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Video campaign promotes local shopping

The Summerland Chamber of Commerce has launched a video campaign to encourage local shopping.
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Chamber manager Christine Petkau shows the #discoverhome video series. The videos

The Summerland Chamber of Commerce has launched a video campaign to encourage local shopping.

The #discoverhome campaign, which began March 30, features a series of 30-second videos, showing how the community benefits from local shopping.

The videos will be shown in users’ Facebook news feeds as sponsored ads.

The chamber will also use Twitter and Instagram posts to promote the videos.

The concept began more than a year ago with a chamber video titled Our Connected Community.

Christine Petkau, executive director of the chamber, said $68 out of every $100 spent locally will circulate here, benefitting local organizations.

“There’s a trickle-down effect,” she said. “The money stays in the community.”

The videos will direct viewers to the business directory on the chamber’s website.

A total of 10 to 12 videos will be created. At present, three have been completed.

The cost, including the creation of the videos and the distribution through Facebook, is $7,800. This includes $5,000 from the municipality and $2,800 from the chamber.

ET2media is creating the videos.

While Erick Thompson of ET2media is the president of the chamber, Petkau said he was not part of the board of directors when the concept was developed or when the video contract was awarded.

Members of the chamber hope the campaign will benefit Summerland businesses.

“If the #discoverhome campaign can shift 10 per cent of residents’ discretionary buying back to Summerland that will put millions back into the local economy,” Thompson said.

The campaign will run until the end of September and is part of the chamber’s business retention activities.

While the late spring and summer months are the peak tourist season in Summerland, Petkau said the #discoverhome campaign is necessary.

“It would be a relevant campaign at any time of the year,” she said.

She added that the elements needed for this campaign are in place at present.

 



John Arendt

About the Author: John Arendt

John Arendt has worked as a journalist for more than 30 years. He has a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Journalism degree from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute.
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