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Zeald offers free e-commerce websites to New Zealand SMEs The company’s Get eCommerce Movement (GEM) “COVID-19 digital transformation fund for small and medium-sized businesses” has already provided 500 sites. As businesses scramble to adapt to the effects and repercussions of COVID-19, one local website development company is providing a free digital lifeline. In the first tranche of the project, Zeald, which has its head office in Tawa Drive, has been developing 500 fully functional e-commerce websites for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for free (excluding transaction fees). Chairman David Kelly says that this is a major pivot and new mission David Kelly for Zeald, specifically to help SMEs survive by swiftly evolving the way they do business. “The COVID-19 emergency has seen a quick shift by thousands of New Zealanders to online purchasing. Some e-commerce sellers have been overwhelmed and had to prioritise customers.” John Houma is one of Zeald’s digital growth specialists. He strongly encourages SMEs to consider their “pathway to purchase” and, in particular, what components will need to be adapted for contactless, e-commerce. “Even when the country is back to some sort of
“The COVID-19 emergency has seen a quick shift by thousands of New Zealanders to online purchasing.” normality, why would we all return to the old ways of shopping? This is an opportunity to improve or expand your business, but you need to identify the points along the sales process that need improvement. For example, how are you going to fulfil the picking and packing or the couriering of the goods?” “Every business owner should be considering how they can diversify the products or services they offer,” he says. The e-commerce sites are available to a number of industry sectors, including food and beverages, medical John Houma services sales, electronic goods, security products, and pet food and products. Since the initial tranche of 500 websites has been fully allocated, Zeald has launched GEM 2.0, and pledged to offer 50 free e-commerce websites every week, ongoing. More information, including T&Cs, additional charges and hosting plan fees, can be found at zeald.com/500-free-websites.html
Local businesses supporting each other
Willow Café (in Tawa Drive) was the first GEM website to go live. 10
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To read more about the free services and resources on offer go to the Business Initiatives page of businessnh.org.nz
