Small businesses have been hit hard by COVID, and this will lead to many businesses losing their brick-and-mortar establishments. Dufferin is not excluded from this. Many businesses will turn to selling products online rather than through a brick-and-mortar storefront. Big corporations have offered to assist in these efforts by making programs available to help transition businesses to an online store. Dufferin County recently announced that they have partnered with Digital Main Street to offer one of these programs to local businesses. This initiative is called ShopHERE powered by Google, and they are providing businesses with the opportunity to get a free online store built at no charge. There is no doubt that this will help some small businesses in the short-term, but harm them long-term. Will it hurt other small businesses in the area? These are factors to consider when taking corporate hand-outs. In addition to ShopHERE powered by Google, similar assistance programs from Facebook and Shopify are discussed.
References:
- Dufferin County joins Digital Main Street’s ShopHERE powered by Google to Support Local Businesses
- Helping 50,000 Canadian small businesses get online by 2021
- Digital Main Street ShopHERE powered by Google Application
- Toronto ShopHERE initiative goes national with $1 million investment from Google Canada
- Mississauga Joins Digital Main Street’s ShopHERE Powered by Google Program to Help Small Businesses Get Online for Free
- Small Business Grants Program
- Facebook Canada launches $3.5M in grants, support for small businesses
- Google fined a record $5 billion by the EU for Android antitrust violations
- Antitrust: Commission fines Google €1.49 billion for abusive practices in online advertising
- The Rise And Fall Of Digital Initiatives For Toronto Retailers
- Google’s constant product shutdowns are damaging its brand
- Killed by Google – a list of all the products Google has ended
Related Links:
- Dufferin Speaks – Hansen Development: Discussion with Darrin Davidson
- Owner of Orangeville Newspaper Has Been Sold to Private Equity! What now?
- Dufferin News – Videojournalism For Our Community
- Press Release: Dufferin’s Spotlight Production launches Online Community News Program
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