Shop in your own backyard

As we gear up for the end of a very full-on year, we’ve been enjoying working with LOCO BC on their annual BC Buy Local week campaign (by creating graphics like the one above).

We love supporting LOCO BC and it’s always a great reminder to live our values through our purchasing power. Especially now, after catastrophic floods, unprecedented fires and this world-wide pandemic, it feels even more important to support the people who work within our communities (and not pad the wallets of billionaires elsewhere). It’s a small thing we can all do to shift our impact.

Our team at Backyard Creative loves to shop local and have shared some of their favourite businesses to inspire your holiday gift giving traditions. As our team is all over Western Canada, I’ve organized their recommendations by community.

Vancouver

Lower mainland

  • Sinfully The Best – chocolate store in Steveston
  • Wild Sweets – also a chocolatier, in Richmond, bit of a theme…
  • Forever Yours Lingerie, (Langley & Burnaby) best place to get a well-fitted bra that’s both pretty and functional. Very body-positive business!
  • Sweet Spot – French patisserie in Steveston

Nanaimo

  • Strong Nations Publishing – their storefront closed during the COVID shutdown, but they still have a warehouse in town you can pick up orders you made online or have them shipped (and they have all of Laura’s books!)
  • Pumpkin pie – best kids store for backpacks, shoes and clothes
  • Kool and Child – best kids store for toys / games / puzzles
  • This ‘n that – seriously everything in this place you’ll want to bring home with you
  • Windowseat Books – great Canadian content and recommendations from the store owner
  • The Refillery – bring your refillable containers for shampoos, beauty and cleaning supply refills, also great collection of zero waste lifestyle products (and they’ve just opened)
  • Island-ish – sells mainly local goods and products from all over Vancouver Island

Nelson

  • Zinnia Textiles – beautiful ethical and high quality crafted clothing (you’ll see Keiko is also a model for them!)
  • Nelson Stitch Lab – an inspiring and tantalizing selection of fabrics, notions and sewing books – a maker’s dreamland
  • Kootenay Coop – our local member-owned natural food grocery store where I can shop with confidence knowing that their values reflect my own!

Ucluelet

Comox Valley

Edmonton

  • Ch Cafeteria – favourite spot in my ’hood, amazing coffee and chocolate straight from Mexico!
  • Woodshed Burgers – Our family just discovered the BEST burgers in town
  • Farrow – The best sandwiches in town
  • The Prints and the Paper – an awesome locally-owned gift shop with a corner dedicated to Wes Anderson’s films!
  • Jacek Chocolate Couture – my fave chocolates on earth – so beautiful and make a great gift

Alright, now no excuses! Join us and prioritize shopping local this holiday. Also, look for and share LOCO BC’s buy local week campaign starting on November 29th.