What is ShopHERE?
The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the importance of bricks and mortar stores and artists having an online presence to sell their goods and services.
A recent survey of Toronto’s main street businesses found that over 70% could not pay their May rent. Imagine coming through this crisis and having a city devoid of main street activity and culture. That is what Toronto is facing.
The challenge for these independent small businesses and artists is that they need to be able to adapt their business model to begin selling online now and, just as importantly, need to be able to maintain the ability to sell online in post-crisis world that will involve social distancing requirements.
The goal of ShopHERE is to provide up to 3,000 of the smallest and most vulnerable of these businesses access to a quick, easy and no-cost solution for getting set up to start selling online right away.
What do the businesses get?
The program will provide Toronto’s independent small businesses with:
- Their choice of a template online store customized with their information, branding, logo, etc.
- Hands-on assistance setting up and launching their online store.
- Training and support covering digital marketing, shipping and operating their online store.
- Access to free tools and various credits to help support the launch of their online stores.
This will be accomplished through the Digital Main Street team, business and marketing students, and a network of volunteer support.
We are reaching out to the Toronto tech and corporate community to ask them to support Toronto’s independent small businesses and artists by volunteering to build one or more online Shopify stores.
If you or your team is interested in helping Toronto’s independent small businesses and artists as they look to survive and recover from this crisis, all of Toronto will appreciate your support.
