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Sometimes technological advances are good news not just for the Amazons, Googles, and Alibabas of the world, but for the small businesses of Chicago, too. WeDeliver, a tech business designed to empower locally rooted entrepreneurs in the international market, now has an app for that.
In anticipation of 'Small Business Saturday' and the holiday shopping rush, the local startup just launched WeDeliver Locally, a free app for iPhone and Android that gives local merchants electronic storefronts and the ability to ship on demand. Forty businesses are already on board, such as boutiques, bakeries, and others invested in retaining a neighborhood flavor. Chicagoans may recognize Stan’s Donuts, Pastoral Artisan Cheese Bread and Wine, Farmer’s Fridge, Greer Stationary, City Soles, and more Chicago staples.
[ibimage==42158==Medium==none==self==ibimage_align-left]“With this app, we believe this is the first opportunity to take the shop-local movement mainstream and finally rebuilding local commerce,” said Jimmy Odom, WeDeliver co-founder and CEO, in a statement. “First we are partnering with Chicago’s favorite retailers to bring their most loyal consumers their very own digital main street. In 2015, we plan to not only triple the number of merchants on our platform but begin servicing additional markets as well.”
Founded in 2013 with the goal of helping small merchants compete globally, WeDeliver recently gained fresh tailwind from an $800,000 angel investment and a graduation from Techstars Chicago. It is well aware that mobile cannot be ignored. WeDeliver Locally “provides local businesses with a powerful marketing tool that provides an additional stream of income by simply offering their customer the convenience of shopping local from their mobile device,” Odom said.
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