Rural and regional retailers will get the support they need to make their business successful on the internet when the Driving Business Online road show travels New South Wales over the next four months.
 
The PayPal initiative was launched in Canberra this week by Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Senator Stephen Conroy and Minister for Small Business Senator Nick Sherry.
 
The bus will act as a hub for small to medium business owners to meet with e-commerce experts to get advice on setting up a website, selling online and improving sales.
 
Australian Retailers Association director Russell Zimmerman spoke at the launch and said the campaign would be an empowering tool for rural and regional retailers.
 
“Consumer behaviour is changing as new technologies enable them to engage in the shopping experience through multiple channels,” he says. “The key focus moving forward will be the seamless brand experience and service retailers can provide via the channels of choice for their customers.
 
“In this consumer-driven economy, savvy retailers already realise that multi-channel retailing is a way to expand their business by both engaging new markets and adding value for existing markets. Driving Business Online is about giving retailers valuable tools to make informed decisions about their online strategy.”
 
Frerk-Malte Feller, managing director of PayPal Australia agrees.
 
“Operating online is no longer an option for Australian retailers and service providers, but an absolute necessity to gain the momentum they need to stay competitive in today’s changing consumer landscape,” he says.
 
 “Over eight million Australian consumers now use the internet to make purchases and this, coupled with global consumers, makes the online marketplace a very exciting space to operate in.”