Digital Main Street
192 spadina ave M5T 2C7 Toronto, ON, Canada

Eat to your heart's content. Last Valentine's Day, Chef Leanna La was preparing special gourmet meal packages for those couples whose love language is food. Chef Leanna's fusion cooking style is influenced by her unique background - born in Vietnam to Chinese parents and raised in Canada. As Registered Holistic Nutritionist, she prepares food that is both delicious and nutritious. Awarded Best in Class as a Graduate of George Brown College Culinary School, Chef Lean...na has worked in the kitchen at the Shangri-La Hotel’s Bosk Restaurant as well as Oliver and Bonancini's Events and Catering division. Launching her own business, she now brings her customers the same high quality of ingredients and service to their home. She says, "I have been inspired to cook because I love bringing people together to connect through shared experiences. I would love to cook delicious food for you and your loved ones." Lela Cuisine is working with the #DigitalServiceSquad to develop their online presence. They're working together to build a new e-commerce enabled website, connecting with customers on social media, and taking/editing professional photos to showcase the wonderful meals Chef Leanna creates. Looking for help selling your services online? Click on the link in bio for more information on how to get started. We've got a team of enthusiastic, patient, and skilled digital marketing specialists eager to help your small business. Check out Lela Cuisine's website to see her Valentine's Day Package and book her Private Chef services for a special experience. https://www.leannala.com/ #smallbusinessowner #privatechef #cuisine #gourmet #digitalmarketing

3 Black Canadian #entrepreneurs and recent #ShopHERE grads sat down with Think with Google Canada to share tips & tricks with fellow entrepreneurs, and e-commerce strategies for growing their business online. Give it a read here https://buff.ly/3aNxXPO #inspiration #supportsmalbusinesses #bizowner #shoplocal #smallbusiness #ontario #digitaltips

Join us #TODAY at 5pm for the ShopHERE Program’s Small Business Success Stories panel event! You don’t want to miss three #smallbusiness owners sharing their unique stories of digital transformation. Register now https://buff.ly/37L21d3 ... #shophere #webinar #online #event #stories #digitaltips #ecommerce #onlinesales #wednesday #wednesdayvibes #COVID19

Join JELLY Social for Be Social on March 4th at 7:00 PM! This #event is for entrepreneurs that want to network and collaborate with #BIPOC #socialmedia professionals from all over the GTA. This event is supported by FedDev Ontario through our DMS Lab program. Here's what you can expect:... Grow your community by adding diverse digital marketing professionals to your network. Connect with our Social Media Experts in the community to receive the support you need to advance your lifestyle, business or career. Collaborate on new initiatives with 100s of diverse social media and digital marketing professionals. Tickets https://buff.ly/3skbM9V #webinar #community #partnership #ontario #onlineevent

Newcomer To Toronto Realizes Dream Of Opening Online Business Lorena Valadez Basso moved to Toronto, ON, 3 years ago in the name of an opportunity to thrive as an entrepreneur in one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. After struggling to get her sustainable baby food delivery service off the ground, Lorena’s frustrations were compounding. Luckily for her, she came across ShopHERE Powered by Google and soon found the free e-commerce and digital marketing tools of...fered through the program to be exactly what she needed to bring Amamil to life. Landing in Toronto, ON, from Mexico, and initially finding work as an early child educator, Lorena noticed a hole in the market for pre-made organic baby food. That’s when she came up with the idea for Amamil, a service that provides fresh locally made farm-to-table baby food. Beyond the admirable support of local farmers, and the environmental efforts (the baby food is even delivered using eco-friendly scooters!) Amamil saves parents an average of 6 hours a week on steaming, chopping, cleaning, and all the other hassles that come with preparing fresh food for your precious little ones! Coming up with a product that allows parents to spend more time with their babies, it was clear to Lorena that she had a winning idea on her hands. The only thing left for her to do was execute it. Read more about her story https://digitalmainstreet.ca/shophere-post/amamil/ Check out her website https://amamil.com/ #digitaltransformation #babyfood #ecofriendly

