Latest news with #SupportLocal
CBS News
5 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Baltimore Farmer's Market vendors find support, personal connections from customers
More than 160 vendors gather each week at the Baltimore Farmer's Market under the underpass at Jones Falls Expressway to offer homemade and homegrown products. Local produce, pastries, crafts, and other products are sold from 7 a.m. until noon each Sunday from April through December. "We're going to have corn next week, and then we'll be getting into tomatoes and watermelons and cantaloupes, and everything will be full swing," said Stave Knopp, owner of Knopp's Farm on the Shore. Personal connections at the Farmer's Market Knopp will tell you farming isn't just a job to him, but rather his crops are rooted in tradition. "This isn't just like a business or not just a market, this is like family," Knopp said. "I've been coming here since I was two. This isn't just any old regular day, this is family." Knopp's parents sold produce at the Baltimore Farmer's Market before he was born, so he grew up pulling a wagon up and down the aisles. Now, he runs the stand himself. "I know a lot of the customers, I've known their grandparents, now I'm meeting their children," Knopp said. "I'm meeting their grandchildren. I'm telling my age now, but it's really awesome, it's very special." Those personal connections with shoppers keep them coming back. "We really just try to support the local folks who live here as much as we can. If we're not going to, who is?" said customer Jason Ward. Supporting local businesses Delaney Cate, the farmer's market's manager, told WJZ she enjoys watching Marylanders support each other through the Baltimore Farmer's Market. "You get to kind of see the city and the area wake up in a way," Cate said. "It's a great idea to keep money in the community. If you're shopping local, you've also got folks that live here that are being hired to vend." Vendors say what you get at the Baltimore Farmer's Market is not just a vegetable off a shelf, it's also an interpersonal experience. "When you come here, you're talking to the farmer, you're talking to me," Knopp said. "It's know your farmer, know your food."
CBC
22-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Kitchener launches Love Local online pop-up shop
On Wednesday, Kitchener launched the Love Local Pop-up Shop in partnership with local business Civilian Screen Printing. The move is part of the city's plan to minimize the impact tariffs have on the local community and economy. Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic told CBC K-W's John Dalusong how the initiative was a response to requests from community members who wanted to show love and support for the City of Kitchener.
Forbes
20-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Five Ways To Support Small Businesses During Small Business Month
National Small Business Month May is National Small Business Month, a time to celebrate the contributions of small business owners to their community. In an era where confidence in institutions is lagging, small business remains the most trusted institution in America. Gallup's annual survey in 2024 found that 68% of Americans have a large amount of trust in small businesses. To add context, the same survey found that only 36% feel that way about the medical system, along with 16% for big business and 12% with broadcast news. Most importantly, small business owners and their employees are friends and neighbors whose success often depends on the relationships they forge with their customers. Here are five ways you can support small business owners in your community during National Small Business Month. 1. Visit a Least One New Small Business in Your Community Is there a new restaurant that you have been meaning to try or a store that you have been wanting to visit? Make it a point to try to do so in the next two weeks. You'll be glad you did and that business may have a new repeat customer. 2. Leave Positive Reviews for Business Online Many businesses either do some or all their work online so positive reviews are becoming more important to new customers who are learning about them for the first time. Whether you have just visited it once or have been going for years, take a few minutes to leave some positive praise for the businesses that deserve it. 3. Avoid Third-Party Purchases Using a third-party purchaser or delivery service does make it easier to buy from a number of stores and restaurants in one central location. However, part of what you pay is going to that third party instead of the business. It may take a few extra minutes, but purchasing directly from the business means they get 100% of the profit. 4. Purchase Merchandise and/or Gift Cards One of the longest-running businesses in Washington, DC, is Frager's Hardware, which has been operating on Capitol Hill since 1920. Part of the reason for this is that the community is invested in its long-term success, and it is rare to walk through the neighborhood on a Saturday or Sunday and not see someone wearing Frager's gear. Your favorite store or restaurant probably has T-shirts or caps too and if you buy one, not only will you be supporting it, you will be a walking advertisement as well. Purchasing gift cards is another way you can help. 5. Advocate for Them When new policies are implemented that affect the economy, they often hit small businesses the earliest and hardest. A recent interview with Pashion Footwear CEO Haley Pavone highlighted how recent tariffs are threatening her business's ability to operate. If you are hearing from businesses about how policies are negatively impacting them, you will be doing them and your community a service by letting your lawmakers know. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and account for nearly half of all U.S. jobs and represent a broad spectrum of industries and perspectives. Your support of them is paid forward in countless ways.
Washington Post
11-05-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Why one man hopes tariffs give a boost to his Made in America Store
ELMA, New York — The Stars and Stripes lining the driveway and the giant Constitution plastered to the wall offer a very clear welcome to the Made in America Store. Here you'll find 18,000 square feet of stuff, all 100 percent made in the U.S. of A. What's for sale: Wind chimes. Tootsie Rolls. Socks. Toilet paper. Kazoos. Frozen DiGiorno pizzas. American flags. T-shirts printed with his favorite slogan, 'Because China is a Long Drive to Work!'
CTV News
08-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Essex County gives initial approval to ‘Buy Canadian' policy
Essex County Council has given initial approval to a policy prioritizing the purchase of Canadian goods and services when possible. The Buy Canadian Procurement Strategy was presented to council at Wednesday night's meeting. Similar to strategies adopted by other Canadian municipalities, the county has set limitations to avoid breaking international trade agreements. 'So the intent is to strengthen support for Canadian businesses, especially those right here in our community, while staying within the boundaries of legislation and aligning with Ontario's broader public sector response to international trade dynamics,' Melissa Ryan, the county's financial services director, told council. Essentially under certain financial amounts, Essex will favour Canadian providers. However, over those amounts, they must stick to the typical bidding process. In the event a supplier's costs are impacted by tariffs, the business will have to provide notice and documentation to the county. 'So, the process would require justification and documentation of mitigation efforts from the vendors, so helping us to manage the long-term financial risks while treating vendors fairly and consistently,' Ryan said. Council also approved a motion put forward by Kingsville Mayor Dennis Rogers to look at targeted municipal tax deferrals for Canadian businesses impacted by tariffs. When questioned by councillors about the risk of passing on cost increases to taxpayers, Ryan said there are few U.S. bidders for applicable projects. The procurement strategy stems from a notice of motion created in February by Michael Akpata, the deputy mayor of LaSalle, in the face of U.S. tariffs and annexation rhetoric. On Wednesday, Akpata said he believes the policy serves a purpose despite the fact that it may not affect many U.S. businesses. 'In the absence of policy, you go by past practice,' Akpata said. 'We've listened to people doing their best to buy Canadian, and we, who are spending their dollars, have a responsibility to make sure that we echo the sentiment that's currently going on in this country.' When it comes to potentially increasing costs, Akpata said he's comfortable having that conversation with constituents, rather than keeping the status quo. 'We have to decide right now. This is about economic stability. This is about economic independence, and this is about the fact that there's another country that has said over and over and over again that they want to take us over,' he explained. The procurement policy will now return as a bylaw for council's approval at a future meeting.
