Canadian-born, women-owned beauty brand, Sona Cosmetics, has launched, bringing beauty without barriers to all Canadians.
Built by beauty industry veterans on the belief that high-quality, trend-driven makeup should be available to all, Sona delivers premium beauty at a loveable price tag, without compromising quality, said the company.
Spearheading the new brand are Emily David, Co-Founder & Director of Product of Sona Cosmetics and Lauren Mezzaluna, Co-Founder & Director of Brand Marketing of Sona Cosmetics.
Emily David
“We believe that beauty should never feel exclusive or unattainable,” said David. “Sona’s mission is to create thoughtfully curated, high-performance beauty products that are driven by community, committed to inclusivity, and ensuring that no one is priced out of self-expression.”
Rooted in inclusivity and inspired by culture, Sona said it is passionate about ensuring that everyone has the tools to play, experiment, and find what makes them love the skin they’re in, inspiring the it girl in everyone.
“With ingredients like hyaluronic acid to keep lips soft and plump and peptides to give skin its bounce, every formula is meticulously crafted for maximum effectiveness. At Sona, affordable doesn’t mean low quality; every product is backed by rigorous testing and features high-performing, cruelty-free, vegan formulas,” it said.
Lauren Mezzaluna
Sona’s September product launch includes:
Tinted Lip Treatments – deep hydration, lightweight, everyday colour ($12)
Peel Off Lip Stain – long-lasting and transfer-proof ($9)
All products are available in a variety of colours and shades.
“With sleek, bold and cruelty-free formulas, Sona strikes the perfect balance between luxury and accessibility. Sona is beauty without barriers, where everyone gets a seat at the table (and a killer lip-tint to match),” said the brand.
“Sona Cosmetics is available starting September 18th online at sonacosmetics.ca, with shipping available anywhere in Canada and in select Canadian retailers, including Dollarama and Giant Tiger. Additional product launches are planned for October, November, and December.”
A startup founded by three university friends is making waves in the Canadian seafood industry by delivering wild-caught, sustainably certified, Canadian seafood directly to consumers’ doors across the country. Larry’s Catch, which began as a side hustle and is now a full-time business, currently operates in nine provinces and is looking to expand its reach.
“We started it kind of as a side gig, in the spring of 2024, and we’ve since gone full-time in September,” said Glen Creaser, Co-Founder and President of Larry’s Catch. “That’s when we really started taking this really seriously and working to scale the business and serve as many Canadians as possible.”
Glen Creaser
Creaser, who also oversees branding, product, and supplier relationships, runs the company alongside co-founders James Quinn and Javier Sanchez Mejorada. The company is based out of a Mississauga warehouse, though its roots began in Toronto.
“For quite some time, while we could keep things going out of deep freezers, we were running the business—my two co-founders and I—actually out of our house in Toronto,” said Creaser.
The idea for the business came from a personal struggle Creaser experienced after moving from Nova Scotia to Ontario.
“I grew up with a father as a fisherman,” said Creaser. “I grew up eating the best seafood you could imagine almost every single day. And then I moved to Ontario where I almost cut seafood completely out of my diet because I couldn’t find anything to the quality I was looking for.”
That quality gap, combined with concerns about transparency and sustainability in the seafood industry, drove Creaser to action.
“You could never really tell in the stores where the seafood was coming from. Most of it was imported from very kind of environmentally disastrous countries,” he said. “Over 80% of the seafood we consume in Canada is imported, especially inland as you move away from those kinds of coastal communities.”
“Most of it was previously frozen and thawed to display, which is a huge problem because that increases waste. With modern freezing technology, just keep it frozen because it really is the best quality you can find, especially in inland provinces.”
The company was named in honour of Creaser’s father.
“That really kind of pushed me to eventually start Larry’s Catch and name it after my father who is a retired fisherman,” he said.
Larry’s Catch sources seafood from all three coasts, including Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, British Columbia, and even Baffin Island in the Arctic.
“Nova Scotia is really where most of the stuff we source and sell,” noted Creaser. “We’re also working on a few products from Newfoundland and New Brunswick as well.”
The company’s founding team shares a deep connection that goes back to their first day at Queen’s University.
“We actually met on our very first day—we were on the same floor in our residence,” said Creaser. “We then moved in together with a few other buddies after that.”
From left to right (Javier Mejorada, James Quinn, and Glen Creaser)
Before launching Larry’s Catch, the trio even started and sold a software company, before ultimately leaving the tech industry behind.
“We all ultimately quit our lives in tech and joined the seafood industry where we’ve really been feeling like we’re doing super meaningful work and really pushing some very important support of our Canadian coastal communities,” said Creaser.
Asked about future international expansion, Creaser acknowledged the potential but emphasized the company’s current focus on Canada.
“There is some tariff business going on which would pose some challenges,” he said. “But Canadian seafood is internationally renowned and there is demand for it around the world.”
“In fact, 80% of our seafood is exported. So it’s honestly quite hard to find in Canada, which is why we even started this in the first place.”
