Hey Shuswap, meet our Digital Transition Team! Tegan, Abigail and Caitlyn. This incredible trio of co-op students from Okanagan College is here to help local business transition or expand online sales. Through individualized support, they assist business owners to help develop a vibrant and effective online presence. Specifically, the Digital Marketing Team will work with the business to develop and provide an eCommerce site, as well as, the basic training needed to maintain and grow their business platform. This includes great perks like product photography and some step-by-step help in understanding the platform.

"Launching a website/online store has always been on our "to do" list but as our retail store became busier, we found we didn't have the time to do this. The Digital Transitioning Program came at the perfect time for us, having been closed to retail traffic during COVID and trying to navigate phone orders and curbside pickups without an online store was difficult. My past experience with websites and the amazing team at SAEDS was the perfect match. We could not have launched our website without the talent, experience and hard work that the team provided. Their ongoing support after our launch a few weeks ago has allowed us to fine tune the website and learn how to maintain the site. Thank you so much!"
- Linda and Jaimie, RE-Market etc., Salmon Arm, BC

Here is the best part, it’s totally FREE for businesses. This program includes several community organizations that have collaborated to offer this program to the Shuswap region including: Salmon Arm Economic Development, Shuswap Economic Development, Shuswap Tourism, Community Futures Shuswap, Tsuts’weye Women’s Entrepreneurship, Okanagan College and Innovation Network and Chambers of Commerce from across the Shuswap Region. COVID-19 was the rallying call to create a program to ensure our Shuswap businesses didn’t fall victim to the shutdown. So, the Shuswap Economic Recovery Hub was created, and the Digital Transition program is one spoke on this recovery wheel.

“Working on the Digital Transition team has been so rewarding. Not only has this given me the opportunity to gain experience within the Digital Marketing industry but also has created a positive affect for so many businesses within our community. There is no better feeling then seeing the impact your work is creating.”
- Tegan Fitzpatrick

Originally this program was set to run for a 16-week term, from May to September. However, it has been so successful, and the co-op students have been so valuable, that with the financial support from Community Futures Shuswap we have been able to extend the students' positions until the end of November. To date, these students have worked with about a dozen businesses, helping them to develop impressive, highly functional, e-commerce sites and providing them with support to ensure they are sustainable.

We are super proud of our work! If you are interested scroll through some of the amazing sites that have recently gone live!

ReMarket Etc.

Dreamcycle

If you are a forward-looking Shuswap business seeking support to grow your business online consider applying to see if the Digital Transition Program is a fit for you! You’ll be glad you did.