Small business gets a big boost in Haida Gwaii and Fort Nelson

October 28, 2014


126 independent businesses have recently joined the region’s Small Town Love movement.

Independent businesses on Haida Gwaii and in Fort Nelson felt the love last week as Northern Development’s Small Town Love program officially launched in their communities.

Small Town Love is a movement connecting people with the independent shops and services that are the heart and soul of their communities.

The program is designed to deliver unique marketing campaigns in communities throughout central and northern B.C. that celebrate locally owned independent businesses with an aim to strengthen their competitiveness and keep more dollars in the local economy.

www.lovehaidagwaii.com launched on Sunday October 26th with 95 independent businesses.

Meanwhile, www.lovefortnelson.com launched October 22 with 31 unique businesses.

The Small Town Love program represents a partnership between Northern Development Initiative Trust, Small Town Love founder and entrepreneur Amy Quarry and communities throughout the region. Quarry created and launched the original “Small Town Love” initiative in the City of Quesnel.

With more than 50 local Quesnel-based businesses working collaboratively under the “Small Town Love” marketing brand, Quarry’s original program was extremely well received and highly successful.

Since then, hundreds of locally owned independent businesses in 14 communities throughout the region have signed on to have their products and stories featured through unique community web portals.

Since November 1, 2013, the region’s Small Town Love websites have attracted more than 60,000 visits – and statistics show that 62% of visitors return to Small Town Love sites to use them again and again to find unique, independent businesses throughout northern B.C.

Communities interested in joining the Small Town Love movement should contact Northern Development directly at 250-561-2525.