City of Toronto launches ShopHERE to help local businesses and artists open free online stores

 

Today, Mayor John Tory announced the launch of ShopHERE, a program to help Toronto independent businesses and artists open a free online store to minimize the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

ShopHERE will provide Toronto independent businesses and artists the opportunity to develop an online store, which will be built and launched for free in just a matter of days. Hands-on support will be provided throughout the entire process from volunteer website developers and marketing and business students.

 

ShopHERE is supported by a number of community and corporate partners, including Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas, Shopify, Google, Mastercard, Microsoft, Facebook, eBay, Ritual, Trufan, eShipper, Snapchat, Magnet and Schulich School of Business.

 

The program will provide Toronto’s independent businesses and artists with:

• A template to develop an online store on Shopify, customized with their information, branding, logo, etc.

• Hands-on assistance setting up and launching their online store

• Training and support for digital marketing, shipping and operating an online store

• Access to free tools and online advertising credits to support the launch of their online store.

 

An estimated 49,501 Toronto business, 7,371 of them restaurants, bars or cafes, are eligible for the ShopHERE program. 

 

The initial program is available now through the end of August and the City's goal is to develop 3,000 online stores for Toronto independent businesses and artists.

 

To help develop the stores, volunteers from Toronto’s technology community are contributing their time. A number of companies have already agreed to participate, including Global Skills Hub, Scotiabank, General Assembly, Brain Station, Juno, FreshBooks, NEXT Canada, TechTO and TribalScale. Toronto tech companies with an interest in supporting small independent businesses and artists are encouraged to assist if they can.

 

The ShopHERE program will be delivered via the Digital Main Street platform. Toronto independent businesses and artists can sign up for their free online store at http://www.digitalmainstreet.ca/shophere.

 

The ShopHere program is a part of the Mayor's Economic Support and Recovery Task Force's short-term economic support and recovery plan for Toronto's businesses.

 

The City’s website is updated daily with the latest health advice and information about City services and social supports. Check https://www.toronto.ca/covid-19/ for answers to common questions before contacting the Toronto Public Health COVID-19 Hotline or 311.

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