Nothing like that comfort food to soothe you during the winter, especially coming from a small family business. Located in Oakwood Village BIA, 1 Plus 1 Pizza is a Turkish-owned business that offers the amazing taste of pizza, with the benefits of trust and authenticity to care for its customers. The Digital Service Squad has assisted him in reviewing his current web presence and working on suggestions to improve the journey on his website, communicate with customers on so...cial media, and to attract local visitors through Google My Business. Check out their delicious pizzas online! http://www.1plus1pizza.ca/ #pizza #restaurant #digitalmarketing #bricksandmortar #digitaltransformation

Oriental Arts is an initiative showcasing Islamic art and Arabic calligraphy and its delivery to new generations living in the West. After arriving in Canada, brothers Abdulrhman and Abdullah Tammor started working in the automotive industry. However, there was always a deep nostalgia for their job back home: printing. They knew that they wanted to introduce Arabic calligraphy and canvas printing to the Canadian market by creating their own store. So, after saving money for... a couple years they were able to obtain the necessities: a printer, rolls of canvas, and framing lumber. With that, Oriental Arts began. We’ve always felt that these products are overpriced. We wanted to produce something well-made, while remaining reasonably priced. Abdulrhman and Abdullah aim to provide a meld of digital and handmade arts. Making all of their products by hand, and only using the best raw materials and the finest inks in order to keep their paintings as authentic as possible. Read more here https://buff.ly/3qDXSQ4 #arabic #arabiccalligraphy #calligraphy #art #smallbusiness #arabicart

Chakou Collection, a remarkable brand named after the owner Chakoutio, is dedicated to keeping African traditions alive. This Ottawa-based family enterprise is making a big impact in their community, with all of the products handcrafted by Chakoutio’s sister, Zaba in South Africa, and jewelry crafted by the women in South Africa, who receive 100% of the proceeds. After successfully selling handmade beaded and wooden jewelry, and later expanding their collection to satisfy the... demand of their customers, Chakoutio’s main goal is to build a dynamically impactful brand by celebrating African values and history. After realizing that there were no black dolls in store, Chakoutio introduced Afroprincesses black dolls. The Chakou label focuses on the African culture and tradition; allowing the younger generation to be able to have a sense of identity and learn to accept themselves. Chakoutio highlighted that those kids have a different daily life than their peers. Read more here https://buff.ly/3qc31yx Check out their website here https://buff.ly/3n3DaXs #africanjewelry #smallbusiness #africanmade #shoplocal #blackentrepreneur

Twisted Metal Prototyping is an independent manufacturing start-up that offers high-quality products which includes custom pieces, merchandise, and prototypes. Nicholas’ passion in creating and designing began when he was a little boy; he enjoyed being creative; always had a keen interest in constructing and assembling pieces. This later showed in high school as he excelled in Art classes, which made his decision to become a machinist pretty easy. Nicholas was presented the... opportunity to receive help and transition online when he received an email about the ShopHERE Powered by Google Program from a Barrie small business centre. The company began as a CNC machining consulting, a 3D designing service, and has since expanded to be much more. Nicholas wanted to give others the chance to design and personalize their own products, from hexagon signs to quality handmade products. Read more here https://buff.ly/3oYM4XR #prototyping #3dprinting #supportsmallbusiness #digitaltransformation #creative

For more than 50 years, surfers have quietly searched the coves and coastlines of the Great Lakes looking for surfable waves. It’s a niche love, especially given that waves are often best in the fall and winter when temperatures plummet and the lakes wake up, but the barrier to entry is less the cold and more the lack of access to the right gear for surfing. After Tarah Coates traded the Atlantic coast of Halifax for Lake Huron and got over the shock of paddling into freshwat...er waves, she saw an opportunity to support both the current and next generation of local surfers by opening Surfsup Eco Shop in Kincardine in 2017. The shop has surf rentals a rarity on the lakes and also offers lessons alongside all the gear for surfing, paddleboarding and skateboarding. She also has a second location in Goderich. Read more here https://buff.ly/35Yp4Q5 #kincardine #goderich #surf #surfshop #paddleboarding #smallbusiness #bricksandmortar

