App made in Sudbury, Ont., promotes deals at chamber of commerce businesses across Canada

An app designed in Sudbury, Ont., that connects people with businesses that are part of the local chamber of commerce is now available in 56 cities across Canada.

Karen Hastie came up with the idea for the Chamber Perks app when she heard about the struggles some chambers of commerce were facing trying to show value for their members.

Anyone can download the free Chamber Perks app, which provides discounts with businesses that are members of their local chamber of commerce.

"The only businesses that can be featured on the app have to belong to local chambers of commerce across Canada and that consists of over 200,000 businesses," Hastie said.

By working directly with chambers, Hastie said it provides a built-in audience for her app.

"Creating an app, anyone can do that," she said.

"Getting people to download it, that's a lot tougher of an ask. So the cool thing about us is having a pre-made network of chamber businesses. It makes it easier for those businesses that belong to a chamber to get their employees, their families and friends to download it."

Hastie said the app is a way to encourage people to support local businesses and buy Canadian goods and services, either in their own city or if they are visiting from out of town.

She said it's also a way for businesses to get other messages to the public. 

"So they might be advertising 'We're hiring, we're relocating, we just won an award, we've got a sale on' So it really becomes a local communication tool for those businesses," Hastie said.

To participate, chambers of commerce pay her a subscription fee, but she said it benefits them since it brings in more customers to member businesses. 

Hastie said the app is expanding into more cities, including a move to connect with more chambers of commerce in Quebec.

This is a second career for her, after spending the past 30 years running a fitness equipment store in Sudbury. 

"I love helping small businesses, I mean that's been my passion. This to me was a natural fit," Hastie said. 

"It was never really about building a massive tech company and making millions of dollars. It was about taking my passion and putting it to work."