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Best Guard Security has been hired by DUKE Heights BIA to provide mobile security patrol services to our BIA businesses. Best Guard Security will provide mobile patrol services in marked “DUKE Heights BIA” security vehicle and uniformed security services to all our BIA members, day and night 7 days/week.
The Digital Main Street Squad is a team of trained students and/or recent graduates with strong Technology and Digital Marketing skills and experiences that BIAs can access to provide to their business members
Through the Digital Main Street Squad businesses receive targeted support to get started, grow their digital presence, and grow their business.
Digital Main Street provides: One-on-one assistance through the Digital Service Squad program to provide your business with free digital transformation consulting and support. This can include but is not limited to:
– A digital assessment of your business’ digital literacy
– Access to a free online video-based digital transformation training program
– Website – review, updating, creation, best practices
– Social Media – support, best practices, advertising, and more
– Technology – support and guidance for the best options of technology tools to implement for your business
– Miscellaneous Digital Transformation Support: loyalty programs, point of sale systems, ecommerce, back-end business operations support (i.e. setting up QuickBooks etc.
Joshua Bonilla from Digital Main Street will be available to help DUKE Heights BIA members. To make an appointment, follow the instructions here:
Marketing Assistance – 30 Minutes
He can also be reached at joshua@digitalmainstreet.ca For more information on Digital Main Street, please visit their website at https://digitalmainstreet.ca/
During this time of change, many people are exploring the best option to digitally enable their business. The DUKE Heights BIA has put together a number of website and website related, resources and services to make it easier for you to understand the options available to your business and identify what may work best for your business. Please contact the DUKE Heights BIA at business@dukeheights.ca if you need help understanding and choosing between the various options, or if you would like to take advantage of the discounted customised website packages below.
In the era of social distancing, many businesses are finding It more and more difficult to both reach out to their potential clients and drive sales. Physical sales have dropped, and traditional marketing is no longer as effective as it was before the pandemic.
In 2019, the DUKE Heights BIA, launched a pilot project with mobile technology company GetintheLoop (https://getintheloop.ca/business) to test the effectiveness of this new digital marketing platform with some of the businesses in the BIA. While being fairly new, the platform already reaches many thousands of consumers and has proven effective in marketing our businesses and driving sales.
Understanding the plight of small business, the DUKE Heights BIA and GetintheLoop are now offering all businesses within the BIA, FREE access to this digital marketing platform for 90 days. Businesses can now highlight their products and services and drive sales directly to their consumers at no cost!
If you are a local business in the DUKE Heights area and would like to claim your free business listing on GetintheLoop’s mobile platform and be listed on the DUKE Heights BIA website, please contact either business@dukeheights.ca or adam.emanuel@getintheloop.ca.
Whether you are just looking to create an online presence for your business or need to explore ecommerce as a means to drive sales during this difficult period, you will need to create a website for your business.
The DUKE Heights BIA, and The Free Website Guys, a web development agency, understand how important a digital presence for any business is right now, and have worked together to offer any business in our BIA a FREE BASIC or ECOMMERCE WEBSITE!
In order to find out more or apply, click here.
“Recently, Tobias Lütke, Shopify’s CEO has announced Shopify’s support package to help businesses transition to ecommerce and cope with the influence of Covid-19. Shopify is offering a 90-day free trial for all new customers to give them more time to set up and design their ecommerce store.“
Google Ads credits for SMBs
Google has committed $340 million in Google Ads credits available to all SMBs with active accounts over the past year. Credit notifications will appear in their Google Ads accounts and can be used at any point until the end of 2020 across our advertising platforms.
All Startup’s that are G Suite customers can now use Meet premium features—like meetings for up to 250 participants and live streaming for 100k viewers.
Ritual ONE
City of Toronto is partnering with Toronto start up Ritual to provide local businesses with an easy way to accept digital orders online and onsite.
Ritual ONE provides restaurants and food services, such as grocers, butchers and bakeries with an easy way to accept digital orders from their own website and social media accounts. Onsite contactless digital ordering is also available. Customers will be able to choose between pickup and delivery.
