Maybe you grew up walking to the center of town to shop in Verona. Maybe you now know the best places to park to reach every Verona business. Maybe there are days when you want to shop without walking or parking. You’re in luck: Now you can shop Verona from your computer.
This week, MyVeronaNJ.com launched ShopVerona.com, a Web site that turns Verona into an online mall. Need to know what’s hot at Terry’s Drugs? It’s here. Want a bit more bling? Check out Trend. Feel the need to get in shape before the Verona pool opens? You can find a trainer or book a class for yoga or martial arts.
MyVeronaNJ.com is a directory to all the small businesses with Verona connections, from those with shops, offices and restaurants around Bloomfield Avenue to our contractors and the many businesses that have sprung up at home during the recession. It even includes businesses that are owned by residents of Verona but based in neighboring towns, like Cristina Queiroz’ Brazilian Sugaring Studio or Ariane and Michael Duarte’s CulinAriane. It is an effort to recognize the local economy that supports this town, and to support it back.
Here’s what it all means for you, whether you own a business or want to shop more locally.
If you own a Verona business, tell the world about it. ShopVerona.com lets you list your business and sell online without the hassle of setting up your own e-commerce site. It probably won’t take you more than 15 minutes to set up your ShopVerona.com page. ShopVerona.com comes with easy ways to market your business–to the customers you already have, and to the ones who could be coming to your door, whether they live in Verona or not. You can offer coupons, discounts and gift certificates that benefit you, and not some company in Chicago.
If you want to shop with a Verona business, you can easily search, by category, for the business you need, whether it’s a roofer or a baker for your graduation party. You can ask them questions by phone or email. If you love a Verona business, you can let the world know by giving it a review.
Here are some other questions you might have:
How do I list my business?
Use the search box to check if you are already in our directory. If not, add your business here.
My business has a Facebook page. Why do I need this?
You may have lots of people who “like” you on Facebook, but you don’t have their e-mail addresses and can’t market to them outside of Facebook. ShopVerona.com does that, and lets you sell to people from a secure e-commerce site. And when you tell people what’s new about you business on ShopVerona.com, that update automatically goes to your Facebook and Twitter pages.
My business has a Web site. Why do I need this?
Your ShopVerona.com page links to your Web site and Facebook page, and makes them more effective. It can boost them in search engines and help you do things you can’t now do, like sell online or send newsletters to your customers. And if your Web site designer has left you a costly Web site that you can’t change without a hassle, you should know that your ShopVerona.com site is easy to update and comes with 24/7 tech support from some very nice people in Canada. ShopVerona.com also displays beautifully on cell phones, which more people are using to shop.
I have a full day running my business. Why do I need this?
ShopVerona.com is easy. It’s probably the easiest thing that you can do to market your business. And you’ll reach people in Verona and beyond.
Why isn’t my favorite Verona business listed?
Maybe they haven’t heard about ShopVerona.com yet. Tell them about us, or tell us and we’ll get them set up. You can reach us by e-mail or at 973-632-4015.
Nice idea Virginia! Sounds familiar…
I’ve looked for software to do this for two years and finally found it at a conference for independent publishers in Chicago last fall. The company that is our partner has built sites in many other cities and towns, like ShopBatavia.com and ShopBirmingham.com.
BTW, one of your neighbors just signed on to ShopVerona: John J. Curley Stone
Yes, I saw that John J. Curley Stone was set up on there. My husband Chris designed their website. However, you can’t get on their site via ShopVerona, because someone left out the “e” in Curley.
Fixed!