Holiday shopping season is in full swing. With that in mind, keeping dollars flowing locally is important to our region’s economic health.
Educating customers about available products and services can be daunting for businesses. Social media and the internet can present the most competition, but can also be an asset if their own website and/or other online presence is used effectively.
From the purchaser’s perspective, learning what local businesses have to offer, through print or digital advertisements, ensures coveted items can be ordered or purchased here, rather than outside the community. That newfound knowledge can then be shared with friends and family members who have names to cross off their own shopping lists.
Choosing to purchase from a business not based in the qathet region sends that money out of the community forever, rather than allowing it to flow from resident to business to employee to, you name it, somewhere or something else local.
Small businesses make up the largest percentage of the overall economy in the qathet region. They are vital to the economy, and business owners often support the rest of the community in ways many residents are not aware of, including support of youth groups, team sports, nonprofit societies and charitable organizations.
Depending on the business, customers can shop in person or online, or tag a shop on social media to boost awareness even more. From Lund to Saltery Bay, options are out there if you look close enough.
It’s more important now than ever to shop locally. The money stays within the community, and also supports neighbours, friends and organizations that allow our region to survive and thrive.
