One of the many joys of living in Toronto is the vast array of unique restaurants, shops, and local services. We West Enders in particular really love our local small businesses! Unfortunately, the snowy season isn’t always easy for some of our favourite places to shop and dine.
Whether they’re independent boutiques, cafes and restaurants, mom and pop shops, or artisan craftspeople, it’s vital for everyone who can to support local businesses as much as possible. They are relying on all of us to help them stay alive, and luckily, supporting West End businesses can also mean having fun and spending quality time with the people we love most. Here are just a few ways you can help this winter.
Interested in finding out more about why we love our West Toronto community? Take a look at our neighbourhoods page to find out why we’re so passionate about supporting local businesses in our area.
Take a Break From Amazon
There’s no denying the convenience of ordering a product on Amazon and having it delivered the next day, or often the same day. However, finding the latest knick-knack online doesn’t help the business in your neighbourhood.
If you can, try to get out and shop in person! You have the advantage of seeing and holding a product before you buy, which reduces the chances of it going to a landfill. If you can’t quite kick the online shopping habit, you can still support our West End community.
Just check the websites of local businesses first. You’ll be surprised at how many goods you can order to your door. Even if the shop itself doesn’t deliver directly, you can use convenient apps like Instacart or Doordash. Many businesses are still offering pick-up services, allowing you to skip both the line and the checkout process while shopping locally.
Buy a Gift Card
The holidays might be over, but remember that gift cards don’t expire. Since there’s always a birthday or other celebration coming up, now might be a good time to stock up in advance. Plus, it won’t be long until next year’s holidays are here again; imagine the bragging rights if you had all or most of your shopping done already!
You can also use gift cards to curb your own spending while still ensuring you have everything you need. Are you planning a new summer wardrobe? Budget now and shop later when the neWest styles hit the stores.
Did you know that more and more people are turning to Toronto’s West End as a retirement destination? If you’re looking for a convenient and exciting place to downsize, the posts below can be your guide:
- Your A to Z Guide to Downsizing in Toronto
- Finding Peace and Quality of Life: Toronto’s West End Top Assisted Living and Retirement Homes
- Is it Better to Downsize Before Retirement?
Shop at ‘Bottle Shops’
For the last few years, the province of Ontario has allowed restaurants to offer alcoholic beverages along with food orders. It’s a good time to live in Toronto if you’re a foodie! Your entire meal, drinks and all, can be delivered right to your doorstep!
Some trendy restaurants have even opened up adjacent ‘bottle shops’ where they offer their unique selection of wines and brews. Best of all, you can browse their options right from the comfort of your own home.
Get Takeout
When you’re craving your favourite meal and don’t want to cook or brave the snow and slush to dine out, just choose from one of countless fantastic restaurants in Toronto’s West End! First, check to see if the restaurant has its own delivery or takeout service. If not, you can find almost anything you could ever want on Uber Eats and Skip the Dishes.
Whether they’re a frequent hotspot or a one-off choice, you can help support local restaurants by ordering food to-go for your next meal. If you take a chance on somewhere new, you just might find a new favourite!
Which West End neighbourhood is right for you? The posts below can help you decide:
- Best Toronto Neighbourhoods for Foodies
- Best Toronto Neighbourhoods for Entertainment Lovers
- Best Neighbourhoods In Toronto For Young Families
Post on Social Media
You don’t have to directly affect the bottom line to have a positive impact. For example, have you or someone you know ever found a restaurant, shop, or service provider that you can’t stop talking about?
Do the business and your neighbours a favour by posting your experience on social media. Raising awareness about their products and services will help keep them top-of-mind amongst your friends and followers.
Whether they’re a local boutique, artisan, or cafe, increasing traffic to their social media pages is always a helpful way to support local businesses. Even though you might not personally plan on buying something from them, promoting them to others can be just as beneficial.
Spread the Word
Social media is one way to get the word out about your favourite businesses, but it’s far from the only way. Even a casual conversation with your friends and family might turn into a satisfied new customer for a local provider.
If someone has really gone over and above with their service, why not take a moment or two and leave them a Google Review? You can help other customers find a fantastic provider as well as help the company rank higher in search engines. Any way you look at it, it’s a win-win.
Are you thinking about buying West Toronto real estate? The resources below can help you plan for a successful purchase:
- What Every Homebuyer Should Know About Toronto Townhouses
- 5 Little Known Things to Look For When Touring a Home
- A Guide To Buying Your First Home In Toronto
Create Wish Lists
Supporting West End businesses doesn’t necessarily mean overspending or buying things you don’t need. However, if you’re planning a purchase, it makes sense to make it in the community wherever possible. You can continue to help our local shops by making a wish list for your future needs.
When you know what you might want and where to find it, you’ll be less tempted to order from Amazon, and more likely to buy from a local entrepreneur. It’s the little things that count. By doing our part whenever we can, we can ensure our favourite West End establishments stick around for years to come.
Are you searching for your new home in Toronto? Our West Toronto real estate agents can help you find the perfect place for your family. Reach out to us at 416.769.3437 or email info@sidorovainwood.com with any questions.
