Meridian Credit Union
610 Niagara St. N. L3C 1L8 Welland, ON, Canada

What better way to spend the weekend than sipping wine from today’s SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: @goodearthfoodandwine in Beamsville, Ontario Like many craft wineries across the country, the pandemic has affected business. The dwindling hospitality industry has negatively impacted wholesale revenue, while on-site cooking classes have been cancelled and the remote location of the winery has made curbside pickup difficult. If you’ve ever visited @goodearthfoodandwine you would k...now that their gardens, orchards and vineyards provide a spectacular backdrop for the wine and culinary experiences they offer. The name Good Earth was chosen to celebrate the notion that everything good comes from the earth. This year we encourage you to support local businesses like @goodearthfoodandwine. Whether it’s ordering their wine for dinner at home, or buying a bottle to gift, your choice to support local can make a big difference. #SupportLocal #MeridianSMB https://goodearthfoodandwine.com/

I remember one day during lockdown, I’d run out of toilet paper at my house, so I went to the salon to get some, Rhianne recalls. Driving away after, seeing the salon all closed up and empty I started crying. It was emotional, especially the not knowing. Our #MeridianSMB Member Bark Of The Town is today’s SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Rhianne Chalmers, owner of Bark of the Town in Komoka, found herself dealing with a very unexpected two-month shutdown in her first year of... business. During the shut-down she used social media to stay connected with customers and guide them as they did at-home grooming. Once restrictions were lifted, a lot of people were looking for a groomer who could fit them in. Rhianne found herself working seven days a week to make up for her two-month losses, and it ultimately paid off she’s hired her first employee, paid off her business loan, and is bringing in new clients and more income. According to Rhianne, the key is to stay positive and re-adjust your goals. Business owners across the province have been hit hard by the pandemic, but together we can #SupportLocal Follow Bark Of The Town and tag a dog owner who lives in the Kilworth-Komoka region. http://barkofthetown.ca/

I think if we all work together and just feed off each other we’re all going to make it. Today’s SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT is our #SmallBiz Member Johnny K Sports - For the Love of the Game in Hanover! Johnny K Sports has been supporting sports players since 1996. When COVID-19 forced this shop to find new ways to connect with customers, owner John was quick to adapt. Not only has the company started leveraging social media to demo new sports equipment and show the cleanl...iness of the store, they now offer deliveries as far as Owen Sound and St. Mary’s! Shopping local, especially during the pandemic, can make a BIG difference to the small businesses in your community. Join us in supporting local by following Johnny K Sports - For the Love of the Game on social media, or tagging a friend who you know can benefit from their services! https://www.johnnyksports.com/ #MeridianSMB #ShopLocal

Introducing Member Money Matters - where we talk with our community, our Members, and advisors. This series includes conversations that are essential to learning about your financial wellness, prioritizing your goals, and planning for the future. First up, Meridian Member, 21, from Ancaster, Ontario has ambitious goals for the future. At 21, she has over $16,000 saved towards a house, car, and travel plans. In this Q&A, learn about her money strategy and the expert advice offered by Meridian Financial Services Advisor, Derick Symonds. Read more: http://ow.ly/fCAp50C2Q5a

Want to save more with Price Drop? Submit receipts when you shop at Lowe's Canada, Best Buy, The Home Depot, and Canadian Tire - this is where Members have been getting the most money back. And remember, we don’t price match receipts for groceries, gas, and entertainment. Check out all retailers. http://ow.ly/heJS50C1ivW

COVID impacted my business and the entire wedding and event industry pretty drastically. At first it felt devastating, but it's been a blessing and a curse. The change in pace, when I'm used to a busy wedding season and a full calendar of events to plan, has been nice. I've been able to focus more on the business side of things and get processes in order. Our Small Business Member KJ and Co. is today’s SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT. This boutique event planning & design company... helps couples plan and enjoy the wedding day they’ve always envisions. Since 2012, KJ & Co. has planned over 50 events, and been featured on Style Me Pretty, WedLuxe, Today’s Bride, Elle Magazine, and more. Like thousands of businesses across the province, KJ & Co. was impacted by the pandemic. To survive the dormant wedding industry KJ & Co.’s founder, Krista, has shifted gears, with her main focus being coaching and consulting for wedding professionals. Help us support small business by sharing this post with a friend who could benefit from KJ & Co.’s services #SupportLocal #SmallBusinessMonth #MeridianSMB Images by Jenn Kavanagh Photography.

