A Holistic Approach to Business Growth: How Bronte Natural Health Clinic Expanded Its Digital Presence with CDAP
Despite the Bronte Natural Health Clinic's strong reputation and having a well-established practice, they needed to improve their website’s functionality to offer online booking and better email communication with clients. Owner, Dr. Gustin knew she needed support to navigate these digital upgrades, and the CDAP grant provided the perfect opportunity.
For over 30 years, Bronte Natural Health Clinic has been a trusted name in Oakville, Ontario, offering naturopathic care to support the health and wellness of the community. Founded in 1991 by Dr. Darlene Gustin, ND, the clinic has built a reputation for excellence in natural medicine, providing services from licensed naturopathic doctors, homeopaths, nutritionists, and other natural health practitioners. But like many small businesses, adapting to the digital world became essential, especially in a post-pandemic economy. That’s where the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) came in.
Dr. Darlene Gustin’s journey into natural health was inspired by her upbringing surrounded by herbs and healthy foods. Her passion for holistic healing led her to open Bronte Natural Health Clinic, making it Oakville’s first natural health clinic. Over the years, Dr. Gustin has not only helped thousands of patients, particularly those navigating cancer and chronic conditions, but has also been a dedicated educator, sharing her knowledge through TV shows, community lectures, and the WOW Talk Podcast.
Despite the clinic’s strong reputation and having a well-established practice, they needed to improve their website’s functionality to offer online booking and better email communication with clients. Additionally, they wanted to boost their visibility through SEO and social media marketing.
Dr. Gustin knew she needed support to navigate these digital upgrades, and the CDAP grant provided the perfect opportunity “It was easy to apply and gave me flexibility to apply the grant where I needed support the most,” she shared.
Through CDAP, Dr. Gustin was able to access funding to enhance her clinic’s digital presence. With the guidance of an E-Commerce Advisor, she used the grant to invest in key areas such as:
- Website Improvements: Adding e-commerce functionality for scheduling appointments online.
- SEO Optimization: Improving search rankings to make it easier for clients to find the clinic online.
- Social Media Advertising: Expanding outreach and engagement with the local community.
- Email Marketing Integration: Streamlining client communication and appointment reminders.
The grant gave Bronte Natural Health Clinic the resources they needed to modernize their digital approach, ultimately making their services more accessible and improving customer engagement. “Every bit helps to recover our business in the post-COVID economy,” Dr. Gustin noted.
With a more robust online presence and streamlined digital tools, Bronte Natural Health Clinic is set to reach even more clients seeking natural health solutions. Dr. Gustin remains committed to her mission of holistic healing and patient education, now with the added advantage of a strong digital foundation.
“CDAP was very supportive, providing information and resources that made the process easier,” she said. With these digital improvements in place, the clinic is better equipped to grow and serve the local community for years to come.
To learn more about Bronte Natural Health Clinic, check out their website and social media accounts on Instagram and Facebook.
If you’re looking for resources to support your digital transformation or e-commerce journey business check out the DMS Resource Hub.
Digital Main Street was created by the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA) with direct support from the City of Toronto. DMS is also supported by a group of strategic business partners, including Google, Mastercard, Shopify, Meta, Intuit QuickBooks, Square, Lightspeed, Ebay and Canada Post.
As part of the Canada Digital Adoption Program, the Government of Canada has partnered with Digital Main Street to deliver the Grow Your Business Online grant to small businesses in Ontario. The program offers eligible business owners a micro-grant of up to $2,400 to help with the costs related to implementing an e-commerce strategy and hands-on support from a network of E-commerce Advisors.
