Each year, about 100,000 small businesses are created in Canada. But what does it actually take to start a business in Canada — not just on paper, but in practice?

To better understand what launching a startup in Canada truly involves, we interviewed entrepreneurs across various sectors. As experts in strategy and entrepreneurship, we combined their first-hand experiences with research findings to determine key factors that contribute to business success.

What emerged is a clearer picture of the realities of Canadian entrepreneurship that shows building a business is as much about managing relationships, risks and resilience as it is about having a novel idea.

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With Canada’s newly elected government in place, efforts to resolve the ongoing tariff dispute with the United States are expected to intensify. While the U.S. has recently modified the application of certain tariffs to ease the impact on its economy and consumers, a full rollback has not occurred. Canada maintains its position: as long as the U.S. continues to impose unjustified tariffs on Canadian sectors, counter-tariffs will remain in effect.

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February 2025 witnessed a modest increase in Canadian retail sales, with All Stores growth pegged at 1.0% YOY. This growth extended to discretionary spending with All Stores Less 

Automotive, Food, and Pharmacies which also saw a 1.0% YOY increase. Several factors influenced these figures, most notably:

• The Bank of Canada’s decision to maintain interest rates amidst global economic uncertainties,
• The conclusion of the GST/HST break in mid-February, adding sales tax back to products such as food, beverages, alcohol, and children’s goods. Though we are not yet clear on the full effects of this, initial data findings indicate it had a limited effect, and
• Emerging US tariff concerns. Announcements began on February 1, 2025 with tariffs of 25% on most Canadian goods, and 10% tariff on oil, gas, and potash. Additionally, on February 10, there was an announcement of a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum products. Canada has also retaliated with tariffs on numerous US goods which has further caused increased concerns to Canadians as this will also raise prices.

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As the AI race intensifies, U.S. businesses are pouring resources into the technology.

Almost a third (30%) of the executives surveyed said their companies had spent more than $500,000 on their AI investments. But the report also illustrates the mixed results execs see after using AI despite spending hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“The transformative potential of AI for the digital experience is enormous, but our research highlights a clear gap between expectation and reality,” Dominik Angerer, CEO and co-founder of Storyblok, said in a press release. “While U.S. businesses are seeing some improvements, these remain incremental rather than truly transformative.”

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Retail Council of Canada (RCC) proudly announces the 70 finalists, from across 11 competitive categories, who will vie for the highly coveted 2025 Excellence in Retailing Awards (ERA). From captivating in-store experiences and standout marketing campaigns to innovative supply chain solutions and forward-thinking sustainability initiatives, this year’s finalists prove that innovation in Canadian retail is not just alive—it’s thriving.

Diane J. Brisebois, President and CEO of Retail Council of Canada, shared her excitement about the 2025 shortlist: “This year’s entries raised the bar across every category. The innovation we’re seeing in-store, online, and in back-end operations, is a powerful testament to the creativity and resilience of retailers in Canada. Despite ongoing economic headwinds, supply chain hurdles, and global uncertainty, these finalists continue to push boundaries and redefine what’s possible in retail.”

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All areas of a product’s description have the power to turn a viewer into a shopper. This includes, but is not limited to, product photos, videos, product descriptions, size and dimensions, reviews and color.

“In this new world that we live in, your product content on the product detail page is just unbelievably important, not just for Google, but for everybody else that is going to be crawling your

, and especially for the consumer, because they are making their purchase decision right there,” Purva Gupta, CEO and co-founder of personalized e-commerce service Lily AI, said in an interview. “Now it’s important before they make their purchase decision that they need to see all the information in a digestible manner, very clear, consumer friendly, not merchant speak.”

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At a time when Canadians are increasingly favouring Canadian brands and shopping, new data from Adyen, the global financial technology platform of choice for leading businesses, in partnership with the Retail Council of Canada (RCC), provides insights into how Canadian retailers can fortify the shopping experience when it matters most.

