VIM & VIGR, creator of stylish and comfortable compression socks, is proud to be featured in Google’s Economic Impact Report as an example of a business that is leveraging Google’s digital tools to connect with customers and adapt to new challenges.
This year, small businesses like VIM & VIGR generated $243 million in economic activity in Montana.
“Hearing directly from our customers has allowed us to create a better product and brand that serves—and connects with—our community more effectively,” said Michelle Huie, founder of VIM & VIGR. “COVID forced us all to rethink our strategies and shift accordingly and thanks to digital tools like Google’s, we were able to adapt quickly.”
When COVID-19 hit, VIM & VIGR lost 60 percent of its revenue overnight when in-store retailers shut down during shelter in place. The brand’s revenue then shifted from brick-and-mortar retail to e-commerce, selling directly to customers by using digital tools to grow its online presence. As a result, VIM & VIGR’s online business has grown 150 percent in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020.
“It’s just one example of how we’ve been able to move quickly toward what really matters to our community,” said Huie. “We’d never be where we are, or would’ve helped as many people as we have, without the help of online tools like Google.”
Looking forward, small business owners remain optimistic about the future of their businesses, with 93 percent believing they will maintain or increase their use of digital tools post pandemic.
