Local business advocates team up to help area businesses succeed
online and on mobile devices including iPhone and iPad

MIDLAND, ONTARIO, November 21st, 2013 – The Southern Georgian Bay Chamber of Commerce and ShopMidland.com are excited to officially announce a new long-term partnership that will drive better online results for local businesses.

With the collaboration, ShopMidland.com now powers the Southern Georgian Bay Chamber of Commerce’s online business directory, providing visitors with richer information on Chamber members and a new map view that displays business locations and a link to learn more.

The new business directory can be seen by visiting www.southerngeorgianbay.ca/business-directory

In addition to the online directory, the Southern Georgian Bay Chamber of Commerce and ShopMidland.com have launched a new app that provides quick access to high-quality local business information from mobile devices. The app currently supports iPhones and iPads, with an Android version in the works.

The app can be downloaded by visiting www.southerngeorgianbay.ca/app

Whenever a Southern Georgian Bay Chamber of Commerce member updates their ShopMidland.com profile, it will automatically update the Southern Georgian Bay Chamber of Commerce's directory, the app, as well as ShopMidland.com, providing local businesses with a true one-stop publishing hub.

ShopMidland.com’s suite of business tools - including online stores, email newsletter software, coupons, gift certificates and social media updates - now have even more value to local businesses, and the site is the easiest way to distribute information and offers to potential customers looking for local products and services.

Southern Georgian Bay Chamber of Commerce General Manager, Denise Hayes, and ShopMidland.com founder, Colin Pape, see huge potential for the new partnership and are committed to providing local businesses with low-cost, effective online marketing channels they can use to grow revenue and the local economy.

“Everyone is connected these days, whether through apps or websites, and this partnership will enable our local business members to connect with clients and customers where they are - online” said Hayes. “This will serve the community as a local directory and assist visitors (tourists) on a tourism level.”

“ShopMidland.com and the ShopLocally.com network of sites are dedicated to making it easier to shop locally first. By bringing so many merchants, professionals and service providers into one online network this partnership has created a one-stop marketplace that saves shoppers time and maximizes their local choice” continued Pape.

Colin and Denise ask residents to help support local businesses by bookmarking ShopMidland.com and  www.southerngeorgianbay.ca/business-directory, downloading the app via www.southerngeorgianbay.ca/app, and shopping locally first.

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About ShopMidland.com

ShopMidland.com is the #1 website in the area, with more than 30,000 visits per month. The site contains a directory of more than 2,500 local businesses, thousands of products and services and a comprehensive selection of coupons, deals and gift certificate offerings. The site is part of the ShopLocally.com network. Visit www.shopmidland.com for more information.

About the Southern Georgian Bay Chamber of Commerce

The Southern Georgian Bay Chamber of Commerce promotes and improves the commercial, professional, industrial, agricultural, economic, civic and social well being of the Southern Georgian Bay area. Visit www.southerngeorgianbay.ca for more information.