Sacramento, CA – The California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA), part of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), today announced the lineup for CalOSBA’s “Get Digital CA!” digital pop-up festivals. These interactive festivals will showcase local and diverse small businesses through social media channels, creating online neighborhood shopping experiences across the state.
“We are working to start a small business movement. Our hope is that these festivals will be replicated across California as local leaders use this model and our ‘Get Digital CA!’ tools to create communities online, attract new online tourism, and increase small business revenues,” said Isabel Guzman, CalOSBA Director. “Californians will once again experience that neighborly feeling that only small businesses can create through a safe, online space.”
Recent studies show that U.S. e-commerce sales are set to double to $1 trillion by 2023 – growing at six times the rate of all retail transactions. Surveys by the Small Business Roundtable and Facebook show that 76 percent of small businesses are relying more on digital tools than they were pre-COVID-19, and 1/3 say they would have closed all or part of their businesses without digital tools.
Facebook will offer trainings that show business owners how to use digital platforms to build their businesses and engage with customers. The social media company will also provide its “Boost with Facebook” educational content for CalOSBA to share with businesses that were unable to join the festival. Instagram will offer a training that includes tips, tricks, and best practices for small businesses participating so owners are fully prepared to “go live” and reach their target audience in creative ways.
“Small businesses are at the heart of our local communities and have been some of the hardest hit during the pandemic,” said Justin Osofsky, Instagram COO. “That’s why we have been so focused on supporting them as they turn to platforms like Facebook and Instagram to keep the doors open, through programs like the small business grants and in-app products like food delivery. We are delighted to be partnering with the California Governor’s Office to bring our Experience Festivals to various communities across California through Instagram Live. Shining a spotlight on the small businesses that have uplifted their communities and brought people together over the last several months has never been more important.”
Through organizing efforts by regional partners – Time Out Los Angeles, Oakland Indie Alliance, NextGen Policy, the Eva Longoria Foundation, Stockton Strong, and Goodstock Productions – a variety of California’s diverse small businesses will be represented as the festivals pop up around California.
Festival #1: Los Angeles (Southern California Region)
Date: Thursday, November 19
Going Live on Instagram via @timeoutla
Partner: Time Out Los Angeles
Festival #2: Oakland (Northern California Region)
Date: Wednesday, December 9
Going Live on Instagram via @keepitoakland18
Partner: Oakland Indie Alliance and NextGen Policy
Festival #3: Fresno and Stockton (Central California Region)
Date: PART 1, Thursday, December 10
Going Live on Instagram via @evalongoriafoundation
Partner: Eva Longoria Foundation
Date: PART 2, Friday, December 11
Going Live on Instagram via @stockmarketca
Partner: Stockton Strong and Goodstock Productions
Launched by CalOSBA in September, “Get Digital CA!” is an e-commerce initiative to promote accelerators and intensive trainings so that small businesses build the skills necessary to compete in an online marketplace. The initiative also builds off CalOSBA’s work supporting the “Calling ALL Californians: #ShopSafeShopLocal” campaign, which launched in July, and the 40+ free or discounted partner resources offered to support small businesses to get digital. For more information, and to connect to these important resources, visit the Get Digital CA! webpage.
About GO-Biz
The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) serves as the State of California’s leader for job growth and economic development efforts. GO-Biz offers a range of services to business owners including: attraction, retention and expansion services, site selection, permit streamlining, clearing of regulatory hurdles, small business assistance, international trade development, assistance with state government, and much more. For more information visit, www.business.ca.gov.
About CalOSBA
The Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) helps support economic growth and innovation by working to ensure that California’s small businesses and entrepreneurs have the information, tools and resources they need to plan, launch, manage and grow their businesses successfully and be resilient. The CalOSBA serves to elevate their voices in state government and to advocate on their behalf to help ensure all aspiring and current small business owners and entrepreneurs are provided with the opportunity to access capital, access markets, and connect to the networks and resources they need to succeed. For more information visit the website.
About the Eva Longoria Foundation
In 2012, actress and activist Eva Longoria Bastón started the Foundation to help Latinas build better futures through education and entrepreneurship. By providing Latinas with the resources to succeed in school and business, the Foundation works to improve their lives, empower their communities and shape the national conversation about leveling the playing field for minority girls and women. To date, we’ve impacted more than 28,000 Latinas in the United States and Mexico through programs in STEM education, college scholarships, mentorship, parent engagement, microloans and business training. Visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
About NextGen Policy
NextGen Policy is a California based non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and advocating for progressive policy, legislative, and programmatic issues in the areas of: climate, affordable housing, voting rights, healthcare, criminal justice reform, education, natural resources, income inequality, mental health, consumer protection, small businesses and veteran affairs.
About Oakland Indie Alliance
The Oakland Indie Alliance (OIA) is a community of more than 500 small-scale entrepreneurs who have united under a common goal of preserving Oakland’s variety, energy, and social fabric. Through sharing experiences, connections, and advocating for Oakland’s independent economy, OIA allows small businesses to thrive. Our buy local campaign, Keep it Oakland, celebrates the unique culture and vibrancy of our Oakland business community.
About Stockton Strong & Goodstock Productions
In March 2020, the Office of Mayor Michael Tubbs launched Stockton Strong, a coalition of public and private sectors and civic leaders that have coordinated community-based COVID-19 response efforts in Stockton. Stockton Strong serves as a source for an all COVID-19 related information and resources for Stockton area residents. Goodstock
About Time Out Group Plc
Time Out Group is a global media and leisure business that helps people explore and experience the best of the city through its two divisions – Time Out Media and Time Out Market. Time Out launched in London in 1968 with a magazine to help people discover the exciting new urban cultures that had started up all over the city. Today, the Group’s digital and physical presence comprises websites, mobile, magazines, live events and Time Out Market. Across these platforms Time Out distributes its curated content – written by professional journalists – around the best food, drink, culture, entertainment and travel across 328 cities in 58 countries. Time Out Group, listed on AIM, is headquartered in the United Kingdom.
