Poll shows York Region residents plan to shop locally

YorkRegion.com
Dec. 4, 2014
Teresa Latchford

York Region holiday shoppers plan to keep it close to home this year.

Yorkregion.com recently conducted a poll asking readers where they plan to do their holiday shopping this year and more than half of respondents said they would be purchasing most gifts locally.

Only 19 per cent plan to shop primarily online and the remainder plan to venture to another city or town, shop across the border or all of the above.

“It really doesn’t surprise me at all,” Newmarket Main Street BIA member Jackie Playter said. “Shopping locally seems to be the trend in this region because I think people have a real sense of community.”

For the past two years, the Main Street merchants in Newmarket have experienced an increase in patrons, she added. While many surveys show more and more Canadians are shopping online, Playter feels York Region is an anomaly because people are making a conscious choice to support the independent businesses close to home.

“York Region is just more community-minded,” she said. “People get to know their shop keepers and they really do become extended family.”

Markham’s Markville Shopping Centre has seen an upward trend in its traffic as well, according to general manager Daryl Clemance. The redevelopment of the centre and addition of new retail concepts in an attempt to create a more appealing shopping environment could be the reason.

While online shopping continues to evolve, Clemance points out it isn’t only being used for purchasing, but also to research purchases.

“Many people use the Internet to research their purchase ahead of time and comparison shop,” he added. “However, people still like the tactile experience of shopping in a store — to be able to pick up a product, touch it, see it and try it on.”

All of the options available across the region make it easy for people to shop locally and support their community, he said.

When people decide to shop locally, it’s good news for the local economy as a whole, Vaughan Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Paula Curtis said.

“From the hustle and bustle I’ve seen this year, there is a real sense of community,” she said. “When people invest in their home town, everyone benefits.”

Staying close to home isn’t all about revenue for the local businesses, but seeing neighbours and business owners build a relationship and a bond centred on that small-town feel, Curtis added.

Local merchants are putting effort forth to create an entire experience when residents shop locally, not just a get-what-you-need-and-get-out routine. Curtis referenced a local event at a Vaughan jewelry store, where shoppers were treated with hors d’oeuvres as a holiday celebration.

“It really makes people feel appreciated and creates this sense of celebrating together in the city,” she added. “Staying home to shop means a lot more than just business; it means community.”