Event summary produced by The Globe and Mail Events team. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved.
Social restrictions and business closures in March 2020 prompted companies across Canada to ramp up their e-commerce capabilities. Prior to the pandemic some had relied on bricks-and-mortar as their primary point of purchase. Others had started out as e-commerce businesses and faced different challenges such as supply chain disruption and surging demand. Through it all, businesses on Canada’s Top Growing Companies list increased their sales and kept expansion plans on track.
The Globe and Mail brought some of these entrepreneurs together on October 5 for the second event in the Growth Week webcast series celebrating Canada’s Top Growing Companies. Called E-Commerce 2.0 - Strategies to expand your online business, the webcast featured entrepreneurs from a range of industries including jewelry retail, automotive and bed-in-a-box.
Missed the live event or would like to view it again? Scroll down to the video player, below.
Susan Krashinsky Robertson, retailing reporter with The Globe and Mail, moderated the panel discussion, covering themes such as e-commerce sales and marketing, the outlook for pandemic-related supply chain disruption, hiring in the midst of a talent war, and how to reach and engage customers in the digital marketplace.
The panel featured the following speakers:
- Maggie Aurocco, co-founder of Bluboho Fine Jewelry. Ms. Aurocco talked about her company’s expansion of e-commerce sales since the pandemic hit, and the art of translating in-store customer experiences to the digital world.
- Rakesh Krishna, e-commerce advisory lead, customer and marketing with Deloitte LLP. Mr. Krishna noted many Canadian businesses had to move quickly to ramp up e-commerce in 2020 and now, they should review and tailor their online business model for profitability and efficiency.
- Saleh Taebi, founder and CEO of CanadaWheels.ca Automotive sales surged through the pandemic and CanadaWheels.ca saw spikes in demand for its tires, wheels and vehicle parts and accessories. Mr. Taebi talked about how his company is keeping pace and moving ahead with its U.S. expansion.
- Sam Prochazka, founder and CEO of GoodMorning.com. One of the first entrants in the bed-in-a-box market, GoodMorning.com already had a solid e-commerce footing. Mr. Prochazka reflected on obstacles and opportunities to bring in new customers via online channels.
Watch the full webcast (60 minutes) below:
Interested in hearing from more of Canada’s Top Growing Companies? Click here to watch the first event in the Growth Week series: Ask-the-Experts: Tips and tricks to facilitate growth.
The Globe and Mail presented the event with sponsor support from Deloitte.