The holidays are fast approaching, and the recent snowfall has heightened the spirit of giving and kindness of residents in the city. People are buying gifts for family and friends, trying to get ahead of the last-minute December holiday rush. Instead of spending hours in line buying gift boxes and gadgets, buy something unique and meaningful from a local business this year.
Small businesses were disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Despite their struggles, their customer service and support for the local economy never wavered. With every local purchase you make, you are helping your friends and neighbours, while getting awesome, one of a kind products. Here are a few reasons why you should take the time this holiday season to give back to the businesses that give so much of themselves to our community.
Meaningful Relationships
Let’s face it. COVID-19 has left many of us feeling more isolated than ever before. Our interactions with others have dropped significantly. Now, we rely significantly on virtual connections instead. Many local shops have been in business for years, and know the community and its residents like their own family. They build and maintain meaningful relationships with their clientele. They know who shops with them, who refers them, and they take mounds of pride in return and repeat service. Because of their undying gratitude for your support, each interaction is honest and heartfelt. They may ask about your family or how your day is going, and it comes from the heart, unlike scripted up-sales used by corporations.
Supporting Local Economy and Job Growth
Throughout the pandemic, small businesses took a great hit. But despite questions about the future of their businesses, they kept on. They stayed true to their belief in employing local workers. They also hire other locally owned businesses for the supplies and services needed to produce goods in a safe and efficient manner. By putting our money back into these small shops, we can directly help these caring entrepreneurs during the holiday season and many other local businesses. The lasting effect this will have could mean much economic recovery within Ottawa’s local communities.
Community Ties and Giving Back
Because many local entrepreneurs are also members of the community, they feel a great sense of connection to support others in need. They like to pay it forward, just as their customers do. It is not uncommon to see local businesses initiating fundraisers for food banks, school clubs, or sports teams. Many have ties with hospitals and schools within the area. Throughout COVID-19, many local restaurants even provided front-line hospital workers with free meals. The sense of connection between local businesses and the community is what makes a difference when the going gets tough. Local community Associations and BIA’s (Business Improvement Associations) can be an excellent source of information. If you are curious about what Community Association does for the community click here.
So when you shop this winter and put gifts under your tree, keep small businesses in mind. The impact you will have on their lives will be substantial, the products you buy will be one of a kind, and you will never, ever be treated like just another number or sale.
Moving is a task that few find pleasure in, as it requires countless hours of organizing, packing, and lots of heavy lifting. Unfortunately, when doing this through a pandemic with travel restrictions in place and physical distancing measures still active, it may feel like there could not be a more inconvenient time to relocate. However, with closing dates getting closer, putting off your move may not be an option to your avail, but you should consider a few things before you go:
Buying a home is a great accomplishment for many, but buying a cottage can feel like a dream come true. With aspirations of kicking back next to the lake and enjoying the solitude that comes with cottage life, residents in Ontario are now more than ever eager to find their own slice of paradise. While the luxury of this second property may offer an excellent way to break from the hustle and bustle of city life and enjoy some solitude, it is also an ample opportunity to earn income or to begin investing in Real Estate. But before you begin hours of globetrotting in search of the getaway home of your dreams, be sure to consider everything that owning a cottage entails; Speak with your REALTOR® for any advice they may have, tips on where to look, what to steer clear of, or for help with purchasing in another province. These are all big decisions to be made, and you should wait until you have the knowledge and information needed to get the most out of your property so that you can enjoy it for years to come. In the meantime, here are some considerations that should be made when looking to purchase your first cottage.
It is always a sad day when you are sitting at the cottage, and the leaves start to turn, and you realize that the nights are getting cooler. We usually delay the decision to close up the cottage to the last minute. Given our uncertain weather events these days, it is best not to wait. Frozen pipes can cause a great deal of damage.
Summer is a wonderful time to spend a little quality time with friends and family; things are more relaxed, the kids are out of school and you won’t have to worry about a last minute snow storm interfering with travel plans (well here’s hoping!) .
