Do you remember when you were a kid on that hot summers day, riding your bike to the corner store with friends with change burning a hole in your pocket, just enough to buy your favourite ice cream? Or when you were dragged along with mom to run errands (there always seemed to be so many) –  the butcher, the dry-cleaners, the fresh fruit stands. From a young age you became familiar with the local route, businesses, and the people that lived in your community.

This is something we oftentimes forget in today’s “big box” consumer-driven society, a playing field that is no longer fair for the local mom and pop shops. We’re not going to pretend the big box stores don’t offer good deals, they do. But so do those local shops that are being run by people who live here. They’re the same people working hard to maintain a true sense of neighbourhood we all remember as kids.

With this in mind, we’ve decided to do something to help the local cause and other small business owners. Dollars & Cents is now offering volume-based discounts through our Business-to-Business Program, starting at 10% and customized to each company’s needs. We’ve already partnered with several restaurants in Coquitlam and Langley providing items such as dishes, salt and pepper shakers, and napkin holders. Other common B2B item requests include seasonal store displays and decorations, gifts for staff or clients, office supplies and event collateral.

Shopping local keeps money in our economy and supports sustainable communities for our children. We challenge you to try going to your local farmers market instead of the big grocery store, or shop at the boutique down the road instead of the large clothing outlets. Get out there and see what’s unique about your community and what it has to offer.

For more information on the B2B program please email dollarsandcentsstores@gmail.com