A prominent union leader was in Prince George on Tuesday to role out a campaign to encourage consumers to spend more of their money at locally-owned and operated businesses.
Called 10 Per Cent Shift, the campaign calls on shoppers to spend 10 per cent more of their income on such businesses for the simple reason that the money tends to deliver a bigger punch to the local economy than if it's spent in a chain store.
Expressing support for the types of businesses that aren't usually unionized is not something Barry O'Neill often does and the Canadian Union of Public Employees B.C. president was quick to acknowledge that contradiction when he spoke at a chamber of commerce luncheon.
"It's time for unions and businesspeople and community leaders to get together on things that are important to all of us and that's where we live," O'Neill said.
Ten per cent may not seem like much, but O'Neill said it can deliver a wallop once things like economic multipliers, leakage analysis, revenue streams and import substitution are taken into account.
A rough calculation based on the Vancouver Island community of Langford, population 18,000 and median income $31,000, indicates the change in shopping habits can generate a $55.6-million impact.
"That's a lot of money for Langford" O'Neill said.
Next steps include carrying out a more detailed study of four B.C. communities. Whether Prince George will be among them, O'Neill could not say, but added they'll all be about the same size as this city.
Shari Green, who owns the Fourth Avenue gift shop J.J. Springer & Company, made note of a campaign popular in the U.S. called 350, in which shoppers are encourage to choose three shops and spent a total of $50 on them.
O'Neill said he's heard of it and several other variations.
"This ends up at the end of the day being a local first program, that's what it's really all about," O'Neill said. "It's to give information to folks who don't really have a lot of time to do these things."
Once you start, it can become a habit, he added.
"It really is a treat to do it," O'Neill said. "Once you try it, it kind of grows on you."
A website for the campaign can be found at www.tenpercentshift.ca.
