Shop Local campaign urges residents to support local businesses
To promote continued support of local businesses the Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce is launching a shop local campaign this fall and winter.
“Our local business owners are our friends and neighbours,” said Karen Cross, CEO of the Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce. “When we support them, it means local jobs, it means sponsors for our sports teams, and it means a great holiday haul for local kids. After the year we’ve had, they need our support more than ever, which is why we’re launching this campaign to encourage everyone to shop local this fall.”
The shop local campaign will leverage the existing Love Kingston platform developed by Kingston Economic Development Corporation, the Downtown BIA!, Tourism Kingston, and the City of Kingston during the pandemic, according to a release from the Chamber. The campaign will include a website landing page, video and written profiles of small business owners, street signage and more, and will run until January 2022.
“It’s an understatement to say that local businesses have been through a lot over the last year and a half,” said Mayor Bryan Paterson. “As we head into the fall and winter months, and as tourism slows, it’s more important than ever to ensure these businesses have local support. I’m thrilled to support this shop local campaign that will highlight the incredible businesses in our community and ensure they have our continued support as they work towards recovery from the pandemic.”
The campaign will aim to introduce Kingstonians to the remarkable businesspeople who invest in Kingston, and share more of their stories. Videos of some local businesspeople are available to watch on the Love Kingston website: lovekingston.ca/
“The pandemic has shown us that shopping local has never been more important,” added Mark Gerretsen, MP, Kingston and the Islands. “Supporting local small business owners means supporting jobs for Kingstonians and ensuring that our community has access to locally-made, high-quality products. Shopping local not only helps Kingston businesses recover from the pandemic and stay resilient, but allows them to extend support to local sports teams, families in need, and local charities. Let’s continue to Love Kingston by investing in our community.”
When we choose to shop local, we support local jobs and invest in our community. Money that is spent at small and local businesses predominantly stays local and helps business owners hire, invest, and pay down debt, according to the Chamber.
“Kingston is full of amazing locally owned and operated businesses. Their passion and hard work help make Kingston the amazing place it is,” said Ian Arthur, MPP, Kingston and the Islands. “When you buy local, you support these businesses, and support local jobs. This past eighteen months have been extraordinarily difficult. Now, more than ever, local businesses need our help, so I encourage everyone to visit them, shop local, buy a meal from one of our excellent restaurants, and purchase some of the products unique to our community. Together, we can help our business community recover from this difficult year and begin to thrive again.”
With links to various initiatives that have been established during the COVID-19 pandemic, like Support Kingston and the Support Local Giveaway, as well as well-established businesses Tourism Kingston and the Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce, the website hopes to connect those looking to shop local with ways to do just that.
To learn more, visit lovekingston.ca.