I recently watched the Netflix documentary BUY NOW, and I was deeply shocked (and shook!) by what I saw and heard. If you're the type of person who prefers to put their head in the sand when it comes to global overconsumption, I strongly advise against watching it. It hits HARD.
These economic upheavals affect all small businesses (like Flambette), which will never be able to compete with the giants of this world. The number of Quebec businesses that have had to shut down in recent years deeply saddens me (shout-out to our friends at Charlotte et Charlie), and I truly believe we all have a role to play in keeping these treasures alive.
Honestly, the craftsmanship we have here is incredible. Sure, sometimes we have to sacrifice the ultra-fast, two-hour-private-jet-to-your-door delivery, but does that really compare to the pride of supporting Thérèse, who pours all her love and passion into crafting her beautifully unique ceramic mugs? Doesn’t coffee taste better in one of those cups?
It’s no coincidence that, in 2018, I helped create an artisan cooperative in my hometown. I genuinely believe in all of this.
Right now, social media is flooded with posts from small businesses fighting against algorithms just to let people know that their products are made here. With their own sweat and hard work.
Several initiatives are currently being put in place to promote local shopping, and I wanted to introduce you to two of them.
Les Produits du Québec
Les Produits du Québec is a non-profit organization (NPO) that promotes and highlights products that are made, grown, or processed in Quebec. Its goal is to support the local economy by showcasing the expertise of Quebec businesses and making it easier to identify authentically Quebec-made products.
To help consumers recognize local products more easily, three certification labels have been established to make it easier to spot goods that are produced, manufactured, or designed in Quebec.
So, if you see one of these logos on a store shelf, that’s a good sign!
At Flambette, we have already obtained the Fabriqué au Québec certification for several of our products. It is a true source of pride for us to offer local products, carefully crafted in our small workshop.
I also invite you to follow Les Produits du Québec on social media to keep up with the evolution of this initiative—we’ll definitely be hearing more about it!
Shop Moi Ça Manifesto
Another initiative has just been launched by one of our partners: Shop Moi Ça, a gift box company that exclusively features Quebec-made products. With over $650,000 invested annually in local artisans and businesses, the company actively supports hundreds of small and medium-sized Quebec businesses—and we’re proud to be part of it.
That’s why we immediately agreed to become one of the “Committed Partners for Local” in the Shop Moi Ça Manifesto.
If you want to make even a small difference for local businesses, take the time to explore local options when shopping. There are many simple actions you can take. Here are a few:
10 Small Actions That Make a Big Difference (And Cost Little to Nothing!)
- Comment on and share posts from your favorite local businesses.
- Leave them a positive review on Google or their product pages.
- Subscribe to the newsletters of your favorite local brands.
- Tell your friends and family about your favorite local products.
- Choose in-store pickup instead of delivery whenever possible (shipping is expensive for small businesses!).
- Take a few extra minutes to find a local alternative to Amazon.
- Always give local products as gifts.
- Make community-focused choices: be a tourist in your own city, visit farmers’ markets, attend local events...
- Have some spare time? Offer to volunteer and help a local business.
- Pick 2-3 local brands to stay loyal to.
Pssst… If you didn’t know, we also offer other locally made products on our online store—here are a few of them:
