Beyond Main, a New Jersey E-commerce Startup Promotes Small Businesses on a New TV Series

New Jersey e-commerce start up promotes its retailers on new tv series

Discovering and supporting local businesses online has never been easier, thanks to Beyond Main and Re-Invention TV 

November 22, 2021 – (Montclair, NJ) Beyond Main, an online “shop local” e-commerce platform, is gathering some of its most loved local business owners to be featured in a new tv and video series, Downtowns of New Jersey that will air on WABC 7 Localish for Small Business Saturday. The episode will highlight the uniqueness of Montclair Center and showcase its diverse small business owners. Just in time to remind us all of the importance of shopping small this holiday season and beyond.

“Our downtowns are the heart of our communities, and the businesses are the soul. Without these dedicated entrepreneurs filling our streets with culture, connection, and access to expert curated goods and services, our neighborhoods would struggle to thrive. They would struggle to maintain property values, to attract and retain population counts, and to adequately support its residents through public services,” said Beyond Main’s founder, Kate Giovambattista.

There are 32 million small businesses in the US and they make-up 99.9% of all businesses, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. They employ 61 million people and 47% of the US workforce. Small business survival is a core component of what makes our country's economy function and thrive. Yet, many small business owners have had to endure the white-water rapids of this pandemic and are still barely keeping afloat. One of the biggest challenges they site, access to capital to help them market, sell, and reach customers online.

Beyond Main teamed up with Emmy winning videographer, creator, and producer, Alan Goldsher to highlight the stores and stories of Beyond Main businesses and communities. Alan was looking to venture out of NYC to find the hidden gems across the river in NJ. Alan is the creator of Reinvention TV, an online social content site that focuses on telling the untold stories and behind the scenes looks at small businesses across the tri-state region. Re-Invention TV is the NY Emmy Awarded creators/producers of the public television series Best Places to Live and Faces of Philanthropy. Having previously lived in Montclair, Alan was eager to showcase this diverse and vibrant community with the collaboration of Beyond Main and the Montclair Center Business Improvement District (BID). Their shared goal, help small brick and mortar businesses leverage e-commerce using content video marketing.

The episode is hosted by one of Montclair Center’s small business owners, Danielle DeAngelo, Co-founder of Jane Do, a women’s boutique fitness studio. Danielle takes viewers on a tour of downtown Montclair and some of its fascinating places to shop. Discover the best kicks at Shoe Sector, gifts to make you giggle at White Rabbit Black Heart, and floor to ceiling fun at Just Kidding Around. Find the perfect outfit from up-and-coming designers at Monty, uncover an eclectic mix of local makers at The Eclectic Chic Boutique, explore items to improve your mindset and home at Culture Couture, and take a fitness class from a former Radio City Rockette at Jane Do. 

During the pandemic lockdowns of 2020, Montclair Center partnered with Beyond Main, a female founded Summit based software company, to launch an online marketplace that brings convenience to searching, discovering, shopping, and gifting the Montclair Center community of small businesses through one easy online destination. The platform also provides small business owners with operational tools and resources to implement ecommerce for their business.

“We are proud to bring our energetic and exciting businesses a convenient online platform,” said Jason Gleason, Executive Director of the Montclair Center BID. “Our community prides itself  on its creativity and we are delighted to work with Beyond Main on this innovative marketplace.”

Now in its third year, Beyond Main’s core mission is to use technology to help small businesses and communities thrive in the new era of retail with a convenient way to shop locally. It has become increasingly important for small businesses to be visible online and Beyond Main makes it easy for them to do so. The platform creates an e-window and brings the downtown to locals searching online for businesses nearby.

Beyond Main allows businesses to offer easy fulfillment methods, including buy online, pick-up in-store, curbside pick up, local delivery, and shipping. Local gift cards can be purchased through the site and used at any one, or combination, of the participating businesses making it a great gifting option. Shoppers and visitors can now make purchases from multiple Montclair Center businesses using a convenient, consolidated checkout process on the Beyond Main site making it easier than ever to shop your values and support the trusted local businesses that make your community special and unique.

Montclair Center BID is generously subsidizing the first-year subscription and onboarding costs for Montclair businesses to join the platform with grant funds that they received earlier this year through Main Street New Jersey. Merchants on Beyond Main Montclair include retailers, restaurants, hair salons, dance and fitness studios, and more. A complete listing of the shops that have already launched on the Beyond Main e- commerce site can be accessed here.

“Montclair is a thriving business district and we couldn’t be more proud of this partnership,” says Kate Giovambattista, Beyond Main’s Founder. Kate continues, “We are facing the realities of the aftermath of COVID, where one in five small businesses closed in 2020 and third- party e-commerce giants continued to grow. When you shop locally, 50% of every dollar stays in the community compared to just 1% when you buy from large e-commerce. Montclair Center BID is leading the way in giving back to the business community and laying the foundation for neighbors and visitors to shop alternatively and let their purchase make a greater impact in the place they live and love.”

About Montclair Center BID

The Montclair Center Business Improvement District (BID) is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization established in 2002 by the local business community to enhance and promote downtown Montclair as a regional shopping, dining, and entertainment destination.Representing over 300 retailers and restaurants along Bloomfield Avenue and nearby adjacent streets, the BID is a Nationally Accredited Main Street Community that partners with businesses, nonprofits, landlords and government to make Montclair Center a vibrant place to eat, work, shop, live and play.

About Beyond Main

Beyond Main is a technology company based in Summit, NJ. The company utilizes technology to enhance convenience and service around shopping and supporting local businesses through a cooperative platform membership, SaaS model. Beyond Main’s marketplace is commission free and 100% of the purchases made go directly to the small business owner. Beyond Main is a female-founded  company that is focused on the long-term impact small business has on communities and is on a mission to drive economic development, revitalization, and entrepreneurial success on Main Street’s in every community.

About Re-Invention TV

RE-INVENTION TV CREATES HIGH QUALITY VIDEO CONTENT TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF TELEVISION BROADCASTERS, SPONSORS, AUDIENCES AND WORTHY ORGANIZATIONS. WHATEVER THE STORY, WHEREVER IT WILL BE SEEN, RE-INVENTION TV HAS THE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE TO PRODUCE HIGH QUALITY PROGRAMS, WEB VIDEOS AND VIRAL AD CAMPAIGNS AT COST CONSIDERABLY LOWER THAN THE INDUSTRY STANDARD