Local Love Business Toolkit
Local is Here. Local is Uptown Saint John.
Local is more than a trend. It’s our lifestyle. Every time someone chooses to shop, dine, or experience Uptown, they’re not just making a purchase, they’re lifting the entire community and strengthening the businesses that shape our city.
This free toolkit for businesses is designed to help you amplify this local lifestyle and remind customers that choosing local is an act of support that keeps Uptown thriving.
Let’s celebrate the businesses, people, and experiences that make Uptown one of a kind by continuing to spread the message: Local is Here.
How Your Business Can Get Involved
Your voice is powerful, and when Uptown businesses come together, we create an impact that’s impossible to ignore. Whether you go big or keep it simple, every effort helps strengthen the Local Love movement. Here are ways to get involved:
✔ Use Local Love marketing materials – Posters and social media assets make it easy to show you’re part of the local movement both person & online.
✔ Display a window decal – A simple way to remind customers that they support our local community when they spend here.
✔ Share your story – Why do you love being a local business? What makes your business unique? Why do you love being here? Your journey is what makes our local community special.
✔ Encourage customers to share their Local Love – Ask them to share their stories and experiences and tag your business because nothing spreads excitement and positivity like word-of-mouth!
✔ Share the QR code to the public toolkit – The public toolkit includes graphics they can use to show off their local love.
However you choose to participate, your voice makes a difference. Let’s make some noise and remind everyone why Local is Uptown Saint John.
Local Love has officially launched!
Let’s keep the momentum going, use the graphics, share your story, and help flood our feeds with support for local.
Use what works best for you, every share, post, and display helps make Local Love a stronger community movement.
Spreading Local Love starts with visibility! This toolkit provides ready-to-use digital and physical materials to help you easily incorporate the campaign into your business, whether that’s on social media, your website, or right in your storefront.
Promotional Materials & Digital Assets for Your Business
Physical Marketing Materials
Stop by our office at 17 Canterbury to pick up yours or contact us to visit you & drop some off.
(available for our Uptown Saint John BIA businesses for free)
Digital Assets
Show your local love online with graphics and encourage customers to do the same.
Why Spending Here Matters
As a local business, you see firsthand how every loonie and toonie spent Uptown has a ripple effect, supporting jobs, reinvesting in services, and keeping our community vibrant. Small businesses, including locally owned franchises, create experiences, shape our neighbourhoods, and support one another. Your business is the heartbeat of Uptown, and helping customers understand this impact can encourage them to choose local more often.
✔ 66 cents of every dollar spent at a local business stays in our local economy, compared to just 8 cents when shopping with online giants. (Source)
✔ 97% of small independent retailers give back through sponsorships, community events, and local donations. (Source)
When customers choose local, they’re supporting:
- Wages for local workers—including your team.
- Locally sourced goods & services—helping other businesses thrive.
- Local municipal taxes that fund public spaces and services.
- Donations to community causes that matter.
You’ve already built strong connections with your customers, both in-store and online. This toolkit is here to support and enhance what you’re already doing, giving you a few extra tools as we make a big, collective splash together. Every effort, big or small, let’s make some noise and strengthen local love.
Top Takeaways
- Post & share the story behind your business. Join your fellow Uptown businesses in keeping the celebration alive—share the love, tell your story, and show your support for local.
- Free Downloads Here
- Posters & Window Clings (available for our Uptown Saint John BIA businesses for free)
Visit our office at 17 Canterbury to pick up OR request here to have them dropped off at your business
Local Love launched on March 26, 2025—let’s keep the momentum going!