On February 24th , after several months of hard work, the Cercle Achetons plus ici (API) opened its doors to visitors and businesses in the region. The Cercle is an initiative of the Numana organization, which aims to broaden the local shopping experience through technology.
(Photo Mathis Denis)
This project was supported by Développement Vaudreuil-Soulanges (DEV). Isabelle Mercier, Business Development Commissioner at DEV, points out that the project took months of hard work.
“This is only the second Cercle API branch in Quebec to open after the one in Laval,” she says. At DEV, we believe this project can take local businesses and their customers to another level with innovative technologies.”
Who is the Cercle for?
According to Mrs. Mercier, the technology hub caters to businesses and to the customers.
Business owners are fortunate to have access to the Cercle consultants, completely free of charge. They analyze the situation and the needs of companies while offering them accessible digital solutions.
“The Cercle API offers 30 technological solutions from Quebec to make life easier for entrepreneurs, says Mrs. Mercier. They have technologies like Agendrix which is a web-based scheduling service. There is also Panierdachat which offers an online store service for businesses in Quebec.”
Isabelle Mercier specifies that these technological solutions are intended to diversify online offerings for businesses in the region. She says the pandemic has made things speed up and not owning an online store can be difficult to sell. She goes on to explain that the Cercle API provides solutions to these problems while making the visibility of a company on the web easier.
The Cercle API is also open to individuals for a completely different shopping experience. Mrs. Mercier points out that customers who enter the physical store of the Cercle will not be able to purchase products directly. The items on the walls are on display to show the variety of products from the region.
“Most of the time, small businesses don’t have the money to have a large store on the commercial avenues, says DEV’s business development commissioner. The physical environment of the Cercle API provides an additional showcase for businesses and their products for free. Of the 80 exhibitors present in the store, 45 are from the region.”
She goes on to explain that people who are interested in a product can scan the merchants’ QR code and will be taken directly to their online store on their phone.
Growing businesses in the region in any way possible
Isabelle Mercier understands that the arrival of an organization like the Cercle API can create some resistance in the commercial sector.
“Merchants should not see the Cercle as the end of physical stores, but as a new way of using and helping businesses, she says. Businesses that do not have an online store will be able to benefit from the services of the Cercle API in order to carve out a place on the internet. Also, businesses in the region that are not well established will be able to benefit from the physical space of the technology hub free of charge.”
Mrs. Mercier hopes that businesses and people in the region will respond positively to the arrival of this service. She would like to see the Cercle API stay in the region for a long time to help as many people as possible.
