Retailers and shoppers are being encouraged to participate in the annual eMonday promotion next week sponsored by the Department of Economic Development and spearheaded by the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation.

eMonday was launched in 2010 during Global Entrepreneurship Week as an online initiative aimed at encouraging residents to “shop local”. Its goal remains to support the development of local e-commerce business in Bermuda.

The BEDC said that the initiative’s main objective is to see a vast number of e-tailers, or online retail vendors, offer online deals to shoppers. All participating consumers will have to do is shop on those e-tailers’ sites.

Ray Jones, director of the economic development department, said: “I’d like to encourage both the vendors and the community to partake of this opportunity to take advantage of exclusive deals and to support each other as the island looks beyond the pandemic. Buy, sell, tag and post — and who knows what you might win!”

The BEDC said that all participating consumers must do is #ChooseBermuda online on November 29 for a chance to win great prizes.

A list of participating e-tailers is available on the BEDC’s local e-commerce business directory, the organisation said.

Shoppers will be entered into a draw to win one of three $250 vouchers to be used at any participating e-tailer.

To be entered into the draw, shoppers are asked to upload their receipts or payment confirmations to the BEDC’s online form.

All receipts will be entered into the draw and winners will be announced on December 3. Only transactions dated November 29 will be considered for the draw.

Participating retail and service-based businesses will be required to accept orders online or accept orders online with the ability to provide full online payments.

They will also have to offer one or more discounts or promotions on eMonday.

Additionally, they must use social media tools such as Facebook and Instagram to direct vendors to their sites before eMonday using the #eMonday hashtag in their promotions.

A small business without an online presence can register to be a vendor on the BEDC’s virtual market, ByBermuda, at www.bybermuda.bm.

Erica Smith, executive director of the BEDC, said: “We are excited to launch ByBermuda in time for the holiday season. We know that supporting entrepreneurs by providing them with a low to no-cost online platform can help them to increase sales and build their businesses.”

Buyers are invited to visit www.eMonday.bm for a list of participating e-tailers and to find out about the products that are subject to eMonday deals.

Vendors are encouraged to register their online promotions.