Expanding your brand's reach across borders is a strategic move that can lead to significant growth. But where should you start your international ecommerce journey? Canada, often dubbed the friendly neighbor to the north, might just be your ideal launchpad. As a global ecommerce accelerator, Pattern has helped hundreds of brands smoothly transition to an international ecommerce strategy.

The opportunities for brands selling in Canada are infinite and easier to take advantage of than most brands originally believe. The key is having a great strategy in place and a partner that knows how to help you succeed. Learn the promising opportunities that Canada offers and why selling on Amazon.ca, Canada's top marketplace, is a smart move for ambitious ecommerce brands.

Ecommerce Opportunities in Canada

Canada is an ecommerce goldmine just waiting to be tapped for many brands. Here's a few reasons why:

1. Familiar Digital Shopping Habits: Digital shopping habits and their associated statistics (mobile adoption, digital penetration, etc.) in Canada mirror pre-pandemic U.S. both in raw numbers and their trajectories. This stability is a big advantage for brands, providing you a reliable and familiar customer base where strategies for the U.S can transfer easily.
2. Growing Ecommerce Adoption: In 2022, there were over 27 million ecommerce users in Canada, accounting for 75% of the Canadian population.
3. Mobile Shopping on the Rise: An impressive 55% of Canadians have made online retail purchases with their mobile devices, and this number is steadily growing. Leading the charge are millennial consumers (ages 18-34), with 47% of them purchasing via digital devices at least once a week.

Why Start Selling on Amazon.ca

Now that we've highlighted Canada's ecommerce potential, let's delve into why Amazon.ca is the perfect platform to kickstart your Canadian ecommerce venture.

1. It's Canada’s Dominant Marketplace

Amazon.ca reigns as the top marketplace in Canada. An impressive 75% of online Canadian shoppers utilize Amazon.ca for their shopping needs. This dominance is expected to continue, with Amazon.ca projected to account for a staggering 41.5% of ecommerce sales in Canada in 2023.

2. There's Cultural and Demographic Alignment with the U.S.

Amazon.ca aligns culturally and demographically with its American counterpart. With 90% of Canadians living within 150 miles of the American border, it’s not surprising that Canadians share similar preferences, lifestyles, and consumer behaviors with their American counterparts. This means that the products and strategies that have worked well on Amazon in the U.S. can likely lead to similar success on Amazon.ca as well.

3. It Experiences Massive Monthly Traffic

With over 161 million monthly visits, Amazon.ca provides your brand with unparalleled exposure to potential customers. Leveraging this extensive traffic can significantly boost your sales and brand visibility.

Navigate the Nuances of Amazon.ca with Pattern

Expanding to the Canadian ecommerce landscape is undoubtedly exciting, but it's essential to navigate the nuanced terrain carefully. Pattern, an experienced global ecommerce accelerator, can help brands understand these intricacies, including using North America Remote Fulfillment (NARF) as a first step for expansion to Amazon.ca. Canada's regulatory landscape can be complex, but Pattern can point you in the right direction to navigate the requirements. Here are just a few of Amazon.ca’s requirements Pattern can help brands better understand:

• Bilingual labeling (in both French and English, Canada's official languages), which is a requirement for all Amazon.ca products
• Proper registration with Health Canada (comparable to the FDA in the US) for relevant products

If you're considering international expansion, Canada, and Amazon.ca in particular, should be on your radar. With Pattern as your ecommerce partner, you'll find a wealth of opportunities in this thriving market. Ready to take the leap? Contact Pattern today and explore the endless possibilities awaiting your brand on Amazon.ca.