Unama’ki – Cape Breton Creates: Digital Storefront Program

This program aids new users in covering early startup costs and get set up as an eShop Cape Breton vendor.

In today’s world, it’s more important than ever for all businesses to take advantage of the global online marketplace. Whether you’re a retailer, a service provider, or an artisan wanting to sell your latest creation,  there is a customer base waiting for you.

Fortunately, a number of helpful tools exist to help your business tap into these revenues, and with the new Digital Storefront Program, it’s never been easier or more affordable, with help from eShop Cape Breton.

The Digital Storefront Program is administered by the Cape Breton Partnership and Destination Cape Breton.

eShop Cape Breton is an online shopping mall exclusively dedicated to Cape Breton vendors, locally owned by Sydney-based Scotia Logic, ready to help Unama’ki – Cape Breton makers, creators, and sellers to set up their own digital storefront and offer their products and services to users across the vast digital landscape. eShop Cape Breton will soon be ready to help Unama’ki – Cape Breton makers, creators, and sellers to set up their own digital storefront and offer their products and services to users across the vast digital landscape.

About the Digital Storefront Program

The Digital Storefront Program was created to help Cape Breton business owners take their business online, exploring the potential for growth through online sales.

To aid new users in covering some early startup costs and get set up as an eShop Cape Breton vendor, the Cape Breton Partnership and Destination Cape Breton are offering the Digital Storefront Program. This program will provide:

  • Your own e-Commerce store for 12 months with no “upfront fees” for signing up;
  • Personalized assistance from the experts at ScotiaLogic for customizing your online store (up to six hours of consultation time);
  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to help maximize traffic to your online store;
  • No website sales fees (vendors only pay the payment method transaction fee for the first 12 months); and
  • Access to customers interested in Unama’ki – Cape Breton products and services.

Don’t miss your chance. The Digital Storefront Program has only 34 spots available for interested businesses. Applications will be accepted until all spots are filled.

The Digital Storefront Program is administered by the Cape Breton Partnership, in partnership with Destination Cape Breton, and made possible by support from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

Please note, only businesses based in Unama’ki – Cape Breton are elligibile to participate.
Please note, chains and franchises are not elligible to participate.
Please note, to participate, your business must have available existing inventory.

  1. What is the Digital Storefront Program?

The Digital Storefront Program was created to help Cape Breton – Unama’ki business owners take their business online, exploring the potential for growth through online sales.

To aid new users in covering some early startup costs and get set up as an eShop Cape Breton vendor, the Cape Breton Partnership and Destination Cape Breton are offering the Digital Storefront Program.

  1. When is the deadline to apply?

With only 34 spots for interested businesses, the sooner you apply the better chance your business has at securing one of 34 limited spots! Applications will be accepted until all spots are filled by eligible businesses and are reviewed and processed in the order they are received.

  1. How long is the program?

If your businesses application is successful, you will receive your own e-Commerce store for 12 months with no “up-front fees”, including website sale fees.

Once the program has finished, businesses who participated can choose to remain a vendor, for a reasonably fee, on e-shop Cape Breton – the official e-Commerce marketplace for Cape Breton Island.

Please be aware that vendors will still be required to pay the payment method transaction fee per transaction as outlined by your payment method provider.

  1. What kind of businesses/entrepreneurs can participate in the program?

The Digital Storefront Program’s goal is to help local Cape Breton-based businesses bring their goods and services online. The Digital Storefront Program is open to several types of businesses, some of our current clients include those in the retail, hospitality, arts, service and experience industries.

  1. I already have an existing e-commerce website (example: Shopify, etsy etc.), can I still participate in the Digital Storefront Program?

Yes. e-shop Cape Breton can serve as your only platform for online sales, or it can work in tandem with your existing e-commerce website.

Additionally, the Digital Storefront Program and your businesses presence on www.capebreton.shop  will serve as another way to expand your market access, which in turn can produce more revenue for your business.

  1. How do I know if my business is eligible to participate in the program?

To be eligible to participate in the Digital Storefront Program, businesses must:

  • Be a business based in Cape Breton – Unama’ki;
  • Have sufficient levels of inventory to fulfil orders (Optimal Inventory Level*); and
  • Follow the guidelines set by website administrator ScotiaLogic.

If your business is selected to participate as one of the 34 businesses in the program, ScotiaLogic will work with your business directly to make sure product descriptions, graphics, customer service and delivery timelines are followed in accordance with the standards set by ScotiaLogic.

*Optimal Inventory Level: ideal quantities of products that a fufillment centre should have at any given time. By optimizing inventory levels, you reduce the risk of common inventory issues, from high storage costs to out-of-stock items. Every online store will require  a different inventory management strategy.

  1. How are vendors selected?

Once your application is received, the Cape Breton Partnership will review your application and may reach out with additional questions. Once you are selected to move forward, you will be contacted by the experts at ScotiaLogic to begin your e-commerce journey with the Cape Breton – Unama’ki Creates Digital Storefront Program.

 

  1. What support is available?

As a vendor and as part of the Cape Breton – Unama’ki Creates Digital Storefront Program, you will receive:

  • Your own e-Commerce store for 12 months with no “upfront fees” for signing up;
  • Personalized assistance from the experts at ScotiaLogic for customizing your online store (up to six hours of consultation time);
  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to help maximize traffic to your online store;
  • No website sales fees (vendors only pay the payment method transaction fee for the first 12 months); and
  • Access to customers interested in Cape Breton – Unama’ki products and services.
  1. I participated in the ShopHere program, powered by Shopify, in the past. Am I eligible to participate in the Digital Storefront Program?

The Digital Storefront Program was developed with the goal of helping as many Cape Breton – Unama’ki businesses thrive as possible. Currently, applications are only being accepted for businesses that did not have the opportunity to participate in ShopHere. There are 34 spots available for businesses who would like to participate, and applications are reviewed and processed as they are received.

There will be future opportunities for other businesses (both those who participated in ShopHere and who did not) to be part of e-shop Cape Breton.

  1. I wasn’t eligible to participate in the ShopHere Program, will I be eligible for the Digital Storefront Program?

Each business is unique. All Cape Breton-based businesses who are interested in expanding or building a digital presence for their business are encouraged to apply. Applications are reviewed and processed in the order they are received until all spots are filled.

  1. Am I able to promote my own website or other e-commerce sites from my shop on e-shop Cape Breton?

Yes, as long as you remain an active seller on the site. This means that you will continue to sell products on e-shop Cape Breton, while following ScotiaLogic’s specified vendor standards.

ScotiaLogic, the Cape Breton Partnership, and Destination Cape Breton reserve the right to remove any vendor from the site or the program should they violate the terms of use, or become inactive.

For More Information

If you have any questions about the Digital Storefront Program, please contact Bill Culp, Creative Economy Development Officer for the Cape Breton Partnership, at bill@capebretonpartnership.com.

This project is made possible by the Cape Breton Partnership’s collaboration with Cape Breton – Unama’ki’s First Nation and Municipal partners through both the Cape Breton Regional Enterprise Network and the CBRM Regional Enterprise Network.