A free program is helping northern B.C. businesses adapt to the digital economy amid COVID-19.
Based in Prince George, Hubspace says it helped more than 50 regional businesses this fall through its Digital Economy: Rapid Response and Resiliency (DER3) Program.
One of those businesses was The Rusty Pitchfork in Fraser Lake, a Tuesday (Jan. 19) news release states.
Owner Kim Watt-Senner relied on workshops and boutique sales before the pandemic to sell her hand-made, artisanal wellness products and was severely impacted. She had an online store but it had very few sales.
Hubspace explains its members helped identify problems with her online presence and recommend improvements.
Through this program, which is funded by InnovateBC and Western Economic Development, the team at Hubspace provides no-cost assessments and recommendations to businesses struggling to adapt to the digital economy.
The DER3 program is designed to help the main street businesses find the right solutions to succeed in a digital economy.
After working with a business advisor, Watt-Senner says, in the same statement, her online sales over the holidays went up 1,200 per cent compared to 2019, estimating a revenue spike of 50 per cent.
Every business that comes through the program receives a one-on-one interview to determine their business challenges and any specific area requiring some guidance.
Businesses are then referred to the appropriate team member and subject matter expert after which recommendations are made for service providers and grants to help solve their problems.
The Hubspace says recommendations given to businesses have been as diverse as the businesses themselves including digital marketing plans or organizing a team that’s working from home.
For more information on the DER3 Program, you can attend a weekly information session held every Thursday at 2:30 p.m. via Zoom.