Today's the day! Join us today for our Virtual Seminar at 6:30 p.m. with Wealth Psychology Expert, Kathleen Burns Kingsbury to learn about how talking money can change your financial life. Sign up at the link below. http://ow.ly/vPfe50BG663

In this week’s Q&A video, Sarah Taylor, Mobile Mortgage Specialist, gives THREE very important steps to getting a mortgage. Sarah discusses contacting a professional, getting pre-approved, and completing a budget. Over to you Sarah! #mortgage #advice

We’re spicing things up with today’s SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT, Troyer's Spices Despite their best efforts, the business was not immune to the effects of COVID-19. As owner Dan recalls, overnight, tourism sales disappeared and orders from restaurants stopped. Online sales were pretty much nonexistent prior to the pandemic anyway. We were only averaging about one online sale per month. The forced closure due to the pandemic made Dan and his co-owner Amie realize they neede...d to make some changes to their business. Right away they established a new online sales platform and implemented curb-side pickup and porch deliveries. They leveraged Canada Post for long distance orders and skillfully used their social media channels as an effective communication tool to engage, inform and show appreciation for their customers. If the pandemic has brought out your inner chef, check out Troyer's Spices online and join us in supporting #SmallBusiness by following them on social media #SupportSmallBiz #MeridianSMB

TODAY ONLY: We’re tripling donations! To celebrate International Credit Union Day, we’re honouring all of our Members and employees who contribute to the credit union spirit every day. Today, when you give money to one of two great organizations helping people in need during COVID-19 - HelpAge Canada and Food4Kids Hamilton, Ontario, we’ll triple your donation! That’s a lot of money going to good causes. It’s all a part of our Donation Match Program - a perfect example of t...he community spirit embodied by credit unions like Meridian. To learn more and donate today, visit this link: http://ow.ly/uKhv50BSJSS

In honour of #NationalDessertDay, today’s SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT is dedicated to our small business Member Beechwood Doughnuts Beechwood Doughnuts is Niagara's first and only 100% vegan doughnut shop. On a regular fall day, you would find customers dining in or stopping by for a walk-in order. But the pandemic has forced this business to adopt a digital-only ordering system. To adhere to physical distancing rules, Beechwood Doughnuts created a pre-order system with specif...ic pickup time slots. Orders open on the website at 9am, the day before the desired pickup or delivery date and only a certain number of pre-orders are taken for each time slot to ensure physical distance. The company is also offering St. Catharines and Thorold delivery for $5. Though the pandemic has changed this company’s ordering process, their product remains the same delectable! Delicious seasonal flavours like Pumpkin and Salted Caramel Mocha continue to sweeten homes in Niagara. Join us in supporting Beechwood Doughnuts by following them on social media or pre-ordering their doughnuts #SupportSmallBiz #MeridianSMB

Buy a home WITHOUT a 20% down payment - get a Meridian High Ratio Mortgage! Does coming up with a 20% down payment seem like a distant dream? With a Meridian High Ratio mortgage and our great rates, home ownership is within reach. With a high ratio mortgage you can buy your dream home with a down payment as low as 5% - and with interest rates at historic lows, it’s a perfect option for first-time home buyers. Learn more: http://ow.ly/FExP50BSynS

Happy Thanksgiving! Just a friendly reminder that branches and the Contact Centre will be closed today for #Thanksgiving, but as always you can access ABMs and online banking. Enjoy!