Love Northern BC

LOVE NORTHERN BC SUPPORTS LOCAL BUSINESSES IN INNOVATIVE WAYS DURING PANDEMIC

Love Northern BC, Northern Development’s online shop local platform for local, independent businesses, found new and innovative ways to support business owners and encourage sales during a time when few ventured outside their homes.

To date, the Support Local BC program has reached $850,000 in sales, directly benefitting local, independent businesses across the province. Northern BC businesses have sold more than $35,000 in gift certificates.

Shop Local Online

In the spring, Northern Development partnered with Support Local BC, to promote the purchase of gift cards from Love Northern BC businesses. Support Local BC provides a place for communities and businesses throughout the province to support each other. It connects all regions and is a platform where you can support your favourite local businesses by purchasing gift cards for future use. Northern BC is represented on Support Local BC by more than 200 businesses from 28 communities.

Photo: Love Mackenzie

Plaid Friday Goes Digital

Plaid Friday kicks off the holiday shopping season as a ‘shop local’ alternative to Black Friday. Typically, the network of community champions would host tradeshows, public gatherings and late night shopping. These events were not possible due to social distancing requirements, so the team had to rethink how to bring the Plaid Friday spirit to all corners of the region.

With the help of a social media and a regional radio campaign, Love Northern BC challenged folks to take a selfie showing how they supported local, independent businesses on Plaid Friday for their chance to win one of twenty branded prize packs. Contest entries came from communities such as Queen Charlotte City, Valemount, Fort St. John and Quesnel!