Larisa Ferchichi at Fresh Organic Spa Bar in Brampton is all about creating a healthier-for-you experience. She takes a mindful approach to safety, wellness and beauty that is natural, organic and non-invasive.
As valuable as these services may be to her clients’ emotional well-being, Larisa still had to close the spa through Ontario’s cycle of lockdowns during the pandemic. She soon realized how important it was to have a strong online presence to remain top of mind with clients and keep the lines of communication open.
This led Larisa to the Digital Main Street (DMS) program for the help she needed to acquire the digital skills to succeed with what is still a new business. She worked with her local DMS Digital Service Squad to learn how to navigate the digital world with ease. The team performed an SEO (search engine optimization) audit to improve the searchability of her website and taught her how to create and maintain her brand’s aesthetic on social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook.
Larisa continues to work toward key milestones, such as increasing website visitors from Google search by 25 per cent and online bookings for services by 25 per cent.
“The Digital Transformation Grant program is an exclusive educational and financial support delivery system that will carry you towards mastering new technologies, reshaping your company and opening doors to a brighter future,” Larisa said.
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
