This Is Small Business

Build it future strong

In our inaugural issue of This Is Small Business, we recognize and celebrate small business success. You will find features on ecommerce, sustainable packaging and returns – but it is the stories of Canadian small businesses that dominate.

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Packaging with
the planet in mind

63%

63 per cent of respondents in a Canada Post survey indicated that it upsets them when a retailer uses excessive or unnecessary packing material. Fortunately, there are a number of ways in which you can reduce your environmental impact.

Go with recyclable packaging

You’ll find plenty of packaging made from recyclable or compostable materials, including biodegradable cello tape.

Make your mark with eco-friendly inks

Soy-based inks don’t use petroleum-based compounds like traditional inks.

Use the right box size

Avoid sending small things in big boxes. There’s the clear size discrepancy which may concern customers, plus you’re likely using too much filler material.

Skip the box when you can

Eliminating boxes altogether may reduce the environmental impact – and your shipping costs, too. If your product is lightweight, small or soft, consider alternatives like a poly mailer.

Canada Post is committed to reducing our environmental impact

Learn about our sustainability initiatives, environmental goals and our commitment to accessibility in our 2020 Sustainability Report.

Read sustainability report

Stay in step with your customers

The research is in for Canada Post’s 2021 Canadian Online Shopper Study. The results could help you respond to changing behaviours today and hone your game plan for tomorrow.

Find out more

Pow Wow Pitch: How to ship

To learn how to ship your products efficiently and reliably, join Pow Wow Pitch Founder, Sunshine Tenasco and special guest Jeff Gopaul, Canada Post's Manager of Parcels and eCommerce Solutions Integration.

Get information

Get results

Propel business growth by finding new customers

Learn how to market your small business to the right audience online and offline. New customers can come from anywhere – word of mouth, an online search, a lucky find. But as a small business, you can’t leave customer acquisition to chance. Finding new customers is a process. Here’s where you start.

1
Create an ideal customer profile

Determine what they’re looking for – then go deeper. What are their pain points, what are their interests, why are they choosing you?
2
Examine your sales and shipping data

Your best-selling products can tell you what customers really want from your business. Sales data could identify your best customers.
3
Analyze where your customers live

People who live in the same area often share attributes. Postal code data can inform your marketing strategies and messages.
4
Target your ideal customer

By using your current data to build the foundation of a detailed customer profile, you’re setting yourself up for a strong future.

Learn how to market better

Partake Brewing: Cheers to doubling sales

Non-alcoholic brewer Partake Brewing doubled sales in one month. This led them to seek out ShipStation for shipping solutions and their seamless integration with Canada Post – the brewery’s sole shipping partner.

Read the article

Your return policy: Master the balance

Online shoppers won’t hesitate to order multiple products and return what they don’t want. Optimizing your return policy means balancing costs and customer benefits. Canada Post’s Return Policy Builder can help.

Get more info

Get inspired

Making the jump from generating sales to building communities

Recent times have given Canadian small businesses the opportunity to rethink their approach to advertising and marketing to build communities of loyal customers. Learn from these small, but mighty, marketers.

Bold women. Entrepreneurs

Mme L'Ovary is on a mission to reduce waste and spread a positive message around menstruation.

Mobile Escape: Discovering a new way forward

Mobile Escape made a pandemic pivot, moving their escape rooms online with a new mail order product.

Read their story

Plant Gather of Richmond, B.C. is a family-proud business that sells rare tropical houseplants from coast to coast.

Read about Plant Gather

Prairie Soap Shack takes inspiration from the past and the plants of the prairies to create all natural skin and body care products.

Read the story

Watergirl Quilt Co. is an online and brick-and-mortar business providing high quality products, workshops, tutorials and expert advice.

Read now

Bold women. Entrepreneurs

Mme L'Ovary is on a mission to reduce waste and spread a positive message around menstruation.

Mobile Escape: Discovering a new way forward

Mobile Escape made a pandemic pivot, moving their escape rooms online with a new mail order product.

Read their story

Breakthrough marketing

Plant Gather of Richmond, B.C. is a family-proud business that sells rare tropical houseplants from coast to coast.

Read about Plant Gaather

Breakthrough marketing

Prairie Soap Shack takes inspiration from the past and the plants of the prairies to create all natural skin and body care products.

Read the story

Breakthrough marketing

Watergirl Quilt Co. is an online and brick-and-mortar business providing high quality products, workshops, tutorials and expert advice.

Read now

Tales of Triumph winners

Tales of Triumph recognizes and celebrates the resilience of Canadian small businesses. These entrepreneurs revamped and reinvented their business strategies for future success. We hope their stories inspire you to build your own business future strong.

Meet the winners

Get help

These resources will help you build your brand and business

Create a campaign

Get your message into mailboxes with our easy online tool, Snap Admail^TM. Use it to design and send your next direct mail campaign.

Create a campaign

Get campaign support

Want help crafting your campaigns? Our Canada Post Smartmail Marketing^TM (direct mail) Partners can assist you.

Get campaign help

Get small business support

Think Small! We offer shipping, marketing and ecommerce tips, insights and guidance for small businesses just like yours.

Get small biz help

Cover of inaugural issue of “This Is Small Business” magazine.

Want to receive future editions of This Is Small Business?

You’ll also get small business resources, tips and advice from Canada Post.

Yes!

Resilient. Innovative. Goal-driven.

This Is SmallBusiness

Build it future strong

Get insights

Packaging with the planet in mind

Go with recyclable packaging

Make your mark with eco-friendly inks

Use the right box size

Skip the box when you can

Canada Post is committed to reducing our environmental impact

Stay in step with your customers

Pow Wow Pitch: How to ship

Get results

Propel business growth by finding new customers

Create an ideal customer profile

Examine your sales and shipping data

Analyze where your customers live

Target your ideal customer

Partake Brewing: Cheers to doubling sales

Your return policy: Master the balance

Get inspired

Making the jump from generating sales to building communities

Bold women. Entrepreneurs

Mobile Escape: Discovering a new way forward

Bold women. Entrepreneurs

Mobile Escape: Discovering a new way forward

Breakthrough marketing

Breakthrough marketing

Breakthrough marketing

Tales of Triumph winners

Get help

These resources will help you build your brand and business

Create a campaign

Get campaign support

Get small business support

Want to receive future editions of This Is Small Business?

Already a Canada Post Solutions for Small businessTM customer?

This Is Small
Business

Packaging with
the planet in mind

Already a Canada Post Solutions for Small business^TM customer?