In our latest blog, Tyler Chisholm – CEO at clearmotive marketing group and TEC member – shares information about his #WeAreCalgaryBusiness initiative.  Although originally focused in Calgary, the initiative presents an opportunity to be embraced across Canada. In his own words, Tyler talks about what inspired him and his team to kickstart this.

Tyler Chisholm: I believe it’s our community that gives us our strength.

Never has it been clearer to me the importance of a thriving independent business community. I do not want to live in a world of national chains with franchises on every corner. It is time for the business community to come together across our city and across our country to ensure we provide each other with the support we need.

Please join myself and my team at clearmotive marketing group as we take a stand to ensure our small business community is here for the long run. The #WeAreCalgaryBusiness initiative aims to inject hope by pre-booking, promoting, or financially investing in local small businesses.

Think about the businesses that mean the most to you: the local ice cream shop, your favorite coffee shop, your go-to lunch spot. After work drinks? Lunchtime yoga? If it is important to you and your team, then take action and find a way to support your favorite small business. Be creative! Pre-book a lunch for 20, set-up a happy hour when we’re all back at work or buy yoga classes for your team while they work from home. It is as simple as calling that business and letting them know you want to help. They will be super grateful. We have been met with tears of joy and words of deep gratitude. The ranges of support have started in the hundreds of dollars and have gone up from there.

Use the #WeAreCalgaryBusiness hashtag and let Calgarians know who you are helping and how they can join in on the fun.

The How-to Guide

  1. Think of a local business that you or your company loves that you want to support now or in the future.
  2. Now, get creative. Book a private happy hour. Purchase an online yoga class for your team to do from home. Set up a remote work lunch. It can be anything.
  3. Next, determine how much you want to spend. Do whatever makes sense for you and your company, every little bit helps.
  4. Reach out to your local business of choice and work together to make your idea happen.
  5. Use the #WeAreCalgaryBusiness hashtag, share how your team supports a local business on your social networks, and inspire people to join in on the fun.

Please reach out to me at tyler@clearmotive.ca if you want to show your support with the #WeAreCalgaryBusiness logo or need help putting your social assets together.

What if I don’t live in Calgary?

It’s not just the local business community in Calgary that needs support. We as Canadians are in this together. So, if you want to shine a light on your local business community, reach out to me at tyler@clearmotive.ca and I will send you a customized logo that features your city. Please join myself and my team at clearmotive marketing group as we come together for our community.

If we think like a family and truly support each other, not only will we survive – we will thrive.

As host of two podcasts, They Just Get It and Collisions YYC, Tyler brings a voice to advocates, challengers, and thought leaders to inspire lively dialogue and bold actions towards creating a better Calgary. A strong advocate for helping those less fortunate, he also established Red Express in 2010, a project that puts Christmas toys in the hands of kids in need. In 2012, Tyler was recognized as one of Avenue Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40.