AVC Local Shop — Complete Guide
Everything you need to know, in one place
🛍️ AVC Local Shop
The Social Commerce Platform Built for Community
Comprehensive Guide — Shoppers · Vendors · Creators · Admins
🏘️ This is NOT Amazon. This is YOUR neighbourhood.
The AdVoteCate Local Shop is a hyperlocal social commerce platform built exclusively for independent small businesses. We do not allow large corporations, big-box chains, or industrial vendors. This platform exists to put money back into the hands of real people — your neighbours, local artisans, home-based entrepreneurs, and community service providers.
Every feature you'll read about below was designed around one question: how do we keep more money in the community?
Small Business Only
No franchises. No corporations. Ever.
Hyperlocal First
Your city shown first, always.
5% Commission
You keep 95%. Lowest fees in local commerce.
Creator × Vendor
Influencers promote you, earn commission.
Our Mission & Core Principles
What the AVC Local Shop stands for — non-negotiables.
🏪 Small Business Exclusively
Every vendor on AVC Local Shop is an independent small business owner, sole proprietor, home-based seller, or local service provider. No franchises. No corporations. No chain stores — ever.
📍 Hyperlocal by Default
When you open the Local Shop, you see your city first — always. Products from your own neighbourhood are prioritized above everything else. Province-wide and national are secondary options.
✅ Verified Community Buyers
AVC buyers are verified residents of their regions — real neighbours buying from real neighbours. No bots. No fraud. No anonymous accounts.
💳 Transparent 5% Commission
AVC charges a flat 5% commission on every sale. Vendors keep 95%. No listing fees on Basic. No hidden charges. The lowest commission structure in local commerce.
All 8 Tabs — Complete Navigation Reference
What each tab does and when to use it.
🛍️ Shop Local
The main product browsing experience. Filter by city, province, or Canada. Search by keyword, filter by category, and discover boosted and sponsored listings. Products marked ⚡ Featured are vendor-boosted; 👑 Sponsored are from Elite-tier vendors — always clearly labelled.
⚡ Flash Deals
Time-limited deals from local vendors with real countdown timers. Each deal shows discount %, original price, deal price, live claim counter, and a unique promo code. When the timer expires or claims run out — the deal is gone permanently.
📡 Live Drops
Creator-hosted live shopping events. Watch product demos in real-time, get live-only exclusive deals, ask questions in chat. Links to the AVC Live Broadcast page. Vendors can book creators for live sessions through the Creator × Vendor Hub.
⭐ Creator Picks
Curated product collections assembled by AVC creators. Hand-picked local favourites — like LTK and ShopMy but community-owned. When you buy through a creator's collection, a commission goes to the creator (funded by the vendor, not added to your price).
🏪 Meet Vendors
Browse all active local vendors. See their tier (Basic / Pro / Elite), product count, active creator deals, ratings, and location. Click any vendor to see their full store profile.
❤️ Saved
Your personal wishlist of saved products. Tap ❤️ on any product card to save it. All saved items live here for easy reference.
💰 My Store / Start Selling
If you're a vendor: manage your dashboard, add products, view stats (sales, revenue, creator deals), and use power tools (Run Ads, Creator Partners, Creator Hub). If not a vendor yet: open your free store here in under 3 minutes.
🛒 Community Wishlist
Post items you're looking for. Local vendors and neighbours respond with what they have available. Community-first commerce — no middleman, no algorithms, just neighbours helping neighbours.
Shopper Guide — How to Buy Local
Complete step-by-step buying reference for community members.
Open the Local Shop
Tap 🛍️ Local Shop in the sidebar, top navigation, or the "All Features" quick-links bar at the top of any page.
Your City is Default
Products from your verified AVC city are shown first. No setup required — your location is pre-loaded from your profile.
Expand Your Radius
Use the location filter: 📍 My City → 🗺️ Province → 🌐 All Canada. Switch anytime.
Filter by Category
Category pills at the top: Food & Drink, Clothing, Health & Beauty, Home & Garden, Electronics, Arts & Crafts, Services, Pets, Sports, Books, Other.
Search
The search bar finds products by name and vendor business name instantly as you type.
Understand Listing Order
Boosted (⚡ Featured) and sponsored (👑 Sponsored) products appear first, then sorted by ranking score (views × saves × orders). Always clearly labelled so you know what you're seeing.
