Hello Reader,

Why you’re getting this: often, someone asks me what I’ve been up to, and I usually give a vague answer like “keeping busy” or “same old, same old.” But the truth is, there is always a LOT going on. And now it's time for me to step out of my comfort zone.

I’m a behind-the-scenes type of person, but as I reflect on it, the more I realize that the work that I’m doing matters to people that I know and care about.

So this email is my attempt to share more openly, with friends, family, and people I’ve crossed paths with over the years. That includes some of you already building with us through #local. If you are already a #local Community Partner, thank you!

Think of this as a casual check-in, a look at what I’ve been building, thinking about, and finding interesting lately.

Zero pressure to stick around. If this isn’t your thing, feel free to unsubscribe. I won’t be offended. Today is my birthday, though, so humour me and give this a read. :)

• I know this note might catch you at different moments: some of you are on vacation, some are celebrating, and some are grieving. Wherever this finds you, I hope you’re surrounded by good people and feel connected to the community.

What I’ve been working on lately…

• Over the years, I’ve noticed something interesting: when local businesses work together, and I mean really work together, great things happen. More people shop local. More ideas get shared. More money stays in our community. Charities thrive through fundraising efforts. We’ve been doing it for years.
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  ​The #local team has been working hard to help build something incredible. The team consists of me, Jeremy, Nico, Sarah, Derek, Alex, and Kaley. They are all amazing at what they do, and none of this would happen without them.
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  We’ve launched a #local Marketing Co-operative, and it’s quietly turned into one of the most meaningful things I’ve ever worked on. At its core, it’s about this: local businesses teaming up to market smarter, grow stronger, and support one another in a way that no one business could do alone.
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  Let me explain.
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  When you think of marketing, you think of a solo sport: posting on social, juggling email lists, trying to be everywhere while also running a business. And let’s not forget competitive. Your posts need to be better, your mailing list bigger, and any print materials need more traction.
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  And let’s face it, just reading that is exhausting.
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  But when a group of businesses pools their efforts, wonderful things happen. We’re now running shared campaigns, hosting quarterly in-person events, and feeding daily content into something we call the Community Hub, a digital heartbeat for Sarnia-Lambton that showcases what’s happening across our entire local landscape.
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  It’s not just for show. Citizens are engaging. Businesses are growing. And collaboration isn’t just a nice idea, it’s working.

Cool story, but how does that help you?

• At its core, #local’s Marketing Co-op is built to give local organizations the tools, support, and visibility they need, without having to figure it all out alone. Here’s what joining us means:

Collaborative Campaigns (aka "Collabs")

• This is one of the most powerful pieces. Throughout the year, we run campaigns that multiple businesses take part in, such as fundraisers, creative promotions, or themed events. Even if a campaign isn’t directly related to your business (like a food event or holiday gift drive), the entire co-op helps amplify it through their networks. That’s the multiplier effect in action: more visibility, more momentum, and a sense of real community alignment.

The Daily Update

• This is the heartbeat of the platform. Every day, the Community Hub publishes a snapshot of what’s happening across Sarnia-Lambton, think food specials, product drops, charity drives, events, deals, and more. It’s all in one place, and it’s always fresh. Better still, members don’t need to submit everything manually. The Community Hub pulls updates automatically from your social feeds and website, so you get visibility without extra work.

The Daily Emails

• Every citizen who engages with the Hub gets a #local member account, and with that comes a stream of emails built to connect them to local businesses and causes. It starts with the Weekender, a Thursday email that rounds up the best of what’s happening that weekend. It’s not spammy or generic; it’s targeted, timely, and tied directly to what co-op members are doing. With over 7,000 active subscribers, these emails are a powerful and growing distribution channel.

The Local Table Events

• Four times a year, we bring co-op members together in person for what we call The Local Table, an intentional gathering over food, ideas, and collaboration. Forgot traditional networking nights. These are curated, purposeful, and designed to help business owners, charity leaders, and community builders learn together, connect meaningfully, and leave with real value. We bring in speakers, host workshops, and make space for co-creating upcoming campaigns and ideas.

Bonus: Gift Cards

• This one always gets a great reaction. As a Co-op member, you can actually pay for a membership with gift cards, which we then promote and sell through the Hub at a 20% discount. It’s a win-win: the public gets a deal, and you get new customers walking through your door. These gift cards have helped turn first-time buyers into regulars, and they also make the co-op more accessible for businesses that want to join without an upfront cash expense.

There’s still a way to go, but the energy is real. We’re seeing people show up not just for themselves, but for each other. And that, to me, is what makes this special.
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If you ever want to see it in action, check out hashtaglocal.com/sarnia. Or better yet, shoot me a note. I'd love to connect you with someone from the team who can give you a tour.

