South Carolina is home to over 300,000 small businesses, many of which have faced challenges in adapting to online commerce. Currently, less than 1.5% of small business revenue is generated online. To address this gap, the Municipal Association of South Carolina’s technical assistance program, Main Street South Carolina (Main Street SC), is stepping in to help small businesses accelerate their digital presence.
Thanks to a $105,250 grant from the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC), Main Street SC will offer guidance on streamlining operations and adopting essential marketing tools. This technical assistance program aims to help small business owners establish or expand their online presence, ultimately boosting revenue growth.
In partnership with Beyond Main, an IT service provider, Main Street SC will offer training and tools to rural small business owners, enabling them to create customizable online storefronts. Financial support for this e-commerce initiative is provided through the SCRC grant.
“We are focusing our efforts on nine counties in the Southeast Crescent region,” said Jenny Boulware, Manager of Main Street SC. “Through WeShopSC.com, a statewide e-commerce platform, small businesses will gain competitive advantages to enhance their online presence.”
Main Street SC will collaborate with state and national partners to offer specialized training and resources to small businesses in the counties of Laurens, Colleton, Marlboro, Chesterfield, Williamsburg, Clarendon, Lee, Dillon, and Marion. The goal is to assist 90 small businesses, providing marketing and photography support to enhance online store development. In-person workshops will be held in October 2024 and January 2025.
This e-commerce training removes geographical limitations, allowing businesses to sell anytime, anywhere, and meet customer demands beyond traditional store hours. Additionally, the program will integrate both online and offline channels, offering solutions like mobile checkout and online purchasing for postal fulfillment, strengthening the businesses' physical locations.
Main Street SC’s focused approach will provide hands-on guidance throughout the e-commerce process. “We won’t just tell businesses to ‘get online.’ We will walk them through every step,” added Boulware. “Small business owners will have access to advanced tech features and personalized support to help their businesses thrive.”
The City of Manning and Main Street Manning are excited to continue to help our businesses grow their on-line presence through the We Shop SC platform. Small businesses can make a big impact and this is a great opportunity for them to grow their businesses.
As part of the program, 20 small businesses in the nine counties will receive grants to support a full e-commerce storefront on WeShopSC.com for 12 months.
To learn more, contact Jenny Boulware at jboulware@masc.sc. For more information about Main Street South Carolina, visit www.masc.sc (keyword: Main Street).
