eCommerce is something that Canadians have grown to make part of their lives. While many Canadians enjoy the convenience of shopping online they rarely think about the people behind the screens. Even though internet shopping has reached into the billions with everyone hiding behind a screen very few people have ever heard of many of the big wigs in this industry.
After a decade of bespoke eComm events in Europe, Savant is thrilled to announce that they are crossing the pond and launching their first event in the Americas. The Savant eCommerce Toronto will be held this June 6th and 7th in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Attendees of note include Dan Elliot of Walmart Canada which operates the second highest by revenue eCommerce website in Canada, Jasmin Shirazi, of Canadian Tire which operates the sixth highest by gross revenue eCommerce website in Canada, and from out of province Ryan Drew will be attending. Ryan is the Director of Digital Products and Customer Analytics at Groupe Dynamite which operates the youth centric Garage and Dynamite clothing stores.
Local smaller players will be there as well including Tim Hodges from the independent bricks and clicks operation Forest City Surplus Canada. Despite the small size of the store they have been using SEO to maintain a fighting chance against national eCommerce players in Canada.
In total 150 of the best eCommerce executives from multiple provinces are scheduled to attend. In this group of elites other notable attendees include Director, Digital Operations & Strategy, from Canada’s largest electronics chain The Source Daniela Yanez, Sari Deckelbaum, Senior VP of eCommerce at mattress giant Sleep Country Canada, Tanbir Grover who is the Chief Digital & Marketing Officer at the Pet Valu chain of pet stores, Sajad Semsar, Director, Marketing Technology & Digital Strategy at telecommunications giant Bell Canada, Danyal Syed Ali the Head of Consumer & Customer Insights for the Swedish retailer Ikea’s Canadian operations, Jonathan Amoroso the eCommerce Technical Lead at the teen focussed Ardene chain of stores, Marketing Director Estefania Bafunno at the Freshii restaurant chain, and Di Gallo who is the Director of Social Media, of the big 5 bank CIBC.
Why is this important? Thanks to the growth in online shopping in 2022, it is estimated that retail e-commerce in Canada generated over 52 billion U.S. dollars in revenues.
The conference will feature inspirational keynote addresses from Ruby Goldman and Ryan Drew, fireside chats from Katie Knopp, and sleep industry giants Sari Deckelbaum, Erin Gray, and Jeremiah Curvers.
Savant eCommerce Toronto panelists will be debating how to offer next-level personalization & contextualization to drive engagement & conversions, implement a customer-centric, sustainable & profitable delivery & returns model, and of course what’s next in eCommerce
On the customer side eCommerce is important to Canadian consumers for several reasons:
1. Convenience: Canadians, like people everywhere, are leading increasingly busy lives. Between work, family, and other commitments, many people simply don’t have time to visit physical stores. eCommerce allows consumers to shop at any time that’s convenient for them, from anywhere they have an internet connection. This is particularly important during Canada’s harsh winters when it can be dangerous or simply unpleasant to venture out. In addition, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the safety and convenience of shopping from home.
2. Selection: Even in the largest cities, brick-and-mortar stores can only stock a limited amount of inventory. eCommerce breaks down these physical limitations, offering a near-endless array of products. Whether you’re looking for mainstream products or niche items, there’s a good chance you’ll find it online. Additionally, digital marketplaces like Amazon and Shopify feature products from thousands of different retailers, providing a diversity of choice that’s difficult for any single physical retailer to match.
3. Price Comparison: Before the advent of eCommerce, comparing prices between different retailers could be a time-consuming process. With eCommerce, however, consumers can compare prices from multiple retailers in seconds. Many online platforms even provide tools that automatically compare prices, ensuring consumers get the best possible deal. Moreover, online retailers often offer sales and discounts that are not available in physical stores.
4. Availability: For those living in Canada’s rural and remote communities, access to a diverse range of goods can be limited. eCommerce allows these consumers to access the same variety of goods and services as those living in urban centers, helping to reduce geographical inequalities in consumer choice.
5. International Access: With eCommerce, the world becomes a global marketplace. Canadian consumers can purchase goods from around the world, accessing products that may not be available in their local or national market. This not only provides more choice but can also expose consumers to new products and cultures.
6. 24/7 Shopping: With eCommerce, shopping hours are not restricted by the traditional 9-5 schedule of most brick-and-mortar stores. This means consumers can shop at their leisure, be it late at night or early in the morning. This flexibility is especially important for people who work non-traditional hours or have other commitments during regular business hours.
7. Environmental Impact: Though the environmental impact of eCommerce is a complex issue, online shopping can potentially reduce certain types of environmental harm. For instance, if consumers shop online rather than driving to a store, this can decrease the total amount of vehicle emissions. Also, as the logistics of eCommerce become more efficient, with improvements in route optimization and package consolidation, this could further reduce its environmental impact.
8. Digital Innovation: Canada has a robust tech sector, with companies like Shopify leading the way in eCommerce innovation. This means that Canadian consumers often have access to the latest digital shopping technologies and platforms, which can make online shopping more convenient, efficient, and enjoyable.
9. Support for Local Businesses: As more local businesses move online, Canadians have more opportunities to support their local economy while enjoying the convenience of online shopping. In addition to large online marketplaces, consumers can shop directly from local businesses’ websites, helping to keep their spending within their local community.
10. Accessibility: For people with mobility issues or disabilities, eCommerce can provide a more accessible shopping experience. Online shopping eliminates physical barriers that can make shopping in brick-and-mortar stores difficult for some people, such as navigating aisles, reaching products, or dealing with crowded spaces. Furthermore, many eCommerce platforms are making efforts to improve the accessibility of their websites and apps, ensuring that people of all abilities can use their services.
11. Personalized Shopping Experience: Many eCommerce platforms leverage algorithms to provide personalized product recommendations based on a customer’s previous purchases, browsing history, and preferences. This not only makes the shopping experience more enjoyable and efficient but can also help consumers discover new products that they might not have found otherwise.
12. Product Reviews and Ratings: One significant advantage of eCommerce is the availability of product reviews and ratings. Before making a purchase, consumers can read reviews from other customers to get a better idea of a product’s quality, usability, and potential drawbacks. This helps to reduce the uncertainty that can come with buying products online, and it can help consumers make more informed purchasing decisions.
13. These additional reasons further demonstrate the significance of eCommerce for Canadian consumers, contributing to its growing importance in the Canadian economy.
For the few Internet marketing experts who have yet to get their tickets they can apply through the Savant eCommerce Toronto website. Cost is approximately $1100 Canadian per ticket.