By Kendall Robertson

Local Businesses Moving To Online Sales

Nov 2, 2018 | 4:27 PM

PRINCE GEORGE- You’d be hard pressed to find someone who has never bought something online these days. In fact, a Canada Post study done in 2016 showed 80 per cent of Canadians are online shoppers. Getting products on the web is something a handful of local businesses are doing to extend their reach beyond our community. Nearly everyone has internet access and that makes it easier than ever to shop from the comfort of your own home. That’s one reason why the owners of Theory Hardware offer their products online. “It’s nice to know that you’re reaching other people that you would never be able to reach before,” said co-owner Bailey Tobin,” the States is as far as we’ve gone, pretty much all over BC, all over Canada, we have quite a few clients in Ontario… it’s great. “

A local business that doesn’t have a brick and mortar store is also finding success online. 4 Paws Pure has products in pet stores across the country and the owners frequent trade shows all over Canada, but their online store allows more people to purchase their wares. “I always say that a show never ends because we went back to Saskatoon for the first time in several years last year and even just a few days ago we had another order from Saskatoon online,” said the owner, Gwen Arrowsmith,” we have constant sales online.” That study shows people of all ages are purchasing things online. That’s why Arrowsmith is encouraging other small business owners to put their items on the web. “The exposure is phenomenal, social media plays a big part in that. Being online is like a whole picture, you need to have the avenues to get the word out, but you also need a place for people to go… because people will look for you online.”

Tobin says Theory Hardware uses Shopify to sell their products online and it’s easy to use.