This Might Ruffle Some Feathers.
I don’t spend much time following the news—partly because I don’t have time, and partly because… ahhhhhhhh. There’s only so many WTFs I can fit into my morning coffee before it starts affecting my whole day. But with everything happening this past week, I’ve spent way too much time reading the news.
As I scrolled through article after article about shopping Canadian and supporting Canadian brands, I noticed people debating which big-name brands were technically Canadian—
But this time, it wasn’t about some out-of-touch billionaire errand boy or the Orange Commander-in-Cheeto. It was about Canadians.
If ever there was a time for a small business that focuses almost exclusively on Canadian brands to shine, it was now. But instead? Everyone was busy arguing over what brand of ketchup to buy.
So, all of this inspired me to do something a little out of the ordinary: promoting Greenbriar on my personal Facebook page. It’s not something I do often because, honestly, I’ve always figured that if my friends and family wanted to support us, they know where to find us. And, like most business owners learn pretty quickly, the people who’ve known you the longest are often the least likely to support your new business.
If you own a business, you probably know this feeling well. But the people who do show up? They make all the difference.
So, as my feed filled with posts about supporting local and Canadian-made goods, I shared a few gentle reminders that Mat and I have been doing just that for over four years. And the vast majority of our supporters? They aren’t lifelong friends or family. They’re people we’ve met because of Greenbriar. (Of course, some exceptions apply—you know who you are and so do we.)
You’re the ones we see week after week, showing up with their empty jars for refills, excited for the latest local find, and trusting us with your hard-earned money. You also choose our candles and oils instead of whatever you used to buy, try our skincare line (and love it), and send your friends and family our way.
And honestly? That means the world to us.
So, if you’re one of those people—thank you. You’re why we do this.
And if you’re looking to support a Canadian business that’s actually focused on Canadian goods… well, hi. I’m Shawn, and I own just such a store.
