Quinte West, ON: The Quinte West Chamber of Commerce (QWCC) has received over $90,000 through the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) to enhance and expand the current Shop Local program to support our local business community.
Since the start of the pandemic, businesses from all sectors have been hit hard with COVID-19 lockdowns and constant changes to restrictions and mandates, provincially and regionally. The Quinte West Chamber, thanks to this investment, is committed to supporting our local businesses and ensuring they thrive as the economy regains its footing.
“The Quinte West Chamber of Commerce is one of the original partners that created the Shop Quinte West campaign and it continues to remind everyone to keep their dollars working locally as much as they can,” states Suzanne Andrews, CEO at the QWCC. “The business recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic has made this messaging more important than ever for local businesses and this funding allows us to refresh and amplify our efforts this fall and into the busy holiday shopping season.
The Quinte West Chamber has continued its partnership with the City of Quinte West and the Downtown Trenton Business Association (DBIA) to pinpoint pillars of focus that will represent and aid all the businesses in Quinte West. These pillars include marketing and advertising, building consumer confidence, strengthening our partnerships, supporting the changing diversity in our business community, and featuring the different shopping neighbourhoods that make up Quinte West.
The Shop Local, Shop Quinte West program first began in 2008, and thanks to the ongoing partnership with the City of Quinte West and DBIA, has grown significantly over the years. The program has included multiple events, newspaper inserts, and radio advertising to encourage our community to shop smart, shop local, shop Quinte West. The program helps to promote the benefit for shopping locally, including strengthening our job market and overall economic growth.
Through the funding, the Quinte West Chamber, The City of Quinte West, and the DBIA have developed a brand-new look to the Shop Quinte West branding that has already begun to roll out. This new branding will be front, and center as new winter banners will be put on light posts throughout the city at the end of November.
“These are challenging times for our local businesses,” states Mayor Harrison. “We urge everyone to support our local economy and community by purchasing what you need in Quinte West, because the money we spend locally will remain here and benefit our community.”
The Quinte West Chamber has supported multiple community events with the Shop Local funding, such as the DBIA’s Ladies Night and the Fall Shopping Spree Passport, the Falling into Fall Event the Grind and Vine held in mid October as well as the Mega Fall Sale with local retailers. There is plenty more to come with 2021 Quinte West Holiday Market the first three weekends in December, and the DBIA’s Save like Scrooge event on December 4th.
“It’s great to work and live in a community where community partners come together to support local businesses. This grant money will definitely remind our community how important it is to shop local,” says Lisa Kuypers-Schroedter, Executor Director of the Trenton DBIA.
To celebrate the distinct shopping neighbourhoods within Quinte West, a video series titled “Shop the Neighbourhood” will be featured across social media. The spotlight will be on 10 different hardest-hit businesses that reside in Bayside, Carrying Place, Frankford, and Trenton. A Rural Ramble map will debut to highlight the individual businesses that are not in a specific neighbourhood and are in rural surroundings.
To promote the changing face of the business community, and to support our regions indigenous led businesses, the Chamber will be creating a series of videos and photographs to celebrate the growing diversity in Quinte West. We aspire to create and strengthen relationships with these individual businesses and prominent members of these communities to help grow awareness.
You can stay updated on all upcoming projects and campaigns through the Shop Quinte West social media channels on Facebook (@ShopQuinteWest) and Instagram (@shoplocalquintewest)
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