According to a Retail Touch Point survey, ““Two of the top three concerns among retailers are related to customers: expectations around delivery times at 49%, and expectations of free/low-cost shipping at 44%.” Demand for fast and affordable shipping has continued to grow. A decade ago it was normal for consumers to pay extra in order to receive their purchases within 2-3 days. Today Amazon and Walmart’s free two-day shipping has started the precedent that swift, reliable shipping shouldn’t cost extra. 

If you’re buying from an e-commerce shop this holiday season, they may be powered by Ottawa-based company Shopify. Shopify, an e-commerce platform enables small businesses to create their own branded store without having to rely on Amazon or other big marketplaces. Small business owners who have sold their products on Amazon have complained that Amazon controls their product’s price, their supply chain and even their company messaging. Some companies have even gone so far as to accuse Amazon of creating copycat versions of their products only to sell them at a cheaper price on Amazon.

Have you told your friends that this is the year you’re going to start your holiday shopping early? Chances are you made this same vow last year, the year before, and possibly even the year before that – only to wait until the last minute to pick up presents for your friends and family. With trade wars looming it may actually be beneficial to start your shopping now – as businesses predict steep prices for the holiday season. The products that will be affected are those manufactured and shipped from China. Included in those products are everything from toys and apparel to electronics.