Save Favourites
Tap ❤️ on any product card to save it. All saved items are in the ❤️ Saved tab.
View Full Details
Click any product card → see full description, price, vendor location, shipping/pickup info, tags, and a creator badge if it's in a curated collection.
Contact the Vendor
Inside the product detail → "Contact Vendor" opens AVC in-app messaging directly to that vendor.
Claim Flash Deals
In the ⚡ Flash Deals tab → copy the promo code → contact the vendor to redeem. Act fast — claim limits are real.
Post a Wishlist Request
Can't find what you need? Go to 🛒 Community Wishlist → post what you're looking for → local vendors respond with what they have.
Flash Deals — Time-Limited Local Offers
Real countdowns. Real claim limits. Designed to reward early community members.
⚡ What is a Flash Deal?
A flash deal is a short-window, deeply discounted offer from a local vendor. Every deal has a live countdown timer, a maximum number of claims, a discount percentage, and a unique promo code. When the timer hits zero or the claim limit is reached — the deal closes permanently. First come, first served.
For Shoppers
Find Deals
Click the ⚡ Flash Deals tab in the Local Shop.
Read the Card
Original price, deal price, discount %, promo code, and a live claim counter — all visible at a glance.
Claim It
Copy the promo code → contact the vendor via AVC messaging and include the code to redeem your deal.
5 Deal Types
Flash (hours), Daily, Weekly, Bundle, and Clearance — each with different time windows and discount structures.
For Vendors — How to Post a Deal
My Store → Flash Deals Panel
Inside your vendor dashboard in the Local Shop.
Select the Product
Title and normal price auto-fill from your listing.
Set Deal Details
Deal price, start time, end time, max claims, and promo code (or auto-generate one).
Publish
Goes live immediately in the ⚡ tab, shown city-first.
⚠️ Policy: No Fake Discounts
Flash Deals must reflect genuine discounts from your normal listed price. Artificially inflating the original price to manufacture a large discount % is a policy violation and may result in listing removal and vendor warning.
Community Wishlist — Post What You Need, Vendors Respond
The most direct form of community commerce. No search engines. No algorithms. Just people.
🏘️ How It Works in 3 Steps
Post What You Need
Describe the item or service. Add budget, urgency, and category.
Vendors Respond
Local sellers bid: "I have this! Here's my price and availability."
Connect & Buy Local
You pick the best offer. Mark it fulfilled. The vendor is publicly credited.
Posting a Request (8 Steps)
Go to Community Wishlist Tab
Local Shop → 🛒 Community Wishlist tab.
Click "Post a Request"
Purple button top-right → form opens.
Write a Clear Title
e.g. "Homemade sourdough bread", "Local dog walker", "Vintage floor lamp". Be specific.
Add Details
Description, quantity, condition needed, when you need it by.
Set Your Budget
Max budget in CAD (optional). Check "flexible" if open to negotiation.
Choose Urgency
Whenever / This Week / Need Today! — urgency shows as colour-coded badges. "Need Today!" shows a red border so vendors can prioritize.
Pick Category & Tags
Helps vendors in the right industry find your request.
Post It
Goes live immediately. Visible to all community members and local vendors.
Responding as a Vendor
Find Requests
Go to 🛒 Community Wishlist tab. As a registered vendor, use the "I Can Fulfill" filter to see only open requests relevant to you.
"I Have This!"
Purple button on any open card → a response form slides open below.
Write Your Offer
Describe what you have, how it matches the request, availability, and any special details about your product.
Add Your Price
Enter an offered price (optional but recommended — shows prominently in bold green, easy for buyers to compare).
Submit
Your response appears under that request with your vendor badge. The requester can see all responses and choose the best one.
✅ Marking Fulfilled
Expand your request → read all vendor responses → click "Mark as Fulfilled by this Vendor" on your chosen offer. Status changes to ✅ Fulfilled. The vendor is publicly credited and other vendors know it's resolved.
💡 Not a Vendor? You Can Still Help!
Community members who aren't vendors can click "I Know Someone" to leave a community tip — "My neighbour makes these!" or "Check out Sarah's Bakery on Maple St."
🟢 Open
Accepting vendor responses. Anyone can respond.