Jessica Tamlin Art is an artist and graphic designer from Creemore, Ontario. A daughter bred from music and sculpture, she curved her way through life loving and living art. After being encouraged by her high school art teacher to pursue an education in art, she received her Honours in Fine Arts at The University of Guelph, specializing in drawing, printmaking and sculpture. She captures moments in landscape that are often easily passed by, and invites the viewer to be drawn... into the space. Jessica often finds herself getting lost in the subject matter and loves to paint in gouache, oil and acrylics. Since becoming a mom, she has run her own business as a freelance Graphic Designer and started a business called Other Half Studio, where she makes wooden travel maps and graphic ski maps among other items. She has also been trying to build up a following online over the last few years. An e-commerce website was the final piece of the puzzle for Jessica. She wanted to open up another selling channel for her business to reach a larger audience. Being an artist, she always put her art process first, and sharing the art came second. However, the COVID-19 pandemic changed her perspective. Read more here https://buff.ly/34eCS99 Check out her website here https://buff.ly/39WUv0Q #art #digitalmarketing #smallbusiness #artbusiness #entrepreneur

Nadine Prada has recently received support from the ShopHERE Powered By Google Program to get her online art store The Prada Gallery up and running Prada, who was born in the Caribbean and is now based in Toronto, Ontario, made the life-changing decision to leave her high-profile job in advertising after experiencing an 8.8 magnitude earthquake while on a business trip in Chile. This life changing event led to the realization of what’s most important to her, and she decided t...o devote her life to making art. This involved using different paint methods, creating interactive art shows and experiences so that her audience would be able to approach a deeper state of aliveness and presence. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she faced challenges. As an artist, 90% of her business happened in-person at fairs and shows. With the inevitable cancellation of these events, Prada needed an effective way for The Prada Gallery to have a strong online presence, while still maintaining her brand. Through her site, Prada wants visitors to feel like it's an experience on its own. She states in her homepage video that while browsing the website, she wants her guests to be present in the moment as if they were on vacation. In describing her website, she states that she is an artist who works with busy people who feel like life is going by on autopilot to help them come back to the present moment via the five senses and my art. Read more here https://buff.ly/2VgDw0T #art #artgallery #digitaltransformation #digitalmarketing #shoplocal

Main street businesses have always been the heart of Thunder Bay but so often it’s the forestry, mining and manufacturing that define the city at the head of Lake Superior. A growing number of tech-savvy entrepreneurs and small businesses are starting to change that. When we look at the businesses in Thunder Bay, we’ve had a bit of a revival, says Ryan Moore at the Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission. ... This so-called revival has manifested as a vibrant mix of artisanal businesses run by both highly engaged long-time business owners and new entrepreneurs looking to carve out their own place in the main streets making up Thunder Bay. So when the Digital Main Street program rolled out across the province, the CEDC was quick to help bring it to the Waterfront District BIA, Fort William BIA, Westfort Village Business Association and the Bay & Algoma Business Association. Collectively, the partners were able to apply for $40,000 funding from the program which combines digital transformation grants and one-to-one support from the Province of Ontario and the Ontario BIA Association to help main street businesses strengthen their online capabilities. Read more here https://buff.ly/3mWIsUs #thunderbay #entrepreneurs #ontariobusiness #ontario #shoplocal

Wendy and her husband Chris are classically trained musicians from Oakville, Ontario They have worked for major arts organizations across the city. They offer piano lessons, voice lessons, and Wendy performs as an opera singer in the COC chorus. In 2012, the couple decided to simplify their lives by joining all of their self-employed work together under the name of Foley Music and Arts. Foley Music and Arts is a multifaceted company, offering piano and music theory lessons... to all age groups. Wendy acts as voice talent for descriptive video in addition to being a professional opera singer. She also sells original acrylic paintings. Wendy and Chris have always been up with the times, and utilized technology early on in their business. Wendy mentions: My husband, Chris, was a pioneer in using technology to help teach music. He would send lesson notes directly to parents and students during their lessons. He had online registration for new and returning families and he wrote a very successful classical music blog called ‘The Collaborative Piano Blog.' His wait list became so long that we hired another piano teacher, Natasha Fransblow, to accommodate all the students. I also continued painting and selling my work. We had our fingers in many different artistic pots. Read more here https://buff.ly/3laF3QH #music #musicians #art #shoplocal #smallbiz #entrepreneurs

