Baffin, Salomon, ENDVR.io, and many more in the retail industry have come together to support independent specialty retailers facing COVID-19 through a not-for-profit initiative, The Shop Local Project (TSLP).
The collaboration aims to help local retailers weather this storm by providing a free online platform to sell discounted gift cards, giving consumers a simple and direct way to support their favorite stores that may not have a well-developed online storefront.
“ENDVR has always been focused on building community – bringing together brands, stores, and frontline employees together to help drive sales on the store floor. The Shop Local Project is a great opportunity to build an even bigger community by giving consumers the chance to support their favourite local stores during these tough times, so that these businesses can continue to grow in the future,” Steve Gendron, co-CEO at ENDVR.io.
Through the Shop Local Project, retailers receive the proceeds from the sales daily, helping to keep stores afloat now so they continue to serve communities in the future. The Shop Local Project is a collective effort of an entire industry whose common belief is that the resilience of retail during this time will require a coordinated effort to support all stakeholders.
This crisis has hit the entire retail sector very hard, but as Mark Hubner, VP of Brand & Strategy at Baffin Footwear, explains, “The Shop Local Project is a shining example of how we rally together in times of crisis. When the team at ENDVR shared this idea, Baffin didn’t think twice about jumping in to help out. It’s a refreshing opportunity to help your community, while maintaining safe-physical distance in a time when it can be challenging to do so.”
Specialty retailers are invaluable to the communities they serve, and they need help. Currently, over 75 percent of core shops are still closed, and about 50 percent of them do not have an e-commerce site that would help them maintain sales. There is no cost for retailers who participate in this initiative.
More information on the initiative is available at TheShopLocalProject.com.
Photo courtesy TSLP
