It was an indication of just how loyal local business leaders were to Think Local First that the crowd was as big as it was for its annual general meeting Wednesday night.
It was the start of the NHL playoffs, after all, and the Vancouver Canucks were about to face off against the Calgary Flames while the speeches and schmoozing at the Atriuim were still in progress.
鈥淚鈥檝e got the PVR going. It鈥檚 being recorded,鈥� laughed Brian Lowen, a self-described 鈥減layoffs slut鈥� there on behalf of his new local 鈥渂ikes for business鈥� firm The Transit Cycle Co.
Dozens of local merchants heard more about a loyalty-card program being launched by the organization that was founded in 2012 as Shop Local Victoria to encourage locals to support community businesses.
Think Local First president Gayle Robinson, wearing an elegant black and white dress that would never be mistaken for the outdoor clothing sold at her Robinson鈥檚 Outdoor Store, was beside herself with excitement.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so great that Island Savings has stepped up to be our financial partner,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e grown to 200 members now so to handle that growth means we need more financial support to do it efficiently.鈥�
Twelve businesses are already onboard for the consumer rewards program, and Robinson said she hoped at least 50 would be participating when it鈥檚 officially launched in June.
The loyalty program is being administered by Portland, Ore.-based Supportland.com, and is a perfect fit for Greater Victoria, said Supportland co-founder Katrina Scotto di Carlo.
鈥淚t deepens the sense of community we all feel, and we get to act on it,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his is why it鈥檚 working so well in Portland [where there are 80,000 loyalty cards]. Instead of thinking of these places as cities, think of them as neighbourhoods.鈥�
While Calgary has expressed interest in the program Victoria businesses such as Hemp and Co., Spinnakers Gastro Brew Pub and Ocean River Sports have signed onto, its launch here will be a first for sa国际传媒.
Buddies Toys owner Jane Powell said she was pleased with the non-profit society鈥檚 name change from Shop Local Victoria.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 build a guilt concept,鈥� said Powell.
鈥淭en per cent is something everyone can do today,鈥� added Robinson, referring to attempts to encourage shoppers to spend 10 per cent locally. 鈥淣o program will be successful if it鈥檚 guilt-driven or a mercy buy.鈥�
Dig This owner Elizabeth Cull is living proof of how the society can prompt local businesses to patronize each other.
鈥淚 found one of the surprise benefits was not just that I get more customers coming because they want to shop locally, but I get business-to-business activity,鈥� said Cull, who refers customers seeking a florist to Poppy鈥檚 Floral Art, and vice-versa, for instance, and now buys her office supplies from Monk鈥檚.
Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps, who joked she was going to outlaw the 鈥淗er Worship鈥� term when introduced as such, told the crowd she was thrilled her presence this time out was as mayor. 鈥淭his is awesome,鈥� Helps said. 鈥淭his is the future of the city. It represents the best of small business and the community coming together.鈥�
Mary Desprez said the significance of Think Local First is 鈥渞eally huge鈥� for someone like herself, a clothing designer.
鈥淚f you want to build community, hire your neighbour,鈥� says Desprez, who was Belfry Theatre鈥檚 general manager for 24聽years before launching High Road Clothing, her line of 鈥渉igh-style, high-performance鈥� clothing made from merino wool sourced from Australia.
Kari McLay, owner of Tulipe Noire clothing, became her 鈥渁gent,鈥� laughs Desprez, who got to know her as a fellow Dance Victoria board member.
鈥淓verybody鈥檚 asking me every day to look at lines but this line is amazing,鈥� said McLay, whose decision to carry Desprez鈥檚 and represent it to independent stores across sa国际传媒 typifies the Think Local philosophy.
鈥淚t鈥檚 about partnerships,鈥� says Desprez. 鈥� It鈥檚 about bringing quality products made on the Island to local stores, rather than bringing everything in from so far away.鈥�
