales have increased his business by an average of $2,000 a day.

“And I don’t process orders on Saturdays and Sundays, but I’m certainly getting orders on Saturday and Sunday!” he says.

Ability to trade a key driver of uptake

There are nearly 22,000 registered merchants now signed up to the Qoin platform, with plans to expand into markets globally this year.

“I have been involved in other digital currencies before,” Tony explains.

“Coins like XRP, Ethereum and Bitcoin, and I also have a few what they call ‘alternate coins’. But I liked the business-to-business aspect of it, the trading ability of Qoin.

“I realised the value and the ability to grow a customer base in the Qoin realm, not only to trade my own wares, but to actually trade the currency.”

Another major plus has been his experiences within the Qoin community. Many of his buyers have been Qoin agents and representatives. This leads to purchasers within the community becoming advocates for his products, Tony says.

“I’ve made some really good connections with like-minded people. I don’t talk to a lot of people outside of my business because I’m always so busy.”

For now, Tony is focused on a brighter, busier 2021, accumulating more Qoin and watching his wallet increase in value. He says he’s already recommended dozens of friends, acquaintances and customers buy Qoin.

“I’m confident the price will continue to rise. I love it. I tell everyone about it.”