|
October 22, 2024
The City of Edmonton officially kicked off Small Business Week, October 20 to 26, launching a new Shop Local campaign that urges Edmontonians to “put their money where their heart is.” The campaign highlights the importance and economic potential of the city’s small business community.
“Edmonton has always been synonymous with the entrepreneurial spirit, and Small Business Week is an opportunity for us to celebrate the significant impacts our business community has on our city,” said Mayor Amarjeet Sohi. “Taking the time to support a local business has ripple effects in the rest of our community. I encourage all Edmontonians to put their money where their heart is and shop local.”
Edmonton is home to over 38,000 businesses, with 95 per cent being small businesses, and supporting local entrepreneurs is a key part of community building. Our city thrives on the foundation of shopping locally, as for every $100 spent at a small business, $66 stays in the local economy.
The Shop Local campaign is part of a matching grant from the Government of Alberta to leverage $200,000 over two years towards small business support. The logo, which features the Walterdale Bridge as the handle of a shopping bag, reminds shoppers to keep their money close to home and will be used to support local businesses, events and promotions.
“Community is at the heart of The Makers Keep and is the essence of what we do,” said Katie Deck, co-owner of The Makers Keep. “Our stores are a collective of over 400 small businesses from across the Edmonton area, creating a one-stop shop for all things local. We encourage our neighbours to continue to show support for all of our amazing local businesses this holiday season.”
Spending money at a local business is just one way to support our entrepreneurs. Other ways to show support include sharing content and engaging on social media, using the hashtag #ShopLocalYEG, leaving a positive review and recommending stores to family and friends.
There are also a number of City programs and initiatives to support our small business community, including the Business Friendly Edmonton one-on-one support program, free business workshops, online access to permit licensing and more.
Visit edmonton.ca/ShopLocal to learn more about supporting local businesses or accessing the free Shop Local business media kits.
| 
