Have you heard of the Shop Local Showcase? It’s a showcase of great local businesses – an amazing way to find out how to shop where you live! Mark your calendar for Sept 16th – the showcase is on from 9am until 3pm. Lots of time to drop by and check it out!
This will be the second year for the Shop Local Showcase in Kingston. Anne Kotlarchuk expanded her Shop Local Showcase idea to her hometown of Kingston after having success in Kemptville.
After many years managing events and catering at Kemptville College, the sudden closure of that campus had a tremendous impact on her and her community. She decided to start her own event management business and her first thought was to promote other local businesses that make her community unique by showcasing them in a free community gathering. I’d say she’s had great success so far!
I’m sure you’ve heard of the 100 mile diet. Well this showcase has the same philosophy. Find out who provides services close by, and then be sure to support those people and keep our local economy strong.
This year the Showcase will be held at the Ambassador Hotel and Conference Centre. They will be taking over the ballroom, and even part of the parking lot!
Vendors will be showing off their wares, as well as making business connections. Visitors will even have an opportunity to shop right there, on the spot with some of the vendors. There will also be an artisanal vendor area with handmade one of a kind items. Local wine, beer and food samples are being offered as well! Shop Local Showcase is able to really connect customers to businesses.
This year’s vendors include Taylor Auto Mall, The Grocery Basket and Attention Getters. Friendly Fires will be displaying their line of BBQs, and Kingston Trolley Tours will have a Trolley on display where kids can get pictures taken with the driver, including free prints they can pick up later at Waterfront Gifts and Apparel downtown. You can check out more of the participating vendors here.
Parking and admission to the event are FREE – and there will be a Kids Zone (sponsored by Kids and Company) so be sure to bring them along.
My kids love coming to these type of shows. They collect free pens, balloons, magnets and everything else vendors are happy to share. I love them for the ability to get to know what is offered locally – and free samples don’t hurt!
The Showcase will have a grand prize draw. This year’s package is A Spectacular Land, Sea and Air Tour “Local Experience” including dinner! It features a Trolley Tour and a dinner cruise, as well as a helicopter tour of the area for 2. Thanks to Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises and Trolleys and 1000 Islands Helicopter Tours for their generous donation. You can only enter the draw by coming to the showcase and filling out a passport.
Find out more about the Shop Local Showcase:
Twitter: @shoplocalktown
Read their blog here!
*This post was sponsored by the Shop Local Showcase. A Modern Mom’s Life is proud to support local businesses. If you are interested in having me write about your event or attraction, visit my Work With Me page or Contact Me.*
~Jess
4 Comments
Hi Jessica – sounds like a great initiative. Wish I was close enough to visit, but we do hope to get to Kingston again in a year or two 😃
Hey Nic! The showcase turned out great – lots of vendors and lots of visitors. It was fun checking out all the local talent, for sure. 🙂
~Jess
This looks a great way to showcase local businesses – I’m all for promoting this kind of thing in our area. Thx for linking up to #GlobalBlogging.
The showcase went really well – and I ran into some folks we knew! Shopping local is great to promote a sense of community.
~Jess