The launch of the Love Williams Lake website (www.lovewilliamslake.com) that highlights the community’s unique and independent small businesses kicks off on Sunday, June 14 from 1 to 4 p.m. in Boitanio Park.
Williams Lake has partnered with Northern Development Initiative Trust (Northern Development) to deliver a unique on-line marketing program that highlights locally-owned independent businesses with an aim to strengthen their competitiveness and keep more dollars in the local economy.
The website features a search and directory function to quickly find businesses or specific products online, plus a map that helps residents and tourists to the community locate and visit each business with ease.
The launch party is free to attend, features food, on-stage and children’s entertainment, free grab bags, and prize draws. Residents and community visitors are encouraged to attend and join the celebration.
Small Town Love is a partnership between Northern Development and entrepreneur Amy Quarry, who created and launched the original Small Town Love initiative in Quesnel. Since 2011, independent Quesnel-based businesses have been working collaboratively under the Small Town Love marketing brand and new businesses are added to the program each year, confirming that Quarry’s original concept has been well received and highly successful.
“Independent small businesses are the lifeblood of our community. I encourage everyone to join us and show their support for our incredible local businesses,” Mayor Walt Cobb said.
Quarry said it is very exciting to see the Small Town Love program growing and to see so many incredible entrepreneurs who are doing so much to keep small towns vibrant, engaging and growing.
“They are the real home-town heroes and I applaud their contributions to the economies of our communities.”
The launch of Love Williams Lake marks the 17th community to embrace the Small Town Love brand and highlight local independently-owned businesses in their community,” said Northern Development Business Development Director Renata King.
“With compelling marketing, Northern Development seeks to build a network of Small Town Love communities to encourage more local shopping and for visitors to find more reasons to stay and play in our small towns.”
Since 2013, more than 900 locally-owned independent businesses are featured on Small Town Love websites across seventeen communities throughout the region.
The websites feature professional photography and tell the story about each entrepreneur in the independent businesses ranging from bakeries and coffee shops, gift stores and salons, quilters and health food stores to unique bed and breakfast accommodations.
In addition to Love Williams Lake, the websites launched to-date include Love Quesnel, Love 100 Mile House, Love Logan Lake, Love Fort St. James, Love Vanderhoof, Love Valemount, Love Burns Lake, Love Smithers, Love Telkwa, Love Houston, Love Granisle, Love Fraser Lake, Love Haida Gwaii, Love Fort Nelson, Love Ashcroft, and Love Downtown Prince George.