✅ Fulfilled
Requester found their item. Vendor publicly credited.
⛔ Closed
Closed by requester or admin without fulfillment.
Live Shopping Drops — Creator-Hosted Events
TikTok Shop — but local, community-owned, and ad-free.
For Shoppers
Watch Live Product Demos
Click 📡 Live Drops → see all upcoming and live events with host, vendor, time, and topic.
Get Live-Only Deals
Vendors set exclusive_deal_percent — e.g. 20% off only during the stream. These prices disappear when the event ends.
Ask Questions in Real-Time
Chat with the creator and vendor directly during the live stream. Get honest, immediate answers about the product.
Set a Reminder
Click the 🔔 bell on any upcoming event → receive an AVC notification before it goes live.
For Vendors & Creators
Book a Creator
Live Drops → "Book a Creator for Live Shop" → links to Creator × Vendor Hub → propose a live_shopping collab deal.
Schedule the Event
Once the collab is approved, schedule your LiveShoppingEvent with date, title, description, and thumbnail.
Set a Live-Only Discount
Enter an exclusive_deal_percent to offer viewers a deal they can't get anywhere else.
Track Revenue
total_orders and total_revenue update in real-time during your live event. peak_viewers is recorded for analytics.
Creator Picks — Curated Collections
Hand-picked local favourites by community creators. Shop with purpose.
⭐ Like LTK and ShopMy — but local, community-owned, and by your actual neighbours.
AVC creators assemble named collections of local products they genuinely love — e.g. "Sarah's Top Summer Picks" or "Best Local Bakers in Burlington". When you buy through a creator's collection, a commission (typically 10%) goes to the creator. This is funded entirely by the vendor — your price doesn't change.
For Shoppers
Find Collections
⭐ Creator Picks tab → all active collections with creator name, vendor partner, and products.
Commission Transparency
Each collection card shows the % going to the creator. You see exactly how your purchase supports both vendor and creator.
Creator Badge
Products in a collection show a ⭐ creator badge on their detail page — with a note explaining the commission relationship.
For Creators
Propose a Collection Deal
Creator × Vendor Hub → find a vendor → propose a "Curated Collection" deal.
Select Products
Once approved, choose which products from the vendor's store to feature in your named collection.
Earn Commission
Every purchase made through your collection earns you a % set in the deal agreement. Tracked automatically via affiliate_code.
Vendor Guide — Open & Grow Your Local Store
Everything an independent seller needs to know — from opening day to scaling up.
✅ Who Can Sell on AVC Local Shop?
✅ Home-based businesses & cottage industries
✅ Independent artisans, crafters & makers
✅ Local service providers (lawn care, tutoring, photography, etc.)
✅ Small independent retail shops
✅ Local farmers, bakers & food producers
✅ Community event organizers
❌ Franchises, chains, or corporate entities — NOT permitted
❌ Industrial or wholesale-only operations
Opening Your Store — 5 Steps, Under 3 Minutes
Go to Local Shop → 💰 Start Selling tab
Click the green "Open My Local Store — Free" button.
Fill Your Store Profile
Business name, city, province, business category, short description. Phone and website are optional.
Store is Live Instantly
Opens immediately on Basic tier. No admin approval needed to start selling.
Add Your First Listing
My Store tab → "Add Product" → title, price, category, description, stock, shipping/pickup info, tags. Publish instantly.
Manage & Grow
Track views, orders, and revenue from your My Store dashboard. Use the Power Tools panel (Run Ads, Creator Partners, Creator Hub) to grow your reach.
⚡ Vendor Power Tools
📊 Run Ads
Opens the Advertiser Portal where you can create targeted ad campaigns across the entire AVC platform — community feed, motions page, town hall, podcasts — reaching thousands of engaged citizens in your area.
⭐ Creator Partners
Opens the Creator × Vendor Hub where you can review incoming creator pitches and invite creators to promote your products via affiliate codes, sponsored posts, curated collections, or live shopping sessions.
💝 Creator Hub
If you're also a creator on AVC, this links to the Influencer Hub where you can manage your own tips, subscriptions, and creator earnings alongside your vendor business.
