Good things come to those who wait…but if you’re talking about an order you made online, and you’re living on the island portion of the province, you might be waiting a long time.
Playing on this frustrating reality, last year the St. John’s Board of Trade released their cheeky “Don’t Get Dieppe’d” campaign in an effort to encourage more people to shop local, thereby supporting local entrepreneurs and the local economy.
Known in Newfoundland as a “black hole” or “vortex” for packages, the Canada Post processing facility in the City of Dieppe in New Brunswick is the final point on the mainland where packages are scanned before making their way to the island – which can be a long journey. The Board of Trade’s comedic campaign called attention to the complications that can arise with online shopping, while touting the benefits of shopping at local businesses, including keeping more money in the community and providing local jobs, among others. (No frenemies were made during the creation of the campaign, as the City of Dieppe was fully onboard with helping amplify the call to shop local.)
Now, the St. John’s Board of Trade are at it again with their new Stallmark Collection – an assortment of greeting cards that helps gift givers not show up empty handed when their gift is stuck in the mail, while reminding them (in funny, NL fashion) to shop locally.
“We’re introducing the Stallmark card collection as an extension of the Don’t Get Dieppe’d campaign that we launched last year,” says AnnMarie Boudreau, CEO of the St. John’s Board of Trade.
“Don’t Get Dieppe’d has provided us with a fun, light-hearted, and effective way to talk about why we should buy from businesses here at home. Local businesses big and small are the backbone of our economy, and we encourage everyone to recognize their immense value – both to our economy and our shopping experiences.”
The cards were designed by eight local artists (Jud Haynes, Krista Power, Amy Adams, Kate Fudge, Katie Hardy, Molly Margaret, Shan Leigh Pomeroy and Seonyoung Heo) and cover a variety of special events, including the arrival of a new baby, Mother’s Day, birthdays, anniversaries and more.
Featuring fun and whimsical illustrations (including a dapper capelin, a seagull clutching a bag of storm chips, a frenzied mustard pickle, a fishing moose and more) with funny text to match, the cards are sure to help brighten the spirits of gift givers and receivers alike who might be waiting on a delayed parcel. The Board of Trade also added six holiday cards to the lineup, just in time for the gift-giving season.
“We loved working with local artists to create the Stallmark Campaign cards,” Boudreau says.
“It made perfect sense for us to shop local for the campaign creative while encouraging Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to shop local when purchasing gifts. Each artist brought their own unique flair to the designs, really making them extra special.”
Amanda Eid, Manager of Communications and Engagement with the St. John’s Board of Trade, says “Working with these artists on the campaign was so inspiring – they really brought our idea to life in the most lively, local way!”
The Stallmark Collection cards can be purchased through the St. John’s Board of Trade (click here), or you can get a shareable digital copy for free at DontGetDiepped.ca. There are also a limited quantity of cards available for free at the Hallmark store at 95 Stavanger Drive in St. John’s.
