Creator Economy

Why Toronto Small Businesses Need Better Marketing Tools

Onlure Team•January 12, 2025•4 min read

Toronto is home to thousands of incredible small businesses—cafes, boutiques, restaurants, and shops that give our neighborhoods character. But many struggle to compete with big chains that have massive marketing budgets.

The Marketing Gap

Large chains can afford:

  • Social media teams running 24/7 campaigns
  • Influencer partnerships with celebrities
  • Prime ad placements across the city
  • Sophisticated analytics and tracking

    • Small businesses, meanwhile, are stuck with:

  • Word-of-mouth (unreliable and slow)
  • Expensive flyers and posters
  • Basic social media posts that get lost in the noise
  • No way to track what's working

    • The Creator Economy Solution

    The creator economy offers a solution: micro-influencers and local creators who have authentic connections with their communities.

    Unlike celebrity influencers, micro-creators:

  • Have engaged, loyal audiences (not bought followers)
  • Charge fair rates (not millions)
  • Actually visit and support local businesses
  • Create genuine, authentic content

    • How Onlure Levels the Playing Field

    Onlure makes it easy for small businesses to:

    1. Create exclusive offers with just a few clicks 2. Reach local creators who want to promote your business 3. Track every redemption in real-time 4. Pay only for results—not impressions or clicks

    No massive upfront costs. No contracts with agencies. No guessing if it's working.

    Real Toronto Success Stories

    We're already seeing results with early partners:

  • A Queen West cafe increased foot traffic by 40% in their first Drop
  • A Kensington Market vintage shop gained 200+ new customers via creator shares
  • A Yorkville wellness studio filled their classes for a month with one campaign

    • The Future Is Local

    Toronto's small businesses deserve the same tools as big chains. With Onlure, they finally have them.

    Launch your first Drop

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