About Us
Did You Know?
The Orillia area is home to more than 1,580 businesses, most of which are locally-owned and operated 'independent' businesses?Neither did we when we first started ShopOrillia.com back in May of 2001. At the time, we guessed that there might be 400 businesses in the area. Wow, were we ever wrong.
Not only did we not know how many businesses there were, we had no idea just how many products and services were available locally that we had been driving to other communities to purchase.
It turned out that pretty much anything we needed could be found in our own backyard with some 'digging', but it required more effort than most people were willing to spend to find out what was available.
At the same time, big box stores and online mega stores with more marketing power were capturing customers' purchases and drawing them in and away from the downtown core and local independent businesses.
How It Works
To reverse this trend, we built a local online marketplace and directory that features local businesses and the products and services they offer. The site is accessible from both computers and smart phones via a mobile version.
ShopOrillia.com's community marketplace enables consumers to buy online for in-store pick-up or delivery, read and write business reviews, purchase online gift certificates, view restaurant menus, find out when businesses are open and how the can be paid, as well as contact business owners via email.
As you can imagine, all of these features offer both businesses and consumers tons of value, but the real power of ShopOrillia.com is the offline community marketing campaign that involves hundreds of businesses displaying signs and stickers that remind locals to shop locally at ShopOrillia.com.
By coming together under a common message that also drives people to a web destination where they can take action, ShopOrillia.com harnesses the collective power of the local business community to give independents a voice that's even louder than the big corporate brands that dot the landscape.
Because local independent businesses generally keep more of the money spent with them within the community than corporate chains (45% for independent vs. 15% for chains), shopping with local businesses leads to a stronger local economy.
This benefits everyone in the community as strong local economies provide greater access to opportunities and also more funding for local initiatives like parks and recreation, services and infrastructure, health and education.
By informing local shoppers about the choices available to them, as well as the hidden benefits of shopping locally, ShopOrillia.com aims to influence residents to spend more of their money locally instead of sending their dollars outside of the community where it will benefit someone else's area instead of our own.
Lynn Martin Orillia, Ontario Canada 1-888-430-SHOP (7467) | tech support 705-242-2111 | sales & service Click here to Contact Us www.shoporillia.com |
Who we are:
We’re a passionate team of marketers and internet gurus who’ve built a comprehensive platform to showcase and empower local businesses online. Our manifesto: We believe that entrepreneurship and small businesses provide individuals and families with a great model to lead productive, fulfilling lives. We believe that thriving small businesses are the foundations of strong communities. We believe that more consumers would choose to support small businesses if it were easier and they understood the reasons to do so. We believe that the internet is the most powerful medium ever created and that it’s ability to facilitate commerce is unmatched. It enables consumers to learn, share, engage, remind and transact. It offers choice, information and ease of use. We believe that by leveraging the power of the internet, small businesses can effectively compete with big businesses and grow their market share. Being small is actually a good thing online, if you have the right tools. We believe that many businesses working together are stronger than each on their own, and that joining forces in a shop local campaign is the best way to reach consumers and educate them on the benefits and value of spending money with local companies. We believe that many millions of people and thousands of communities share our values and that as word spreads about what we are doing, the groundswell of support and awareness will transform into an organized, powerful, shop local movement. We believe that through this movement, we can create a meaningful, positive and lasting shift in the way we shop locally and return to an era of strong local communities and a more connected, balanced and meaningful way of life. Our value to local businesses We provide local businesses with an online shop local campaign that provides them with the tools they need to be successful online and the marketing support to drive local customers who appreciate their value into their storefronts.
How we do it:
- 1. We actively communicate the #1 message that small businesses need consumers to understand
- 2. Integrated all-in-one platform with everything you need to succeed online a Ecommerce b Email, social & content marketing c Reviews d Analytics e Coupons & promotions
- 3. One a Shop profile place to update b Facebook & Twitter c Your own website
- 4. Products that meet your needs a Professionally managed packages to save you time and ensure you don’t have to work alone b Custom website development to enhance your brand
- 5. Participation from only-local small & medium businesses
- 6. Partner model enables us to integrate with local community organizations
- 7. We offer free access to our online marketing platform to every local business that claims their profile
- (a) Because it enables us to support every local business
- (b) Because it builds goodwill in the community
- (c) Because it’s better for the consumer to have comprehensive information
- (d) Because it drives Google traffic and activity
- (e) Because it’s a risk-free way to test an online marketing campaign Our value to consumers
- Many consumers want to support local businesses, but need to understand the full value of doing so. Also, it remains more difficult than it should be to find products and services offered by local companies. ShopLocally.com provides shoppers with the information they need to make informed purchase decisions and the tools to conduct research and transactions online. Through these efforts, consumers realize the benefits of shopping locally, leading to stronger, more vibrant local economies full of thriving local businesses and a greater sense of community pride.
How we do it:
- 1 We provide consumers with a comprehensive business directory that contains all local retailers, professionals, trades people and service providers.
- 2 Our community marketplace gives shoppers a single place to find thousands of individual products and services that can be purchased online or reserved for in- store pickup.
- 3 The gift certificate section provides buyers with an easy online system with which they can buy printable gift certificates for use with local businesses.
- 4 Our coupons and deals help shoppers save money with special offers.
- 5 We enable people to create gift registries and wish lists containing items from local businesses.
- 6 Our reviews system enables passionate consumers to share their views on a business’ customer service, value and offerings.
- 7 The menus section contains a list of most local restaurant menus, all in one place for easy access.
- 8 Our social sharing tools help local shoppers spread the word about things they like on their social networks and through email.