The tourist-filled streets of Niagara’s Fallsview BIA are worlds apart from the lakeside sleepiness of the Port Dalhousie community and the European delicatessens of Facer Street in St. Catherines, and yet, these businesses are all staring down the same challenge: the endless creep forward of the digital age. There’s a spirit of camaraderie, the notion that mom and pop shops everywhere are contending with big-box retailers and e-commerce heavyweights eroding their market shar...e and rerouting foot traffic from main streets throughout the region. And rather than lamenting this changing world, St. Catherines has partnered with Fort Erie, Niagara Falls and Port Colborne to turn that challenge into an opportunity while preserving the diversity that gives their main streets life. The four communities banded together to apply for Digital Main Street, tapping into $70,000 in funding from the program which combines grants and one-to-one support from the Province of Ontario and the Ontario BIA Association to help main street businesses strengthen their online capabilities. Read more here https://buff.ly/386uMlu #niagara #fallsview #stcatherines #smallbusiness #bricksandmortar #digitaltransformation

Four years ago, Sadie Shewfelt joined the family business Sleepers Bed Gallery in downtown Kincardine full-time. She’d been raised on the selling floor amongst the beds, pillows and home décor but this would be different. Sadie recalls one of the first things her mother, Heather Shewfelt said was that she wasn't allowed to make any changes for a year."... It was an exercise in patience and humility. Sadie had just graduated from business school in Waterloo and when the elder Shewfelt floated the idea of selling the business she’d opened in 1996 (Sadie was a year old and I was pregnant with my next one, says Heather) her daughter was adamantly opposed. Her heart broke, she said ‘you can't do that actually I want to come in with you, I want to buy the store,’ says Heather. And so that kind of put a whole new twist on things. Read more here https://buff.ly/34UrDmN #beds #mattresses #kincardine #smallbusiness #shoplocal #digitaltransformation

DSS Tips for the Holiday Season Preparing For The Holiday Season With the Holiday Season around the corner, it's important that your business stays competitive online by making sure your business listings and social media is up to date, by creating holiday or gift categories in your online store and more! Now more than ever, it is vital that small businesses get online so that customers can find them. COVID has accelerated the need for having a mobile friendly websit...e. Are you a struggling small business? Check out the Digital Main Street website for articles, resources, events, and more: https://buff.ly/2Lgo7u5 #holiday #holidaybusinesstips #digitaltips #smallbusinesstips #shoplocal

A record store is not a store. Sure, you buy products there. But it’s more than that. Stepping into a record store isn’t just buying a record, it’s hunting for an idea, for a feeling it has sounds, the slap of sleeves being pored over; it has scents, fresh polymer for new pressings and reissues, decaying acids and paper for the classics. And it’s also an exchange, even when verbal exchanges between record store owners and customers are limited, a silent promise is made, a ...promise to support not just that store but an entire industry. Buying a record is more than a purchase and that makes a record store more than a store. This, of course, is well-known to Chris Charkowy, owner of Mindbomb Records in St. Catharines. Charokowy has been working in record stores for 15 years, the last five years running his own shop. Read more here https://buff.ly/3262vHP #records #music #musicstore #recordstore #smallbusiness #digitaltransformation

