"My business has dropped 45 per cent in the last five weeks," she said.

However Ms Westgeest is hoping the opening of a new store website as part of an Orange City Council FutureCity initiative will help business bounce back.

The council has committed $100,000 to provide about 20 businesses with a four-five page website to help them compete for customers.

Ms Westgeest said it was another avenue for people to buy from her shop.

"Hopefully it will boost sales. Sales have been down since Sydney has been in lockdown," she said.

Ms Westgeest said while she was on Instagram she had not had a website for the business.

"Its always been a cost thing. Setting up a website hasn't been as important as it is now," she said.

Another shop owner involved in the scheme Martine Bullock said she wanted to expand the online presence of her Classic Skin and Beauty store.

"I've been operating here in Orange for 15 years and most of my business has come from word of mouth," she said.

"I also have a Facebook page and I advertise in the Yellow Pages, so this will provide another level of communication and a way to connect with people online."

Council's Employment and Economic Development committee chair Cr Tony Mileto said the businesses which had applied to join the scheme ranged across industries including retail, beauty and hospitality.

He said local web development companies Ready Marketing and Out West Online had won the tenders to set up the websites for the businesses.

Cr Mileto said if the scheme proved successful it was likely council would have another allocation of funding for more businesses to get involved.

"Orange City Council are trying to create an environment where all businesses have better access to data at a faster rate," he said.

"If we can improve that efficiency that will certainly go along way to help the businesses.

"It is an opportunity for businesses to promote their own services."

Orange mayor Cr Reg Kidd said Spendmapp data showed Orange residents spent $318 million online in the 12 months to May 2021.

Ready Marketing's marketing manager Tamara Pearson said it was a big opportunity for the businesses to develop.

"We're in a day and age now where if you can't be found online and you can't be found through a Google search people will go elsewhere," she said.

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