OAKVILLE, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 02/08/13 --

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In an extension of its commitment to helping small businesses thrive, Yellow Pages Group (YPG) is launching a new event series called Shop Local tomorrow. This weekend shopping event is designed to draw awareness to the important role of local shopping in supporting neighbourhood businesses and creating sustainable communities.

"We have a long history of working with local businesses and understanding their various needs in attracting customers. Now, with an increasingly fragmented marketplace, there is a growing divide between small local businesses who tend to be rooted to one neighbourhood or area and consumers whose purchase points can span the globe with the rise of online shopping vehicles," said Marc P. Tellier, President and CEO of Yellow Pages Group.

"We believe in championing neighbourhood economies and the positive effects of local commerce. As a company we invest in both traditional and digital marketing solutions specifically designed with the needs of small and medium-sized businesses to reach their clients across a multitude of channels in mind. Shop Local is another important initiative we've created to help continue to bridge the gap between local merchants and consumers, highlight the essential role local businesses play in the prosperity and sustainability of our neighbourhoods, and promote an understanding of how consumer choices on what and where to buy affect our communities," continued Tellier.

The first ever Shop Local event will be hosted by the downtown area of Oakville, Ontario in partnership with the Downtown Oakville BIA (business improvement association) and the support of the Oakville Chamber of Commerce.

"Downtown Oakville is a dynamic shopping district with a lot of history. It is home to hundreds of local businesses, many of whom have been part of the landscape of this community for decades," said Nicholas Bourikas, Board Chair of the Downtown Oakville BIA and founder of Canadian Sound, a local electronic design & installation business. "We're very pleased to have been selected to host the inaugural Shop Local event, reconnect residents with local merchants and provide an opportunity to showcase our business owners and the positive impacts their presence has had on the Oakville area."

This weekend on Saturday, Feb. 9 and Sunday, Feb. 10, over 100 participating Downtown Oakville businesses will be offering deals, special offers and savings to encourage shoppers to show their support for their local merchants and draw attention to the positive impacts local shopping has on neighbourhoods.

For more information on Shop Local, videos and information on participating businesses and exclusive deals offered, visit shoplocal.yellowpages.ca or follow the @ShopLocalCanada twitter account.

Key Statistics about Small Businesses in Canada

--  Small businesses contribute more than 30 percent of Canada's GDP. 
--  As of 2011, small businesses employed approximately 5 million
    individuals in Canada, or 48 percent of the total labour force in the
    private sector. 
--  On average, approximately 100,000 new small businesses are created in
    Canada annually.

(Source: Industry Canada, Key Small Business Statistics Report, July 2012)

Key Impacts and Benefits of Local Shopping

--  Local businesses create jobs 
--  Local businesses create neighbourhood prosperity 
--  Better customer service 
--  Decision-making power stays local 
--  Local businesses keep dollars close to home 
--  Local businesses are community-oriented 
--  Local shopping reduces environmental impact due to shorter commuting
    distances

(Sources: Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Industry Canada, Oakville Chamber of Commerce)

About Yellow Pages Group

Yellow Pages Group (YPG) is a leading media and marketing solutions company in Canada. The Company serves over 300,000 local businesses through its nationwide sales force of media consultants. YPG also caters to the country's largest national agencies and advertisers through Mediative, its national digital advertising and marketing solutions division. YPG is held by Yellow Media Limited (TSX:Y), which owns and operates some of Canada's leading properties and publications including Yellow Pages(TM) directories, YellowPages.ca(TM), Canada411.ca and RedFlagDeals.com(TM). Yellow Media's network of online properties reaches over 9 million unique visitors monthly.

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