• Experience converts to loyalty: The majority of Canadians (81%) agree they are likely to return to a store that delivers a meaningful or memorable shopping experience
• Payment preferences: Canadian shoppers most frequently pay in-store with a tap/contactless credit or debit card (52%) and online with a digital wallet (26%). 
• Shipping costs are make-or-break: More than half of Canadian shoppers (55%) agree that unexpected shipping costs or fees when shopping online could cause them to abandon a purchase.

Long lines are a turnoff: Nearly half of Canadian shoppers (49%) say long checkout lines while shopping in-store could make them abandon a purchase.

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On April 2, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a series of reciprocal tariffs affecting 185 countries. Importantly, no new tariffs were announced for Canada. Canada and Mexico’s exemption for USMCA/CUSMA qualifying goods was maintained.
However, 25% tariffs on non-USMCA compliant Canadian goods, Canadian steel and aluminum, Canadian autos and parts, and the 10% tariff on Canadian energy exports remain in place.

Canada’s Response
In a calibrated retaliation, the Canadian government has outlined new reciprocal 25% tariffs on U.S. autos, but Canada’s tariffs will exclude auto parts. This new targeted $8B measure is in addition to the previous two rounds of Canadian counter tariffs. The $125B counter-tariff list that the Department of Finance had been consulting on for the past several weeks seems to have been put on hold for the time being. As many retail goods were captured on the proposed list, this is good news. However, the existing Canadian retaliatory tariffs will remain in place for the time being.

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As one of the most promising, and fear-inducing, technologies of the day, artificial intelligence was a frequent topic of conversation across panels at Shoptalk’s spring conference in Las Vegas. Much like at the National Retail Federation’s Big Show in January, retailers considered the possibilities of the tech, how they go about implementing it and the ways retail remains very human.

Perhaps one of the most succinct statements about retail’s use of AI came from Mandeep Bhatia, senior vice president of global digital product and omnichannel innovation at Tapestry, who was in turn quoting someone else.

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The birth of ecommerce can be traced to the sale of a compact disc of Sting’s Ten Summoner’s Tales on August 11, 1994. This secure transaction marked the world’s first online sale and a global shift in shopping habits.

Today, ecommerce is powered by a worldwide system of technologies and platforms, from AI website builders to payment gateways to social media. With ecommerce sales projected to surpass $7 trillion in 2026, the concept of buying and selling products online has become a part of everyday life.

Ahead, explore the ins and outs of ecommerce: how it works, the main ecommerce models, and the benefits of selling online versus in person.

Plus, learn how to create an ecommerce website and launch your big idea.

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Most consumers already use TikTok for entertainment and almost all of those PartnerCentric surveyed, 9 in 10, report using TikTok with over half using it daily. But TikTok has now become a shopping destination, too.

For many shoppers, the purchases are not well thought out and TikTok Shop still comes with its pain points, according to the survey. 

Nearly one-quarter of shoppers in the survey reported making an impulse purchase on TikTok Shop. Almost one-quarter of respondents say they regret at least one TikTok Shop purchase. The top regret amongst these shoppers was that the item was of cheaper quality. 

However, more shoppers are trusting influencers with their money when it comes to deciding their purchases. Survey respondents report they would spend an average $95 on items recommended by their most-trusted influencer.

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On March 4th, the US Tariffs and Canadian Counter-Tariffs came into effect. Retailers across Canada are curious what this means for them, and the Retail Council of Canada has prepared some resources to help you better understand how this might affect you and your business. 

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Ahead of International Women’s Day 2025 (March 8), GoDaddy has released new data to highlight the impact of female founders on Canada’s small business economy.

Figures from Venture Forward – GoDaddy’s research initiative which analyses over 770,000 Canadian small businesses with 0-9 employees – show that 43% are run by women, and 48% of these female-led businesses were started in the last five years, said the company.

“Despite varying outlooks on the current Canadian economy, with only 35% of female founders expressing optimism, they are more bullish about their own business’ prospects. Seven in ten (70%) are optimistic about their companies over the next six months, and 29% plan to hire new staff in the next year,” said GoDaddy.

“Canadian women entrepreneurs are making their mark right now, with over one in four women (26%) the primary income earner for their household. One third (33%) say their small business turns over more than $5,000 revenue in an average month.”

