The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce is launching a free shipping service to promote shopping locally during the holiday season.
Buy something from a business belonging to the chamber and another chamber member, Maximum Express Courier and Freight, will deliver it within the capital region.
“In an effort to help people choose to shop at Greater Victoria retailers this holiday season, the chamber is putting our money where our mouth is and paying the cost of shipping,” chamber chief executive Bruce Williams said Tuesday.
“We all benefit from a strong regional economy and it’s up to each of us to do our part to help with the ongoing recovery.”
Starting immediately, the chamber will pay to deliver goods bought from a chamber retail shop and delivered by Maximum Express Courier and Freight. The locally owned delivery company helped develop the initiative within the chamber’s budget.
Other delivery services are being approached to see if they want to participate.
The past two years have been challenging for retailers, but the forecast is for Canadians to spend more this holiday season, the chamber said in a statement.
“Buying from local retailers is also a good way to restart our local recovery and conserve a little gas as you shop online at local retailers and let someone else do the delivery.”
The chamber expects the free delivery service will run until Christmas.
For more information on The Chamber’s Shop #ChamberLocalVicBC campaign, go to victoriachamber.ca.
The chamber has about 1,400 members covering a wide range of ventures — everything from automobile dealers, to electronics, to art galleries, home and garden stores, restaurants, and clothing.
cjwilson@timescolonist.com
