Shopping local this holiday season is about to get a little easier.
The St. Thomas and District Chamber of Commerce will launch its second annual guide to holiday shopping on Saturday, November 20, 2021, at the Horton Christmas Market and After Dark Party.
Our Favourite Things – Your Guide to Shopping Local shines a spotlight on businesses in St. Thomas, Central Elgin, and Southwold.
“I grew up in a family business that has served our community for more than 90 years,” said Sarah Groeneweg, a Chamber of Commerce Director. “I know how important it is to support local.
“I get it and my family gets it,” added Groeneweg, General Manager and Partner at Locke Insurance. “We, eat, play, and shop local as much as possible. Our customers have supported us for nearly a century and that’s because we’re good at what we do and build community at every turn.”
Paul Jenkins, the Chamber of Commerce’s Chief Executive Officer, said Our Favourite Things will be distributed to households and businesses in the community during the week of November 22, 2021. The guide will also be available on the Chamber’s website, as well as on social media.
“We will be distributing the first copies of our catalogue throughout the day and celebrating with a National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation themed photo booth and mulled wine in the evening,” said Jenkins. “While a Chamber-led initiative, Our Favourite Things … is more meaningfully understood as a collaborative community project that is meant to drive increased activity to all local businesses, not just those specifically mentioned in our guide.”
Our Favourite Things was developed by the Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the St. Thomas Economic Development Corporation, the St. Thomas and Elgin Homebuilders’ Association, the Elgin-St. Thomas Small Business Enterprise Centre, the St. Thomas Downtown Development Board, and the County of Elgin. It is also supported by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.