In recent weeks, Canadian startups have made announcements, launching new features, partnerships, and more. Here’s the latest on Canada’s movers and shakers.
500px partners with Format to offer portfolio websites to photographers
Toronto-based 500px has teamed up with online portfolio platform Format to offer portfolio websites access to 500px’s network of photographers.
The new integration is available through 500px’s recently launched Pro+ plan, which allows users to create a Format portfolio website that comes with features like an online store, client proofing tools, responsive themes, and flexible pages and layouts. 500px said that Pro+ users can access and import photos to their Format website directly through 500px.
“At 500px, we’re focused on building a community that helps photographers grow their skills, their networks, and their businesses,” said Andy Yang, the CEO of 500px. “With this goal in mind, we were looking to team up with a partner that could offer premium portfolio websites to our photographers. When it came time to select a partner, the choice was easy. Format comes highly recommended from its users and offers a robust toolset suited to our community.”
This partnership is the latest in 500px’s efforts to help photographers increase their visibility. In January, 500px launched a global photographer directory and in November 2016, the company launched 500px for Business, which allows brands to access custom and on-demand photography from 500px’s photographers.
Flexiti Financial announces first two members of its advisory board
Toronto-based Flexiti Financial announced that Diane J. Brisebois and Rick Padulo have joined as the first two members of the company’s advisory board.
Brisebois is the president and CEO of the Retail Council of Canada (RCC) and a member of boards like Ryerson University’s school of retail management, and Padulo is the chairman and CEO of Padulo Integrated, a multimedia retail communications company. Together, they will bring their expertise and understanding of the retail space to Flexiti Financial, which provides point-of-sale (POS) financing and payment technologies to retailers.
“Throughout my career, I have built campaigns for retailers looking for ways to better promote and sell their products and increase customer loyalty,” said Padulo. “Flexiti Financial’s POS financing platform has already proven to be a unique and powerful tool to achieve both of these objectives, and I am excited to help the company further expand into the retail market through my understanding of what consumers want from retailers.”
Flexiti Financial said Brisebois and Padulo will form the advisory board, effective immediately, and work with the company’s senior executive team to help it grow as a “trusted partner” to retailers across Canada.
“I look forward to working with advisory board members to help Flexiti Financial better understand retailers’ needs when looking for alternative financing options, and helping the company continue to navigate the retail space and achieve greater success,” said Brisebois.
EQ Works appoints Robert Meth as vice-president of growth and partnerships
Toronto-based EQ Works, which uses location-based data to help brands and agencies find and increase customers, announced that Robert Meth has been appointed as the company’s vice-president of growth and partnerships.
Meth has formerly worked in the publishing and marketing industries at companies like Torstar, TubeMogul, and Mediacom. In his new role, Meth will help EQ Works further expand its portfolio of national and international partnerships with agencies, brands, and publishers.
“Rob’s wealth of experience and industry knowledge has already made him a key addition to the team,” said Geoffrey Rotstein, CEO of EQ Works. “His appointment serves as an indicator of EQ’s full commitment to continue being a leader in advertising technology. The increased demand from clients and the greater marketing community led us to seek someone who shares our passion for innovation and excellence. Rob is the ideal fit for our tenacious and strategic team.”
Meth said he is “thrilled” to join EQ Works at a time when location-based data targeting is becoming necessary for brands and agencies.
“The power of not only knowing who your audience is, but more importantly their behaviours around where they go, what they do, and how they spend is critical. The platform and team are top-notch and I’m excited to help brands and agencies grow,” said Meth.
Frank + Oak launches Style Plan to offer personalized shopping recommendations
Frank + Oak has launched Style Plan, a new subscription-based service that allows customers to have a more personalized online shopping experience.
For $89 a month, Style Plan’s subscribers will receive five tokens, which can be traded for items from a personalized recommendations page. The recommendations page, which will change monthly as Frank + Oak adds new items to its online store, will be created based on information about users’ past purchases and unique style, budget, and schedules.
Frank + Oak said that by signing up for Style Plan, customers can save up to 25 percent off regular prices of different items, and if customers aren’t satisfied with their order, they can return the item and get their tokens back. The service’s users will have the option to pause or cancel their subscription at any time and their tokens will never expire.