Looking for Independent Grocer flyers? Look no further

Phil Leboudec and Tony Hendriks, owners of Your Independent Grocers in town, both say they are pleased to now have their flyers online.

They know they have customers who still want to see the paper flyers, and for those customers there are flyers in the store.

But they also realize many of their customers prefer to look online, and value the convenience of being able to shop with their phone open, with the notllocal.com Village Media website making it easy to see what’s on sale.

Metroland Media Group took over flyer delivery in Niagara-on-the-Lake in 2017, but that ended in September 2023 when it filed for bankruptcy, closing its print newspapers and flyer delivery. Although The Local had been delivering flyers for the two Independent Grocers in town, there were suddenly and unexpectedly no flyers to deliver.

“It’s been difficult since our flyer distribution stopped,” said Leboudec, “and overall, after that, our traffic was down. We had a lot of people looking for it and couldn’t find it. It’s not just about the deals in the flyers, in this business people need to be reminded we’re here.”

He knows he has a number of customers who consider his Virgil location their home store, “and we do the best we can to make sure people realize they don’t have to go out of town.”

And while there is “a demographic of shoppers who rely on the flyer, we know the trend is to digital.”

There are still people “who depend on the traditional way of doing things,” says Leboudec, “but it’s amazing how many seniors are online. There is a tremendous number of them who do online shopping. Some may be resistant, but what we’re offering is a choice. We have flyers in the store for those who want them.”

Another flyer solution, for both Hendriks Independent Grocers on Queen Street and Phil’s in Virgil, has been having it thrown in driveways.

“But this (online) is the easiest,” says Leboudec. “You don’t have to go out in the snow to grab it. I think this is great. It’s instantaneous. It’s easy to find, and you can pull it up on your phone when you’re shopping. I’ve had people say ‘this is just perfect. It’s easy.’”

Tony Hendriks, with his store in the Old Town, also acknowledges there are those who want a printed flyer, and will pick one up at the store, “but I’m amazed at the reach you guys have,” he told The Local. “It’s very convenient. And a lot of people like that it’s saving trees.”

Technology is readily available, he added, and it doesn’t need to be on a computer — you can so easily get it on a tablet or phone.

“The world is changing in that direction, and it’s positive for the environment. I’m happy to be part of the new scene.”

The Independent flyers can be found at www.yourindependentgrocer.ca/print-flyer?navid=flyout-L2-Flyer

Customers can also sign up to receive an email about the deals available at www.yourindependentgrocer.ca/digital-flyer-subscriptions?icta=weekly-flyer-signup-link