Prince George leads the province in online business
Many businesses in B.C. have survived the pandemic by upping their online traffic. New data from Square, a financial services and digital payment systems company, reveals that smaller communities are leading the way.
Businesses in Prince George saw online growth of 67 per cent, the highest in B.C. and exceeding the national average of 56 per cent. Square says 56 per cent of businesses in the province are now selling online. While Prince George has the largest uptake, Square says businesses in Squamish are moving ahead at the fastest rate for increasing online sales in the province.
The top 5 BC cities selling online the most as of the end of August 2021:
- Prince George 67%
- Squamish 62%
- Kelowna 61%
- Abbotsford 60%
- Vancouver 60%
There are several reasons why the smaller communities lead the way. According to Square, a younger demographic is more likely to purchase online and communities in some areas have had to work hard to find new customers.
Large cities like Vancouver had more foot traffic during the pandemic than some smaller communities and those along that border which had most of their customers cut off.
"There's more density, right? So you have a lot of customers that are going to come and go to your business no matter what. Whereas, if you're in one of these smaller locations that's more geographically remote, it benefits you to have a little bit of a farther reach and have a little bit of a farther impact on your customer base," explained Felipe Chacon, an economist with Square.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Boeing's financial woes continue, while families of crash victims urge U.S. to prosecute the company
Boeing said Wednesday that it lost US$355 million on falling revenue in the first quarter, another sign of the crisis gripping the aircraft manufacturer as it faces increasing scrutiny over the safety of its planes and accusations of shoddy work from a growing number of whistleblowers.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.