For many small B-to-C businesses, the hardest working member of their sales team is their webstore -- working 24 hours a day and seven days a week. As local artisan chocolate makers Taza Chocolate work around the clock to recover from heavy flood damage to their recently renovated factory and brand new retail store, they have enlisted the help of the e-commerce system to do more than just sell products.

In order to increase cash flow in their time of need, Taza is now offering “Taza Dollars” which are shopping certificates worth 10 dollars that customers can redeem at their retail store when it opens. Taza Dollars will help generate much-needed cash to pay for time-sensitive factory renovations and are readily available on the Taza Common Goal-powered webstore. In addition to increasing cash flow, the vouchers will drive business to the brand new factory store and generate buzz for the brand. The Taza money is printed on recycled Taza 80% Stone Ground Bar wrappers. Taza’s current situation is an inspiring example of a brand’s ability to utilize its online resources. Silverscape is looking forward to the grand opening of the Taza retail space, located at 561 Windsor St. in Somerville, MA and expected to open between August and September 2010.

The e-comm site is not the only digital medium helping to generate business for the artisan chocolate company. Taza’s new direct-mail newsletter campaign from Taza, designed by Silverscape heads to inboxes this month. Be sure to read last month’s blog entry which discusses how Taza is making social media work harder for their business.