Recently, the Cape Breton Partnership collaborated with Digital Mainstreet to bring the ShopHere Program powered by Google to Cape Breton. In total, 25 Cape Breton businesses have received hands-on assistance as well as training and tools to build, launch and manage their online store at no cost to them.
Now, the application is open again for 20 more applicants!
ShopHere offered small local businesses in Cape Breton ShopHERE the opportunity to build their digital presence by developing and launching a free online store. ShopHERE helps businesses select the most appropriate e-commerce solution to meet their goals, between the Shopify and Square Online platforms.
We have reached our capacity of 25 Cape Breton businesses. Eligible businesses were accepted into the program on a first-come-first-serve, rolling basis.
No, there is no cost to participate thanks to the generous support of Atlantic Canadian Opportunities Agency and other public and private partners.
The program includes the entire online store construction, training and marketing support. Ecommerce Coordinators can build online stores via Shopify or Square and will walk participants through each platform and help decide which is right for your business. Shopify is offering a 90-day free trial of their Basic Plan. There are various paid options following. Square offers both free and paid plans.
Interested businesses applied through an online application portal. Businesses who met the following requirements were accepted into the program on a first-come-first-serve, rolling basis:
Participants work with their ShopHERE Helpers two-to-six times. The program is expected to take between two-to-six weeks total.
Through the Tourism Seasonality and Labour Project the Cape Breton Partnership is working to connect Cape Breton tourism operators to valuable training opportunities and human resources tools to help expand the skills of their workforce, create long-term employment and continuously improve the tourism products delivered by passionate tourism professionals each day on Cape Breton Island.