The Fetch.je site, launched yesterday, enables Islanders to order restaurant foods, essential goods and luxury products and have them delivered, and also provides access to business services.
The website, which is a partnership between DWE Digital and 365Tickets, offers businesses an instant online presence, so they can continue trading while their doors are shut, and is aiming to help firms that are under threat survive.
Nude Food, Cargo and Seymour Hotels are among the restaurants already signed up, while individual fishermen and farm shops can also sell produce through the site.
Customers are able to order and pay from several different merchants in the same online ‘basket’ via the platform and pay with their debit or credit card.
Businesses which want to get involved do not need an existing website with Fetch offering to create a store for them and upload their goods, services and prices.
Companies which already have a website can add a ‘shop with Fetch’ button, to take customers straight to a bespoke online store. There is no minimum contract term or transaction fees.
Dave Edwards, of DWE Digital, said that they wanted to ‘show Jersey what the digital community can do’ to help during the crisis.
‘This is about harnessing all our e-commerce and logistics skills to keep our much-loved physical businesses afloat, and keep money flowing into the Island economy,’ he said.
‘It’s just one local solution to a rapidly-evolving global crisis, but we hope it’ll make a difference.’
Meanwhile Tim De Gruchy, managing director of 365Tickets, said the aim of the platform was to ‘keep local businesses in business’.
‘365Tickets has a proven technology platform and a team that can manage a marketplace model,’ he said.
Paul Frankham’s Performance Physiotherapy practice is offering remote appointments via the website.
‘We have converted all face-to-face appointments to video consultations,’ he said.
‘Same expertise, delivered in a different way. We know that fetch.je can spread the word and connect our community with valued services.’
Meanwhile, Liam Montgomery, owner of the Cargo Coffee Bar, said that the platform would help his business continue to operate by offering a new takeaway service.
‘Like many other small restaurants, we were devastated by the future prospects, and were unprepared for the task of setting up a takeaway service,’ he said.
‘Fetch has made the whole process easy and hassle free, and thankfully, we can continue to support our customers.’
