Buy from local businesses 'rather than Amazon': Georgina chamber boosts #ShopLocalGeorgina

'All I really want for the holidays can be found right here in Georgina'

Yorkreigon.com
Dec. 2

Some might want a plane that loops the loop. Or even a hula-hoop.

Christmas time is near and that means writing a list, checking it twice and finding the perfect gift to place under the tree.

Before you click, shop and get brown, cardboard packages tied up with strings delivered, get to know what’s in your backyard.

“All I really want for the holidays can be found right here in Georgina,” said Jennifer Anderson, executive director of the Georgina Chamber of Commerce.

And that’s the theme behind this year’s Shop Local Georgina holiday campaign, shoplocalgeorgina.ca.

Shop local is more than a buzz word for 2020. This year, the simple step of spending your dollars in town is not only a matter of economic stimulus, but also survival.

“During the pandemic, that phrase means something different,” Anderson said.

“Knowing what kind of year it was, shopping local is all the more important.”

While Santa is busy making a list and checking it twice, Georgina residents can do the same with the new Georgina chamber holiday gift guide, a clickable online catalogue featuring gift ideas for everyone on your list.

With pages of curated gift ideas from hockey dad tuques, handcrafted jewelry and unique finds to customized masks, fine prints and specialty baked goods, the regularly updated gift guide brings shoppers right to the local source, Anderson added.

“I remember as a kid getting the holiday catalogue and looking through it, circling what I liked,” she said. “In this case, all the items can be found locally.

"Businesses are struggling. They need you to buy from them rather than Amazon. When you shop at a local store, you're helping your neighbour."

There’s no question the COVID-19 pandemic has changed working and shopping habits. While many shoppers across the country may not be spending as much on the holiday season compared to other years, the majority of Canadians are looking to spend their holiday dollar closer to home.

According to the Deloitte annual holiday retail study, Canadians are trimming their spending, travel, in-store shopping and time spent shopping.

According to the study, more than two-thirds of Canadians prefer to shop at a store closer to home and about half plan to avoid malls altogether.

There’s plenty to be found in Georgina this holiday season, including those special shoes that are just your size.

To get shoppers in the holiday spirit, the chamber is hosting a townwide, holiday window decorating challenge and created a holiday Shop Local bingo card with an emphasis on all things local -- support a local artist, donate to a local organization, follow a local business on social media and order takeout from a local restaurant.

Those who complete the most Shop Local challenges have a chance to win a gift card from their favourite Georgina shop.

The chamber is awarding close to 100 $25 gift cards over the four-week Shop Local campaign -- all of which were purchased from local businesses, Anderson stressed.

“Businesses are struggling,” she said. “This is a helping-hand campaign. We want people to walk through those doors or go to a company’s website and leverage the gift card to spend more locally.”

Local businesses are not the only ones struggling this time of year. Organizations such as the annual Salvation Army kettle campaign, Georgina Community Food Pantry food drive and Keswick Optimist Club toy drive are also hurting this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with limited number of people out and about and locations physically closed to the public.

This year’s Salvation Army kettle campaign comes with a goal of raising $48,000 to support those in need in the community. Kettle’s can be found at Zehrs and Walmart in Keswick.

Shop Local Georgina is more than just a holiday campaign. Earlier this year, the town proclaimed June 11 as Shop Local Georgina day. Since then, the chamber hosted a number of events and created a number of local directories listing local businesses, current operating hours and current location.

And the chamber created a separate takeout guide, listing current hours and takeout and delivery options for Georgina restaurants.

“It’s a reflection of what’s going on in the community,” Anderson said. “If residents have the resources, they are better informed to make local decisions.”

Residents can expect to see more Shop Local initiatives in the new year.

“The holidays are important,” she added. “But it’s just as important to shop local in January and February."