Go Digital

It's Time to Go Digital

Digital Transformation Grant - eligible downtown or main street businesses can receive up to $2500 to invest in digital marketing, website upgrades, e-commerce, and more.

ShopHERE - start selling online with Shopify through Digital Main Street's ShopHERE program. You'll receive a fully functional, custom-designed Shopify website and store, and receive training on managing and marketing your new e-commerce platform. Retail, services, artists, home-based businesses and non-profits are eligible.

Promote your business locally for free on LoveKingston.ca

There are many ways to sell your products and service online. Strategies for how to get started will vary based on your industry and products. The best way to get started is to start, however that looks for your business. 

We’ve listed some resources below to help get you started, and invite you to call on us for advice as you need it. We’re here for you Kingston. Please contact our Digital Business Advisor, Chris Morris for a free virtual consultation to help you get started with website, social media, e-commerce, digital marketing, and more.

If you are looking to build an e-commerce site, there are a number of resources available:

• Shopify is offering free 90-day trials, local pickup and delivery options, the ability to sell gift cards, and 24/7 support to help you at anytime. Check out the step-by-step guide to creating a simple Shopify store where customers can buy online and pickup curbside.
• Carissa Cosgrove, the Local Community Manager for Shopify in Kingston is offering support, training and 1:1 appointments to help get you set up. Head to Shopify Kingston to learn more and sign up for events and email updates.

Digital Tools for Small Business

Some things to consider before getting started

For Existing Businesses:

• Your capacity to ship at a competitive rate, or your ability to offer local pickup or delivery.
• Will you still be doing e-commerce when regular business resumes. If so, how will your e-commerce integrate with your physical location?
• If you are an existing Shopify merchant, learn how to add curbside pickup. There is also a quick video about this service.
• Learn more about what Shopify is doing to help their merchants navigate the effects of COVID-19.
• 1dea is offering a full e-commerce design and build for $1000.
• Distantly allows locals to support your business from a distance.
• Tazwiz with a business model that supports entrepreneurs & SME’s by connecting them to local students and professionals to complete tasked-based work. After its initial fund raise, Tazwiz has further offered to set aside $500 in Tazwiz credits for a Kingston company, up to 125 companies located in Kingston. 
• SupportSME platform targets all small and medium businesses including restaurants, spas, beauty salons, barber’s shops, dental offices, physiotherapy/massage clinics, fitness centers, shops, and arts and entertainment venues that are directly or indirectly dependent on free movement of buyers arriving in‐person to physical business locations. The platform provides a “natural” community-based financing solution to help businesses meet their liquidity and operating expense requirements by channeling immediately available cash funds from buyers who are willing to support their favorite service providers now in lieu of the services delivered later. 
• The Recovery Activation Program (RAP) is an immersive, highly practical online program designed to enable your business’ digital transformation and catalyze scalable opportunities for growth through a series of seminars, workshops, and one-on-one mentorship with industry experts at no cost.

For New Businesses:

• Once you’ve picked a business name, check to see that the domain and social media handles you would like to use are available. Consider securing these as soon as possible even if you’re not going to use them right away.
• Register your business name.
• Are your prospective suppliers able to provide you with goods over the next few months?
• Are you able to deliver or ship at a competitive rate?

For help getting your business started, our small business team is here to help.