A delivery management platform

The city has teamed up with the Conseil québécois du commerce de détail pour créer Envoi Montréal (in French), a platform through which merchants can manage shipments. It offers a reasonably-priced, low-carbon delivery option as well.

Winter stations

The boroughs have set up winter stations where shoppers can relax near stores, a pleasant part of the shopping experience.

Funding for digital development

Montréal added $1.5 million to the Fonds de consolidation des activités commerciales, managed by the city’s support network for small businesses, PME MTL. The fund aims to support merchants developing their digital business, whether by boosting their social network visibility, creating an online storefront or launching a Web site.

According to Kheir Djaghari, executive director of the Société de développement commercial (SDC) de la Promenade Masson, about 50 per cent of merchants do not have a Web site. “Unfortunately, these days, a neighbourhood reputation isn’t enough. The competition is too steep,” he said. 

Assistance in navigating measures

Companies in all sectors of activity that would like more information about city programs and measures can call the Affaires Montréal line from Monday to Friday at 514-394-1793.

Commercial development corporations have made their advisors available to members to help them find which measures they may be eligible for, free of charge.  “You can’t imagine the scope of the programs,” said Ms. Balzano. Some commercial development corporations go door to door to answer their members’ questions. Of course, merchants who haven’t had a visit from their commercial development corporation can contact them for advice.

Social funding campaigns

After the success of its social funding campaigns this summer, Montréal has launched a second round of subsidies (in French) to fund these campaigns. The subsidies are for commercial development corporations, merchant associations and chambers of commerce that would like to launch social funding campaigns to support economic recovery.

According to Félicia Balzano, executive director of the Côte-des-Neiges commercial development organization, this has helped a number of merchants find and keep new clients.