Pop-up shop features Kitchener-specific merch to support local businesses

With the increasing pressures the tariffs are having on economies across the country, the City of Kitchener launched a new way for people to show their support for local businesses.

To do that, the municipality launched the Love Local Pop-up Shop featuring shirts, sweaters and stickers that it’s hoping will continue uniting people in the face of difficult times.

“I’m proud of how our community has come together to support one another in the wake of the recent tariffs and I’m thrilled to be joining my fellow Kitchener residents in celebrating our Canadian pride with distinctive designs that show our love for our community in a uniquely Kitchener way,” Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, said in a press release.

The shop is a part of the municipality’s Support Local campaign, which launched mid-March in the wake of the U.S.-imposed tariffs.

The online store debuted May 21 and features six custom-designed t-shirts, crewnecks, sweatshirts, stickers and more. All the apparel is made and manufactured in Canada, and all the items are printed by Civilian Screen Printing.

The store will be up until July 1.

“We all have a part in making Kitchener the incredible city we all know and love. From the residents who make up the fabric of our community, to the visitors we welcome with open arms, to the businesses that help our city thrive, Kitchener is a reflection of us all,” Vrbanovic said.