East Gwillimbury chamber promotes holiday gift box as way to shop local at Christmas

East Gwillimubry chamber general manager Lauren Davie said local businesses need our support more than ever this holiday season

Yorkregion.com
Dec. 3
Simon Martin

Running a business during a pandemic is not easy -- just ask Tasneem Khambata.

The co-founder of Artisan Baths has seen firsthand the challenges COVID-19 brings. Before COVID-19, Artisan Baths was located on Newmarket Main Street, but when the things got bad in March, things got really bad for Khambata.

“We couldn’t afford to keep paying rent. We had to close our doors,” she said.    

Khambata co-founded the business with her mother, who has been making her own skin care products since she was a teenager.

Late in the summer, as Khambata pondered what to do, she decided to open up in Holland Landing at Essential Healing Touch on Yonge Street. Artisan baths specializes in homemade vegan products like candles, bath bombs and soaps, lotions and facial care products, Khambata said.

Artisan Baths is one of the businesses featured in the EG Loves Local Holiday Gift Box put together by the chamber of commerce and the town.

“The box is to help support small businesses,” Khambata said. “If we don’t support each other, who else is going to?”

Lauren Davie, general manager for the East Gwillimbury Chamber of Commerce, said it would make a huge difference if people did some of their Christmas shopping locally this year. “Right now it is challenging to try and get people into local businesses,” she said. “It is more important than ever for us to be shopping local. It’s a challenge for small business to stay in business right now.”

The chamber has been championing various ventures supporting local businesses during the pandemic and has launched a holiday gift basket in conjunction with the town aimed at providing more support.

Davie said when you shop locally you support the businesses and artisans who support the community.

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Each holiday gift contains AE Natural Meat’s homemade BBQ sauce, a handmade natural soap bar from Artisan Baths, a hand-poured soy candle from Le Parfum Parfait, a universal drill bit and two free key cuts from Mount Albert Home Hardware, two handmade red pocket gift giving envelopes from The Red Pocket House, coconut treats from Sweets by Carmeli, a Tangles Hair Salon $10 credit and invigorating bath bomb, lavender/eucalyptus lip balm from the Giving Place, handcrafted wooden snowflake decor from Thirty Acre Signs, Vince’s Market’s pasta sauce, an EG Loves Local cotton tote bag as well as more coupons from local businesses.

Davie said the box costs $45.

Mayor Virginia Hackson said she hopes the program can help promote some of the local businesses in town.

“When people choose to shop locally, they are ensuring that the money they spend stays in the community where it supports local jobs and local families. Shopping locally is a great way to discover the unique products and services available right here in East Gwillimbury,” she said.

“Our local businesses are working hard to safely deliver quality products and services during these challenging times and we hope that our EG Loves Local programs will encourage even more people to ‘love local’ now, and in the future.”

Davie wants people to place their orders by Dec. 6.

Mount Albert Village Association chair and Ward 3 Coun. Cathy Morton is also encouraging residents to do what they can to support local businesses.

“If we want to keep these businesses up and running, we have to get out support them,” she said. “I shop in Mount Albert as much as I can.”

For more information about the gift box or to place an order, you can visit the chambers website at www.egcoc.org.

For more information about artisan baths, you can visit artisanbaths.com.