Summer road trip memories…

• We recently put a few kilometers on the family minivan. Our summer vacation kicked off with our annual family reunion near Fenelon Falls, which has become a cherished tradition. After that, we made our way east to Quebec: first to Magog, where we stayed a few days with family, and then continued to explore more of the Eastern Townships and Montreal.
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  One of the highlights of the trip was getting to meet some of Laura’s incredible partners at Oneka, a company that supplies many of the products she carries at Great Lakes Refill Co. They’re based in Frelighsburg, Quebec, and they welcomed us like old friends.
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  We started by visiting their downtown retail store and offices, which are thoughtfully designed and rooted in their values of sustainability and respect for nature. After that, we walked half a block for a delicious lunch with Stéfan and Brenda from the team. We had a great conversation, great food, and an even deeper appreciation for the people behind the brand. And of course, we got to support another locally owned business with our meal.
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  Then came the part that stuck with us: we followed Stefan out to Oneka’s farm, where we were met by Philippe and Stacey, the founders. They gave us a full tour of their operation. We saw the plants that are the backbone of their brand and how they grow them. Then we learned how they harvest, distill, and transform these ingredients into the shampoos, conditioners, body washes, and other plant-based personal care products that Laura and her team sell at the store.

Their products are crafted with certified organic plant extracts grown directly on their farm, and everything is rooted in their philosophy of working in harmony with nature. You can tell they’ve built something incredibly intentional, and that care comes through in every bottle.

• After our visit, we stayed nearby in Sutton, Quebec, for the night. It was an unexpectedly charming town with great vibes and even better tacos (if you’re ever in the area, don’t skip Gato for some seriously memorable food).
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  All in all, it was one of those trips that reminded me why we do what we do. Why we choose to work with businesses like Oneka, and why it’s so meaningful to be able to introduce others to these stories through Great Lakes Refill and #local. Behind every product are people, a purpose, and in some cases, a stunning field in rural Quebec.

Bragging about my friends…

• One of the best parts of building something like #local is seeing friends, old and new, step up and become part of it. Whether they’re business owners, creative minds, or community leaders, they’re not just showing up for themselves; they’re showing up for Sarnia-Lambton. So I’m going to start using this space to brag about them. Cuz what are friends for!

First up: Brendan from In Motion: Health Wellness Fitness.

• Brendan and I go way back. Thanks to my past sports involvement (and a few injuries along the way), I’ve used his services more than a few times, and his team has always delivered. They do amazing work at In Motion, helping people recover and stay active. And now, if you’re in Petrolia, there’s good news: they’ve just opened a brand-new location there. you find yourself nursing a twisted ankle or rehabbing a nagging shoulder, you’re in excellent hands.

Next up: Paresh from Personal Touch Eatery & Catering.

• Paresh is one of my good friends and one of the most talented chefs around. While his eatery is closed for the summer, he’s far from slowing down. He’s been busy doing pop-ups, private in-home dinners, and many other events, and let’s just say, there’s something very cool on the horizon that I can’t wait for the community to see. If you get the chance to attend one of his events, don’t miss it.
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• Beyond these two, I want to give a broader shoutout to the 40+ amazing businesses currently featured on the #local Gift Card page. Right now, you can pick up gift cards from all of them at 20% off, a simple way to support local and discover new favourites.

Other #local Co-op Members include:

• Legacy, Simply OMG, Johnny G’s, Local Wyoming, Brownstones, and Imperial City Brew House (where I proudly hold a Mug Club membership).
• Longstanding community anchors like Manley’s Basics and newer businesses like Wandering Within Yoga & Wellness (run by Paresh’s wife, Colleen).
• And then there are places I shop or hang out, like The Shoe Box (just picked up a great pair), and Sticks & Stones Indoor Golf. And with summer in full swing, you could hit up Great Lakes Bicycle Shop in Point Edward.

I’ll be using this section regularly to highlight more of the businesses, charities, and humans that are part of this growing network. If you’re ever looking for a local spot to support, or just want to find out who’s doing cool stuff in the community, use the search function on the site.

A quick ask before I wrap up…

If you’ve made it this far, thank you. I’m grateful to have people in my life who care about the work we’re doing and the community we’re trying to build.

If something in this update caught your eye, here are two small but meaningful ways you could help:

• Know a local business that should be part of #local? Introduce us. We’re always looking to partner with more great people who care about the community.
• Tried the Community Hub yet? Take a scroll through hashtaglocal.com/sarnia. If you find something interesting, or if you see something missing, I’d love your feedback.

We’re building this for the long haul, and every bit of input makes it better.

Until next time…

That’s it for this email. Thanks again for reading and for being part of this extended circle of friends, supporters, and collaborators.

If something here made you smile, made you think, or reminded you of someone I should talk to, hit reply. I always love hearing from people who are quietly rooting for good things to grow.

Talk soon,
Rich