📊 Your Store Dashboard Stats
📦 Sales — total order count
💰 Revenue — total gross sales
🏷️ Products — active listing count
⭐ Creator Deals — active partnerships
⚡ Flash Sale Hero Banner
The Local Shop hero section shows a live countdown for the platform-wide flash promotion period. Vendors who open a store during this window receive special promotional benefits. The countdown is displayed to all visitors.
Vendor Plans & Pricing
All plans charge 5% commission. Plans differ in listing limits, visibility, and boost credits.
Basic
Free forever
5 active listings
Standard city ranking
Basic store profile
Community messaging
Creator partnerships unlocked
Ad portal access included
5% commission on all sales
Pro ⭐
$19.99/month
50 active listings
3 boost credits/month
Priority city ranking
Analytics dashboard
Pro badge on profile
Creator × Vendor priority listing
5% commission on all sales
Elite 👑
$49.99/month
Unlimited listings
10 boost credits/month
Top-of-feed sponsored placement
Full analytics + AI insights
Elite badge + priority support
Live shopping event hosting
5% commission on all sales
Creator × Vendor Hub — Partnership Ecosystem
Where local commerce meets community influence. Creators pitch vendors. Vendors invite creators. Everyone wins.
🔗 Affiliate Link
Creator shares a unique promo code. Every sale using that code earns the creator a set % commission.
📸 Sponsored Post
Vendor pays a flat fee for the creator to post about their products on the AVC social feed.
⭐ Curated Collection
Creator hand-picks vendor products into a named collection shown in the ⭐ Creator Picks tab.
📡 Live Shop Session
Creator hosts a live stream showcasing vendor products with live-only exclusive deals.
👑 Brand Ambassador
Long-term ongoing partnership — creator represents the brand across all their content on AVC.
For Creators — Propose a Deal
Go to Creator × Vendor Hub
Sidebar OR Local Shop → quick portal links → "⚡ Creator × Vendor Hub".
Browse Vendors
See all active local vendors with product counts, tier, and active deal count.
Propose a Deal
Select deal type → set commission rate or flat fee → select products → write a pitch message.
Affiliate Code Auto-Generated
When the vendor approves, a unique promo code is auto-generated and copyable from your deal card.
Track Performance in Real-Time
Total Clicks, Conversions, Revenue Driven, and Total Earned all update live on your deal card.
Revenue Transparency
On a $100 Sale via Creator Affiliate Link:
👤 Customer
$100
🏪 Vendor
$85
🎙️ Creator
$10
🏢 AVC
$5
Creator commission rate is negotiated per deal. Example uses 10%.
🏪 For Vendors — Manage Incoming Pitches
Creator × Vendor Hub → "Incoming Pitches" → review creator profiles, follower count, deal type, and commission request → Accept or Decline. Accepted deals tracked under My Store → Creator Partners.
Commission & Payouts — Transparent & Fair
No hidden fees. No surprises. Simple and honest.
You earn 95% of every sale. We take 5%. Always.
No hidden fees, no surge pricing, no listing fees on Basic. The 5% covers payment processing, platform infrastructure, and fraud protection.
$50 sale
• You receive: $47.50
• AVC commission: $2.50
• No other fees
$200 sale
• You receive: $190.00
• AVC commission: $10.00
• No listing fee added
$100 via creator affiliate
• Vendor keeps: $85.00
• Creator earns: $10.00
• AVC fee: $5.00
📅 Payouts are processed within 3–5 business days via your registered payout method. Payout settings are managed from your vendor store dashboard.
Trust, Safety & Community Standards
How AVC protects both buyers and vendors in every transaction.
Verified Buyer Protection
All buyers on AVC are verified residents. This dramatically reduces fraud, scams, and fake accounts compared to open marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace or Kijiji.
Vendor Review Process
New vendors open immediately on Basic tier. Verified Vendor badge (blue ✓) requires admin review — confirms the vendor is a genuine independent small business.
No Corporate Loopholes
Vendors self-certify they are independent operators at registration. Any vendor found to be a franchise or corporate entity is suspended immediately — policy is non-negotiable.
Report a Listing
Use the flag icon on any product card or detail page → report suspected fraud, misleading claims, prohibited items, or policy violations. Admins review all reports within 24 hours.
Dispute Resolution
Order disputes handled through AVC messaging. Unresolved disputes escalate to the AVC moderation team who can update order status, issue refunds, and take vendor action.