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Consumers are turning to social media as a primary source when shopping, Capgemini found. Now, they want generative AI to aggregate those results.

Consumers are growing reliant on social media as a primary source across the entire shopping experience, from discovering products to making purchase decisions and engaging with retailers. 

Nearly one-third of shoppers used social media to buy products and identify new brands last year, up from one-quarter in 2023. That number is even higher for Gen Z shoppers, where more than two-thirds have discovered a new product or brand on social media.

“Social commerce is the retailer’s route to Gen Z,” Capgemini found. Over half of Gen Z have bought products through a social media platform.

Beyond recommendations, consumers are also looking to social media for answers to questions about products, for reviews and to reach the retailers they purchase from. Over half of consumers occasionally use social media to search for product information and reviews. Two in five shoppers use social media for customer service.

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March is a confusing month. It’s not yet fully spring, but it doesn’t quite feel like winter either. Pick one, March!

A strong March is crucial to your business’s marketing plan since the end of the month also marks the end of the first quarter of the year. Be sure you’re staying on track with your 2025 marketing goals by taking advantage of each day this month has to offer on social media. Today, we’ll help you to do so by calling out our best March social media hacks. When you’re done reading this post, you’ll feel ready to manage March marketing with ease.

Know your goals

As Q1 ends in March, this is the perfect time to check in on your social media goals. Before you start using the ideas we discuss below, be sure that your post schedule aligns with your business’s overall marketing goals.

If you don’t already have social media goals in place to reference, it’s never too late to establish a few! Start by evaluating any business challenges you hope social media will solve and use handy goal-setting templates.

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The month of December is always a critical period for retail sales, as it encompasses the holiday shopping season. This year, Canadian retail sales showed a 3.7% YOY growth across all stores. For All Stores Less Automotive, Food, Pharmacies, the growth was 3.2% YOY. While these figures seem promising, a deeper dive into the data reveals some intriguing trends and raises questions about the underlying factors influencing these numbers.

Despite the introduction of the GST/HST break, which was expected to boost consumer spending, there was seemingly no impact on the food categories or alcohol sales, where we expected to see impact. In fact, some segments saw a decline:

• Supermarkets and Other Grocery Stores: down -0.4% YOY
• Convenience Stores: down -4.7% YOY
• Specialty Food Stores: down -2.0% YOY
• Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores: down -7.9% YOY

These declines suggest that consumers may not have been significantly swayed by the tax break in these categories. Conversely, categories that could have benefited from the tax holiday through toys and children’s items showed impressive growth:

• Clothing and Accessories Stores: up 4.9% YOY
• Sporting Goods, Hobby, Book, and Music Stores: up 6.1% YOY

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As the two-month GST/HST holiday comes to an end, only 5% of small businesses saw stronger sales compared to the same period last year, reported the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) on Tuesday.

Among those, only 4% of businesses in retail and 15% hospitality saw an increase in their sales, it said.

“By all accounts the government’s GST holiday was a flop for small businesses,” said Dan Kelly, the CFIB’s President. “For many retailers it was an administrative nightmare to get point-of-sale machines compliant just before Christmas, let alone sort out which LEGO sets the holiday applied to, or how many items in a gift basket had to be tax-free for it to qualify.

“The past few months have been incredibly challenging and filled with uncertainty for many small firms. As they transition their systems back to the original amount of GST, we urge the CRA to be lenient and waive taxes owed, penalties, and interest for good faith errors made during the rushed implementation period. The government should also provide affected businesses with a $1,000 credit in their GST/HST accounts to offset programming and administrative costs they incurred back in December.”

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Innovation in fintech (financial technology) is constant, not to mention complex.

We get it. Keeping up with payment trends alone can be challenging. Sifting through the hype to separate the must-have functionality you need from flashy, nice-to-have features can be even more daunting.

It’s time to put those worries to rest. In this post, we’ll bring it all into focus for you. Read on to learn about what’s driving the relentless evolution of digital payments technology and the six online payment methods your small business can’t succeed without.

