WELLINGTON COUNTY – Local chambers of commerce are teaming up to continue to hammer home the shop local message through a new marketing push.
Over the next five months, chambers in Centre Wellington, Arthur, Mapleton, Mount Forest and Minto will be jointly rolling out a new campaign called ‘Live, Love, Shop Local.’
A press release from Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce (CWCC) states this initiative will focus on highlighting local businesses and how they have adapted to new pandemic restrictions but also how they adapted to new ways consumers shop.
Sally Litchfield, CWCC general manager, explained the campaign will be through various mediums, including written profiles and mini-documentaries, but it’s all geared toward reminding customers they can buy everything they need in Wellington County.
“We’ve tried to keep support local and shop local as front of mind as possible but we also know that people have moved to online ordering and the ease of access that has provided,” Litchfield said.
She said part of this is making locals aware there are local options as convenient as services such as Amazon which will be particularly important as the holiday season approaches.
The program has been made possible from a $90,000 federal grant that is meant for amplifying or creating shop local marketing initiatives.
This campaign also involves the chambers partnering with municipalities and BIAs too which Litchfield said means they can promote a more consistent message as opposed to the current system of separately working toward the same goal.
“Currently, we’re sort of operating in silos a little bit as independent entities thinking ‘Oh we should do a shop local post or campaign,’” Litchfield said.
“The goal with this project is that we will build libraries of material and tool kits so that we as a group of partners are sharing the same message across multiple platforms, hitting home with more impact to the consumers.”
The local chambers are seeking local businesses or organizations with a unique or interesting story to be highlighted through video or written profiles.
Interested Wellington County businesses can sign up through CWCC here.
