Shopping platform Streetify is supporting government efforts around the globe to save local businesses during coronavirus-related lockdown orders by letting them show delivery options and other store information on a virtual platform.

In this time of social distancing, brick-and-mortar shop owners are relying on takeaway and kerbside delivery purchases, as well as online sales, to survive. On Streetify’s virtual shopping boulevards, business owners can put messages in their storefront windows announcing deals, new hours, delivery options, what goods they have in stock, and more, all for free for the year.

Streetify provides virtual stores for every business’ web site, replicating the shopping experience but without the risk. Shoppers find out which shops are open, pre-order items for pick-up, or arrange for delivery, all from the safety of their homes. It is available free throughout the USA, Canada, UK, India and Australia as a web site and free app for both iOS and Android, and will be rolling out elsewhere this year.

“Since launching Streetify last week, we have now transformed over five million local stores and national web sites into virtual stores so firms and consumers can respond to the difficult circumstances we find ourselves in,” said founder Martin Banbury. “We hope many businesses and jobs can be saved with this new technology.”

Streetify says it has the most voucher codes, cashbacks and coupons of any online platform, searching over fifty top sites, such as Groupon, Rakuten and Honey, for deals. It puts checked deal site links in store windows, after any store owner’s messages.

With Google and a couple of taps, consumers effortlessly create and organise multiple personalised avenues comprising their favourite stores. Choices can be shared via social media, and shoppers can even follow famous celebrities, buying from their favourite stores and sponsors. To enhance the feeling of realism, Streetify is geo-referenced so at night the lights come on, and if it’s raining in the real world, it will rain in the Streetify one, and so on.