TORONTO, Ont. – Toronto Mayor John Tory announced this week the launch of a new program, ShopHERE, to help local independent businesses and artists open free online stores to help decrease the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
ShopHERE will allow Toronto businesses and artists the chance to build a free online store in just a few days. Support will be provided from volunteer website developers and marketing and business students and is supported by a number of community and corporate partners.
“We are committed to doing everything we can to help our mainstreet small businesses get through this crisis,” Mayor John Tory said. “The ShopHERE program would not be possible without the generous community and corporate support of our partners. Today, I am issuing a challenge for more Toronto technology companies to get involved – as they have done countless times during this pandemic – and volunteer to build online stores for Toronto’s independent businesses and artists to help them survive and recover.”
According to the press release, the program will provide:
• 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.
Mayor John Tory said close to 50,000 Toronto businesses would be eligible for the new program. ShopHERE is available now through the end of August. Business can sign up for their free online store here: digitalmainstreet.ca/shophere.