Some of the Myti Vermont products. VermontBiz photos.
Myti Currently Services Chittenden County, Plan for Statewide Expansion Underway
Vermont Business Magazine Just in time for the holidays, an innovative online shopping platform is bringing locals a new way to shop. Marrying the convenience of online ordering with a value-driven, locally minded philosophy, Myti aims to keep dollars in Vermont while competing with large-scale global ecommerce giants.
Twenty-five local businesses currently partner with Myti, with more being added all the time. A catalog of 19,000+ products is available to shoppers.
Statewide expansion is in the early stages following a successful launch in Chittenden County, founder and Chief Visionary Officer Bill Calfee said Wednesday during a celebration event held at Hula Lakeside in Burlington.
Myti Founder Bill Calfee
Calfee explained that Vermonters spend about $1,100 per minute with Amazon. Amazon is not the only mega-marketplace capturing dollars from Vermont. Spending by state residents on multiple ecommerce giants adds up to more than $500 million per year — a staggering amount of money to drain from the Vermont economy. In contrast, shopping with local businesses allows Vermonters to reinvest those dollars locally to fund social missions, support cultural experiences and youth programs, build economic resilience, and strengthen local businesses.
“We envision local communities thriving everywhere. Each community has its unique cultural, social, financial and environmental needs. Myti is designed to give people the tools to make a difference, to feel more connected, and to be proud of their communities,” Calfee said.
In a show of support, statewide leaders joined Calfee, the Myti team and business owners. Vermont’s treasurer Mike Pieciak, Dan Smith of the Vermont Community Foundation, Tamira Martel of the Governor’s Institutes of Vermont, Sarah Kearns of the Vermont Small Business Development Center and Fauna Hurley, business liaison for the Office of Sen. Peter Welch, addressed the crowd gathered to share their support for the new model and the potential long-term effects for Vermont and Vermonters.
Myti team members Ryan Ouellette, senior engineer, and Daniela Arias, product owner, shared insights into the company’s growth journey and the custom technology that drives the Myti platform.
Myti has three intentions — by connecting local shoppers with small businesses in the area, it seeks to:
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Empower people to keep money in local communities everywhere
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Equip independent retailers with technology to compete with ecommerce mega-marketplaces
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Increase opportunities for the personal interactions we all crave
Participating stores range from Homeport to Small Dog Electronics. Shoppers can get puppy chow from Pet Food Warehouse, socks from Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel, or diapers from Jake’s ONE Market. Forget an anniversary? Jennifer Kahn Jewelry and a quick delivery turnaround can save the day.
About Myti: The online platform where shoppers find their daily necessities from local businesses. myti.com.
Source: BURLINGTON, Vermont (Nov. 2, 2023) — Myti