Now more than ever, there is a push for communities all over Ontario to support their local businesses.<\/p>\n
Chambers of Commerce in North Wellington, alongside the Northern Wellington Economic Development Partnership, have come up with a contest geared towards helping businesses during this second lockdown.<\/p>\n
Dale Small, economic development officer for the Township of Wellington North, explained the #LockdownLove contest.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re asking people to do a post on Facebook or Instagram, whatever they do on social media and just give a plug for a local business that they love or like, or recommend people go to,\u201d Small said.<\/p>\n
People are then to tag their local chamber of commerce in the post, in relation to wherever the business they are promoting is located.<\/p>\n
Small said some businesses have had to change their whole business model because customers can\u2019t simply walk through the doors of particular businesses anymore because of lockdown rules.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s also different depending on what sector they\u2019re in,\u201d Small said. \u201cOur manufacturing sector is booming, and they\u2019re looking for workers. So, there\u2019s been a lot of businesses that even though they\u2019ve been affected by COVID-19, and they have to change, you know, how they operate, they\u2019re trying to recruit people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Small said Dana Incorporated is trying to recruit people, as well as, Vintex Inc., and Musasi Auto Parts Canada Inc., but when it\u2019s boiled down, it\u2019s really the core retail sector that is being impacted the most right now.<\/p>\n
He said there are some businesses that don\u2019t even have a social media presence.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey really had no way of trying to contact their customers, so, they have learned,\u201d Small said. \u201cWe\u2019ve had some digital main stream support going on where we\u2019ve been providing free consulting support to businesses who need to come into the 90s any way in terms of technology.\u201d<\/p>\n
Small said businesses have to have an online presence and they need to be active on social media.<\/p>\n
He said he recognizes that businesses are spending a lot of time and effort trying to build their online presence, and they are trying to help them out as best they can.<\/p>\n
People can enter the #LockdownLove contest as many times as they want, and they have the chance to win up to $2,000 in gift cards from local businesses.<\/p>\n
The contest ends Feb.12, 2021.<\/p>\n
Dale Small, economic development officer for the Township of Wellington North:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n