Latest news with #shoplocal
CBC
10-07-2025
- Business
- CBC
This Montreal suburb's only grocery store closed. Now a local goods shop is filling the gap
Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Que., residents have a new spot to do their groceries. After being on the verge of bankruptcy, B Factory, a locally owned shop, expanded its space to include a small grocery section called Mon Marché Local.
ABC News
12-06-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Farmers hit by drought and floods call on Australians to shop local and lend a hand
Australians are being urged to shop local and lend a hand to support farmers hit hard this past year by severe drought and floods. Many have been left wondering how they can help farmers after seeing the devastating impact of drought in South Australia and Victoria and flooding in Queensland and New South Wales. Shopping local is one way, but there are also opportunities for everyday Australians to roll up their sleeves to work on farms, or even offer farmers a holiday. Australian Made chief executive Ben Lazzaro said buying local generated direct income and jobs, particularly in regional areas. "We should be looking for Aussie products and produce 365 days a year," Mr Lazzaro said. While parts of SA and Victoria have recently received some rain, it is not enough to break the prolonged drought and farms could take years to recover. Buy Local Buy SA marketing manager Penny Reidy encouraged shoppers to buy SA-grown citrus, which had been impacted by an extraordinarily hot, dry summer. While fruit size was down, quality and yields were still high. "If you buy from a local fruit and vegetable store, and buy in-season, then you're supporting the local economy through the whole supply chain as well." Along with taking a hit from drought and floods, South Australian Dairyfarmers Association's Rob Brokenshire said the dairy industry was also competing with cheaper imports. "This is a time when we need to push back on imports and we need to become parochial as South Australian and Australian, and buying locally absolutely makes a difference," Mr Brokenshire said. The Australian wine industry has been battling on many fronts — from drought to reduced consumer demand and low grape prices. Paxton Wines head winemaker Ashleigh Seymour said small and medium-sized producers were doing it especially tough. "Next time you're in the bottle shop trying to choose some wine for dinner, or take to a friend's house, try and buy Australian … especially as we go through these tough times," she said. "Whether it's grape or lamb or grain production, it's not just that specific industry that is affected. For those with some spare time or money, there are also charities collecting donations and volunteers to help farmers directly. BlazeAid relaunched its Give a Farmer a Break program, which "matchmakes" farmers and volunteers with help such as fence building, livestock agistment, and holidays. BlazeAid founder Kevin Butler said city dwellers were reaching out wanting to help. "The idea is [volunteers] can come to your farm, you teach them how to feed the sheep or the dogs, water the garden, or whatever, and give you a break. Or give you a chance to do something else. Or even go on a holiday." Regional charity Rural Aid provides services such as free mental health programs, counselling, and water tank and hay deliveries to farmers directly. Chief executive John Warlters said it had experienced a huge increase in demand and relied on public generosity to keep up — either as a monetary donation or volunteering. "It's donations from mums and dads, community groups and sporting clubs, but it's also from businesses big and small," Mr Warlters said. "The more the situation is shared with the broader public, and the more people understand how tough it is at the moment, they definitely want to be part of the solution."
