What’s Happening at GS1 Canada

Small Business. Big Dreams.
Grow Your Business with GS1 Canada’s Small Business Bundles

GS1 Canada has helped over 6300 businesses achieve their dreams by enabling them to share the product information Canadian retailers, distributors and online sellers need to get products on store shelves or online stores.

Small business owners work tirelessly to make their products stand out, ensuring they reach their full sales potential – but sometimes the process can be overwhelming.

GS1 Canada can help small businesses achieve their big dreams!

GS1 Canada Small Business Bundles

Created to help small business owners successfully navigate an often new and confusing process, our small business bundles help meet the needs of growing businesses, ensuring they can provide the product data and images needed to get products on store shelves and online platforms.

Our Small Business Bundles provide access to just the right types of tools, resources and support, helping ensure data recipients have the content they need to list and promote products, while data providers manage operational resources efficiently and effectively.

To learn more about our Small Business solutions visit us at: gs1ca.org/small-business

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Missed us at SIAL Canada? Here are the highlights!

GS1 Canada was a proud exhibitor and presenter at SIAL Canada’s first ever virtual event.

Our very own Patricia Crilly, Senior Director, Industry Relations and Melanie Barlow, Senior Manager, Industry Engagement presented on the topic of Navigating the Foodservice Landscape. The presentation covered the growth and alignment of business strategies and maximizing exposure within the foodservice landscape and with your foodservice trading partners.

We can’t wait to see everyone in person next year at SIAL Canada September 21 to 23, 2021 at the Enercare Centre, Toronto, Ontario.

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Small Businesses Boost Their Digital Game

According to a recent survey conducted by the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB), a growing number of small businesses are taking steps to move into the e-commerce space as a result of the lingering COVID pandemic.

• 18% of small and medium businesses were engaged in e-commerce prior to COVID. Over the past 6 months, that number jumped to 33%.
• Only 19% of small businesses are considered digitally advanced.

Digital Tips Sheet for Small Business

• Develop a digital vision, strategy and culture.
• Implement technology and tools to engage with customers in the way they require.
• Shift thinking from driving foot traffic to driving online traffic.
  • Make sure products on digital platforms have rich online content that is accurate and complete – this makes products easily searchable and increases the probability of customers finding them online.
• Build communities of potential shoppers online.
  • Utilize different platforms based on target offering and audience to increase engagement with products and brands.

GS1 Canada is here to support businesses who are embarking on their online journey. Our ECCnet eCommerce Content solution provides brand owners and manufacturers with the quality, standardized eCommerce images and brand-owner certified bilingual content that trading partners require to help get products featured on eCommerce platforms as quickly and efficiently as possible.

To learn more about our eCommerce Content solution, click here.

Resource: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/adv/article-as-e-commerce-expands-small-businesses-need-to-boost-their-digital/

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Health and Wellness Programs Boosted by Product Content

57% of Canadian shoppers do research before making a buying decision.

In an increasingly health-conscious world, consumers are looking for more detailed product information and nutritional details that go beyond the label to help make purchasing decisions that meet their health and dietary needs.

Product information beyond what’s available on the Nutrition Facts Table helps support retailers in the creation of targeted health and wellness programs for consumers who are being more proactive about their health by looking for products with specific health and immunity boosting ingredients.

Brand owners can highlight their products’ nutritional attributes with GS1 Canada’s ECCnet Nutritional Content solution, facilitating the inclusion of their products in retailer programs and promotions. Our solution also supports a brand’s integrity by offering full transparency into product data.

To learn more about our Nutritional Content solution, click here.

Meet Jenny from Jenny’s Jams

As a small business owner, Jenny wears many hats and is responsible for all aspects of running her business, Jenny’s Jams.

Her day to day includes everything from making and packaging her jams, to administrative and bookkeeping tasks – and of course getting her products on store shelves and online stores.

With so much to do to get ready, Jenny feels like there isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done!

Jenny has been approached a buyer who has seen her products at the farmer’s market and wants to carry her organic very berry fruit jam in the local grocery store.

How GS1 Canada helps!

To meet the needs of her new trading partner, Jenny worked with GS1 Canada’s Industry Support Services team that got her set up on the Small Business Essentials Bundle. This bundle included access to flexible tools, resources and support, helping Jenny provide her trading partner with the content they need to list and promote her products. Jenny’s Very Berry Organic jam can now be found in the local grocery store – and was even featured in the flyer last month!

Also, since Jenny has a GS1 GTIN on her product she is can sell her products on Amazon. Learn more here: gs1ca.org/amazon