One-stop local shopping boost for business
HeyLocal established last month as a direct response to challenges brought on by COVID-19
WATERLOO REGION — A new ecommerce movement being piloted in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph aims to bring local businesses together on one platform, much like Amazon, without any gouging or hidden transaction fees.
“It functions and operates visually to the consumer as an ‘Amazon,’ so it is truly one-stop shopping where you come to the site, place the transaction, and everything gets shipped to you from the individual small businesses,” said Erin Martin, one of three local founders behind HeyLocal, established last month as a direct response to challenges brought on by COVID-19.
Currently available for integration via Shopify, HeyLocal is looking to create integrations within other platforms such as OpenTable, Sociavore and Squarespace to reach a broader audience of retailers.
So far, more than 50 local businesses, including growers, brewers and apparel-makers, have launched on the platform that connects with the e-commerce back-end of individual Shopify websites. Some recognizable names include Four All Ice Cream, Arabella Park, Smiling Tiger Coffee Roasters, Legacy Greens, Reids Chocolate, The Girl Floral, Willibald, and
Follow Field Kids.
People can search by category, product, service and company.
“It will visually look like a transaction for one site,” said Martin, who along with partner Justin Frenette runs a creative agency Him & Her, aimed at helping innovative small and medium-sized businesses with digital marketing needs.
Martin said the only transaction fees will be those the merchant has agreed upon with their e-commerce platform of choice. Upon checkout, customers will receive tracking codes from individual merchants.
HeyLocal won’t be charging merchants for transactions and is waiving a monthly fee of $4.99 to start. No extra work is required from small business owners beyond managing their own website, Martin said, as their products and services will automatically translate over to the HeyLocal marketplace.
“Right now, it’s about really merchant on-boarding,” she explained, adding that the local market will be used as testing grounds to expand the platform to other areas of the province and country.
“Now is the time when we’re trying to get merchants on the platform and get their products in there,” she said.
“This isn’t meant to be a money maker. This is meant to serve a bigger purpose and help others.”
HeyLocal co-founder Scott Higgins, president of HIP Developments, said one thing that’s certain in the aftermath of the COVID-19 shutdown is that people need to support local businesses more than ever as they try to survive and get back on their feet.
“It is up to us as consumers to shop with convenience, but also conscience; that means shopping locally,” Higgins stated in a news release coinciding with the launch this week.
“The people that run these businesses not only provide products, jobs and services — they provide the heartbeat of our cities, the energy in downtowns and the compassion for local charities and social causes,” Higgins noted.
HeyLocal recognizes what city a shopper is located in and searches and displays products/services from businesses within a 50-kilometre radius. The plan is to expand the platform to other local markets so online shoppers can extend their radius or buy their friend or relative something from their hometown or in another area, reducing the wait for delivery and helping small business at the same time.
Local municipal leaders, BIAs and chambers of commerce have voiced support for the initiative.
Linda Jutzi, executive director of the Downtown Kitchener BIA, says the HeyLocal option ultimately empowers consumers to shop locally.