Community Haul celebrates first year supporting local business

Founded by Symplicity Designs CEO Matt Symes in September 2020, Nova Scotia’s Community Haul has put $275,000 back into local economies

HALIFAXtoday\ Steve Gow

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A Halifax-based organization is celebrating a successful first year helping people to explore and support local businesses without having to leave their homes.

Founded by Symplicity Designs CEO Matt Symes during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nova Scotia’s Community Haul quickly caught-on as a local subscription box that allowed residents to support and boost local businesses that were struggling after pandemic measures forced them to shut down.

However, as director Keely Wallace noticed, the local boxes didn’t just contribute to a lagging regional economy, it gave people a sense of connection during a period of extreme isolation.

“We are kind of becoming a part of people’s shopping lists and from a business standpoint, we’re becoming part of their customer file and it doesn’t get much better than that,” says Wallace of the program’s success. “It’s essence is doing something that Maritimers have been doing long before the pandemic and will be doing long after, which is supporting their community — their friends and family.”

With two different subscriptions to choose from, Nova Scotia’s Community Haul has raised $30,000 for the IWK Foundation (by contributing a portion of the proceeds from subscription boxes to the IWK) and put an estimated $275,000 back into local economies since it started up in September of 2020.

Originally intended to only run for a year, the program will now extend its service, allowing Haligonians to order monthly boxes of locally-curated items from more than 80 vendors including such high-quality local businesses as Eastwood Pottery, Blomidon Nurseries and Inkwell Boutique.

“The fact that we’re going to go for year two and kind of say the need is still here and the interest is there and the support is there — that’s the best way to sum up expectations versus reality,” adds Wallace. “We were expecting support but I don’t think we expected it to this level. In true Maritime fashion, people really got on-board and not only did they become partners but they became part of a community.”

Now, as Nova Scotia’s Community Haul steps into its second year, the organization has begun to make unexpected plans to expand their popular subscription box service.

“We will try to put more things into the hands of our subscribers in terms of being a part of voting on some things that go in the box,” says Wallace, adding that they are also considering more specialized boxes such as ones geared toward pet owners. “A lot of people got COVID puppies and there are some incredible businesses across Nova Scotia that are making dog collars, dog treats, bandanas — everything that you would go to a big box store and buy — we are making here.”

As well, Nova Scotia’s Community Haul has been trying to “double down on their impact” by ensuring the recycled crinkle paper and the packaging used in the boxes is supplied from local Nova Scotia businesses.

“We’re not just thinking (about making) an impact at the IWK and an impact locally, we’re looking at the impact from a sustainable level,” adds Wallace. “So now we’re looking at our boxes — how can we upcycle those and how can we help our subscribers upcycle those after.”

To mark the organization’s successful first year, Nova Scotia’s Community Haul is also planning a celebration event on September 25, which will allow residents a chance to win a free subscription box.

“We have a treasure hunt of sorts,” teases Wallace. She says the organization has begun revealing clues on their social media platforms but anyone can participate.

“You don’t have to be a subscriber (and) you can win a box if you can correctly solve the treasure hunt and there’s a virtual option as well for people who live in the Maritimes and aren’t necessarily home to take part.”

For more information, visit Nova Scotia’s Community Haul’s website.