Northern B.C.-based marketing campaign is quickly becoming the largest “shop local” initiative in Canada, with 17 participating communities and nearly 1,000 businesses
Businesses across the region are feeling the love this year as Northern Development’s Small Town Love program expands to include up to 10 more communities.
Northern Development and Small Town Love partner Amy Quarry were in Northeast B.C. in March to begin recruiting local, independently owned businesses to join the Small Town Love movement in Dawson Creek, Hudson’s Hope and Pouce Coupe.
All three municipalities will soon have their own web portals featuring first-rate storytelling and photography to get the word out about the amazing independently owned businesses in the each community.
www.LoveDawsonCreek.com, www.LoveHudsonsHope.com and www.LovePouceCoupe.com will soon join 17 existing community portals that feature nearly 1,000 businesses from Valemount to Haida Gwaii and points in between.
As well, on April 1, Downtown Prince George will host a Love Downtown PG launch event at Two Rivers Art Gallery from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. that will feature many local businesses that are already a part of the www.lovedowntownpg.com web portal.
Entrepreneur Amy Quarry created and launched the original “Small Town Love” shop local 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.
Northern Development partnered with Quarry in 2013 to expand the program to additional communities throughout the region.
In addition to Dawson Creek, Hudson’s Hope and Pouce Coupe, the program will be expanded this year to also include the Hazeltons, Kitimat, Terrace, Wells, Taylor and possibly others.
Independently-owned businesses in Dawson Creek, Hudson’s Hope and Pouce Coupe not already signed up to participate in the program are encouraged to apply by April 11th on their community website or contact their local economic development officer or chamber of commerce to learn more about the program.
Northern Development will also be offering a Small Town Love orientation workshop to businesses in the northwest starting in Hazelton April 21, Kitimat April 22 and Terrace April 23.
Quotes:
“With almost 1000 businesses participating in 17 communities across northern BC, the Small Town Love network continues to grow. Northern Development’s role is to build a stronger north and the Small Town Love program creates greater awareness for local small businesses, encourages more local shopping and keeps more money in the local economy,” said Renata King, Director, Business Development, Northern Development.
“It has been very rewarding to see so many unique entrepreneurs catch the Small Town Love vision and join the movement. I am so grateful to be able to work with Northern Development and our local community champions to help support our northern small business communities,” said Amy Quarry, founder, Small Town Love.
Quick Facts:
- Small Town Love unique marketing campaign that celebrates locally-owned independent businesses with an aim to strengthen their competitiveness and keep more dollars in the local economy
- Small Town Love is a partnership between Northern Development, entrepreneur Amy Quarry and communities and independent businesses throughout the region
- 17 communities and nearly 1,000 businesses throughout central and northern B.C. are part of the Small Town Love movement, one of the largest “shop local” campaigns in Canada
- The investment required to participate in Small Town Love is $100 per business. This one-time cost includes a professional photo shoot, an engaging website profile dedicated to your business, as well as inclusion in our online business community
Contacts:
Joel McKay
Director, Communications
Northern Development
250-561-2525
joel@northerndevelopment.bc.ca
Love Dawson Creek Contact:
Shaely Wilbur
250-719-9492
swilbur@dawsoncreek.ca
Love Hudson’s Hope Contact:
Becky Mercereau
250-783-9901
becky@hudsonshope.ca
Love Pouce Coupe Contact:
Elisa Galinski
250-786-5794
egalinski@poucecoupe.ca
Love Downtown Prince George Contact:
Carla Johnston
250-614-1330
carla@downtownpg.com