Wishlist Safety
Community Wishlist responses from non-vendors are clearly labelled as "community tips" not vendor commitments. All responders are logged for accountability.
❌ Prohibited on AVC Local Shop
❌ Weapons or controlled substances
❌ Counterfeit or stolen goods
❌ Franchise or corporate brands
❌ Misleading or false product claims
❌ Bulk spam listings
❌ Adult-only content
❌ Artificially inflated prices for fake discounts
❌ Items prohibited under Canadian law
Why Local Shopping Matters
The numbers behind community commerce — why every dollar spent locally is an investment.
💵 Money Stays Local
For every $100 spent at a local business, up to $68 recirculates in the local economy. With large chains, that drops to $43. Shopping locally is one of the highest-impact financial decisions you can make for your community.
👤 Real People Behind Every Sale
Local vendors are your neighbours. Your purchase may be covering their children's school supplies, their rent, or funding their dream of growing their business into something lasting.
🌱 Environmental Impact
Buying locally means shorter supply chains, less packaging waste, reduced carbon emissions from shipping, and fewer logistics intermediaries consuming resources.
🤝 Community Bonds
A thriving local economy leads to stronger civic engagement, safer streets, and a community where people know and trust each other. Commerce builds community.
🏆 Unique Products
Local vendors sell things you simply cannot find on Amazon — handmade, limited edition, culturally specific, and community-rooted products that tell a story.
📈 The AVC Buyer Advantage
Our buyers are verified, civically engaged residents — the most trustworthy, community-minded shoppers in Canada. This is a premium audience for local businesses that no other platform can offer.
Admin Guide — Complete Oversight Reference
Everything an AVC admin needs to manage the Local Shop ecosystem.
📊 Revenue Streams You Manage
5% Commission
Every completed LocalOrder records commission_fee. Sum all completed orders for platform revenue.
Vendor Subscriptions
Pro ($19.99/mo) and Elite ($49.99/mo) generate recurring revenue. Track via LocalVendor.tier + subscription_expires_at.
Boost Credits & Ads
Vendors purchase boost_credits. Track via is_boosted + is_sponsored on LocalProduct records.
Vendor Management Actions
Review New Vendors
Filter LocalVendor by status = "pending" → review business name, city, category → set status = "active" OR "suspended".
Grant Verified Badge
Set is_verified = true on the LocalVendor record → blue BadgeCheck appears on their store.
Suspend a Vendor
Set status = "suspended" → all their LocalProduct listings become invisible immediately (front-end filters both vendor status and is_active).
Upgrade Tier
When vendor pays for Pro or Elite, update tier field and set subscription_expires_at. Unlocks ranking priority and boost features.
Monitor Top Performers
Sort LocalVendor by total_sales descending → identify your highest-value vendors for featured promotions.
Reset Inflated Ratings
If ratings are review-farmed, reset rating = 0 and review_count = 0. Delete fraudulent ProductReview records.
Order Management & Disputes
Handle Disputes
Order disputes come via AVC messaging. Admin can update LocalOrder.status and add notes. Coordinate between buyer and vendor.
Process Refunds
Set status = "refunded" and payment_status = "refunded". Also process the refund in Stripe using the stripe_payment_intent_id field.
Revenue Reporting
SUM(commission_fee) WHERE status = "completed" → total platform commission revenue for any period.
Community Wishlist — Admin Actions
View All Requests
Data → CommunityWishlist → all posts with status, urgency, response_count, poster info.
Close a Request
Set status = "closed" → removes from public listing immediately without marking fulfilled.
Pin a Request
Set is_pinned = true → appears pinned at top of wishlist for all users. Use for high-priority community needs.
Moderate Responses
Data → WishlistResponse → delete offensive or spam responses by responder_email.
Spam Abuse
Close spam records, warn user via AVC messaging. Repeat → User Management for account action.
KPI: Fulfillment Rate
COUNT(status="fulfilled") / COUNT(total) → % of wishlist posts that resulted in a local sale. Target: >40% indicates healthy vendor supply.
Demand Signal for Vendor Recruitment
If a category consistently has 0 vendor responses, proactively recruit vendors in that category. The wishlist is your real-time demand signal.
Policy Enforcement Playbook
🚨 🏢 Franchise/Corporate Vendor
Set LocalVendor.status = "suspended". Notify via AVC messaging. All listings become inactive automatically.
