When the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation created the By Bermuda programme in February they expected a rush of interest.

The programme offers small and micro businesses a website to showcase their products and a free payment gateway.

“Right now, we have 20 businesses listed online,” BEDC director of Communication and Development Jamillah Lodge said. “Everyone was telling us this was what they wanted but the take-up has not been as broad as we expected.”

Ms Lodge’s goal is to have 50 businesses signed up by the end of the fiscal year in March. She thought the slow sign-on rate was due to a lack of awareness of the programme.

“We are doing the best job that we can to market this and let people know it is available,” she said. “If it works and people are enjoying it, then we have achieved our objective.”

She likened By Bermuda to online virtual marketplaces such as Etsy or eBay.

“This allows businesses to create their own shops and sell their own services, while the BEDC subsidises the cost,” she said. “We cover the merchant fees and transaction costs.”

The absence of popular payment portals such as Apple Pay and Stripe add to the challenge of accepting online payments in Bermuda.

By Bermuda’s goal is to create opportunities for small businesses to increase sales so that, at some point, they can bear the financial burden of these business operating costs themselves.

Customers can go on to the By Bermuda website and browse various products and services. When a transaction is completed, the BEDC will then pass on the payment to the business owner. However, the BEDC does not handle order fulfilment.

“Product delivery arrangements have to be made between the seller and the customer,” Ms Lodge said. “We just facilitate the transaction.”

Businesses on By Bermuda include Ponda Pits, a natural deodorant company run by Surlena Smith; and Flow by Nico, an art product business run by 15-year-old artist Nico Bean.

ABWilson Consulting, run by Aderonke Bademosi Wilson, sells products associated with her photography, such as calendars, through By Bermuda. It also gives customers access to her consulting services.

Feedback has been positive.

“Some of the people on the site say this is the greatest thing ever,” Ms Lodge said.

To become a seller on By Bermuda, users create an account on the platform. Within the platform they create their own individual page advertising their products and services. A website or social-media page can be linked to the platform.

“There is no catch,” Ms Lodge said. “We are quasi government. Our mission is to give back to the community.”

At the moment, there are no hidden fees and the BEDC does not take a commission.

However, if By Bermuda continues to grow, this could change.

“We have had preliminary discussions about what it would look like if we did charge,” Ms Lodge said. “At the end of the day, this is not for profit. It is simply a way to support local entrepreneurs.”

Users simply log on to the By Bermuda website and select “become a seller” at the top of the page.

“You have to be a BEDC member, but there are also links on the form to do that,” Ms Lodge said. “Once the account is set up, you can upload pictures of your products and start transacting.”