Halifax partners with ShopHere powered by Google to help small businesses sell online

Halifax partners with ShopHere powered by Google to help small businesses sell online

Published: 06-10-2020 15:21:22 | By: Bob Koigi | hits: 4312 | Tags:

Halifax Partnership has launched the ShopHERE powered by Google program in Halifax, a Canadian initiative that helps small businesses build online stores, increase their digital presence, and minimize the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wendy Luther, President and CEO, Halifax Partnership: “Halifax businesses are eager to expand their customer base and markets through e-commerce, and the onset of COVID-19 has only amplified and accelerated this need. The ShopHERE program will address businesses’ immediate and long-term need for digital and e-commerce adoption and help them adapt and increase their competitiveness during this challenging time.”

ShopHERE is an initiative of the Digital Main Street program which helps main street businesses in Canada achieve digital transformation. The Halifax ShopHERE program will be delivered by Halifax Partnership and offered at no cost to 80 to 100 businesses. Participating businesses will be matched with a ShopHERE student Helper who will build and/or optimize their online store. In a matter of days, businesses can be selling online and receiving training and one-on-one support on digital marketing, shipping and managing inventory. Participants will also have access to free benefits and tools from partners such as Shopify, Google, Square, Microsoft, Intuit Quickbooks, and Mastercard.

Sabrina Geremia, VP and Country Manager, Google Canada: “Since Google began its business in Canada nearly twenty years ago, we’ve been focused on helping Canadian businesses of all sizes to unlock the prosperity of the internet. We remain optimistic and more determined than ever that technology is the toolkit for a world of opportunities. Our one-million-dollar investment will go towards expanding the ShopHERE program nationally, so we can help small businesses across Canada navigate the challenges ahead.”

The Government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), is supporting this project with a $100,000 non-repayable contribution from the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF).

Andy Fillmore, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities and Member of Parliament, Halifax: “Now more than ever, businesses need tools and resources to adapt to an ever-changing business environment. Programs like ShopHERE provide small- and medium-sized businesses with the training and experience needed to rapidly move online, allowing them to not only survive, but to thrive and enter new markets.”

John Kiru, Toronto Association for Business Improvement Areas (TABIA), Co-Founder, Digital Main Street: “Businesses in Halifax are well positioned to benefit from the established ShopHERE program which has been harnessed by thousands of businesses across Ontario. We are proud to expand the ShopHERE program to Halifax to help businesses adapt and evolve during this unprecedented time.”

www.halifaxpartnership.com