Rhode Island’s first true online marketplace
Shop Local RI is your destination for one-of-a-kind products and services – made by local business owners and delivered right to your door!
How Shop Local RI Came to Be
On Friday, March 13, 2020, we went to the grocery store and got haircuts.
Who knew that those two things would be the activities we all longed for as we retreated into our homes for the duration of a spiking global pandemic.
When the State of Rhode Island closed down in March 2020, the Visual Thrive team was working hard to make sure that our clients were taken care of, and constantly communicating with their customers. But one day, while sewing masks, Lori realized that most small businesses were already struggling without some digital way to get to their customers.
We knew their businesses weren’t going to be able to sustain a long-term closure if they didn’t have an easy way to communicate immediately.
And in true entrepreneurial style, we dove in to support RI's businesses. The first iteration of the site was launched in the very early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, pulled together - from conception to deployment - in one weekend. It was launched on March 16, 2020; the birthday of Lori's grandmother, who was a seamstress, and would have also been sewing masks that day.
Visual Thrive, LLC became the creator of Rhode Island's first comprehensive business directory, ShopLocalRI.com, and then expanded that directory into RI's first fully operational marketplace!
Our goal is help all businesses thrive - not just survive!
Today, the platform includes:
- A beautifully streamlined, fully functioning eCommerce marketplace with extreme attention to your experience.
- Robust ongoing marketing and advertising of the site to enhance online traffic for small business sales, and exposure to a wider audience than they individually have.
Creation of Shop Local RI
When the State of Rhode Island closed down in March 2020, the Visual Thrive team was working hard to make sure that our clients were taken care of, and constantly communicating with their customers. But we one day, while sewing masks, Lori also realized that most small businesses were really going to struggle without some digital way to get to their customers. We knew their businesses weren’t going to be able to sustain a long-term closure if they didn’t have an easy way to communicate immediately.
And in true entrepreneurial style, we dove in to support RI's businesses. The first iteration of the site was launched in the very early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, pulled together - from conception to deployment - in one weekend. It was launched on March 16, 2020; the birthday of Lori's grandmother, who was a seamstress, and would have also been sewing masks that day.
Visual Thrive became the creator of Rhode Island's first comprehensive business directory, ShopLocalRI.com, and then expanded that directory into a fully operational marketplace!
ShopLocalRI.com aims to provide every small business with a digital presence. With over 2,000 Rhode Island-based small businesses currently listed within the free directory, and over 60 vendors, business owners are now able to set up a digital storefront with product information, payment processing, and shipping or curbside pick-up. At the same time, consumers have a one-stop-shop shopping experience.
