Hello Everyone,

We hope you're doing well, despite the rollercoaster spring season. Our team recently attended the One of a Kind Show in Toronto, connecting with over 100 Canadian small business owners. The insights we gathered have strengthened our mission to create something truly special for you.

What We Learned

Stories Matter

When you understand who made your purchase and why, it transforms a simple transaction into something meaningful and human. We're designing our platform to showcase these stories, front and centre.

Discovering Hidden Gems

Many amazing Canadian products simply aren't being discovered online. Consider these eye-opening facts we uncovered:

 Over 40% of the small business owners we spoke with lost at least half their retail partners during COVID

 The average small Canadian business spends 20+ hours weekly on digital marketing, yet 76% report declining online discovery rates since 2021

 82% of makers said they can't afford the paid advertising rates needed to compete with large corporations

Even large retailers have struggled to succeed in the Canadian market. The Hudson's Bay Company and Frank and Oak were both acquired by US firms only to end up in receivership. Retail giants like Nordstrom and Target attempted to copy their US models in Canada but ultimately failed to make them work here...

What's more striking is that 93% of shoppers we surveyed said they would prefer to buy Canadian if given an equally convenient option, yet struggle to find these products when shopping online.

This is exactly the gap we're filling—helping you discover Canadian alternatives to everyday products, while supporting real people building businesses right here at home. It's time for a uniquely Canadian perspective on retail that understands our market, our values, and our communities.

Supporting All Canadian Makers

We're committed to building a platform that serves the diversity of Canadian businesses. Our conversations with Indigenous small business owners at OOAK revealed specific challenges they face that many platforms overlook:

 Off-grid makers face unique challenges in getting their products to market

 Shipping and logistics become exponentially more complex and expensive for makers in northern regions

 Access to business education and digital skills training is often limited

 Traditional e-commerce platforms rarely accommodate the need to protect cultural integrity and intellectual property

These aren't minor inconveniences—they're structural barriers that have prevented many talented Indigenous makers from reaching customers who would value their work. We're developing solutions that address these specific challenges, working directly with Indigenous business owners to ensure our platform truly works for their unique circumstances.

A Glimpse of What's Coming:

Here's a preview of our mobile shopping experience that highlights:

 Brand narratives and heritage alongside their products

 Value attributes to discover businesses aligned with your priorities (local, made in Canada, sustainable, women-owned, indigenous, etc)

 Authentic connection to the people behind each brand—whether it's an individual or an established Canadian company

Join Our Beta Testing Program

Here's how you can help:

• Share our waitlist with 5 friends who care about supporting Canadian businesses
• Once 5 people sign up through your link, you'll receive an invite to our beta testing program
• As a beta tester, you'll get to test the site and provide direct feedback and help shape the platform with us on live calls

This is not required - just a way for passionate community members to be part of building something meaningful for Canadian small businesses from the ground up.

Thank You

Thank you for being part of this journey to create a more connected Canadian shopping experience. We're building this together—a platform where you can discover the best of what Canada makes.

Speaking of making it happen - if you have a feature request for the site, please add it to our Suggestion Box.

Common Goods is scheduled to launch within the month of April, exact date TBA. More updates coming soon!

Val Crisp
Founder | Common Goods

Follow us on Instagram | Threads | TikTok For questions about how our initial marketplace will work, our values & more - visit our FAQ.