Happy New Year!
It's incredible to reflect on the journey of the past year as we've navigated the ever-changing landscape of online shopping/selling together. Through all of our challenges and triumphs, we've emerged stronger, and I want to express my sincere gratitude to each and every one of you for being the heartbeat of The Virtual Market community
Your unwavering support has been a cornerstone of our success, and I appreciate the dedication you've shown to championing small businesses this year. In our commitment to making #shoplocal more than a hashtag, you've played a pivotal role in shaping a community that values and supports one another.
Some of the major milestones we've hit this year:
- Created a Full Time Job for 2023
- Launched our own platform in April
- Saw our first major update in November
- Secured a grant for marketing to support Christmas Shopping
Some major milestones we are aiming for in 2024:
- We've had to say goodbye to Becca, our Director of Marketing, but hopefully not for long. We're looking into new grants to bring her back on the team.
- Improve our shopper checkout experience
- Grow our vendor base within Calgary as well as expand to new markets across Canada.
Chat GPT (or Chad as I've come to name him) came up with a saying for me recently and I love it but can't take credit for the wording. Chad said "your dream for The Virtual Market is to have it mirror the dreams of your vendors" and I could have cried because it was so perfect. I created this community to have vendors find space where they know they are valued. A platform that is usable in a way that they find useful. And an algorithm that supports other small shops instead of promoting bots and drop shippers. Your efforts in embracing this mission is instrumental. It requires a concerted effort, but the impact is profound—it sustains the dreams of our entrepreneurs; turning aspirations into reality.
Looking forward together, here's to another year of realizing dreams through The Virtual Market, discovering more local gems, and fostering a spirit of collaboration and support.
Thank you for being a part of our journey.
Sincerely,
