B.C. Consumers Value Small Business, Still Spend Elsewhere

American Express Canada’s #shopsmall campaign.

While Canadians may claim that they support and value small businesses, only a quarter of our spending happens at independent shops and services, finds a recent survey 

A sample of 2,010 Canadian shoppers were queried on spending habits and attitudes towards small businesses, as part of a survey conducted by Rogers Connect Market Research for American Express Canada as part of its #shopsmall campaign.
 
Canadian consumers are more inclined to support some independent establishments than others; while 83 per cent prefer their local pub to a chain competitor, only 54 per cent felt the same about their local coffee shop, and 25 per cent about their local hardware store
 
While fewer British Columbians feel that they owe it to their communities to support independent businesses, we tend to spend more, more often, than our counterparts in the Prairies, Quebec and Ontario.
 
Vancouver residents spend a higher proportion at independent shops than every other metro area in Canada. Sixty five per cent of Vancouverites spend at small retailers and restaurants at least once a week, compared to 33 per cent of Calgarians.
 
Four in 10 in Vancouver follow their favourite shops on Twitter or Facebook, compared to about two in 10 in Calgary.
 
The survey was commissioned as part of American Express Canada’s #shopsmall marketing campaign, aimed at supporting getting more consumers to buy from local independents.
 
American Express Canada is giving out $50 gift cards to fans that choose their favorite Toronto-based business on its Facebook page. The social media-savvy credit card provider has plans to bring the campaign to Vancouver in the near future.