Virginia Ehrlich
Founder, Acre75
Acre75 is a one-of-a-kind Canadian family-owned company. And it’s redefining what it means to shop local while enjoying the convenience of online shopping.
Acre75 is a one-of-a-kind Canadian family-owned company. And it’s redefining what it means to shop local while enjoying the convenience of online shopping. Located in Perth County, Ontario, Acre75’s online shop and subscription box service are stocked entirely with quality products made by makers in small communities with less than 30,000 population. Scrolling through the company’s product catalogue is like taking a small-town road trip across Canada. Acre75 is celebrating its fifth anniversary, so here are five reasons you’ll want to consider Acre75 for your next shopping experience.
Convenience that makes you feel good supporting local
More than 70 percent of Canadians have purchased goods or services online. While we like the convenience of shopping online, many of us also like the idea of supporting local businesses. Unlike most online shopping sites, Acre75 gives us both. And it has opened up a national audience for many local makers.
Quality products you’ll use
Acre75 sources high-quality products, ranging from home goods to all-natural bath and body products to gourmet food items and more. Locally made products are more valuable because of the amount of time and care that has gone into the making of these products, most of which are made by hand in small batches. These are the kinds of goods you’ll want to use and tell your friends about.
Businesses in small towns are the anchor of their communities. When you buy their products they can invest in their community, by supporting other local businesses, sponsoring local sports teams, arts clubs, and other civic groups.
You can be a difference maker
Businesses in small towns are the anchor of their communities. When you buy their products they can invest in their community, by supporting other local businesses, sponsoring local sports teams, arts clubs, and other civic groups. Income is recirculated, so when you support a small-town business, you’re also supporting an entire community.
Feel good about supporting rural mental health
Acre75 founder, Virginia Ehrlich, is passionate about supporting mental health. Normalizing this conversation is especially important in small communities where there is limited access to mental health services and an increased sense of stigma around seeking mental health support. For that reason, one dollar from each Acre75 sale is donated to rural mental health awareness and initiatives. Over $4000 has been donated since January of 2020.
A subscription service you can’t wait to get
The majority of Acre75’s business is its popular and award-winning premium subscription box service, called Acre75 Gathered. A surprise of specially curated products from its stable of makers is sent to subscribers quarterly. Each box supports over six small-town Canadian businesses. There’s something special about knowing who made your product and where (even if you’ve never heard of that town before!) Included in each box is an information card describing the products and a fun fact about the communities they were made in. The boxes are delivered each season in June, September, December and March. Acre75 Gathered is a one-of-a-kind experience. You won’t find a subscription service that features only small-town Canadian makers anywhere else.
“Acre75 is proof that no matter where you come from, even if it’s in the middle of nowhere, you can be successful. I’m looking forward to continuing to grow my little local corner of the internet over the next five years and beyond,” says Ehrlich.
