WACO, Texas — Businesses around Central Texas have felt the sting of COVID-19. But Creative Waco and Keep Waco Loud have teamed up to launch a new website that is geared to help local businesses.
MakeitinWaco.com launched its website on Thursday, with the hope to give a boost to shops during these tough times.
"This platform really hopes to kind of alleviate some of that pain and allow for some new avenues to get their products out to our community," Director of Marketing and Communication for Creative Waco Kennedy Sam said.
Sam said when city leaders ordered the shelter in place, her team sat down and tried to come up with an idea for the creative community and small businesses.
"A lot of people were scrambling, especially with the stay in place order. Businesses were forced to shut down their in-store business and take everything online."
It took 10 days to create the platform for the website. MakeitinWaco.com allows residents to buy items from 36 local shops.
"We're really glad that make it in Waco can provide this avenue for people who can't build a whole new website in ten days or to get their business online," Sam said. "This is a great way to keep their stores open once everything kind of mellows out."
To be a vendor for the website, you must be located in Waco or McLennan County. You have to be a creative artist or small business with a handmade or original item
Sam mentioned that 15 percent of each purchase will go to the "Make It" fund, which provides many grants to artists and creatives who continue to struggle during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Creative Waco felt it was important to come up with a website name that serves two purposes.
"One, all of the goods are handmade and local based," Sam said. "Two. we really want our community to be able to make it through this current time."
There is not a timeline on how long the website will stay online, but as long as residents continue to use it, MakeitinWaco.com will not go away anytime soon.
"Even though it was born to meet this immediate need, we feel like this is a resource that will be able to help our arts creative small business community for the long run," Sam said.
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