Businesses that sign up for Ritual ONE by June 1 will receive the service free for life and will not pay any commission or monthly subscription fees on Ritual ONE orders. Businesses will be provided with a dedicated expert to help support them during the onboarding process. This offer is also available to existing restaurants in the Ritual marketplace. Standard credit card processing rates would still need to be paid. Toronto businesses can sign up for Ritual ONE at https://ritual.co/partners.
eBay Canada Launches Accelerator Program To Help Retailers Transition to Sell Online
Through, eBay Up & Running, eBay will give new businesses a free basic eBay store for three months – offering access to the marketplace’s 180+ million buyers around the world.
With the new online storefront, eBay will waive selling fees for these new businesses, and allow them to sell up to 500 items for free.
New eBay sellers will also receive the guidance and resources they need to run their business on eBay – including a suite of exclusive marketing and merchandising tools, customization features to build a brand, discounted shipping supplies and more.
Through Up & Running, eBay will provide educational webinars, individual support, and access to experienced sellers willing to mentor those who are new to eCommerce. https://pages.ebay.ca/newsmbseller/supportSMB.html
Facebook Small Business Grants Program
Facebook is offering $100M in cash grants and ad credits to help during this challenging time. Sign up for email updates when applications to see opens in Canada https://www.facebook.com/business/boost/grants
Shopify
Gift cards for all plans and customers We’re making physical and digital gift cards available on all new and existing Shopify plans.
Local pickup and delivery Flatten the curve, while getting products into the hands of your local customers. If you can drop off orders, create a local delivery option only visible to customers who live in that zone. Brick and mortar retailers using Shopify POS will have the opportunity to offer customers in-store/curbside pick up for online orders.
Free email marketing for all plans Staying connected to customers is always important, but now it’s even more so. We’re making Shopify Email available to all new and existing Shopify stores for free until October 1.
$200 million in small business funding Weather these challenging times with access to funding with Shopify Capital. Now available in the Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
Extended 90-day free trial Take the time you need to move your retail store online, or build a new online store. We’re offering a 90-day free trial for all new customers. If you’re currently on a 14-day trial, you can extend it to 90 days.
Community support – Connect with fellow business owners and get support in Shopify’ COVID-19 community forum.
Live events We’re bringing you weekly virtual programming designed to help your business through these uncertain times, and local community meetups to help you connect with other business owners and experts online
Explore the range of digital services and programs available through our partners and via the BIA to assist your business. Digital Main Street (DMS), a partnership between the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario offers a variety of programs, grants, and support through a customised and consultation driven process. In addition, the BIA has also negotiated Website and E-commerce packages and greatly discounted rates for our members.
The Digital Main Street Squad is a team of trained students and/or recent graduates with strong Technology and Digital Marketing skills and experiences that BIAs can access to provide to their business members.
Through the Digital Main Street Squad businesses receive targeted support to get started, grow their digital presence, and grow their business.
Digital Main Street provides: One-on-one assistance through the Digital Service Squad program to provide your business with free digital transformation consulting and support. This can include but is not limited to:
Joshua Bonilla from Digital Main Street will be available to help DUKE Heights BIA members. To make an appointment, follow the instructions here:
Marketing Assistance – 30 Minutes
He can also be reached at joshua@digitalmainstreet.ca
For more information on Digital Main Street, please visit their website at https://digitalmainstreet.ca/
DUKE Heights BIA between Dufferin & Keele and Steeles & Sheppard. It’s the northernmost business hub of the city of Toronto powering business growth and opportunities for the city and beyond. We promote the potential of the area, provide support to businesses in the area and inject new resources to tap into the potential of the community.
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The DUKE Heights BIA newsletter is published every month to provide useful updates on news within the BIA and beyond, unique offers, and free events.
DUKE Heights BIA between Dufferin & Keele and Steeles & Sheppard. It’s the northernmost business hub of the city of Toronto powering business growth and opportunities for the city and beyond. We promote the potential of the area, provide support to businesses in the area and inject new resources to tap into the potential of the community.