Support local: Toronto fair rallies Canadian businesses ahead of US tariffs

The Star

A Toronto fair is rallying behind Canadian businesses, encouraging consumers to buy locally as the country braces for tariffs imposed by the US administration.  The One of a Kind Show supports local artisans, featuring over 400 artists from across the country. This year's edition comes amid a push for buying Canadian-made products.  WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline

Transcript

00:00We're a new brand, relatively new brand, and we have a few shows in the U.S., so it's really

00:28concerning to ask customers to pay extra taxes on our goods that are already premium

00:37because they're wool pieces made in Toronto.

00:40For me, everything we do is local.

00:44We're not importing, and we're homegrown business, so most of our business is from Canada, and

00:52because we're not importing any of our goods from the U.S. or other countries, it doesn't

00:56affect us overtly, but if we have American customers, that's where we'll be affected,

01:05so there are companies that have a harder situation than us.

01:12I think it's important that we come together to support local businesses, small businesses,

01:19anything Canadian, anything to keep people employed, our products.

01:24There's a lot out there that people don't know about.

01:26I think there's a lot of unknowing, and people are nervous about their jobs and their income,

01:31and I think it's important we continue those that can support local.

01:40I've always been doing it.

01:42I didn't do it just now because there's talk about tariffs and things like that.

01:45I've always done it.

01:46The not-for-sale logo is new, but as Canadians, we're always very patriotic.

01:51We love to carry the flag with us, we like to show it off, so I've always done it, but

01:54the little maple leaf not-for-sale, that one is new, but we're proud.

01:58We're Canadians, and we want to show it off.

01:59I have a lot of customers in the U.S., and my customers in the U.S., they have reached

02:03out to me.

02:04They have emailed, they have texted, they have sent messages, and they said,

02:10they said, please don't be mad at us.

02:12We still love you.

02:13We still love your brand.

02:14We still love your leathers.

02:16We still stand for you.

02:17We're still going to support you, so all my U.S. customers are very, very solid for still

02:22supporting Canadian businesses, big time.

Category

Transcript

Recommended