For over 30 years, @butchersdaughterfood has been a staple in the Muskoka region. What started originally as a butcher shop, has blossomed into your one-stop-shop for quality meats, specialty groceries, and a variety of homemade oven ready meals and soups. The realm of services The Butcher’s Daughters offers does not stop there; they also offer catering and have a cafe where customers can enjoy sandwiches, coffees and desserts. Current owner Kim Barnes took over The Butcher’...s Daughters in 2005, after working for the previous owner. Kim is a trained chartered accountant, but her passion for cooking drove her to pursuing a career in the food industry. The Butcher’s Daughters was originally located in Huntsville, ON, but after an unfortunate sewage accident, Kim had to find a new location. After finding a new home in Gravenhurst, ON, Kim was able to reopen the store and continue to serve her customers. Less than a year after opening, COVID-19 hit. Due to restrictions, the cafe was no longer able to operate. Read more here https://buff.ly/2TVO5FL #butcher #groceries #catering #smallbusiness #muskoka #ontario #gravenhurst

DSS Tip of the Day Mobile Friendly Websites! Is your website mobile friendly? This infographic created by our DSS goes over what a mobile friendly website is, how to have a mobile friendly website, and more! Now more than ever, it is vital that small businesses get online so that customers can find them. COVID has accelerated the need for having a mobile friendly website. ... Are you a struggling small business? Check out the Digital Main Street website for articles, resources, events, and more: https://digitalmainstreet.ca/ #digitaltips #digitaltransformation #smallbusiness #digitalmarketing

Dx3 Canada - Retail, Marketing and Tech Event GOES VIRTUAL The event will be on 21 October, virtually, and will discuss: Digitization is internal: Communicate, collaborate, WFH. Digital is customer-facing: E-commerce, digital marketing.... And what are the best strategies to progress on both fronts. Learn how to use and implement new tools, channels, and strategies towards success. Sign up now https://www.dx3canada.com/register #webinar #digitalstrategy #COVID19 #supportsmallbusinesses #digitaltransformation #canada #ontario #event #virtual

Misty Gibson-Traynor spent months chipping away at her digital strategy and website while running The Loop, the downtown Kincardine fashion and gift boutique she owns with her husband. But it only took a few days through the province’s decision to order non-essential businesses closed during the COVID-19 pandemic to make that digital strategy The Loop’s lifeline to its customers. Like most main street businesses, The Loop was hit hard by the pause to foot traffic, but be...ing online has allowed Gibson-Traynor to continue doing what she loves. We’ve been busier than I thought it would be it's nice that people are supporting local, says the shop owner. We’ve been offering in-store pickup or local delivery I’ve been delivering locally the next day usually. She says she misses the face-to-face element of being in the shop but the crisis has created an unexpected opportunity to highlight the website and online shop she’s spent the past year chipping away at. Read more here https://buff.ly/32aFVOm #kincardine #fashion #boutique #smallbusiness #kincardine #ontariobusiness

Dominique Tremblay has slotted social media nicely in that space between her daily coffee ritual and opening Back to the Grind Coffee House, her coffee house in Kapuskasing. It's the first thing I do in the morning when I get up, says the café owner. I get all my posts ready for the day and I have it ready to go an hour before I open. Tremblay says she’s gotten in the habit over the course of the pandemic of posting two to three times daily just so people don't forget. ...Not that Back to the Grind is forgettable having been there 22 years, the café has a long legacy in the community as the go-to coffee shop. Tremblay took it over two years ago and has been balancing preserving that spirit while updating the space and menu ever since. Read more here https://buff.ly/2GWLDfj #smallbusiness #smallbusinesses #cafe #coffee #kapuskasing #coffeehouse #tea #supportsmallbusiness #bricksandmortar

For Ungalli Clothing Co. founders Hailey and Bree Hollinsworth reading The Name of the Tree by Celia Barker Lottridge was a near-nightly occurrence in their childhood. Based on a Bantu folk tale, The Name of the Tree tells the story of a drought and the last fruit-bearing tree that will only lower its branches to those who know its name. It’s a book that held the co-founders’ imaginations as children, a book that’s simple in its message: we can accomplish great things when we... band together. So in 2013, when the Hollingsworth sisters launched their Thunder Bay-based social responsibility-geared fashion brand, the tree’s name Ungalli seemed like a perfect name. Ungalli Clothing Co.’s goal is to raise awareness of the negative impact the mainstream clothing industry has on people, wildlife and the planet, but not just raise awareness, the company aims to find a better way for the fashion industry. In the summers during university, (my sister and I) worked at this clothing manufacturing place that made healthcare uniforms, scrubs and that kind of stuff, she says. We saw firsthand how unsustainable the industry was, there were things sent all over the world and they were using crazy chemicals to dye everything it opened our eyes. Read more here https://buff.ly/3ekJypU #thunderbay #ontario #clothing #smallbusiness #shoplocal

