Kuppajo Espresso Bar in Sudbury is an upscale café that features espresso-based beverages, teas, cold drinks, baked goods and a vast food menu. Like any independent, it faces an ongoing challenge to hold its niche against those big coffee chains.
The key is to find that caffeinated sweet spot – great products, great service and an in-store experience with its own unique vibe and atmosphere. When the pandemic struck, owner Betty-Ann Serré and her team worked to convey Kuppajo’s distinct appeal online. She engaged with Digital Main Street (DMS), which helps main street businesses across Ontario invest in their digital presence with grants, counsel and other resources.
Betty-Ann used part of her grant to hire a marketing firm that could help her improve the user experience on her website and carry out new marketing campaigns with online advertising, Instagram and Facebook. All this was supported by new videography and photography.
“DMS has come at a crucial time for small businesses,” Betty-Ann said. “COVID shifted the bulk of our sales online, and because of this, we had to figure out ways to be creative and have a greater online presence. DMS helped us do just that. It was so important for us to broaden our marketing strategies and learn new ways to maximize our customer reach. This has helped us navigate the devastating effects of COVID. Thank you, to our local BIA and DMS!”
The Digital Main Street program has been further extended through funding from FedDev Ontario and the Ontario Ministry for Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade (MEDJCT). The new round of funding includes $42.5 million from the Government of Canada’s Regional Relief and Recovery Fund, a national recovery initiative delivered by Canada’s regional development agencies. With $7.45 million from Ontario, this combined federal and provincial project will strengthen Ontario’s economic capacity for innovation, entrepreneurship and collaboration, and will promote the development of a strong and diversified Ontario economy. For more information, please visit digitalmainstreet.ca/ontariogrants
