The new website and campaign will help enhance the exposure of businesses & organizations who have altered their operations in the wake of COVID-19 (Photo provided by Lift Interactive & JPBG)

By Justin Goulet

Things That Are Open

Apr 13, 2020 | 10:08 AM

EDMONTON, AB – A digital agency based in Edmonton has launched a website and marketing campaign to help promote Western Canadian businesses and organizations who have adjusted their operating methods to remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The online portal, thingsthatareopen.com, will help enhance the exposure of the businesses and organizations during this tough time.

It’s a product of Lift Interactive Inc. and the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group (JPBG).

The site features a directory and ‘good-news-stories’ to communicate the innovative ways they’re serving their patrons, while respecting government guidelines and mandates regarding social distancing and sanitation.

“As a digital agency, we know that businesses – large and small – are struggling to communicate their changing responses to this crisis,” said Micah Slavens, Principal of Lift Interactive Inc.

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“Marketing budgets are tighter than ever. Our idea was to create a strong, unified message and a central source of information that would benefit the whole community and highlight the ways our clients and other businesses are pushing through this adversity.”

Businesses are able to register, free of charge on the thingsthatareopen.com directory.

Listings feature the business name, location and its updated operational hours, if applicable, as well as the new and creative ways they’re serving their customers.

“Lift will roll out an integrated marketing campaign driving traffic to the website, while Pattison Broadcast will provide media support and echo the campaign on digital and social media channels,” said Rod Schween, President of the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.

“This is a tough time for businesses, but we’re also finding that, as a community, we’re coming together to show that we are adaptive and resilient.”

Sponsored funding, at various levels, will help fund the ongoing promotion and management of the online platform and campaign for the duration of the business closures and social distancing restrictions.

Anyone looking to list their business or organization, become a sponsor or find out more can visit thingsthatareopen.com.