Free Webinar: Engaging with your Customers Amidst COVID-19 Engaging with your customers as a business owner has never been more important. Hosted by the City of Toronto and the Digital Service Squad from Digital Main Street, you are invited to discover how you can engage with your customers virtually in a time where in-person engagements are limited.... You will have the opportunity to learn how to use Google My Business to your advantage during COVID19, how how to use social media to engage with your customers during a pandemic, how to create videos to tell stories and show customers what you're doing to protect them and more! Sign up now: https://buff.ly/34VBKGU #toronto #yyz #digitallearning #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #smallbusinesses #smallbusinesssaturday #smallbusinessowners #smallbusinesslove #supportsmallbusiness #supportsmallbusinesses #supportsmallbusinessess #supportsmallbusinessowners #webinar #webinars #webinartraining #digitaltransformation #shoplocal #businesstransformation #ecommerce #google #ontario

For Fancy That/ The Roundstone , a Kingston-based fashion boutique, e-commerce was looking like a hard no. Four years ago they set up a bit of a digital presence through social media, says Amanda Cronk of the family-run business. It was to push in the world of Instagram and Facebook, But at no point were we ever thinking that we would go online sales-wise, says Cronk. We had thought about it years ago when it was starting to become a thing and pretty much immediately we'...re like, that's not really our thing. The focus has always been on the in-person experience for Fancy That and the two other family-run businesses The Roundstone (also in Kingston) and Limestone & Ivy (run by Cronk’s uncle in Brockville) under the umbrella. That was the differentiator in a world dominated by fast fashion, free shipping and online returns. And it’d worked for the last half-century the businesses have been around. Read more here https://buff.ly/35SKwFU #kingston #fashion #boutique #clothing #accessories #ontario #smallbusiness

Atlas Yoga Studio has been a twenty-year balancing act for Denise Davis-Gains. She’s built her life this way trying to find some sense of symmetry through deliberation. Case in point: the choice to create Atlas Yoga Studio in the Cambridge community of Galt rather than an area with a more established yoga scene was meant to keep her close to her family and balance personal life with her career. I knew I’d have to build that community, to educate people (and) find ways to ...be creative to get people across the doorstep, says Davis-Gains. Building in somewhere like Oakville meant she would’ve been away from her children. Which wasn't my goal, she says. I call it my mom business I had my mom business that I ran totally around the schedule of my children and I taught (part-time) at Laurier and Conestoga. Read more here: https://buff.ly/34TSCxy #yoga #yogastudio #cambridge #ontario #smallbusiness #supportsmallbusiness

When Kincardine kicked off Digital Main Street it had a unique advantage, neighbouring Huron-Kinloss township and Goderich, a lakeside town further south, had already piloted the program in their communities. Rick Clarke, downtown development manager at the Downtown Kincardine BIA had heard of the program, which combines grants and one-to-one support from the Province of Ontario and the Ontario BIA Association to help main street businesses strengthen their online capabilitie...s, the previous spring. But going into summer when Kincardine turns into a Lake Huron resort town, it didn’t make sense to burden businesses with something new. Applying for the $10,000 Digital Service Squad grant gave the town an opportunity to directly contributed to its main street’s digital growth. Clarke reached out to Lauren Eby who had headed the township of Huron-Kinloss’s Digital Main Street program that past summer. Read more here: https://buff.ly/3lAzdZi #smallbusiness #kincardine #huronkinloss #lakehuron #ontario #supportsmallbusiness

