Tis the Season – To Shop Local
As cities tighten down – and some even lock down once again, the uncertainty of the whole situation is once again looming.
Having a ‘normal’ Christmas is clearly out of our grasp at this point. And as the daunting task of Christmas shopping is now upon us, with online and curb side pickup looking like our only options, some people may feel like the selection is limited.
It doesn’t have to be.
Our little local businesses that do everything to thrive and survive in our communities at the best of times, need our help now more than ever.
For those restaurants that you would typically meet at with friends to celebrate the holidays – you can buy a gift card and keep an open ended extension on when you plan to meet up. Or get take out and Facetime or Zoom instead! You can still be together without being together.
As for gifts, call your local shops and look at curb side and delivery options. You can still give thoughtful non mass produced gifts, while supporting your local economy. Keeping our money in the community and investing in our local economies is important now more than ever.
Sometimes one of the things we tell ourselves before we ‘add to cart’, is that the big box store saves us money. Its cheaper to buy from a company that orders in bulk and mass produces everything we could ever want and need. But those big box stores don’t give back to our communities the same was as our local retailers.
Our local retailers are supporting our local farms, local artisans, and local families. They support our schools, our sports teams, and our culture. They live and breath everything that our community thrives on. We owe it to them to support them during times like these.
Working in the event industry, especially in the wonderful city of Toronto – we know first hand the loss that can be experienced from this pandemic. We have worked hard and put in long hours to change our outcome and brighten our future.
When it comes to security – especially in this industry – there is no gift card or takeout menu. We either survive or we don’t.
However our friends in this industry have come up with some amazing and innovative ideas to ride things out in the meantime.
Ricarda’s has come up with gift boxes so you can send the Gourmet Ricarda’s experience home to yourself or friends and family. With a few different options and price points to choose from, you can even opt to treat the kids to their popular cookie decorating box and give them a first hand taste of Ricarda’s.
They also have a take out option or for the closest gourmet experience, you can really bring their experience home by setting yourself up with their in home chef experience.
Our friends at Terroni are also offering delicious take out options and should you feel prepared to try your hand at being a Terroni chef, you can try one of their at home cooking kits. However, if you feel like you need a more streamlined and guided package deal – their meal boxes are a great option and suitable for the whole family.
If its something to quench your thirst, they have you covered there too. With wine delivery including same day – its like having a sommelier at your doorstep.
Some of our other friends are still classified as essential. Which gives you more of an opportunity to support them, and get to know them.
Evergreen Brick Works hosts a weekly market that brings the farm to you. As the weather gets colder, the market goes indoors and they are taking every precaution to keep you safe.
They will also be bringing back their annual skating rink, complete with Covid measures. You can book a time slot online and bring your family for their public skate, or even check out options for skating lessons. Please keep in mind this is an outdoor rink and obviously very weather dependent. Let it snow!
Stock T.C. is a great new local grocery option. While businesses are learning how to adapt in this changed world, Stock T.C. knows no other way. They opened their doors during a pandemic on August 22nd and have dealt with Covid protocol every step of the way.
They offer grocery selection, prepared foods, a cafe, and almost everything in between. With a charcuterie and cheese selection that dreams are made of, Stock T.C. is not your average grocer and is not to be missed.
For our friends that may have been missed – you are certainly not forgotten.
We highly recommend that even if gift boxes, at home chefs or fine cheese aren’t your thing or even in your budget – giftcards can be purchased at almost any local merchant.
Not only will the giftcard give your local friends something to be thankful for, it keeps the options endless for whoever receives them.
And if you planned on spending part of the holidays at your local watering hole, think about what you might have spent, and get yourself a giftcard.
Treat yourself and give yourself something to look forward too. So when doors can reopen, and we once again find ourselves face to face with friends – we have a giftcard ready to go, and something worth celebrating.
Guest Blogger Rayna Davies
Rayna Davies is a graduate and practitioner of Business Management. She has developed an expertise in blogging, covering subjects like travel, world events and security. Having grown up with a father who has developed an expertise in Physical Security and Executive Protection in the RCMP and two major corporations, she has personally observed and experienced many security details. These experiences have included personally meeting HM Queen Elizabeth, Prime Minister Jean Chretien and many celebrities. She presently assists Sentinel Security in Executive Protection workshops and guest blogging and also assists Gloprosec Preventative Services in Intelligence gathering and Business Administration. Her passions include World travel, having visited every continent.
