Below please find a message from the United Way Simcoe Muskoka.
Clearview Chamber of Commerce
Good morning,
Local businesses are the backbone of our communities and we know that they are hurting at this time and while United Way Simcoe Muskoka has and will always be there for the most vulnerable residents of our communities, we knew there had to be a way for us to help our local businesses out, too.
That’s why we are launching Local Businesses, Local Love. An online program designed to highlight the incredible local businesses we have in our region, help increase revenue for them during these trying times, and ultimately support the residents of our communities.
The attached document will provide an overview and further details about the proposed program and its reach. I encourage you to share with your Clearview Chamber members and contacts.
We will invite our audience to support local businesses who join this program. In return, we ask that businesses donate 1-5% of gift card sales to United Way Simcoe Muskoka’s COVID-19 Fund. It is up to the retailer to decide what percentage of gift cards sales they wish to donate to the COVID-19 Fund. This new fund is specifically designed to help local residents affected by COVID-19 meet their basic needs.
Getting set up can be super simple – participating retailers don’t even have to have a formal gift card program or online web payment system set up. For example, my nail lady Ping, shared instructions to her clients via Facebook and set up an offline tracking system of her own and is accepting payments via e-transfers (example here). We know that the smaller businesses without the infrastructure to operate fully online are likely the hardest hit right now and so we are trying to be as flexible as possible to offer these businesses as much exposure as we can. All we need is a phone number/email address/ weblink to a social media post to share on our UWSM Local Businesses, Local Love webpage.
After a business registers, they will receive:
Graphics for them to display and a letter to let customers know that by choosing their business this month they are supporting our community
Social media recognition via UWSM’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages
Recognition on UWSM’s Local Businesses, Local Love webpage
Instructions for remitting their donation of sales
We will then introduce the company and announce their participation on our social media pages (FB, LI, TW, IG) and add their details to our website.
Well wishes to you, your members and your families at this time. Stay safe! Laara Losier
Relationship Manager llosier@uwsimcoemuskoka.ca
Pronouns: She/Her
United Way Centraide Simcoe Muskoka
1110 Highway 26, Midhurst ON L9X 1N6
t. 705.726.2301 x2042 | m. 705.309.2534 uwsimcoemuskoka.ca
United Way Simcoe Muskoka acknowledges the privilege we share to be situated on the traditional land of the Anishinaabe people.
