Okanagan app gives small business big business tool

A Kelowna-based app developer is hoping to provide Okanagan small businesses the kind of technology that normally only franchise and corporations can muster.

Creatrixe Solutions has spent three years developing its “Best in Town” mobile app which will launch valley wide on Nov. 1.

“The uptake has been very positive. We hoped to have 100 companies signed up by November 1 and we are already at 105,” co-founder Van Hill said. “It creates a cooperative platform for the small businesses, where users can see every business on there, and provide a loyalty incentive to come to the store and get them to return.”

Many large companies use similar reward programs from grocery chains to petroleum companies.

“Ninety per cent of franchise and corporate use these types of programs, but they have a tech bias that allows them to integrate the technology” Hill added. “Small business doesn’t have that available, so that’s what we are helping them with, and at a stupidly low cost.”

Businesses can sign up for 18 months for $99, or $5.50 a month.

“There is a lot of diversity from coffee shops to dentists that are looking forward to using this,” Hill said. “Sadly, not everyone is surviving COVID-19. We had a clothing store call us to say they were closing, we provided a full refund. It’s a tough climate for many businesses and this is a small way to help.”