The pandemic changed digital payments forever

So what ultimately drove payments innovation? In a word: COVID

Here’s a brief history: In 2020, traditional brick-and-mortar businesses that relied primarily on in-person traffic and card-present transactions were forced to embrace ecommerce practically overnight. Digital payments technology — and the convenience that comes with it — created an army of online shoppers that helped businesses survive. But it also set an expectation: that all businesses operate online, with the ability to serve their customers and take ecommerce payment methods with ease.

Years later, that expectation hasn’t changed. In fact, it’s grown. Customers now demand omnichannel capabilities that blend online and in-person payment services perfectly.

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Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force in Canadian retail, impacting everything from inventory management to customer service. Tara Conway, a retail expert with deep industry knowledge, recently sat down with Retail Insider to discuss the rapidly evolving role of AI, the unique challenges facing retailers of all sizes, and the innovative strategies required to remain competitive. As Canadian retail enters an era of technological transformation, Conway’s insights provide a roadmap for navigating this complex landscape.

“AI is no longer a hypothetical or a ‘nice to have.’ It’s now essential,” Conway stated emphatically. She explained that most retailers have already embraced AI in some form, shifting the conversation from feasibility to execution. “You can’t debate whether AI can be used—it has to be used,” she added.

While the initial concern around AI often centred on potential job losses, Conway clarified that the current focus is on driving efficiency with existing resources. “The layoffs and shrinking of retail teams in recent years have put enormous pressure on resources. AI is enabling retailers to streamline operations, from inventory management to customer personalization,” she explained.

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As the GST/HST holiday approaches its conclusion on February 15, Moneris, has released new data offering insights into consumer spending patterns during the first month of the tax break. 

The analysis, covering December 14, 2024, to January 15, 2025, compared with the same period a year earlier, reveals that the holiday did not significantly stimulate consumer spending.

According to Moneris, overall spending across Canada declined by 4% year-over-year, with transaction counts dropping by 1%. This slight reduction in consumer activity suggests that even the potential savings from the tax holiday were insufficient to encourage Canadians to shop more frequently or spend more per transaction.

Sean McCormick, Director of Business Development – Data Services and LAKA Sales Leadership at Moneris, noted, “While the tax break aimed to spur spending, Moneris’ data shows it may have unintentionally slowed it down. With a 3% decline in overall transaction sizes year-over-year, the data suggests that the break may not have had its anticipated effect.”

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On Saturday, February 1, 2025, President Donald Trump used his powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose a 25% tariff on all Canadian imports except petroleum, which will be subject to a 10% tariff. These tariffs will take effect at 12:01am on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

Canada announced its own 25% counter-tariffs on $30B worth of U.S. goods which will also take effect on Tuesday, February 4, 2025. This initial list of goods will be supplemented by $125B worth of additional goods to be tariffed at the same 25% rate. These additional goods will be subject to a 21-day consultation period in order for affected businesses to prepare or to make their case for exclusions.

The Canadian government announced it may use additional non-tariff measures (such as limiting exports of critical minerals to the U.S.) to apply pressure on the U.S.. They also signalled their intention to aid workers and businesses with emergency relief, however details have yet to be released.

Finally, Mexico and China were also targeted by these U.S. tariff measures at the rate of 25% and 10% respectively. Mexico has since responded with their own counter-tariffs while China has said it will take the matter to the World Trade Organization.

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Fewer Canadians seem to be getting into the Valentine’s Day spirit this year, but those who are plan to spend just as much—or even more—than last year. Last-minute shopping is increasing, with fewer planning ahead. In-store shopping for Valentines gifts is still the go-to, and more shoppers are seeking out local and eco-friendly options. Dining out and sweet treats top the shopping list, and more people are making special shopping trips just for Valentine’s gifts—even if it’s at the last minute!

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Social commerce is transforming the retail landscape as Canadian consumers increasingly seek streamlined shopping experiences. Yet, growing concerns about security, fulfillment disruptions and product discrepancies remain significant barriers. The retail industry, however, can use existing technologies and platforms to build brand trust and loyalty, according to a new report by SOTI.

