'It’s super exciting': GoodLocal opens brick and mortar storefront
What started out as an initiative to help support local businesses during the pandemic now has a physical presence in Winnipeg.
GoodLocal celebrated the opening of its new storefront in the Exchange District on Tuesday.
The brick and mortar shop on McDermot Avenue is a physical extension of the online initiative, aimed at helping makers and merchants connect with customers.
It was initially launched in 2020 as a website by entrepreneur Obby Khan and Dr. Ali Esmail. The two heard stories about local products spoiling and sitting during the pandemic, unable to reach customers. Therefore, they launched the site as a way to make it easy for Manitoba buyers to sell and deliver to customers.
Its new space exclusively features local goods from more than 60 Manitoba vendors, selling everything from frozen food to clothing.
“We have over 10,000 products online, and we have a few hundred, if not a thousand here,” Khan said.
The goal is to feature an ever-changing lineup of products, and give local vendors a chance to be exposed to a new customer base.
“We do hope to rotate every month, every two months, every occasion – Mother’s Day, Father’s Day - have new vendors, new products,” Khan said. “We’re actually going to open up this space for a pop-up, so we’re going to give a local vendor an opportunity to have a pop-up for free in a brick and mortar store for a period of time.”
According to Khan, GoodLocal has helped small business owners make more than a million dollars in sales since the site launched in 2020.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Breast cancer screening should start at age 40, Canadian Cancer Society says
The Canadian Cancer Society says all provinces and territories should lower the starting age for breast cancer screening to 40.
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels is on the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Canadian-Israeli man shot dead in Egypt; claim links killing to Gaza
A Canadian man 'of Jewish Israeli descent' has been shot dead in the Egyptian city of Alexandria in a suspected criminal case, a security source said, while a previously unknown militant group said it carried out the attack in reaction to the war in Gaza.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Bank of Canada says financial system is stable, but risks remain
The Bank of Canada says the Canadian financial system is stable, but risks remain due to debt servicing costs among households and businesses and stretched valuations of financial assets.
BREAKING Sheldon Keefe out as head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team made the announcement Thursday after the Original Six franchise lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.