Support local businesses and save big

As B.C. eases into the next phase of the pandemic recovery plan and businesses begin to reopen, consumers can support their favourite local brands through a Postmedia News initiative, the Support and Buy Local Auction. Bidding opens today at noon and runs until 8 p.m. on May 26.

Customers can find a range of products and services, from new vehicles to ready-to-hang modern arts for that empty living room wall and the perfect patio furniture set to make the most of our time at home.

“Under the direction of the province’s top health care officials, people are finding ways to return to their normal routines again,” says Mark Dowell, director of integrated ad sales at Postmedia in Vancouver. “That includes planning for the future and investing in the areas of our life that have been momentarily paused because of COVID-19. The Support and Buy Local Auction is a way for us to come together during this time of crisis. The economy is still fragile, but as a community we are strongest when we lean on one another. The auction will provide benefits to both local businesses and local consumers. It is the catalyst we need and a way to inject optimism into the market.”

Bidders will have the chance to earn deep discounts on a cornucopia of goods, from food and beverage to home improvement services. Auction items include fun apparel from Escape Swimwear, high-quality mattresses from Mobler and Lunazen, beautiful vanities and mirrors from Modern Bathrooms and gift cards for California Closets, Troico, Vivio Flower Gallery, Advantage Aluminum and more. For local businesses, the auction is a chance to invest at a time when cash flow is limited. Items from existing inventory can be put up for auction. In return, Postmedia will provide the full retail value of all items sold toward future ads, regardless of the winning bids.

For more details and to make a bid, visit TheProvince. com/supportlocal.