According to SOTI’s new retail report, The Rise of Social Commerce: Turning Tech-Driven Browsers into Influenced Buyers, which surveyed 1,000 Canadian consumers, shoppers in this country continue to seek out new purchasing channels with a growing preference for a hybrid shopping model. 

“Three key themes appeared in this year’s retail report: social commerce is becoming a critical channel for retail growth, driven by consumer demand for improved and more personalized shopping experiences. However, security issues remain a critical issue for buying online and with in-store devices, emphasizing the need for a security-first approach across the sector and all retail channels,” explained the report.

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The wedding day phrase “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue” originated in Victorian England as a way to bestow luck on brides before they embarked upon the next stage of their lives.

While we can’t speak to anything borrowed or blue, the next year in marketers’ lives will certainly include tactics that are both old and new thanks to ongoing concerns about consumer privacy, as well as emerging features like AI-generated search summaries.

In this article, we’re highlighting the top 10 digital marketing trends small businesses need to pay attention to and potentially adopt in 2025.

Top 2025 digital marketing trends
“At the core, [these trends are] about using technology to meet timeless customer expectations: convenience, personalization, and value,” said Max Williams, CEO of chatbot platform Herobot. “For brands that embrace these shifts, the future holds incredible opportunities to connect, engage, and grow in ways we could only imagine a few years ago.”

Here’s a closer look at the 10 digital marketing trends that are driving these shifts in 2025:

1. There will be a rise in AI-driven hyper-personalization
2. Customers will expect conversational marketing
3. Businesses will find creative ways to gather first-party data
4. Marketers will lean in further to zero-party data
5. Privacy concerns will lead more businesses to use blockchain
6. Multimodal search will become a bigger focus for SEO
7. Businesses will optimize for zero-click searches
8. Predictive SEO will increase in importance
9. There will be more immersive content
10. More businesses will embrace gamification

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It’s a question almost any business asks: How do you get users to find your website? If users’ search queries align with your industry, you want search engines to showcase your website at the top of the search engine results page. The standard solution has been search engine optimization, a strategy more than 80% of marketing professionals say helps their organization’s performance.

But for ecommerce business owners, this question has an extra layer: How do you get potential customers to find your online store’s individual product pages? Enter ecommerce product page SEO. Optimized product pages have become crucial to a comprehensive ecommerce SEO strategy. Read on to learn how optimizing product pages can boost your search engine rankings, with tips from Kyle Risley, senior SEO lead at Shopify.

What is ecommerce product page SEO?
Ecommerce product page SEO is a form of search engine optimization that drives organic traffic to individual product listings in your ecommerce store. Product page optimization attracts search users interested in making a purchase, and it helps convert them into customers.

“If you haven’t noticed already, Google likes to rank popular brands and products,” Kyle says. He emphasizes that steering relevant search queries to your ecommerce site starts with understanding how the major search engines work. “Anything you can do to get more people actively searching for your brand and your products can have a carryover effect to how your pages rank for non-branded queries.”

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The recently announced GST holiday in Canada has left small businesses scrambling to navigate its complex implementation. Retailers across the country are expressing concerns over increased costs, operational confusion, and the uneven application of the policy between provinces. While the government aims to stimulate spending during the holiday season, experts warn that the short-term policy is burdening businesses at the worst possible time.

Erica Pimentel, Accounting Professor at Smith School of Business at Queen’s University, outlines the major issues facing small retailers, describing the policy as “an implementation nightmare.”

“Small businesses must overhaul their IT systems to apply taxes on certain products—only to undo it two months later. It’s a logistical and financial headache,” Pimentel says.

A Costly and Complex Process
For many small businesses, the GST holiday requires significant changes to IT systems, inventory management, and staffing processes. Unlike major corporations with advanced IT infrastructure, small retailers are often left to manually update their systems to identify products eligible for the exemption.

“Large retailers like Amazon can use AI and sophisticated databases to determine which items are exempt,” Pimentel explains. “But a small business owner—like a pharmacist who sells shampoos or cosmetics—might not have those resources. They’re going through their inventory, line by line, to comply with the GST holiday.”

