As Black Friday approaches, the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce, BC’s fastest-growing chamber, is urging residents to consider the real economic impact of their spending choices, and to put more dollars behind our local business community.  Local businesses continue to anchor our region’s economy, and supporting them during the holiday shopping season is critical to maintaining jobs, services, and community vibrancy after a challenging year of tariffs, inflation and economic uncertainty.

Small businesses make up 98% of businesses in BC, employ more than a million British Columbians, and generate 1/3 of the province’s overall GDP. In Langley,  local retailers, restaurants, and service providers contribute to the character and vitality of neighbourhoods while offering employment close to home.

But with retail survey data showing more consumers are waiting to shop on Black Friday this year than ever, the Langley Chamber is urging them to look past the bargains and look at the real impact of supporting local.  When spending shifts away from local to massive online retailers, for example, fewer dollars remain in the local economy, resulting in fewer local jobs and less support for the community services residents rely on. And after a difficult year for the retail sector, this could put a lot of local businesses’ futures at risk.

“Money spent with a local business has a big positive effect on the community, with upwards of $63 of every $100 staying and recirculating in the BC economy, compared with only a small fraction when spent at the massive online retailers,” added Redekop.  “Not to mention that local businesses generate 2.8x more jobs per square foot, and keep far more of their own supply chain, services, and purchasing within BC.”

To help shoppers support local, the Chamber has created a directory of local businesses covering all kinds of products and services, which is easily searchable and contains key information and contact details for over 1,200 local businesses.  Shoppers can access the directory at LangleyBusinessDirectory.com

“We’re asking residents to think about the true cost of not supporting local, with goes way beyond what any Black Friday sale can offer,” Redekop said.

Watch our interview on CBC's Early Edition with Stephen Quinn: