Today's News |
Shopify Partners with the Government of Canada for ‘Go Digital Canada’
Friday, July 17, 2020
Ottawa, ON, July 17, 2020--(T-Net)--Shopify announced today that it has launched a new program called 'Go Digital Canada' to bring thousands of small businesses online in Canada and help them adapt to a digital economy, fast.
Go Digital Canada was developed to support the digitization of businesses in Canada wherever they are in their journey, whether business-owners are new to ecommerce or looking for more tailored solutions to scale their existing business.
Go Digital Canada is a central resource hub, making it easy for Canadian entrepreneurs to get online and grow their business through support resources and tools offered by Shopify and their ecosystem of partners and experts.
Small businesses across Canada can launch their business online for free with an extended 90-day trial (for new merchants that register before October 1), and can access a suite of resources and tools to build their store including step-by-step guidance with Shopify Compass, live webinars, and 24/7 support from Shopify.
Business owners can tailor their stores to suit their individual needs, from setting up online payments, gift cards and local pickup/delivery options, to launching free email marketing campaigns (until October 1), and much more.
Also, as part of the Go Digital Canada initiative, Shopify says it is working with their partners and experts to help get Canadian small businesses online fast. For example, Digital Main Street will ensure all qualifying** independent businesses are referred to the 'ShopHERE powered by Google' program, so they don't miss out on an opportunity to have their online store built and launched on Shopify at no-cost.
----------------------------------
Editor's Note: Shopify has offices and a major recruitment hub in Vancouver, BC.
----------------------------------
"As Canadians, we are resilient - finding solutions where others just see a challenge," said Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade. "Our government is working hard to harness this entrepreneurial spirit and help Canadians turn their innovative ideas into successful businesses - and help them rebuild in the months to come. Shopify is an incredible made-in-Canada success story, and their work to help Canadian entrepreneurs go digital, as we increasingly shift online in response to COVID-19, will help create even more Canadian success stories. Now is Canada's time."
Beyond helping businesses adapt to a digital economy, building a business around a seamless omni-channel experience has never been more important for businesses. So, to set Canadians up for long-term success, Shopify says it is providing eligible merchants with a free Tap & Chip Reader*** and POS Pro (until October 31) to help retail stores as they reopen.
"Shopify proudly calls Canada home, with our values rooted in supporting the small businesses that make up the backbone of the Canadian economy," said Harley Finkelstein, Shopify Chief Operating Officer. "Our partnership with the Government of Canada to launch Go Digital Canada is the latest way we're helping to remove barriers for entrepreneurs, by giving them the tools and resources they need to digitize their business with confidence, at no cost."
To learn more about Go Digital Canada in partnership with the Government of Canada, and the free guidance, tools and resources available to future-proof Canadian businesses, visit shopify.ca/canada. Canadian organizations looking to partner with Shopify to join Go Digital Canada, and help bring more Canadian businesses online can contact go-digital-canada@shopify.com.
About Shopify
Shopify is the leading omni-channel commerce platform. Business owners can use the software to design, set up, and manage their stores across multiple sales channels, including web, mobile, social media, marketplaces, brick-and-mortar locations, and pop-up shops. The platform also provides a powerful back-office and a single view of their business. The Shopify platform was engineered for reliability and scale, making enterprise-level technology available to businesses of all sizes. Shopify currently powers over a million businesses in approximately 175 countries and is trusted by independent business owners and brands such as Unilever, Allbirds, MVMT, Kylie Cosmetics, and many more.
*https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/061.nsf/eng/h_03114.html#a01
**Independent businesses in Ontario and other select municipalities
***While supplies lasts