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As we bid goodbye to 2024, I have been reflecting on how generative AI has continued to evolve from a nascent technology into a powerful force driving real business value. In conversations with Canadian customers earlier this year, many were taking their first tentative steps, exploring how generative AI could impact their organizations through pilot projects and small-scale deployments.

But the landscape has shifted dramatically. Companies have moved beyond AI experimentation to full-scale deployments, transforming specific parts of their business. Many of these projects, while not always immediately noticeable to consumers, have focused on optimizing back-end processes or enhancing customer-facing platforms, yielding impressive cost savings and productivity improvements. Companies like TELUS and Dollarama are already reaping the rewards, and it’s encouraging to see other Canadian businesses across all industries follow suit, establishing their own generative AI strategies.

This momentum positions 2025 as a pivotal year for generative AI adoption in Canada. As the technology matures and initial deployments demonstrate tangible value, executives will face the imperative to build winning AI strategies that fundamentally transform how their companies operate, compete, and innovate.

AI Trends to Watch in 2025
Our recent Economic Impact Report highlighted AI’s potential to boost Canada’s economy by $230 billion and save the average worker 175 hours per year. The scale of this opportunity demands that every business leader pay close attention to key AI trends in 2025.

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A survey by Lightspeed Commerce captures unique insights into how Canadians are navigating economic pressures while continuing to spread holiday cheer.

The survey also sheds light on how generational differences influence shopping habits.

Some of the key findings:

• Social Media Shopping Boom: Over one-third (35%) of Gen Z and young Millennial Canadian shoppers use TikTok as their top shopping resource, highlighting a major shift in retail engagement;
• Instant Gratification over Costs: 55% of Gen Z and young Millennials are willing to pay above the sticker price to avoid waiting for restocks;
• Retail Tipping Trends: 53% of Canadians are willing to tip retail staff for exceptional service, with this figure rising to 83% among Gen Z shoppers. This demonstrates a significant willingness to show appreciation, despite economic pressures;
• Budget Considerations: Due to tighter budgets, 38% of Canadians have been more cautious with their spending ahead of the holidays, with 69% indicating that discounts are very or extremely important in their purchasing decisions;
• Holiday Shopping Motivators: The motivators for Canadians to spend with retail brands are crystal clear: free shipping or delivery (51%) and enticing special offers or sales (57%).

John Shapiro, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Lightspeed Commerce, said consumer behaviour today is influenced by several overlapping factors.

“Brick-and-mortar stores remain central to shopping habits, with 64% of Canadian shoppers reporting that they do the majority of their shopping in-store. This preference cuts across age, gender, and income levels, demonstrating that in-person shopping provides experiences and immediacy that online channels cannot fully replicate.

“That said, the role of online shopping remains a critical factor for businesses. It’s where most shoppers discover brands and make their buying decisions, even prior to going in-store.

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The rise of digital wallets is reshaping the payments landscape, offering businesses new opportunities to meet the evolving needs of consumers. As mobile payment solutions gain traction globally, companies are increasingly recognizing the need to innovate and adapt to these emerging trends. With the ability to streamline transactions, reduce costs, and enhance customer engagement, digital wallets are becoming integral to businesses looking to stay competitive in an increasingly digital world.

The rapid adoption of digital wallets is not just a passing trend – it is a response to consumer demand for faster, more convenient, and secure payment methods. As consumers embrace mobile wallet apps, which can store multiple payment methods such as credit and debit cards, loyalty cards, and even digital coupons, businesses are gaining valuable insights into their preferences and behaviors. By offering integrated features like loyalty programs and discounts, digital wallets allow consumers to save time and money while improving their overall shopping experience.

For businesses, supporting mobile wallet payments is a strategic move to attract a broader, tech-savvy customer base, particularly younger generations who are digitally native. As mobile wallets gain global traction, companies have a unique opportunity to tap into new markets and cater to a growing segment of consumers who expect seamless, frictionless payment experiences. This shift to mobile wallets is expected to reach over 60% of the global population by 2026, according to Juniper Research, offering businesses the chance to gain a competitive edge in the digital payments space.

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