How to Shop Canadian (and Support Small Businesses Too)
More Canadians are making a conscious effort to shop closer to home and support Canadian businesses.
From local markets and independent shops to Canadian makers selling online, there are so many ways to discover unique products while supporting small businesses across the country.
Here are a few easy ways to get started.
1. Shop Local Markets, Craft Shows & Independent Shops
One of the best ways to discover Canadian small businesses is to shop in person.
Explore seasonal markets, craft shows, artisan markets, independent boutiques and locally owned shops in your community. You'll often find products you wouldn't come across at a large retailer - and in many cases, you'll actually meet the person who made, designed or selected what you're buying.
Don't forget about year-round markets either. Many communities have collections of independent vendors all under one roof.
You may go looking for one gift and leave having crossed three people off your Christmas list.
2. Change the Way You Search Online
A small change to your Google search can make a big difference.
Instead of searching:
"pearl earrings"
try:
"pearl earrings Canada"
"Canadian-made pearl earrings"
"pearl earrings Canadian small business"
Looking for a candle? Try Canadian-made candles.
Need a gift for Dad? Try Canadian gifts for Dad.
Looking for jewellery for someone with sensitive ears? Try Canadian-made earrings for sensitive ears.
Adding words such as Canada, Canadian, Canadian-made, made in Canada, Canadian business, small business Canada, or even your province or city can uncover businesses you may never have found otherwise.
3. Look for "Ships From Canada"
When you're shopping through a large online marketplace, don't assume the products you're seeing are located in Canada.
Look for information about where the item ships from and use location filters when they're available.
Searching for products that ship from Canada can be an easy way to discover Canadian sellers while also potentially avoiding the longer delivery times (and possible customs fees) that can come with international shipping — especially as Christmas gets closer.
4. Use Etsy to Find Canadian Sellers
Etsy can be a great place to discover independent makers, but Canadian shops can easily get mixed into thousands of search results from around the world.
Use Etsy's available filters to narrow your search by location or where items ship from, and look for Canadian sellers.
Once you find something you love, take a minute to visit the seller's shop and read their About section.
You might even discover that the Canadian Etsy shop you've been buying from has its own website too.
5. Search Locally, Not Just Nationally
Don't stop at "Canada."
Try adding your province or city to your searches:
handmade gifts Ontario
Canadian jewellery Ontario
Christmas markets near me
local Christmas gifts + your city
small businesses + your city
You may be surprised by what's being made or sold just a few kilometres away.
And when a local business offers pickup, you may even be able to skip shipping altogether.
6. Let One Small Business Lead You to Another
Once you find a Canadian business you love, look at who they follow, tag and collaborate with on social media.
Small businesses tend to know other small businesses.
Markets tag their vendors. Makers share each other's products. Independent stores feature local brands. Businesses collaborate on giveaways and gift guides.
Follow one, and you may suddenly discover ten more.
7. Check the Small Business Before the Big Marketplace
Before automatically ordering from a large marketplace, do a quick search for the product you're looking for.
There may be a Canadian business selling exactly what you need.
And if you originally discover a Canadian brand through a marketplace, search for the business name too. Many small businesses also have their own online stores where you can shop directly from them.
8. Remember That Small Gifts Count Too
Shopping closer to home doesn't have to mean replacing the biggest purchases on your Christmas list.
Start small.
A pair of earrings. A candle. A bag of locally roasted coffee. Handmade soap. An ornament. A print from a local artist. A pottery mug. A book from an independent bookstore. A personalized keepsake.
These make wonderful stocking stuffers, teacher gifts, hostess gifts and Secret Santa presents.
Choosing even one Canadian small business for something you were already planning to buy is a great place to start.
9. Supporting Small Doesn't Always Require Buying Something
Found a Canadian business you love but don't need anything right now?
Follow them.
Share one of their posts.
Leave a review for something you've previously purchased.
Comment on their social media.
Recommend them to a friend when they're looking for something.
Small actions can help other people discover a business — and they don't cost you anything.
Looking for Canadian-Made Earrings? You've Already Found Us.
If you've landed here while searching for Canadian-made gifts, welcome to Pretty Smart.
We're a Canadian small business based in London, Ontario, and we've been creating comfortable earrings for sensitive ears since 2013.
Pretty Smart started with one simple idea:
Earrings shouldn't hurt.
Today, we make earrings with several different options for sensitive ears, including metal-free plastic posts, implant-grade titanium posts, screw-on flat backs and invisible clip-ons for people without pierced ears.
Whether you're shopping for someone who stopped wearing earrings because their ears react, someone who needs a metal-free option, someone without pierced ears or simply someone who wants earrings comfortable enough to wear all day, there's a Pretty Smart option for them.
A Small Gift That Can Feel Very Personal
Earrings are one of those gifts that can say, I saw this and thought of you.
Choose their favourite colour. Their birth-month flower. A classic pearl. Something sparkly. Something tiny and simple. Or something fun.
For an extra-special gift, our personalized engraved earring tins can hold 3-5 pairs, turning several little gifts into one personalized keepsake.
And because we believe earrings should be comfortable, your gift won't spend the next year sitting in a jewellery box.
Start With One Gift
You don't have to buy your entire Christmas list from Canadian businesses to make a difference.
Start with something you were going to buy anyway.
Before you click "buy," take another minute and see if you can find it closer to home.
Visit a local market.
Walk into the independent shop you've passed a hundred times.
Search Etsy for a Canadian seller.
Add "Canada" to your Google search.
Discover a small business you've never heard of.
And when you find an amazing Canadian business, tell someone about it.
Because behind every small business is a real person who notices every order, every review, every share and every person who comes back.
This holiday season, shop a little closer to home, support small when you can, and give something with a story behind it.
And if someone on your list loves earrings - but not sore ears - we're very glad you found us.
ot sore ears - we're very glad you found us.