🚨 🚫 Prohibited Product
Set LocalProduct.is_active = false. Send vendor a warning. Repeat = account suspension.
🚨 ⚠️ Fraud/Scam Report
Immediately suspend vendor. Review all their LocalOrders. Issue refunds where needed. Document in AuditLog.
🚨 ⭐ Fake Reviews
Reset rating = 0, review_count = 0. Delete fraudulent ProductReview records. Add warning note.
🚨 ⚡ Misleading Flash Deal
Correct original_price to actual listed price. Send vendor warning. Repeat = listing removal.
🚨 🎙️ Creator Commission Fraud
If creator gaming affiliate codes (self-purchases, fake clicks) → set VendorInfluencerCollab.status = "rejected" and suspend InfluencerProfile.
🚨 🛒 Wishlist Spam
Close spam CommunityWishlist records. Warn user. Repeat → escalate to User Management.
🚨 📉 False Product Claims
Set is_active = false. Require vendor to correct description before re-activation.
Analytics KPIs — What to Monitor
Total Commission Revenue
SUM(commission_fee) on LocalOrder WHERE status="completed"
Active Vendors by Tier
COUNT(LocalVendor) GROUP BY tier (basic/pro/elite)
Top Cities by Sales
GROUP(LocalOrder) by vendor_city → sort by total
Monthly Subscription Revenue
COUNT(Pro) × $19.99 + COUNT(Elite) × $49.99
Top Creators by Revenue
Sort VendorInfluencerCollab by total_revenue_driven
Wishlist Conversion Rate
COUNT(fulfilled) / COUNT(total) → target >40%
Flash Deal Claim Rate
SUM(claimed_count) / SUM(max_claims) across ShopFlashDeal
Product Conversion Rate
order_count / view_count per LocalProduct — find low-converting listings
Entity Quick Reference — All Local Shop Data
Every database entity, what it stores, and key fields to know.
LocalVendorVendor store profiles
owner_email, business_name, status (pending/active/suspended), tier (basic/pro/elite), is_verified, rating, review_count, total_sales, total_revenue, commission_rate, boost_credits, subscription_expires_at, stripe_account_id
LocalProductIndividual product listings
vendor_id, title, price, sale_price, category, images, stock_quantity, is_unlimited_stock, is_service, is_active, is_featured, is_boosted, boost_expires_at, is_sponsored, tags, city, view_count, save_count, saved_by, order_count, ranking_score
LocalOrderPurchase transactions
buyer_email, vendor_id, product_id, quantity, unit_price, subtotal, commission_rate, commission_fee, vendor_payout, status, payment_status, stripe_payment_intent_id, shipping_address, tracking_number
ShopFlashDealTime-limited discount deals
product_id, vendor_id, original_price, deal_price, discount_percent, starts_at, ends_at, max_claims, claimed_count, claimed_by[], is_active, deal_type (flash/daily/weekly/bundle/clearance), promo_code
LiveShoppingEventCreator-hosted live events
host_email, host_type (vendor/influencer), vendor_id, collab_id, title, stream_url, scheduled_for, status (scheduled/live/ended), viewer_count, peak_viewers, featured_product_ids[], total_orders, total_revenue, exclusive_deal_percent, reminder_emails[]
VendorInfluencerCollabCreator × Vendor deals
vendor_id, influencer_email, status (pending/active/paused/rejected/ended), collab_type (affiliate/ambassador/sponsored_post/live_shopping/product_gifting), commission_rate, flat_fee, affiliate_code, total_clicks, total_conversions, total_revenue_driven, total_earned
ProductReviewVendor product reviews
product_id, vendor_id, reviewer_email, rating (1–5), title, body, images[], is_verified_purchase, helpful_count, is_featured, reply_from_vendor, replied_at
CommunityWishlistShopper item requests
poster_email, title, description, category, max_budget, is_flexible_budget, urgency (whenever/this_week/today), status (open/fulfilled/closed), response_count, fulfilled_by_vendor_id, fulfilled_by_vendor_name, tags[], is_pinned
WishlistResponseVendor/community responses
wishlist_id, responder_email, is_vendor, vendor_id, vendor_name, message, offered_price, product_id, product_title, is_selected, contact_info