Future-Proofing Small Businesses with a Global Online Presence Using Ecommerce and Digital Tools

Facebook and The Drum’s Marketers Can Change the World series has returned for a second year to help small businesses, or SMBs, across the globe go digital. In season two, two SMBs work on future-proofing their businesses by getting comfortable with a variety of tools, like Facebook Shops and Facebook Business Suite to search engine optimization tactics and ensuring the right content and social strategy are in place.

Throughout the second season, you’ll meet Jim Little of the 100-year-old Caurnie Soaperie and Alice Liu of Grand Tea and Imports in Chinatown, New York.

As part of Facebook and The Drum’s continued efforts to help these SMBs across resources and the support they need to thrive, we’ve brought together industry contributors to help both owners rethink how their businesses are run to ensure they are set up for digital success from their Facebook Page and Instagram account to setting up their Facebook Shops and even learning how to manage ad coupons to promote and drive traffic to their websites.

Meet the Industry Contributors

In 2021 and beyond, as an SMB, owners don’t have to know everything, but understanding small steps in going digital can move their business forward. The two teams of industry contributors helped both businesses with their digital makeover by first understanding each business and then creating bespoke strategies from website implementation to SEO to community building all to help each SMB succeed and expand their customer base.

The Caurnie Soaperie team consisted of: Natasha Chetiyawardana, Co-founder, Bow & Arrow (part of Accenture Interactive), Shayne Cuffy, experience lead, VMLY&R- Healthcare/ Pharmaceuticals, Stuart Gilmour, owner, Stand, Srija Chatterjee, global marketing director, Dole Sunshine Company, Mel Henson, head of business strategy and creative, optimiZon Ltd, Cameron Worth, chief creative officer, SharpEnd and Cassandra Stevens, global head of commerce, Publicis Commerce

The Grand Tea & Imports industry contributor team consisted of: Tressie Lieberman, VP digital marketing, off-premise, Chipotle, Wes Morton, Founder & CEO, Wes Morton Strategy, David Kang, information security risk lead, USC, Colin Beauchemin, founder and designer, Full Bleed Design, Gayatri Sriram, digital marketing manager, India and SEA- Bacardi India, Melanie Mahaffey, global executive director, Communications, R/GA and Matt Weinberg, co-founder, president, Happy Cog

Taking SMBs to the Next Level

With the help of amazing marketing and industry experts sharing their tips on how to improve their digital presence and performance, these two SMBs have long-lasting advice to take their business to the next level. From having a consistent branded and optimized website to leveraging social media — these SMBs now have the tools in place to truly grow their businesses.

“I’ve enjoyed the experience," said Jim Little of Caurnie Soaperie. "It’s been enlightening and the process has opened my eyes. I learned that customer loyalty is incredibly important and Facebook Shops can help make the whole (ecommerce) process friction-free.”

“The experience has been amazing," said Alice Liu of Grand Tea & Imports. "As a small mom-and-pop family run business, we’re always in the weeds thinking about the day-to-day operations. From being able to meet people from the top of their game and being taken under their wings from so many professionals — we’re so incredibly lucky to be a part of this. “

To catch up on Facebook and The Drum’s Marketers Can Change the World series, visit here. In case you missed it, watch season one now.