Kenora Bed 'n' Bale Plugs-in To Help Guests Un-plug
Kenora Bed 'n' Bale Inc., located in Kenora, Ontario, offers glamping cabins, a seasonal RV park, animal feed sales, and agricultural and equine programs for families. The owners, Laura and Dave turned their lifestyle into a business, offering diversified lodging and travel experiences.
Nestled in the scenic beauty of Kenora, Kenora Bed ‘n' Bale Inc., isn't just a lodging destination; it's an experience. Owners, Laura and Dave transformed their passion into a business, offering glamping cabins, RV parks, year-round animal feed sales, and a small farm with basic agricultural and equine programs for kids and families. Their unique blend of hospitality and diverse rural experiences sets them apart as a unique, must-visit destination in Northern Ontario.
“While experienced outdoors enthusiasts find our place offers an easy getaway, many of our urban visitors have never used an outhouse, touched a horse, lit a campfire or picked a berry,” their website explains. “We offer the opportunity for ‘gentle entry’ glamping (glamorous camping), where guests have a new, safe, comfortable, themed tiny cabin or a camper to sleep in, after exploring the best of woods, water, farm and nearby city attractions!”
Like many other businesses, Kenora Bed ‘n' Bale needed support transitioning online amidst the post-COVID landscape, and the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) was the perfect solution. The Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) connects small businesses such as Kenora Bed ‘n’ Bale Inc to a dedicated E-commerce Advisor who offers complimentary website development, support through social media and website audits, as well as empowering businesses through training in the E-Commerce, Digital Marketing, and Cybersecurity. CDAP also provides eligible businesses with a $2,400 microgrant to realize tools and technologies that improve a business’s e-commerce capabilities and presence.
Laura leveraged support from her E-Commerce Advisor to navigate implementing stronger cybersecurity measures and development of a digital marketing strategy to improve website sales. The CDAP's microgrant enabled Kenora Bed ‘n' Bale to improve their online booking and e-commerce store efficiently by integrating Intuit QuickBooks into their site.
Reflecting on the program’s impact on her business, Laura shared her thoughts:
“The program provided hours of useful online training for related and other digital tools, that we have been happy to learn and use, or to plan to implement soon.”
Laura encourages fellow businesses thinking of joining the Canada Digital Adoption program to:
“Embrace change and be willing to take the time to learn something new.”
With help from CDAP, Kenora Bed ‘n' Bale is positioned for sustainable growth online. With a solid e-commerce platform and enhanced digital strategies, they can reach a broader audience and share their passion for nature and embracing experiences. Laura hopes to use the experience from CDAP to transition into mostly online purchases and bookings, freeing up their time to serve in-person guests and focusing on quality service.
“We continue to streamline digital and physical operations to allow our customers and guests the best experience.”
Looking to the future, Laura expresses her enthusiasm for future opportunities to learn and grow as a business owner committed to digital strategy.
As you plan your next retreat, consider Kenora Bed ‘n' Bale and visit their website. You can also find them on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok.
To learn more about the CDAP program, please visit here.
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.
