The Elmira area is home to more than 400 businesses, most of which are locally owned and operated 'independent' businesses.  These independent businesses are the backbone of our Elmira Economy. 

We built ShopElmira.ca to support and promote these local businesses with the principle of the 'local multiplier effect' in mind.  The Local Multiplier Effect refers to the increased wealth creation that occurs when money is spent locally and re-circulates within the local economy. 

 

The trend for many consumers has been to shop at big box stores or online at Amazon, but unfortunately, these shopping choices actually hurt Elmira by taking money out our local economy. 

 

To reverse this trend, and keep more money in Elmira, we've developed a local online directory and marketplace featuring great local businesses and the products and services they offer.

For Shoppers

ShopElmira.ca is accessible from both computers and smart phones via a mobile version.

 

When you're researching online for the specific products and services you want, ShopElmira.ca is the perfect place to find the information you need. 

The ShopElmira.ca community marketplace enables you to buy products online for in-store pick-up or delivery, find coupons and deals, read and write reviews, purchase online gift certificates, view restaurant menus, find out when businesses are open and how they can be paid, as well as contact business owners via email.

There are also helpful links to businesses' websites and social media profiles.

For Businesses

Local independent business owners, even with limited marketing budgets, can now present and promote their products and services online using our comprehensive local marketing platform. 

 
This platform optimizes participating businesses' content so it will be found when people are searching locally and makes it easy for shoppers to take action, whether that's buying online or sending an inquiry through email.. 

Now business owners can deliver consistent messaging to their website and social media platforms as well, with one-stop updating through their ShopElmira.ca business control panel.

We give local business owners the ability to level the playing field with the biggest of companies.

As you can imagine, all of these features offer both businesses and consumers tons of value, but the real power of ShopElmira.ca is the offline community marketing campaign that involves hundreds of businesses displaying signs and stickers reminding people to shop locally at ShopElmira.ca

By coming together with a common message that also drives people to a web destination where they can take action, ShopElmira.ca harnesses the collective power of the local business community to give independents a voice that's even louder than the big corporate brands that are taking money out of Elmira.

Local independent businesses generally keep more of the money spent with them, within the community than corporate chains (45% for independent vs. 15% for chains), therefore, shopping with local businesses leads to a much stronger local economy. 

 

This benefits everyone in the community as a strong local economy creates more jobs and provides funding for local initiatives like parks and recreation, services and infrastructure, health and education.

 

What You Can Do to Help...

There are several easy steps you can take to help us build up the community and support local businesses:

1. Use ShopElmira.ca as often as possible to learn what products and services are available locally
2. Follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/ShopElmira.ca
   
3. Make informed purchases and consider the total impact of your spending, not just the price you pay 
   
4. Encourage great local business owners to keep going by posting reviews on their profile pages
5. Buy our local online gift certificates instead of plastic gift cards from big box stores
6. Frequent locally-owned restaurants and shops instead of the national chains
7. Shop locally first whenever you can
   

We can always use more help spreading the word, and we greatly appreciate those who help convey the message by putting up signs and stickers or by linking to us online.

Click here to request free stickers or a badge for your website.

ShopElmira.ca is part of the ShopLocally.com Network, and is based on the successful local model developed with ShopMidland.com, serving the community of Midland, Ontario.

The network is leading the shop local movement.

We invite you to join almost 50,000 shop local fans on Facebook at www.facebook.com/shoplocally

 

The trend toward shopping “locally” is catching on, both online and offline, and we encourage you to be a part of it.  For additional reading on the subject, check out The Small-Mart Revolution, a groundbreaking book that makes a strong case for local independent business and provides a road map for restoring our local economies.

Thank you for taking the time to read about ShopElmira.ca.  We are passionate about building up Elmira and love to connect with like-minded individuals.  Feel free to use the comments below to let us know about things you're doing to spread the word about shopping locally or to make Elmira a stronger, more vibrant community.