Quebec broker ready to launch online sales

Following last fall’s announcement that Quebec brokerage DiPerno and Associates would be among the first to launch an online sales vehicle, AssureMoi.com president Mark DiPerno says the site will be up and running in the next few weeks. The first stage will offer auto quotes to Quebec customers in both official languages.AssureMoi.com was originally slated to be released through web portal “La Toile du Quebec”, and offered to the portal’s 850,000 monthly online users. Now, DiPerno reports, the deal is being renegotiated in light of Quebecor’s takeover of the portal. This would result in broader exposure for the site, through Quebecor’s Canoe.ca and related sites, of about 1.5 million viewers.When the project was first announced, DiPerno, who also owns the domains sportsinsurance.com and yachtinginsurance.com, said brokers should embrace the Internet as a new distribution tool. However, he experienced resistance from some insurers who had their own plans for Internet sales, he notes. That situation seems to have changed, and DiPerno now says he is pleased with the reception he is getting from insurers. Future plans for the site include the addition of life, residential, travel and medical insurance. And, DiPerno adds, the company plans to expand the project beyond the Quebec border, going nationwide with the domain “InsureMe.ca” in the coming year.