About SokoLocal

It all started during the COVID-19 pandemic, at the time when online shopping reached an all-time high, and when brick and mortar stores needed all the local support they could get. With large retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Costco also taking in an increasing share retail dollars, there was an opportunity for a solution that focused on small business and on making online shopping from those local stores more convenient and SokoLocal was created.

Read our launch press release

Launched March 1, 2021, SokoLocal was created to help businesses connect with local shoppers

Free to use

SokoLocal is free to use and doesn't cripple businesses with service fees—because there are none. We make money by working with businesses to improve their SEO presence and by offering advertising for additional exposure.

Nominate your business

Designed to be as helpful as any other search engine, SokoLocal is driven off a business's existing ecommerce website. That means there's no data entry, account management, or product/store entry required. You enter your business, we catalog your products, then we send shoppers to your site—it's literally that simple.

Nominate Business

Who is SokoLocal made for?

Small Business

Small business owners may find it challenging to attract buyers in today's digital-first world. SokoLocal is a low-effort tool to bring even more visibility from local shoppers, to your products and business.

Shoppers

It should be just as convenient to find what you need from local shops as it is on Amazon. SokoLocal makes it easier to shop and support local because it makes it easier to find what they're selling.

Community

The dollars you spend at a local business help put food on that family's table and enrich their children's life with things like bike camp and music lessons. SokoLocal gives shoppers the tools to make a consious choice to support their community first.

Why does "Shop Local" matter?

Supports economy,
business and creates jobs

Small businesses comprise 98.2% of all Canadian companies. By buying local, you’re supporting Canadian businesses, business owners, workers and their families. Your support of small businesses paves the way for job creation and new opportunities within your community or region. Buying local helps sustain small businesses and decrease unemployment rates.

Broadens
product selection

Having trouble finding what you need locally? Well, that’s exactly why you should support local. Supporting local businesses helps them increase their selection and provide accessibility to a wider variety of products. Many small business owners base their product selection on the needs and demand of their local customers.

Fosters development
and community growth

For every $100 spent at a locally owned Canadian, business, approx. $63-$70 is reinvested into our local economy. For every $100 spent at a big chain, only $43 remains local. The dollars reinvested into your community support your tax base and support the improvement and development of public and community services, education, emergency services, charitable causes and more.

Timeline

January 6, 2021

From an idea to promote local businesses, not though their brand or shop, but through the products they sell because consumers shop for products first, not brands.

March 1, 2021

Showcasing early development efforts and the power of what local search really means.

April 29, 2021

This Amazon-like website makes shopping local to Calgary easier than ever.

June 1, 2021

From an idea to promote local businesses, not though their brand or shop, but through the products they sell because consumers shop for products first, not brands.