Durango’s “Share the Love” online marketplace is back up and running, allowing anyone to shop at up to 80 local stores from the comfort of home.
“You can sit on your couch and buy things from 10 stores in about 10 minutes,” said Tim Walsworth, executive director of the downtown Durango Business Improvement District.
BID first opened the online marketplace in April and May to help customers access local businesses shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic. In about three weeks, stores made about $101,000 in sales, Walsworth said.
“We were really happy with that,” he said. “When it came to the holidays, and we could see restrictions getting tighter on businesses, we decided to open the store again.”
A dramatic rise in COVID-19 cases starting in early November pushed La Plata County into the state’s Level Red status, or severe risk.
Under Level Red, indoor dining at restaurants is prohibited, retail is limited to 50% capacity and personal services are limited to 25% capacity.
“We’re hearing messages, ‘shop local, shop local,’ and messages, ‘stay home,’” Walsworth said. “This is a way to do both.”
The online marketplace aims to have $100,000 in sales in three weeks, between Nov. 23 and Dec. 15. As of Saturday, Share the Love reported $10,424 in sales.
After customers purchase items, businesses will contact them to manage the order’s shipping.
There is some lag time: Businesses get two order updates from BID, one this weekend and one around Dec. 15.
The perk, however, is getting to shop at multiple local stores from anywhere, Walsworth said.
“The sales in the store are going slower than we hoped, so we might end up keeping it open longer,” he said.
The online marketplace was scheduled to end Dec. 15 to give BID and local stores enough time to fill orders before Christmas.
“We have not made that decision yet, but I’m leaning heavily that way,” he said.
BID transfers 100% of profits to the local stores. Fees associated with the online marketplace are covered by BID and sponsors Alpine Bank and Durango Motor Co.
If people shop locally at the online marketplace, they are also eligible for a separate holiday rewards program, where customers can submit receipts to receive gift cards to local stores ranging from $5 to $100.
About $50,000 in receipts have been submitted for the rewards program so far, Walsworth said. More information about the rewards program is available at downtowndurango.org.
Walsworth said the marketplace might consider reopening for holidays in the spring, such as Valentine’s Day.
“It’s a scary time. It’s a very scary time for businesses,” Walsworth said. “Look local, first, if you have the ability to do some shopping these holidays.”
smullane@durangoherald.com