To Molly Farquharson, fibre art is hard to translate digitally. It eludes the camera lens, the effect of every stitch and curled piece of fibre somehow lost somewhere in the ether between the aperture and the digitized image of the work. The colours look different it's very textural, you know, it catches the light in different ways and it invites touch usually so that's a bit of a disadvantage for the digital stuff, says the artist and owner of Hibernation Arts gallery and... shop in Orillia. It presents a unique glitch in Farquharson’s plan to incorporate more digital tools into what she’s doing with gallery space. But still, she’s trying. I'm a tech Luddite a techno-klutz, says Farquharson. For the past few months, she’s been trying to find a way to grow Hibernation Arts digital presence. So when she heard about Digital Main Street, a program that combines grants and one-to-one support from the Province of Ontario and the Ontario BIA Association to help main street businesses strengthen their online capabilities, she signed on to work with a Digital Service Squad member. Read more here: https://buff.ly/34CSaVA #art #artist #smallbusiness #fibreartist #bricksandmortar

Marlene Kwandibens, a creator behind Em-Jay-Kay Beading Plus, always dreamed of the e-commerce space for her brand but could never find the time to build it. When COVID-19 hit, cancelled events forced her to look for other sale avenues and during the Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto, she found her solution. The ShopHERE Powered by Google Program offered the guidance Marlene needed and now she is a proud owner of a new online store! Marlene often draws inspiration from her Ojib...way roots of Whitesand First Nation on the Northern shores of Lake Nipigon. The name of the brand also pays homage to letters written in Ojibwat text, special to Marlene’s mother and grandmother. Em-Jay-Kay Beading Plus offers quality, handmade beaded jewelry and artwork that uses Japanese Delica beads to combine versatility and creativity in their designs. Marlene represents a driving force behind the brand, and is a self-taught artist of the Delica Bead medium with 16 years of experience. Read more here: https://buff.ly/2I5H82e #indigenous #ojibway #jewelry #beads #ontario #indigenousfashion #fashion

Five years ago, Chris suffered a spinal cord injury and using a wheelchair suddenly became a reality for him. During one particularly long cruise using his powerchair, Chris remembers suffering heatstroke and dehydration, and needed a paramedic to help cool down his body. He remembers thinking: this can’t happen again, there’s got to be a better way! He wanted to be able to commute comfortably and not worry about having a secure and convenient place to access beverages on ...his wheelchair. Chris noted that all the conventional wheelchair cup holders on the market were either too flimsy or mounted in a way that could be easily knocked off my chair. I needed something that would work for my limited hand function and would also never get knocked off. That's when HandiCup.com was born! Read more here: https://buff.ly/2Gxnk7L #cupholder #toronto #smallbusiness #handicap #powerchair #hydration

Did you miss our last "Small Business Stories" panel? Back by popular demand, we're hosting this TONIGHT at 6:30pm as part of Small Business Month! Join us for an engaging discussion with local small businesses and artisans, as we discuss challenges, victories and the power of going online. RSVP here: https://buff.ly/314gY6C Looking forward to celebrating and learning from our Ontario-based panelists: Tariq Al-BarwaniCo-founder of PLENTEA in Toronto... Cindy Chiupka-JozinFounder of Green Cabin Pottery in Wawa Mike MckennaCo-founder of Little Chief & Co. in Saint Catharines Marian ClaudioFounder of Face Yoga Lab in Toronto Sally EllisFounder of Smellis Beard Oil in Chatham Luma Qusus AwadFounder of Inamullumani in Toronto Tickets are free. RSVP: https://buff.ly/314gY6C Hosted by ShopHERE powered by Google.

