Dec. 1 to 7, 2014, has been proclaimed Buy Local Week in British Columbia. Purchasing products and services from a locally owned small business or shop this week is the perfect way to show your support for entrepreneurs in your community. It’s also a chance to celebrate the social and environmental benefits of shopping local, especially during the busy holiday shopping season.

Buying local not only keeps money in British Columbia, it also contributes to job creation. Small businesses employ more than one million people in B.C. and provide about 55 per cent of all private-sector jobs in the province - the second-highest rate in Canada.

B.C.’s retail sector offers a broad variety of products and services that serve the needs of British Columbians. The retail sector also provides a vital link between producers and consumers. By purchasing goods from local retailers, retailers order more goods to replenish their stock. In turn, producers continue purchasing raw materials to manufacture goods for retailers. This is how consumer spending can help drive B.C.’s economy.

Buy Local Week is being organized by LOCO BC - a local business alliance working to create a diverse, vibrant local economy by strengthening small and mid-sized businesses. This is the third annual ‘Buy Local Week’ to be proclaimed in B.C.

Quotes:

Naomi Yamamoto, Minister of State for Tourism and Small Business -

"Whether people are looking for seasonal specialities, Christmas gifts or unique cuisine, they can choose B.C. products. Not only does making the decision to shop local add something special to a purchase; it fuels our provincial economy, supports B.C. jobs and communities.”

Norm Letnick, Minister of Agriculture -

“British Columbians have hundreds of local food options that are a perfect fit on the table or as gifts under the tree. I ask all British Columbians to join me in celebrating the holidays with great-tasting B.C. products, and to get an early start on making and keeping that 2015 New Year’s resolution to buy local.”

Amy Robinson, founder and executive director, LOCO BC -

“Buy Local Week encourages consumers to shift some of their spending this season to local owned businesses, and to look for local grown and local made products wherever they shop. Local businesses create more than double the economic impact of their chain competitors, and spending your dollars with local businesses means that money recirculates in your community 2.6 times, creating a bigger economic impact for your region.”

Quick Facts:

• According to the 2014 Small Business Profile, B.C. has the most small businesses per capita in Canada, at 83.4 per 1,000 people.
• About 382,200 small businesses were operating in the province in 2012, 81% of which had fewer than five employees.
• Small businesses account for 86% of all exporters in B.C.
• B.C. small businesses shipped approximately $14.4 billion worth of merchandise to international destinations in 2012, comprising almost half the total value of goods exported from the province.
• The B.C. government’s $2 million Buy Local program supported about 40 B.C. agrifood marketing projects, including the We Heart Local Campaign, promoting B.C. foods in stores and restaurants

Learn More:

To see the official ‘Buy Local Week’ proclamation, please visit: http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/oic/OIC_CUR/BuyLocalWeek2014

To find out more about small businesses in B.C., check out the 2014 Small Business Profile: http://www.resourcecentre.gov.bc.ca/pdf/SmallBusEngWeb.pdf

To find out more about LOCO BC, please visit: http://locobc.com/

To find out where to buy B.C. foods, visit: http://www.weheartlocalbc.ca/

Media Contacts:

Media Relations
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour
Minister of State for Tourism and Small Business
250 387-2799