These Brothers Are Doing More Than Just Brewing

Twin brothers Colton and Asa Proveau had dreamed of opening their own microbrewery since their senior year in high school. After four years, in 2014, Brothers Brewing Company was born. Some years later in 2017, with the addition of Michael Bevan to the team, they opened their brick-and-mortar location in downtown Guelph, ON. 

Brothers Brewing Company is more than just a brewery; it’s also a bar, bottle shop, and a communal hub. They offer workshops, music and entertainment, accompanied by one of their 12 taps of house-brewed craft beer. 

Like many small businesses, they put off e-commerce due to lack of time and digital experience, until they discovered the ShopHERE Powered By Google Program. Thanks to this partnership, Brothers Brewing Company can now sell their beer beyond their store’s physical location in Guelph and into the rest of the province. Their merchandise can also extend far beyond this, and go to the world at large.  

“The ShopHERE Program gave us the confidence that we would be guided through the process and helped with any issues that could arise.”

Knowing that their customer’s behaviour was already turning to online shopping, and with COVID-19 accelerating this trend, the brothers crafted a plan to switch their website to a more functional platform. In the past, their limited digital experience and budget had prevented them from making this update. Looking for ways to solve this, they relied on their eCommerce Coordinator.

Asa and Colton had a very clear idea of what they wanted and were very involved in designing the new Brothers Brewing Company website. They also trusted their Coordinator and the program to deliver their expected results without them being there every day. 

“The process was incredibly quick and easy. As perfectionists, we took our time and made many changes, but I feel like the site could have been launched in one week from beginning to end.”

As an extra challenge, the brothers wanted to develop certain sections of the site by themselves. To do this, they had the full support of the program, which offered them all the answers and guidance they needed. They also wanted to integrate a 3rd party shipping company and a drop-shipping merchandiser. The goal was ultimately achieved, and now they can offer their beer orders and merchandise all in one place.

Asa and Colton believe that for small businesses to stay competitive and survive, they must focus their time and efforts on their digital transformation. For them, this pivot meant an increase in sales, plus a lot of new areas to improve and learn, like SEO and a digital marketing strategy that will make them stand out from their competitors. 

“ShopHERE makes expert advice accessible and FREE!”

If you live in or plan to visit the Guelph area, be sure to visit the Brothers Brewing Company. Or if you can’t travel, check out their great craft beers on their new eCommerce website here. If you are a small business or know someone interested in learning more about the ShopHERE Program and how to apply, click here. To learn more about Digital Main Street and how it is helping local businesses survive the pandemic, click here.