I’m Brant the FireGuy and I inspire with fire, begins the enthusiastic live performer, whose experience spans from performing for the Raptors’ halftime shows, the CNE, IBM commercials, and with the actor Jackie Chan’s stunt team. Brant has had to invent new ways to connect with his audience since the COVID-19 enforced quarantine. With the help of the ShopHERE Powered By Google program, his new performance method of the Driveway Circus has made the world-class performer mor...e accessible to his audience than ever before. Brant’s journey began as a fire juggler in Montreal’s nightclubs and main streets. Settling in Toronto, the FireGuy created a Skateboard Circus show that travelled the world for 10 years. In 2018, Brant went on to break the Guinness World Record in Fire Eating, extinguishing 101 torches in just 60 seconds. The charismatic entertainer has been providing the world with fascinating live performances through the years. Read more: https://buff.ly/33JAwiF

At Digital Main Street, we are thankful for all of the businesses we have been able to help this year. We are grateful for our team, partners and small business allies. Wishing everyone a happy, healthy, and safe Thanksgiving! ... #happythanksgiving #canada #toronto #canadathanksgiving #thanksgiving2020 #countyourblessings #autumn #thanksgiving #givethanks #thankfulday #longweekendvibes pic by Pixabay

The WindsorEssex Small Business Centre knew its plan for Digital Main Street was ambitious. It had just launched a Digital Service Squad through the program which combines grants and one-to-one support from the Province of Ontario to help main street businesses strengthen their online capabilities. But the challenge ahead was connecting with the staggering amount and diversity of businesses on main streets throughout nine BIAs in the City of Windsor as well as the BIAs in LaS...alle, Amherstburg, Tecumseh, Harrow, Essex, and Kingsville. It was funny because I had in my mind how I was going to reach all of these businesses across 15 BIAS but once the (squad) got out into the community we realized, nope, first we’ve got to get the word out, says Shannon Dyck, business advisor at the Small Business Centre and the coordinator for the program. The solution to getting high tech tools and advice to the area’s businesses? Good old fashioned boots on the ground. They just blitzed like crazy and knocked on as many doors as possible. Read more here https://buff.ly/3d6L8uO #ontario #windsor#windsoressex #canada #digitaltransformation #digitalmedia #digitalmainstreet #kingsville #essex #harrow #tecumseh #lasalle #amherstburg #smallbusines #supportsmallbusiness #businessowner #smallbusinessowner #bricksandmortar

Digital Main Street // Small Business Month is here! - https://mailchi.mp/802603c3d2ae/dmsoct7

Be True. Live True. Stay True. We Are True Nutritionals is the slogan of the new brand True Nutritionals Inc. The business was formed when they noticed a lack of all natural protein products available for sale. Out of this gap they formed the new True Protein cookies, which taste good and are good for you. True Nutritionals began with a desire to offer a protein cookie that tastes like a cookie. One that is a nutritious snack that everyone can enjoy, not just athletes. The ...three keys to True Nutritionals protein cookies are to always be Delicious, Healthy and Nutritious. True Nutritionals True Protein all natural cookies are made with 12g of protein. This makes them perfect for all athletes and families who want a healthy treat. With this, the new business participated in the ShopHERE Powered By Google Program. They now have a fully functional e-commerce store to sell their delicious all natural protein cookies. The business new digital facet provides a place to sell True Nutritionals products to a wider consumer base. Read more here https://buff.ly/3iAkvzJ #protein #healthy #nutritional #proteinbar #eatwell #healthytips #shoplocal #ShopHERE #supportlocal #eathealthy #smallbusiness

If there’s one skill Denise Mayer has mastered, it’s the art of gift giving. Starting out with hand-made custom quilts for babies of family and friends, the idea for PLAY. FULL. GOODS was born. All of a sudden people who had received the quilts started asking if they could buy them for their friends and family, said Denise. Located in Hamilton, Ontario, Play . Full . Goods offers pre-made and custom quilts for babies and young children. Each quilt comes wrapped in a bow a...nd is accompanied by a tag, making it a simple and thoughtful gift option. When asked how her business operated before the ShopHERE Program, Denise admitted that she felt unprofessional and was struggling to reach new customers on Instagram and Etsy. With the help of the program, Denise has been able to successfully grow her business and expand her clientele: the program allowed me to have a professional online presence and a proper way of selling my product. Read more here https://buff.ly/3cXVFZm #quilts #handmade #PPE #supportsmallbusiness #smallbusiness #ShopHERE