Tyler MacIntosh and Peter Amo, owners of Drop-In — a new recreation-marketing business aimed at developing an online hub to promote local recreation programs for people of all ages and abilities — are hoping to introduce their new venture to the community and bring in food donations for Stratford House of Blessing with a free skate on Family Day Weekend.
While the business is still in its infancy, MacIntosh and Amo’s idea is relatively simple. They’re creating a website and eventually a mobile app that gives users access to a schedule of recreation programs of all kinds across all ages and abilities in the community.
“Drop-In is a new business venture we started that connects businesses to people and people to businesses,” MacIntosh said.
“There’s really two objectives,” Amo continued. “One is just for people to get a little more zest out of life and see what’s going on in their community whether that’s open ice and hockey, dance classes, cooking lessons and that sort of thing. … The other side of it is the business component. One thing we learned with COVID is we saw a lot of really passionate people in the community who didn’t really know how to market on a digital platform. So that’s really what this platform is all about. It’s just connecting people to businesses.”
While MacIntosh and Amo are currently focused on expanding their business connections and promoting recreation programs in Stratford and area, the ultimate goal is to expand their services across North America.
“Let’s say you’re from Stratford and you’re staying at a hotel in London, and you want to see what (recreation programs) are in the area,” MacIntosh said. “So the idea is to use the ping on your phone to see what Drop-In (programs) are available near you. That’s sort of the main goal we’re trying to achieve.
” … Once we get the website and the app and everything going, it’s a pretty simple concept to start growing.”
For now however, the business partners are encouraging anyone interested in a free skate or those who want to learn more about Drop-In to come out to Dufferin Arena Feb. 20 from 1-3 pm Admission is free with a donation of a non-perishable food item for Stratford House of Blessing, there will be free coffee, hot chocolate and Timbits from Tim Hortons, and every family in attendance will get a free Drop Card , which is good for one free recreational activity as advertised on the Drop-In website.
For more information on Drop-In and to check out some of the recreation programs already being promoted, visit drop-in.ca.