'You know who doesn’t need us right now? Amazon': Newmarket mayor boosts shop local

Town and chamber launch 'choose local' campaign for holiday season

Yorkregion.com
Nov. 30
Lisa Queen

As we end off a year dominated by the negative blow of the global COVID-19 pandemic, ‘tis the season to shop local in Newmarket, Chamber of Commerce president Tracy Walter said.

“Shopping local has always been important. Small businesses are our neighbours, they sponsor sports teams, contribute to our local charities and help build and sponsor our sports complexes and art venues,” she said.

“But now, more than ever, they need the help of our community and it is time for us to support them, by changing our mindset and rethinking the purchases we make at the holidays and every day in order to support a local business -- a community partner.”

To make it easier, the town has launched a “Choose Local” directory at maps.newmarket.ca/chooselocal and the chamber has launched a Shop Local Holiday Gift Guide that enables residents to shop from the comfort of their homes while supporting local, Walter said.

The chamber’s site, newmarketshoplocal.ca, is full of lots of great gift ideas from local businesses, she said.

Many of the gifts can be purchased online and others can be picked up curbside.

Leslee Mason and Jennifer Buchanan, with the chamber, were the creative force behind the gift guide.

“Newmarket businesses give so much back to the community. This year, they really need us. We created the gift guide to help make it easy to support them,” Mason said.

“We filled the gift guide with great gift ideas for the whole family. It’s definitely not hard to choose local when you’ve got such an awesome selection of things to buy.”

There are “awesome gems” from one end of Newmarket to the other and the guide makes it easy to discover and support them, Buchanan said.

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“What I love about the gift guide is that you’ll find so many things on it you can’t easily find anywhere else,” she said.

In partnership with the chamber, the town is also launching a choosing local social media contest where three $500 shopping sprees, an autographed Connor McDavid jersey and more are up for grabs.

To enter, visit newmarket.ca/chooselocaldirectory, select a business you support, take a creative photo of a product or service you’ve bought from that retailer and post it on Instagram or Twitter, or email chooselocal@newmarket.ca.

Mayor John Taylor is urging residents who are able to help Newmarket businesses during this tough economic time.

“I think it’s going to be a very long winter for small businesses and retailers in Newmarket,” he said.

“If we do this and if we get enthusiastic about shopping locally, it will have a huge impact. You know who doesn’t need us right now? Amazon.”

The average household spends more than $50 a month on Amazon, which works out to $1.5 million a month in Newmarket, Taylor said.

Even spending half of that in town would generate $4.5 million over six months for local small businesses and retailers, he said.

This year's annual retail study by consulting firm Deloitte indicates COVID-19 isn't cancelling the holidays but Canadians are trimming their spending and time spent shopping, with a focus on price, product and convenience.

And Canadians are looking to time spent with family and friends to make the holidays special this year.

Holiday Shopping trends graphic

Based on the annual Holiday Shopping Study conducted by Deloitte, holiday shopping is down by 7 per cent in 2020.  | Graphic created by Amanda Persico/Metroland
It’s not only businesses that need your support more than ever this holiday season.

Many local charities and organizations are asking residents to remember neighbours in less fortunate circumstances.

For example, the Santa Fund run by the York Region Media Group, working together with Yellow Brick House, Canadian Cancer Society and Sandgate Women’s Shelter of York Region, is accepting gift cards.

For more information or to donate, email santafund@metroland.com.

Neighbourhood Network’s annual holiday gift drive supporting families in need in Aurora, East Gwillimbury, Georgina, King Township and Newmarket, is looking for donations of urgently needed items and gift cards.

“Each family has a different set of needs. Whether it is a necessity, such as toothpaste or shampoo, bed sheets, a warm winter jacket or toys for children, we want to make sure we do everything we can to help our neighbours during the holiday season,” program co-ordinator Tanya Dennis said.

For more information, visit neighbourhoodnetwork.org.

Also, York Regional Police are running their Holiday Heroes Toy Drive at yrp.ca and the Salvation Army's Northridge Community Church is running its drive at northridgesa.com/givethischristmas.