With the Coronavirus lock down looking like it might slowly start to be relaxed in the near future, there is little doubt that it’s impact will be felt for a long time to come. This makes Yorkshire-based ShopAppy, which is supported by Visa, interesting. They are aiming to provide small businesses with the immediate help they need to keep running and be ready to re-open their doors, in response to the exceptional challenges currently facing UK small business-owners and market traders.
ShopAppy is an ecommerce platform that enables small businesses to showcase and sell products or services online. They have now launched a new home delivery service and are offering free registration following an increase in consumer traffic to the site as a result of COVID-19. The platform is offering a free sign-up process until at least 31 July 2020, enabling small retailers to continue to trade with local communities and grow their online presence without the cost or requirement to set up their own website. The expansion of the website allows for a greater number of businesses to sign up to the platform and for more communities to continue supporting local business.
ShopAppy is also working with local taxi and courier businesses to introduce a delivery service that supports high street businesses and markets by enabling their customers to order products on the platform and get them safely and conveniently delivered straight to their door.
Visa’s partnership with ShopAppy is one of its key initiatives to support small businesses, following the launch of its Where You Shop Matters campaign last Christmas. Visa is supporting ShopAppy by providing investment to enable the platform to grow, alongside digital and brand marketing expertise to help drive small business sign-ups and consumer experience.
“It’s been a devastating month for local businesses on our high streets, but I have been overjoyed to see that their fighting spirit remains as strong as ever. On ShopAppy, we have seen a record increase in the number of businesses joining the platform and the variety of goods on offer is now greater than ever.
What’s even more encouraging is that the wider business communities in towns and cities across the UK are now getting behind our high streets. We’re thrilled to now have partnerships in place with a number of local transport companies to help high street businesses and markets continue selling to their customers, and it’s truly inspirational to see how businesses are adapting and uniting to overcome the challenges they face.”
– Dr Jackie Mulligan, Founder & CEO of ShopAppy
Social psychologist Dr Jackie Mulligan founded ShopAppy in 2016 to “level the playing field” for small local businesses to help them adapt to the changing retail environment. The primary objective of the business was to drive high street footfall, acting as an online shop window for local businesses, tapping into the trend of consumers browsing goods and services online before purchasing in-store.
“Where you shop now matters more than ever and ShopAppy provides a convenient way to continue shopping locally, while maintaining local communities. We’re proud to support the platform to accelerate its roll-out on a national scale, offering greater support to small businesses up and down the country”.
– Jeni Mundy, Managing Director, UK & Ireland, Visa
Visa’s partnership with ShopAppy.com follows a host of small business initiatives including its Where You Shop Matters campaign and partnership with the Government-run Great British High Street Awards, demonstrating Visa’s long-standing support for small businesses across the UK.
High street businesses can register to join ShopAppy or find out more about the platform of their website.
