With Christmas less than a month away, many people are out shopping for loved ones this weekend. Some are going online or heading south of the border for Black Friday deals, but the Shop the Neighbourhood initiative hopes to get people to visit local retailers.
Bird on a Wire Creations is a “hyper-local” independent store in Mount Pleasant that showcases the work of more than 200 local artists.
“We have over 200 local artists and crafters within a 100 mile radius of Vancouver,” says Kate Nagel, owner of Bird on a Wire.
“When you spend your dollar, 45 per cent gets circulated back into the community when you buy local.”
READ MORE: Black Friday sneak peek–Are you better off shopping in Canada or the U.S.?
It’s one of 12,000 businesses participating in Shop the Neighbourhood, which takes place between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Now in its third year, it encourages shoppers to support small businesses in their communities.
“I think they’re trying to encourage people that often shop over the border at this time of year and change the conversation about where you should be spending your money,” said Charmaine Carpenter of the Mount Pleasant Business Improvement Association.
Yellow Pages employees were on Main Street Saturday to hand out free shopping bags and to let people know about Shopwise, an app that helps shoppers connect with local businesses.
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