February 22, 2021
This is part of a series highlighting pilot programs that are being offered at no cost to main street businesses through the Digital Main Street and ventureLAB collaboration through the Community Collaboration Program. Funding for this program is made available in part through the Digital Main Street Future Proof program, with support from Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).
Local Simcoe native Jennifer McLachlan, Founder of delivereh., is now offering an online delivery service for local businesses and restaurants. The service aims to improve profit margins for businesses, by using local community drivers and a GPS trackable app to make deliveries to local residents. This service is not just for the restaurant industry either! Anything can be delivered through delivereh. in a matter of hours, not days. Businesses are invoiced weekly for the deliveries that have been made. News of this delivery service has been spreading quickly, with Pita Pit, The Maids’ Cottage, Trayvino Wine Company, ReGen by Maddie, and Apparel Promotion joining the service. In partnership with ventureLAB and Digital Main Street, this service will be offered free-of-charge to Simcoe County businesses until March 12, 2021.
McLachlan started this business out of the growing demand and need to support local. With tech giants eating into business profits, she saw an opportunity to shift online shopping and food delivery to local businesses through her delivery service. She pitched her idea at the Simcoe County Rural Innovation Challenge and won $4,000, which provided her funding to realize her dream. At a dollar cheaper per delivery than mainstream delivery services, delivereh. will help local businesses and keep the extra savings in the pockets of their consumers.
According to a survey by Accenture, 56% of consumers said that the pandemic has caused them to shop in closer neighborhood stores.
As of December 26, the extended Ontario lockdown has forced all non-essential businesses to curbside pick-up. delivereh.’s service offers a crucial pathway for small businesses to bring the convenience of quick deliveries without the impact to their bottom line and daily schedule.
There are 50 opportunities remaining as part of this pilot project for Simcoe County businesses and restaurants to be onboarded free-of-charge. Click here to join.