A majority of Canadians are choosing to shop at small businesses to support their communities

CFIB launches its annual #SmallBusinessEveryDay Big Thank You Contest to encourage local shopping

Toronto, June 27, 2022 – A majority of consumers (86%) say supporting Canadian small businesses is important to them, according to a new public opinion poll conducted by Maru/Matchbox on behalf of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).

Two-thirds (66%) of respondents say they make efforts to buy from small businesses rather than ordering from large online retailers. When asked why they choose to buy from their favourite small and local Canadian businesses, the top reason is to support their community.

“People care about their community, where their products come from and the impact they have on the economy,” said Laura Jones, Executive Vice-President at CFIB. “There’s desire to support local, especially as 93% of consumers see that small businesses are really struggling right now.”

The top reasons Canadians choose to shop at their favourite small and local businesses included:

• To support their community (56%)
• To help small businesses succeed (50%)
• The friendliness and vibe from the owner/staff (46%)
• Convenience, such as proximity to home or work (40%)
• Unique items and experiences and high-quality services or products (38%)
• Good prices (29%)

The latest data on CFIB’s Small Business Recovery Dashboard shows 54% of small businesses are still making less than their normal revenues, 62% are bearing pandemic debt and 78% are still feeling pandemic-related stress.

“There’s no better time than now to take a moment to support and celebrate our favourite small businesses. There are also businesses who want to thank their customers for being a bright spot in their lives, particularly for the past two years. That’s why CFIB is bringing back its contest to connect local shops and their customers and give them a way to thank each other,” Jones said.

The #SmallBusinessEveryDay Big Thank You Contest

CFIB’s Big Thank You Contest is back for its third year and invites all Canadians to participate. The contest runs from Monday, June 27, to Sunday, July 24.

Consumers can enter the contest by writing a thank-you note to their favourite small Canadian business at SmallBusinessEveryDay.ca.

Each week, a consumer and the business they thank each win $1,000 cash to support shopping local and a Big Thank You Box that includes small business products from every province and territory. Consumers will also receive gift cards provided by Scotiabank, eBay Canada, and Dairy Queen. In addition to the cash prize and Big Thank You Box, the winning business will receive a photography lightbox provided by eBay Canada and a one-year CFIB membership.

Consumers can thank multiple businesses for more chances to win and come back to re-enter each week.

“This contest gives consumers a way to thank their favourite local business, spread some joy and possibly win money with amazing products from independent businesses across the country,” Jones concluded. “This campaign calls for all Canadians to rally behind small businesses who need our support now more than ever.”

Business owners can get free resources to promote their business and encourage their customers to enter the contest by clicking here.

For media enquiries or interviews, please contact:

Dariya Baiguzhiyeva, CFIB
647-464-2814
public.affairs@cfib.ca

Methodology:

These are some of the findings from a Maru Public Opinion poll conducted on behalf of CFIB. The survey was conducted on June 15, 2022, among a random selection of 1,516 Canadian adults who are Maru Voice Canada panelists. The results were weighted by education, age, gender, and region (and in Quebec, language) to match the population, according to Census data. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of this size has an estimated margin of error (which measures sampling variability) of +/- 2.5%, 19 times out of 20. Respondents could respond in either English or French. Discrepancies in or between totals when compared to the data tables are due to rounding.

Source for CFIB data

Preliminary results for the Your Voice – June 2022 survey, conducted from June 9-14, 2022, and based on a sample of 2,353 CFIB members. For comparison purposes, a probability sample with the same number of respondents would have a margin of error of +/-2.0 %, 19 times out of 20.

About #SmallBusinessEveryDay Big Thank You Contest

The #SmallBusinessEveryDay Big Thank You Contest, created by CFIB, encourages support for independent businesses by inviting Canadians to send thank-you messages to their favourite small businesses. Every week from June 27 – July 24, an entrant and the business they thank each win $1,000 cash and a Big Thank You Box that includes small business products from each province and territory. The contest is sponsored by Scotiabank and eBay Canada.

About CFIB

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is Canada’s largest association of small- and medium-sized businesses with 95,000 members across every industry and region. CFIB is dedicated to increasing business owners’ chances of success by driving policy change at all levels of government, providing expert advice and tools, and negotiating exclusive savings. Learn more at cfib.ca.

About MARU/Matchbox

Maru is a world leading CX and Insights Software & Advisory Services company. Maru was founded to disrupt the data and insight delivery industry with a combination of Software & Advisory Services delivering data in real-time via a unique service model. Maru helps its clients make informed decisions in near real-time by combining proprietorial software, deep industry experience and access to the best minds in research. Maru’s flexible service model means our clients can choose to self-serve our Software directly to create, launch and analyze projects; or choose to utilize our Software with knowledgeable support from insights experts. Maru successfully delivers major national and international CX and CEM programs for Enterprise organizations.