CTV News
08-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Patriotic pointers: Tech tricks to help you buy Canadian
Watch Tech Expert Katrina German offers some advice on ways to help you support Canadian businesses
National Post
08-05-2025
- Business
- National Post
Miconex and EML Launch Digital Gift Card Technology in Canada
Article content PERTH, Scotland — Fintech Miconex is building on the success of its digital gifting product in Europe by launching digital gift card technology in Canada, alongside EML Payments. Article content Article content Miconex operates over 200 closed loop gift card programs globally with almost $60 million in local spend delivered. Its Downtown Gift Card program is active across North America, with 42 district branded programs and over $15 million in sales in Canada. The local gift cards enable downtowns to capitalize on the 'shop local' opportunity and divert online spend into local communities. Article content The launch includes the introduction of digital e-cards and the tokenization of physical cards, both allowing Miconex's local gift cards to be added to digital wallets, enabling contactless payment technology. Article content Colin Munro, CEO, Miconex, said: 'Our digital advancements in Canada tap into the growing trend for digital wallets and mobile payments in Canada, and for supporting local businesses, enabling districts to give consumers choice and flexibility in how they buy and spend local gift cards. This is the future of local gifting.' Article content Patrick Hall, Chief Commercial Officer, EML Payments, said: 'We're thrilled to partner with Miconex to bring our digital private label gifting solutions to Canada, making it easier than ever for people to give thoughtful, flexible gifts. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to innovation and delivering convenient, customer-first experiences.' Article content Kingston, London, Victoria, Barrie, Peterborough and Red Deer are some of the districts set to launch digital versions of their existing Downtown Gift Card programs alongside Miconex. Article content Katie Woodcock, Downtown Kingston BIA, said: 'The Downtown Kingston BIA and its members are thrilled that the Downtown Gift Card is going digital. This update will make it even easier to shop local and support the diverse range of businesses that makes our downtown so special. With just a quick tap on their smartphones, visitors can explore everything our vibrant downtown has to offer while contributing to its continued growth and success.' Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
The Sun
07-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Huge retail chain with over 300 locations to shut popular store as ‘everything must go' closing down sale launched
A RETAIL giant has pointed to permanent closure in a popular town centre after launching an 'everything must go' closing down sale. The chain has over 300 branches across the UK - but isn't the first of its kind to be knocked off the high street. Trespass in Westgate Street, Ipswitch was seen plastered in ' closing down ' and 'everything must go' posters this week. The store has also announced on the banners it will close Saturday, October 18. It comes after the outdoor clothing store said in March that it would be temporarily closing for refurbishment. However these signs have now been ripped down and swapped with adverts for a closing down sale. Locals took to Facebook over the news, with one shocked shopper writing: "Another one bites the dust. New barbers and a vape shop coming your way." A member replied: "Or a phone shop." However others have theorised that the store isn't actually closing down. One person claimed: "They are renegotiating another lease, it's a tactic." Another said: "Its been closing down for years lol." A third joked: "This shop has been shutting more time then I have had hot sausage rolls from Greggs." Tragic Closure: Primark Store Shutdown After Fatal Incident In November 2019 the Ipswich shop but up signs to say the store was closing down that December and that "all stock must go". Except it later emerged that the shop was not shutting after all - with staff claiming Trespass had renegotiated an extension on its lease. The Sun reached out to Trespass for comment. RETAIL WOES You may have noticed Trespass isn't the only brand to be fading from the high street in recent months. Red Menswear in Chatham in Medway, Kent shut for the final time on March 29 after starting business in 1999. Meanwhile, Sports Direct axed its Newmarket Road store in Cambridge on April 18. And a couple months ago, Essential Vintage told followers on social that it would be closing down after they had been "priced out" because of bigger players in the market such as Vinted. More WHSmiths stores are also set to close this month, with plans to leave the high street forever in an agreement to sell 500 shops as part of a £76million deal. New Look is also depleting, having made the decision to axe nearly 100 branches as they battle challenges linked to Autumn Budget tax changes. Approximately a quarter of the retailer's 364 stores are at risk when their leases expire - equating to about 91 stores, with a significant impact on New Look's 8,000-strong workforce. Many say the latest drive to accelerate closures is driven by the upcoming increase in National Insurance contributions for employers. The move, announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in October, is hitting the high street hard - and the British Retail Consortium has predicted these changes will create a £2.3billion bill for the sector. Why are retailers closing stores? RETAILERS have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis. High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going. However, additional costs have added further pain to an already struggling sector. The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs from April will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." It comes after almost 170,000 retail workers lost their jobs in 2024. End-of-year figures compiled by the Centre for Retail Research showed the number of job losses spiked amid the collapse of major chains such as Homebase and Ted Baker. It said its latest analysis showed that a total of 169,395 retail jobs were lost in the 2024 calendar year to date. This was up 49,990 – an increase of 41.9% – compared with 2023. It is the highest annual reading since more than 200,000 jobs were lost in 2020 in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced retailers to shut their stores during lockdowns. The centre said 38 major retailers went into administration in 2024, including household names such as Lloyds Pharmacy, Homebase, The Body Shop, Carpetright and Ted Baker. Around a third of all retail job losses in 2024, 33% or 55,914 in total, resulted from administrations. Experts have said small high street shops could face a particularly challenging 2025 because of Budget tax and wage changes. Professor Bamfield has warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020."
