For Business: Get Discovered by Locals & Visitors

Built in the Kootenays

Built here, for here

Kootenay Connection was created in Creston and is run by KC and Kristeen, two people with deep roots here and decades of experience between them in business, technology, sales and service. We work directly with local business owners, not through national aggregators or distant corporate offices. Your business is treated like a partner, not just an entry in a database. We understand the unique challenges and opportunities of running a business in communities like Creston, Nelson, Trail, Cranbrook, Fernie, Invermere, Golden, Castlegar and across the region. Read our story.

Why join Kootenay Connection?

Everything you need to reach more customers, at zero cost to you. No subscription fees, no listing charges, just results.

Unlike national deal sites or one-off coupon books, Kootenay Connection is built specifically for Kootenay businesses. No upfront ad spend, no deep one-time cuts just to get listed, no out-of-town discount hunters you'll never see again. We focus on building sustainable relationships between local businesses and community members who genuinely want to discover what you offer.

Zero cost to you

No subscription fees, no listing charges, no hidden costs. Join as a participating merchant completely free and start reaching customers immediately.

Reach more customers

Tap into a community of locals and tourists actively searching for deals in the Kootenay region. Get discovered by people looking for exactly what you offer.

Drive foot traffic

Use strategic offers to bring people in during off-peak times. Fill your slow periods and turn browsers into buyers.

Increased visibility

Get featured in the app's curated offers and interactive maps without spending a dollar on advertising. Your business gets seen by thousands of potential customers.

You control your deals

Choose what discount to offer, when it runs, and how many redemptions you'll accept. Complete flexibility to match your business needs and protect your margins.

Low-effort management

We can onboard you and manage your content, or you can do it yourself if you prefer. Your choice, your pace.

Analytics and insights

See views and redemptions week by week, an Offer Health check with next steps, and a full redemption history. Track what works and adjust.

Acquisition and retention

Users who discover and appreciate your offer may become regular customers, even when not using a discount. Turn one-time visitors into loyal patrons.

In-store or online

Redeem in person with your private 4-digit code, or run an online coupon offer that reveals a code and a link to your web store. Same portal, your choice.

A VIP certificate every year

Once you have a live offer, claim a complimentary VIP Pass code each year. Use it yourself or hand it to a loyal customer as a thank you.

Earn as an affiliate

Share your affiliate code. Customers get a discount on their VIP Pass, you earn a commission on every signup, paid monthly by e-transfer.

Promotion on request

Ask us to feature an offer on social media, highlight it in the app or send a push notification, right from your dashboard.

Why now?

Here's what we see around here, and why we think the timing is good.

People are already driving past you

Every summer Highway 3 fills up with families heading for the lakes, and every winter the ski hills fill the motels. Kristeen has spent thirty years watching visitors stop for gas and a coffee, ask if there's anything to do in town, and pull back onto the highway. We built this so the answer is already in their pocket.

Locals don't always know the next valley

Someone in Nelson might never have wandered Kaslo's main street on a slow afternoon, and plenty of people in Cranbrook haven't eaten in Creston since a road trip years ago. The Kootenays are big and most of us stick to our own valley. A good offer is a small nudge to make the drive.

We're still small, and that helps you

There are a little over fifty businesses on the map right now, spread across the region. That's small enough that every new offer gets noticed, and small enough that when you email us, you get KC or Kristeen, not a ticket number. The businesses joining now are the ones shaping what this becomes.

The coupon book had a good run

For years, reaching visitors meant a page in a printed coupon book or a rack card at the visitor centre. Those still have a place. But the person deciding where to eat tonight is standing in a parking lot looking at their phone, and we wanted something local waiting for them there.

Slow seasons are real here

October after the campers leave. April before the lake warms up. Tuesday afternoons in February. An offer that only runs in those windows costs you nothing the rest of the year, and it gives locals a reason to come in when you'd most like to see them.

How it works for merchants

Sign up in a minute

Enter your business name, town and email at the business portal. We send a verification link, you set a password, and our team reviews your listing before it goes live. Prefer that we set it up for you? Just ask.
Build your profile and offers

Add hours, photos and a map pin, then create your offer. You decide the discount, the dates and the limits: per customer, and an optional total cap across all customers. Tailor it to your goals and protect your margins.
Customers find you

Locals and visitors browse offers by town and category in the app, on the web app and in our public directory. Your business gets discovered by people actively looking for what you provide.
Simple validation

When a customer taps Redeem in the app, you enter your private 4-digit code on their phone and provide the discount. The redemption lands on your dashboard instantly. Quick, easy, and fraud-resistant.
Ongoing support

Email support@kootenayconnection.app for any issues or content updates. Choose to manage content yourself or have us do it for you.

Common questions from business owners

Will it cut into my margins?

You maintain complete control over the impact. Set the discount amount, limit how many times each user can redeem, and optionally set a global redemption limit to cap the total number of redemptions across all users. The goal is to generate incremental revenue from new customers, not cannibalize your full-price sales. Think of it as a targeted marketing expense that only costs you when it works.

How do I know it works? What is the ROI?

We provide detailed metrics including views, redemptions, and customer engagement data. You can track whether those redemptions turn into full orders, repeat customers, or upsells. Many businesses find the ROI far exceeds traditional advertising channels like flyers or print ads.

Is it too much work to manage?

You choose your level of involvement. We can handle all the onboarding and content management if you prefer minimal effort, or you can manage it yourself if you want full control. Our goal is to make this as easy as possible with minimal burden on you.

What about fraud or misuse?

The system includes multiple layers of protection: per-user redemption limits, optional global redemption limits, unique 4-digit validation codes, and verification processes. You have complete control over redemption limits at both the individual and global level. Once an offer reaches its limits, it automatically shows as Sold Out to prevent further redemptions.

Ready to grow your business?

Join Kootenay Connection today and start reaching more customers across the Kootenay region.

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