Shop Local

Shop local logo

The Shop Local Program encourages residents to consider shopping at local businesses first. Local businesses support the community through their tax dollars; by sponsoring local events and sports teams; and by employing residents. They are your neighbours!

Dollars spent in the community remain here and support local employment. You can expect good customer service and can save time by not travelling out of town. Local businesses are encouraged to provide a positive shopping experience.

Newsletter to merchants

Purpose of the Campaign

To educate our residents to try local businesses first! To date the Shop Local Team has circulated our message in the local press, on websites, by emails and other printed materials.

Get Involved and help us encourage Halton Hills' residents to "Shop Smart...Shop Halton Hills". Help us make shopping in Halton Hills rewarding!

Shop Local Ideas for Promotion

We want your participation, so here are a number of ideas for you:

discounts for local consumers
cooperative advertising with other businesses in the same area
family referrals
referrals to complimentary merchants eg. Flower store with jewellery store, restaurant with theatre, car dealer with car wash
special local features
customer testimonials

Other ideas

Shop Local Blog
- Have residents speak openly about their shopping habits.
Eat Local Challenge
- Spend two weeks eating locally (and to compare the taste and price of locally grown food to produce grown over 1,500 miles away).
Shift to "Local First" Gear
- Even modest changes in our spending choices can have a big impact on our local economies. If everyone in the Town of Halton Hills shifted just 10% of their spending that they make outside of the community it would generate new economic activity for the town and new jobs. One community actually had an on-line pledge sheet.
Loyalty Discounts
- Shoppers receive a discount for shopping regularly at independent shops can provide a good incentive for people to change their shopping habits.
Promotion Day and/or Week
- Focus on highlighting the special services provided by local shops for example it could involve tastings of special locally made products. Conduct surveys on your customer's shopping habits - have draws and incentives for them to participate.
Do the math with your gas
- Campaign that focuses on the cost of gas and time just to get something at slightly lesser prices. Awareness about putting the total cost of transportation in with the cost of the item(s) - keep the gas cost down by shopping locally.

Letter from the Mayor

Dear Sir or Madam,

As Mayor I am proud to be able to support our local businesses through our Shop Local – Shop Halton Hills campaign and encourage residents to try our local businesses first.

Under the encouragement of the Town we have brought together organizations throughout our community with one common goal: keep our consumers in Halton Hills. Personally I think this is such an important project that I am also an active member of the committee. The committee members come from the Acton and Georgetown BIAs, Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce, Georgetown Marketplace, the Williams Mill, the New Tanner, The Georgetown Independent Free Press and are supported by our Economic Development section.

- Mayor Rick Bonnette

Quick Links