Canadian E-Commerce Opportunities

Canadian E-Commerce Opportunities
(11/21/08)

Heritage Web Solutions, one of the premier website design and hosting companies doing business in the United States and Canada, encourages businesses in Canada to seriously consider expanding their online presence and marketing. This recommendation is based on evidence that the Canadian e-commerce sales volume is rapidly expanding and from all indications will continue to do so. The following article appeared in Internetretailer.com’s Daily News on April 25, 2008:

Canadian e-commerce sales grow 26%, led by business-to-consumer sector
Canadian e-commerce grew 26% to C$62.7 billion (US$61.7 billion) in 2007, up from C$49.9 billion the year before. Business-to-consumer sales grew to 38% of Canadian e-commerce in 2007, up from 32% the prior year, according to a new report from Statistics Canada, a government data-collection agency.
Retail sales accounted for 10% of total e-commerce activity. Customers outside of Canada made 19% of the purchases at Canadian e-commerce sites, about the same as in the two prior years.

8% of private sector firms sell online, and e-commerce accounts for nearly 2% of the revenue of those firms, the report says. About 16% of public sector organizations sell online.

Asked about the benefits of doing business online, 30% of private sector firms cited lower costs, up from 27% the prior year; 36% cited reaching new customers, unchanged from 2006; 36% pointed to better coordination with suppliers, customers or partners, up from 35%; 19% said reduced time to market, down from 20%; and 10% cited no benefits, up from 8% the year before.

Statistics Canada compiles the data from surveys of 19,000 organizations. Responding to the survey is mandatory.

In the face of today’s global financial meltdown, more and more, consumers will do their shopping from home where possible. No longer is shopping from home merely a convenience and time saver, but rather a financial necessity and budget saver as well. This has created an even more compelling reason for businesses to promote their products and services through e-commerce. Remember, the friendly experts at Heritage Web Solutions are just a phone call away. Call 866-211-0743, or visit www.heritagewebsolutions.com