By Carole Long
Dec. 5th, 2022
Make a huge impact this holiday season by investing in local businesses. Local businesses are owned by people who live in our community and are just as invested in the community’s future as you are. When you support local businesses, you are getting better products and services while supporting the growth of your community. Furthermore, by keeping wealth local you are directly increasing local jobs, reducing your carbon footprint, cutting down on pollution and much more. You can’t ask for a better return on your money! Thunder Bay is an entrepreneurial city full of creative, brave, hard-working people who invest back into our community, so why not invest in them?
Instead of having your money go to big businesses that won’t miss it, why not direct it toward improving your local community? Below are a few places to kick-start your local holiday shopping.
Shop Local in Thunder Bay
Chamber of Commerce runs a #ChooseTBayFirst community awareness campaign aimed at educating consumers about the ways money spent locally returns to us through a stronger, healthier community.
https://choosetbayfirst.ca/about/
Every year I look forward to her Bay Awesome Top 20 Gift List. Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Amanda is a lifestyle blogger with a huge love for her community.
https://www.bayawesome.com/2022giftlist/
The Walleye publishes a Holiday Gift Guide that showcases local businesses.
http://www.thewalleye.ca/holiday-gift-guide/
Co-founded by two Thunder Bay sisters, Ungalli continues to raise awareness of the negative impact the mainstream clothing industry has on people, wildlife and the planet. They have a dedicated space that showcases over 50 local creatives and entrepreneurs.
https://ungalli.com/collections/local-collective
Goods & Co is a marketplace where you can shop from over 25 local food and merchandise vendors.
http://goodscomarket.ca/our-vendors/
Shop Local in Kenora
Join us in Kenora this season for Shop on Lake Time! Kenora’s new shop and visit campaign for the 2022 holiday season. There are special holiday events and experiences happening to make your Christmas shopping extra special in the City of Kenora. To stay up to date with all the details, be sure to check it out: https://www.kenora.ca/en/visit-play/shop-on-lake-time.aspx. The city has also partnered together to deliver a marketing campaign to remind everyone to #ShopOnLakeTime this holiday season.
Here are a few highlights of the special holiday events:
- Festive Fridays: we are encouraging merchants around Kenora to stay open to 6pm on Fridays (and consider extending your hours on the weekend)! We will list businesses and promote those that are going to stay open until 6pm on the Ken and Nora social pages. Email kenandnora2021@gmail.com to be included and be sure to use #FestiveFridays on your social media.
https://www.instagram.com/kenandnora/
- Follow the Ken and Nora social media pages for shop local contesting. Ken and Nora have an Instagram page that can be found here: https://www.instagram.com/kenandnora/ and Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/kenandnora. If you have things to share or tell Ken and Nora, please email: kenandnora2021@gmail.com or direct message them through social media channels. Check out the pages for Shop Local Contests!
- Be sure to use #ShopOnLakeTime on social media this holiday season.
- Download your own Shop on Lake Time poster at https://www.kenora.ca/en/visit-play/shop-on-lake-time.aspx
- Harbourtown Holiday Trail: shoppers can purchase a Holiday Trail Pass for $30 and get six unique gifts at over 15 local shops. Complete details can be found on the Harbourtown Biz Facebook page.
- 9 th Annual NWBC Holiday Hotline: each day in December the Northwest Business Centre features businesses from around the Kenora and Rainy River Districts! Check it out and if you want to be featured, please email corrine@nwbiz.ca
Have a happy local holiday shopping season!
Carole Long