A new campaign aims to promote all that Estevan’s businesses have to offer for both residents and visitors alike.
Robert Godfrey from the Lemon Wedge Marketing and Laurel Buck from A&A Jewellery promoted the Shop Estevan initiative to Estevan city council on Monday night. Numerous local business owners joined them in the council chambers to show their support.
Shop Estevan will aim to promote the unique local experiences and shopping opportunities available in Estevan. Godfrey noted that many local retailers have heard customers say they didn’t know they could purchase certain items in Estevan.
These local businesses also offer the personalized customer service not found in bigger centres.
“It’s so personalized and unique,” said Godfrey.
Shop Estevan is an initiative of the Downtown Business Association, of which Buck is currently the president, but it extends beyond downtown companies to the Estevan Shoppers Mall, the commercial businesses in east Estevan and more. The cost for a business to participate is $500.
“This is a new way to promote retail business in Estevan,” said Godfrey. “We’re going to have some exclusive opportunities for our Shop Estevan members to be part of strategic promotions that will be built for promoting shopping locally.”
The initiative will start with retail and food services businesses, and the committee has discussed how it can be expanded in the future to non-profit organizations, and other businesses outside of retail and food services.
Godfrey pointed out it has two goals. The first is to promote Estevan as a shopping hub to the small towns and villages surrounding the Energy City, as well as to American visitors once restrictions for non-essential travel are lifted.
“The dollar, obviously, is big in our favour right now for promoting to people that are in the United States, and those are really great visitors when we talk outside of the community, because these are people that may want to come for a longer visit, take advantage of the hotels and take advantage of the restaurants in the community,” said Godfrey.
For a lot of people outside of Estevan, they might be inclined to go to Regina to shop, but much of what you can purchase in Regina can be found here.
The other component of Shop Estevan will be within the community, so that people know what can be done locally at competitive prices and with the small-town community service.
“We have people working in the shops here that can really tailor your experience and find everything that you need just for you,” said Godfery.
A Shop Estevan website will be launched Oct. 1, and an app could be created in the future. Banners will be placed around town promoted Shop Estevan, and businesses will have decals to promote their participation. There will also be QR codes on storefront windows that people can scan.
Peter Sereggela, owner of the Tower Café, 1124 Social House and Willy’s The Tap House, added their goal is to involve the entire city, and he hopes to see promotional efforts throughout Estevan.
Godfrey said they will need some support from the city. The committee asked for $20,000, which the city approved through matching grants to help with the start-up costs. And they also asked city council for support through Tourism Estevan and the city’s economic development office.
Once they had their opportunity to speak about the initiative and ask questions, council members were quick to voice their support. Councillor Greg Hoffort said this would have been a good initiative during boom times, but now it’s even more important.
“It’s helping us help ourselves, and the business community in Estevan is legendary for the support they give to everything that goes on in this community,” said Hoffort.
Councillor Shelly Veroba recalled that when she first moved here, she worked at the Estevan Fine Foods, which was owned by the late Dennis George, and he was a big advocate of shopping locally.
“I hope that every community that’s within driving distance of Estevan buys into it,” said Veroba.
Councillor Trevor Knibbs called it one of the best ideas that he’s seen in a long time, and Councillor Travis Frank added he’s pleased to be part of it through his business.
