SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A new program organized by the City of Yellowknife and the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce is being embraced by local businesses.

Robin Williams, second-generation owner of Roy's Audio Video in the YK Centre Mall, holds ShopYK passports in his store. Williams said he thinks the program is great for encouraging shoppers to shop local locally. - Karen K. Ho/NNSL photo

Both Melissa Savoie of Vintage & Vogue and Robin Williams of Roy's Audio Video said they were excited about the ShopYK Passport program.

"I believe in local shopping and I thought it would be great," Savoie said from the behind the counter of her second-floor store on Franklin Avenue. "Why not try it with everyone else and get a little bit of free advertising?"

Customers can collect stamps for every $20 they spend at participating retailers. After collecting 30 stamps, completed passports can be submitted for a chance at winning a shopping spree worth $3,000.

Savoie said the program was great exposure for all the participants, which included a mix of small retailers like hers, along with larger chains such as Staples and Boston Pizza. The promotional campaign which started at the end of small business week on Oct. 21, also coincides with the winter and holiday shopping season.

Savoie said the bump in her business at this time of year is mostly due to Christmas parties and events rather than purchases for gifts.

"It definitely makes a difference," she said. "A lot of people learned about my business from shopping here at Christmas."

Still, Savoie said initiatives like ShopYK which encourage local shopping can't stop people from buying online.

"I like being here to give people that option," she said. "But you can't get everything here. Sometimes it's a necessity."

A few blocks away at Roy's Audio Video, Williams expressed enthusiasm at the program coming back for the second year.

"I think it's great," he said with a grin.

Williams, who's business just won the Customer Service Award of Excellence from the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce, said the promotion coincides with the 40th anniversary of his store which occurs on Dec. 12.

"Rarely do small business people get to be a unit," he said.

While some of the other retailers participating in the program also offer the same or similar products as Roy's, Williams said the opportunity to get people to think local as opposed to simply buying online was definitely important.

"Anytime you can be part of a program like that, it's got to be good for little guys like ourselves," he said.

Williams said competing with e-commerce outlets is something his store has to think about often.

"You always have to be diligent with not only your offerings compete with online but can exceed online expectations as well," he said. "Not just the same price for the same product but also being to deliver the support along with it."

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