“We love the town, we love our employees here - we think there’s room to grow,” said Sandy Ross.
“But if we’re going to grow then we need to seriously be looking at the facility we’re in and the kinds of services we’re providing our employees.
“That’s why we’re thinking these days about a potentially new facility,” he said.
The company began as Register.com at its Yarmouth location in 2001. In 2007 Register.com and Web.com partnered. The latter name is now used in reference to operations.
Web.com has 300 employees in Yarmouth. Ross says they envision that number growing to 350-400.
“We think the market can support it. We’re extraordinarily happy with the quality of individuals we get here,” he said.
The average annual wage is $45,000.
“Very good” working relationships with NSCC Burridge and Nova Scotia Business Inc. are attractive ties for the company.
There are good reasons for establishing a new facility in town, says Ross.
“A lot of folks live here in town and have told us they would like to be able to walk to work,” he said.
There’s also a bus service in town now that employees could take advantage of.
Ross adds that the company finds employees in other jurisdictions like the “work where you live” mentality.
“That’s what we’re seeing being expressed in more North American communities where web.com has centres,” he said.
Whatever facility is built, Ross envisions it as aesthetically pleasing and meshing with Yarmouth’s new “look.”
“The last thing that we would ever want to do is disrupt anything that makes Yarmouth a great place to be.
“We want this to be a project that makes sense relative to town but also fits in with the community, kind of like what the mayor is trying to accomplish here. We want something that people walk by and go Wow!”
In the past, Web.com’s business was building websites. That focus has broadened.
In addition to websites, the company now builds Facebook pages for businesses and provides marketing services.
“Web.com isn’t married to any particular technology. What we’re married to really is trying to get small businesses successfully online. As new vehicles come forward and prove themselves as being commercially viable, then we adopt those and find a way to get those tools to small businesses so they don’t have to worry about it,” said Ross.
More about Web.com
Last year Web.com opened an operations branch in the former Convergys space in New Glasgow. Seventy people were hired initially, with a goal of 330 in three years.
The company also operates in Halifax with about 100 employees.
