Everyone looked forward to Christmas catalogues every year just as much as placing presents under the tree. A local Labrador City woman thought creating an online small business catalogue would be a great way to celebrate the season's joy by highlighting small businesses in her area.
“I was inspired by doing a few small business week shoutouts on my “What's Happening: Labrador West Facebook page.” Someone mentioned they hadn't heard of a business I posted about, and they said I made Christmas shopping that much easier."
Mackenzie Hynes said the idea was also inspired by her Facebook page “What’s Happening: Labrador West," that her business posts made shopping more accessible for members.
Creating a Christmas catalogue was a way of letting people know about what small businesses exist and how to make Christmas shopping more accessible.
“We live in a small rural community that doesn't have access to everything like larger cities do, but the small businesses here ensure we have more access to their products & services.
Hynes offers her services for free, calling local businesses and creating photo pages of each small business to save them from the grief of having to promote themselves, she says.
So far, she has 30 small businesses on board, with more to come.
The Christmas catalogue feedback has been well received.
“All the businesses I've reached out to have thanked the catalogue idea and shared it with other small business friends to get the word out and help promote them. I know it's hard to promote yourself and your services sometimes, and I'm happy to help allow them to do it in a way that benefits them on their terms with their photos of their products/services.”
In the post-pandemic era of high inflation and tough economic times, Hynes feels that small businesses need our help more than ever.
“I have a large following in my Facebook group, and it only feels right to promote local things for free to help them out in my spare time. I think it will help people realize all the local shopping they can do, even with a small, virtually empty shopping center here- there's tons of shopping available that comes straight from our neighbours' homes.”
Hynes says promoting various unique small businesses in the Lab City area is not difficult. The catalogue is open to all small businesses, regardless of size.
“I'm allowing any small business to be promoted, things from photoshoot experiences, yoga memberships, golf simulator gift certificates, craft beer merchandise, baked goods from home bakers, you name it.”
Hynes says that by simply going through the pages before shopping online, you can purchase much of what you buy online from a local company and support a local family, directly benefiting our community and town.
“Even purchasing one item as small as a stocking stuffer can help change a local business' life and put a smile on a regional member of our community's face. If people don't see anything they're interested in in the catalogue, they can always share it with friends or family to support by spreading the good word.”
Hynes said she is unsure if she will make the catalogue an annual event, but she is happy to support local businesses whenever possible.
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