Often low delivery costs, this is what giants like Amazon offer in particular and which is detrimental to small and medium-sized Quebec businesses.
Despite everything, small and medium-sized businesses here manage to do well with online sales. This is particularly the case with the company Todd & Paul, in Trois-Rivières.
“Just on the web, our sales have increased by 80%! Being close to people helps us a lot. We are aiming for web sales now and of course for the next few years, ”said Andrée Bellefeuille, owner of Todd & Paul.
Since last year, the company specializing in vegetarian dog treats has seen its sales explode on the web, thanks to personalized service.
“Sometimes we make personalized recipes for the dogs of our customers who have allergies to specific foods. In addition, in the boxes ordered on our site, we write the name of the animal and we write a personalized word, ”explained Karine Riopelle, manager at Todd & Paul.
Service above all
For its part, the clothing company for children and adults Will & You even had to move its facilities from Trois-Rivières to Batiscan Bridge, while its turnover increased by 360% only on the web.
With 40 points of sale in Canada, customer service sets the company apart.
“It’s enormous! But customer service is essential for us, before and especially after the purchase. For example, a customer called us to change her order when it was already made. We have redone the entire latter with the desired additions, free of charge. This is what sets us apart from giants like Amazon, ”explained Alexandra Perron, owner of Will & You.
According to the Director General of the Quebec Retail Council, Jean Guy Côté, creativity has been the secret to success for local businesses over the past year.
“We know that the standards of the web giants are very difficult to achieve because of the low costs of transport costs, but there are several entrepreneurs who have told me they have done five years in just one year, it’s phenomenal! Companies must be creative and also made up with the adaptation of the market ”.
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