Online Storefronts for Yukon artisans launched

WHITEHORSE – Yukoners now have the ease of shopping online for local arts and crafts in one place this holiday season. Yukon’s Borealist online classifieds has just launched an addition to their website that will give them a competitive edge to sites like Kijiji, and eBay. Shoppers and vendors on Borealist will now find the new Storefronts feature that allows them to access virtual stores hosted by local artisans.

Technology Innovation, of the Yukon Research Centre, funded Borealist Storefronts $10, 000 to support the programming for this venture, in addition to funding the first phase of development.

“Technology Innovation supports ideas that benefit Yukoners and keep the North out in front of current technology”, said Rick Steele, Manager, Technology Innovation, Yukon Research Centre. “Borealist Storefronts make it easy for artisans to attract viewers to their wares, thanks to the traffic that already exists from the online classifieds service of Borealist”, said Steele.

Borealist Storefronts is a marketplace for items designed, created, or produced in the Yukon.  Storefront owners include local artists, craftmakers, and food producers. Storefronts are managed entirely by the owners themselves: they are able to add and remove their own items and answer questions from potential buyers directly. Unlike a website, which requires a lot of time, and the expense of technical support, the Storefronts are meant to be very easy, intuitive, and inexpensive.  Some Storefront owners have been able to create and setup their entire store in less than 15 minutes.

“With your own website, you pretty much have to cross your fingers and hope someone finds it.  With Storefronts, the chance of being discovered is part of the design”, said Marko Marjanovic, owner and creator of Borealist.

Local potter Larry DuGuay has already purchased his Borealist Storefront for the fee of $9.00/month. DuGuay has been selling his work for 20 years and is eager to see the results of this online service. “Storefronts is easy to set up, looks great, and Borealist staff were extremely helpful”, said DuGuay. “I believe this service has great potential for Yukon artisans”.

Currently the site requires the vendor and buyer to meet in person to exchange goods but ultimately the site may include small businesses and an e-commerce feature where goods can be purchased online.

Visit Borealist Storefronts and experience this new online service.
 

The Yukon Research Centre (YRC) at Yukon College has seven key programs: Biodiversity Monitoring, Cold Climate Innovation, Northern Climate ExChange, NSERC Industrial Research Chair for Colleges in Mine Life Cycle, Technology Innovation, Science Adventures, and Resources and Sustainable Development in the Arctic. Core funding for the Yukon Research Centre is provided by Yukon Education and Yukon Economic Development.

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For more information, contact:
Tanis Davey
Communications and Marketing Coordinator
Yukon Research Centre
867.456.8625
867.332.8625
tdavey@yukoncollege.yk.ca