In an effort to help closed local shops and other small businesses make it through the quarantine and social distancing imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, three business groups are opening an online store to sell their goods and services.
The Durango Business Improvement District, the Durango Chamber of Commerce and Local First will launch the Online Store on Friday.
Many local businesses have signed up for the opportunity to “auction” services and merchandise for community members. The effort has been developed in partnership with Alpine Bank and Four Corners Broadcasting.
“The BID has always worked to encourage people to go inside our district’s businesses and support them and our entire community through spending dollars locally. But of course, many of our businesses can’t be open now,” said Tim Walsworth, BID executive director. “This is the first time we’re actually producing a service that can hopefully help our businesses sell items, infuse cash into their businesses and help them truly stay in business through this challenging time.”
The site functions like an auction, with an opening bid for the items offered for sale. Once the bidding closes, scheduled for April 26, the individual business will directly contact the top bidder of each item and arrange for delivery and payment with credit or debit cards.
The BID, the Chamber and Local First receive no money for the service, and all auction and credit card fees are covered by Durango Motor Co., Alpine Bank and the BID.
The Online Store is categorized, so shoppers can easily scroll through to what they might be interested in purchasing.
The Online Store can be accessed through the BID’s website, www.downtowndurango.org, as well as the Chamber’s site, www.durangobusiness.org or Local First’s site, www.local-first.org.
