City of Waterloo joins Digital Main Street’s ShopHERE powered by Google to support local businesses
The program offers local businesses and artists the opportunity to start selling online
To help support our local small businesses, today the City of Waterloo and the Waterloo Small Business Centre, along with neighbouring municipalities in Waterloo Region, are joining the ShopHERE powered by Google program, with a goal of getting local businesses online this year.
ShopHERE powered by Google, which started in the City of Toronto, helps independent businesses and artists build a digital presence and minimize the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In May, Google Canada announced a one million dollar investment to enable Digital Main Street to expand the program to municipalities across the country, offering more businesses and artists the opportunity to build their own online store.
“We know the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the landscape dramatically for retailers,” says City of Waterloo Mayor Dave Jaworsky. “More than ever, a competitive online presence is going to be essential for retailers—both large and small. The ShopHERE program will help local businesses engage the skills needed to take their businesses online and to meet customers on a digital platform. We are pleased to be participating in this project and for the contributions by Google to support small businesses, at a time when they can use additional support.”
Because the opportunities afforded by the digital economy are still limited if people don’t have the right skills, Google’s investment will also help more small businesses and artists receive the digital skills training needed to participate in the digital economy.
The program is now available to small businesses in Waterloo. Local businesses and artists can apply for the program at www.digitalmainstreet.ca/shophere to get their online store built at no-cost.
“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,” says Sabrina Geremia, VP and Country Manager, Google Canada. “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.”
“Main street businesses are facing unprecedented challenges. Digital Main Street and the ShopHERE program will help our uptown and local businesses continue to thrive into the future, says Justin McFadden, Director of Economic Development for the City of Waterloo. “The future of retail requires multi-channel retailing options for consumers. COVID-19 has accelerated the requirement for small retailers to expand their online presence and we look forward to helping them through the ShopHERE program”.
About Google Canada
Google's mission is to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful. As a global technology leader, Google's innovations in web search and advertising have made its website a top internet property and its brand one of the most recognized in the world. Google Canada has offices in Waterloo, Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa with over 1,500 Canadian Google employees working on teams across Engineering, AI Research, Sales and Marketing.
About Digital Main Street
Digital Main Street is a program that helps main street businesses achieve digital transformation. The program is built around an online learning platform, structured training programs, and our Digital Service Squad, a team of street-level team members who help main street businesses grow and manage their operations through technology.
Digital Main Street was created by the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA) with direct support from the City of Toronto. DMS is also supported by a group of strategic business partners, including Google, MasterCard, Microsoft and Shopify.
About ShopHERE powered by Google
The ShopHERE program offers businesses and artists the opportunity to build a digital presence and minimize the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. ShopHERE is supported by a number of community and corporate partners, including Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas, Shopify, Google, Mastercard, Microsoft, Magnet, and The Schulich School of Business - York University. Local support of the program will be provided by the City of Waterloo and Waterloo Small Business Centre.
Media Contact:
Shelly Reed
Communications Consultant
City of Waterloo
shelly.reed@waterloo.ca