GNCC, NOTL Chamber launch new campaign to encourage people to shop locally

The Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce (GNCC) and the Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce are partnering on a new campaign designed to encourage people to shop locally.

The multi-media initiative is asking Niagara residents to shop locally and share their experiences on social media with the hashtag #NiagaraMyWay. It is a unique and self-personalizing hashtag that invites people to participate and will trigger a personal response among users to fill in their own Niagara experiences. It will ultimately paint a broad mosaic of what Niagara means to different people, and help build a sense of community where people are encouraged to shop locally.

“We cannot stress enough how important it is for people to get out and support the businesses in their community,” says Eduardo Lafforgue, President and CEO of the NOTL Chamber. “Small, family-owned businesses were hit hard during the pandemic, enduring long periods when they could not open their doors. They can use our help now.”

The campaign is being launched October 14th with a series of social media ads, which will be followed in subsequent weeks with advertising in local Niagara newspapers and radio. Ads will also appear in select Toronto media outlets over the course of the three-month campaign.

“In every corner of Niagara, in every municipality, in every sector — retail, seasonal, eateries, wineries — there are local businesses that can use your support,” says Mishka Balsom, CEO of the GNCC. “We would love to see Niagara residents out supporting their community’s businesses, and then sharing that experience to encourage their neighbours to do the same.”

The various elements of the campaign will highlight business sectors and extend a sense of ownership to local shoppers. For example, a bartender mixing cocktails under the banner “Drinks my way,” or a florist arranging a bouquet for “Flowers my way.”

Niagara residents can show their support in many ways:

1. 1. • Frequent local businesses. Shop in local stores, whether looking for food, clothing, toys or trinkets. It not only does the business a favour, it also supports the economy of the entire community.
      • When on social media, share their local shopping experience with #NiagaraMyWay. And if you come across a #NiagaraMyWay post or ad, help amplify it by sharing it widely.
      • Talk to business owners you know and encourage them to register their company with #NiagaraMyWay. There is no cost to them, but this will place their business on a landing page that people will see when they click through one of the ads.

“There is no need to spend too much time talking why an initiative like this is necessary,” says Eduardo. “We have all lived through the same pandemic and are well aware of the impact it has had on our Niagara community, both socially and from a business perspective. But from that, we have seen anecdotal evidence of an increased awareness to shop in local stores and support local businesses.

“We want to keep pushing that momentum forward.

About #NiagaraMyWay

Developed in partnership between the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce and the Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce, #NiagaraMyWay is a multi-media campaign designed to encourage people to support local businesses and share how Niagara is unique to them. It is a campaign that invites personalization, enabling users to interpret how they enjoy Niagara and share that experience with their social followers.

About the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce

The Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business in Niagara, the largest business organization in the region and the second-largest Chamber of Commerce in Ontario, with 1,500 members representing 50,000 employees. More information on the GNCC is available at gncc.ca.

About the Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce

As the leading business advocate in one of Canada’s most historic communities, the Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce is committed to promoting economic growth and commercial achievement while providing information, resources, networking and learning opportunities necessary for its members to succeed. For more information, please visit niagaraonthelake.com.

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For more information, please contact
Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce
Mishka Balsom at 905-684-2361 ext. 227 or mishka@gncc.ca

or

Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce
Eduardo R. Lafforgue at 905-468-1950 or president@niagaraonthelake.com