If you are locally-owned business in Kalamazoo County and you have physical goods to sell, you belong here. Southwest Michigan First Chamber membership not required.
Ready to get started?
Shop Local Greater Kalamazoo is where our community starts looking. Shoppers find you here, 24/7, alongside the bakeries, the makers, the boutiques, and the local businesses who already make this place feel like home. More than a directory. It’s a discovery platform.
New eyes, every day.
Shop Local Greater Kalamazoo brings shoppers across Greater Kalamazoo and beyond right to your business. New customers. New orders. New ways to be found.
Year-round. Always open.
Your products stay live and shoppable on Shop Local Greater Kalamazoo all year. Through the off-season. Through holidays. Around the clock. We host the platform. You make the sales.
No commission. No listing fees.
Pay only standard payment processing (2.9% + $0.30 per order).
More reasons to make Shop Local Greater Kalamazoo home:
- E-commerce Enablement: New to selling online? Start here. We onboard in person, provide training, and walk you through every step. No website required.
- New Sales Channel: Already selling online? You still belong here. Shop Local Greater Kalamazoo is a year-round digital channel that pairs with your existing storefront, website, or market presence.
- Shopify & Square Inventory Integration: Your Shopify or Square inventory syncs in minutes. Your existing tools keep working. Manage and showcase your products without re-listing anything by hand.
- Community Promotion: We promote you. The marketplace team, the Southwest Michigan First Chamber, the City of Kalamazoo, the City of Portage, and our community partners all share the work of driving shoppers to Shop Local Greater Kalamazoo. Your business comes along for the ride.
- Online Selling Support: You are not alone. The marketplace team reviews your products, your shop, and your listings. We answer questions. We help with customer service. We sit down with you when you need it.
How it works
From application to live, in three steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much does it cost?
No commission. No listing fees. You only pay standard payment processing (2.9% + $0.30 per order). Thanks to the sponsorships by the Southwest Michigan First Chamber of Commerce, and the cities of Kalamazoo and Portage.
Q: How long does onboarding take?
Onboarding can take as little as 30 minutes, depending on your familiarity with e-commerce. We recommend reserving 1-2 dedicated hours to establish your profile, publish five inventory items, and plan a social post to alert your followers. This is the approach our workshops take: fully live in one sitting.
Q: Do I have to ship?
For most categories, shipping is part of how you reach customers beyond your storefront. There are exceptions (fresh produce and a few others), and shipping setup is one of the most common conversations we have with new sellers. Let’s talk it through together so we land on what works for your business.
Q: I do not have a website. Can I still join?
Yes. Shop Local Greater Kalamazoo is built to meet you where you are. No website required to list. Small inventories welcome!
Q: I already have a Shopify or Square store. Will Shop Local Greater Kalamazoo conflict with it?
No. Your existing tools keep working. We sync your inventory in minutes.
Q: What if I sell services instead of physical goods?
Shop Local Greater Kalamazoo is designed for physical goods, but is happy to support services. The profile and inventory process is the same.
Q: Who runs Shop Local Greater Kalamazoo?
Built by the Southwest Michigan First Chamber. Supported by the City of Kalamazoo and the City of Portage. Run by a marketplace team that shows up in person.
Additional Questions
Have questions? The Southwest Michigan First Chamber team is ready to help.
Email support@shoplocalgreaterkalamazoo.com.
