Peterborough County Supports Local Business Through New Lang Pioneer Village Museum Retail Initiative

Peterborough County is supporting local businesses through a retail initiative at Lang Pioneer Village Museum, allowing local artisans and makers to showcase and sell their products to thousands of visitors each year.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough County.

The Museum has expanded its gift shop offerings to feature products from businesses and artisans across Peterborough County and the Kawarthas. The initiative provides visitors with authentic, locally made items while creating a valuable marketplace for local entrepreneurs.

Lang Pioneer Village Museum — which was recently nominated once again for the Attractions Ontario Top Small Museum Award — selects local artisans who use traditional and heritage skills to create products that appeal to today’s customers. Most items featured in the gift shop are locally made, allowing visitors to discover products that reflect the region’s history, creativity, and craftsmanship. Museum guests are increasingly stopping in to browse, ask questions about the artisans and their work, and purchase products, resulting in increased visitor engagement and gift shop revenue.

Welcoming more than 23,000 visitors annually, Lang Pioneer Village Museum is one of Peterborough County’s premier tourism attractions and an award-winning cultural destination. Its strong visitor traffic provides local businesses with greater exposure and opportunities to grow their sales.

“This initiative is a wonderful example of how Peterborough County works collaboratively to support local businesses,” said Warden Bonnie Clark. “Through our Economic Development Strategy, we have committed to supporting local entrepreneurs and creating opportunities for them to succeed. By connecting local makers with one of our most visited tourism attractions, we are showcasing the incredible talent that exists throughout our communities while strengthening our local economy.”

Peterborough County’s Economic Development Strategy identifies business retention, expansion, and entrepreneurship as key priorities. The County supports these priorities through tourism marketing, destination campaigns and economic development services that connect entrepreneurs with funding opportunities, business-planning assistance, workforce resources and training programs.

“Our role is to help create opportunities for local businesses to succeed,” said Tracie Bertrand, Peterborough County general manager of tourism and communications. “Tourism and Economic Development work hand-in-hand through marketing, business development services and new opportunities for sales and exposure. Lang Pioneer Village Museum’s retail initiative demonstrates what can happen when County departments collaborate toward a common goal.”

The initiative also enhances the visitor experience by giving guests an opportunity to take home a piece of The Kawarthas while directly supporting local entrepreneurs.

“Visitors increasingly want authentic experiences and products that tell the story of a destination,” said Elizabeth King, Lang Pioneer Village Museum manager. “By featuring locally made products in our gift shop, we provide a more meaningful visitor experience while supporting the talented artisans and small businesses that contribute to the unique character of Peterborough County.”

The retail program connects tourism, culture and business development while celebrating the people and businesses that make The Kawarthas a vibrant place to live, work and visit.

This initiative is the first feature in ‘Working Together for Business Success,’ a series highlighting how Peterborough County departments, programs and assets are collaborating to support local businesses, strengthen communities and advance the County’s Economic Development Strategy.

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