He added, “We have a lot of folks that have been requesting our seafood, whether it’s Canadians that are living south of the border, or Americans who have visited Canada and really had the opportunity to taste the seafood that we have to offer.”
Photo: Larry’s Catch
“But for now we’re very, very focused on Canada and serving as many Canadians as possible.”
Creaser believes Canadian consumers are beginning to shift more toward seafood—motivated by both health and environmental factors.
“In Canada specifically, we’re extremely underserved when it comes to seafood consumption,” he said. “There’s been almost a bad rep with seafood, especially inland, in Canada, so people aren’t eating as much.”
He highlighted a stark gap in consumption levels: “The average Canadian will eat 16 pounds of seafood throughout the year. The average person in the rest of the world will eat around 44 pounds. So what I like to use is the term ‘seafood deficient’ when I talk about Canada.”
“There are a ton of health benefits to eating seafood. It helps with your brain and your heart, longevity—I can really go on and on.”
In fact, some customers come to Larry’s Catch at the recommendation of their physicians.
“We actually have some folks who come to us whose doctors are telling them that they need to be eating more seafood,” said Creaser. “They’re looking for a high quality, zero additive, and naturally occurring option. So that’s why they actually come to us.”
As for the future, Creaser is passionate about continuing to serve Canadians with sustainable, local seafood.
“People are becoming much more health conscious and realizing that seafood—especially many species of seafood—are actually considered superfoods just because of how lean it is, packed with omegas and antioxidants,” he said. “As you can tell, I’m very passionate about this and I can go on and on.”
This weekend, CHFA NOW Toronto, Canada’s largest trade show for natural, organic, and wellness products, will spotlight five key trends set to shape the way Canadians shop in 2026. Running Friday, September 19, through Sunday, September 21, at Exhibition Place, the event will draw over 1,000 brands and 8,000 industry professionals to discover the latest and greatest innovations currently shaping the natural, organic, and wellness industry.
Aaron Skelton
“CHFA NOW Toronto is more than a trade show — it’s where the future of Canada’s natural, organic, and wellness industry comes to life,” said Canadian Health Food Association President and CEO Aaron Skelton. “From innovative products to inspiring entrepreneurs, this event highlights the creativity and growth driving our sector and a first look at the trends that will soon influence the marketplace.”
The CHFA is Canada’s largest trade association dedicated to natural, organic and wellness products. As a national not-for-profit association, its members include manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, distributors, and importers committed to getting more healthy living products into the hands of more Canadians.
Heading into the show, CHFA has identified five emerging trends expected to shape the industry and hit retailers in 2026:
Minis: Small Size, Big Impact: As appetite suppression becomes more common due to the rise of GLP-1 medications and increased awareness of metabolic health, there is a growing consumer demand for mini meals, snacks, and drinks that deliver satisfaction without excess. This shift helps to fuel interest in smaller portions, offering greater flexibility, affordability, and a sense of reward without the guilt. At CHFA NOW: Unreal Snacks Dark Chocolate Coconut Bars, Henri Apple Cinnamon Bars
Bitter Brews & Functional Sips: A new wave of functional beverages is capturing attention by blending bold, bitter flavour profiles with wellness benefits. From matcha to mushroom coffee and cacao elixirs, consumers are embracing drinks that go beyond hydration. This trend is driven by a growing appreciation for global cuisines, adaptogens, nootropics, and longevity ingredients, as well as a desire for beauty and cognitive benefits in drinkable formats. At CHFA NOW: Origen Sea Water Electrolytes, Matcha Ninja Blue Matcha
Soft Wellness: Calm, Comfort, and Connection: In uncertain times, Canadians are carving out and embracing a wellness lifestyle that nurtures and provides joy. Consumers are turning to products and experiences that offer emotional support, incorporate rituals as a form of self-care, support the gut-brain connection, and promote rest and recovery. At CHFA NOW: Mosse – Sea Moss Beverage Powder, BioSnactive Foods Inc. – Code Red
Expanding the Health Span: Age Gracefully, Live Fully: As people live longer, the focus is shifting from extending lifespan to enhancing it – living better for longer. Functional foods, beverages, and supplements are evolving to support the complex needs of aging gracefully, from brain health to joint support. Cognitive health and brain nutrition products, proactive nutrition, and inspiration from the Mediterranean diet round out this trend. At CHFA NOW: Tony’s Really Good Olive Oil, Herbaland ACV & Fibre Jelly Stick, Poo Perfect Mango Passionfruit
Beauty from Within: Edible Indulgence with Benefits: Beauty and wellness are merging in the rising category of edible beauty. Consumers are increasingly turning to functional snacks, beverages, and supplements that support skin, hair, and nail health – and they want it all wrapped in a premium, snackable experience with elevated packaging that has sensory appeal. At CHFA NOW: The Meat Bar Beauty Boosting Protein Bar, Glow Green Co. Full On Hydration Face Moisturizer
The CHFA said the event brings together industry-leading voices and leaders in natural, organic, and wellness. One of the most anticipated features of the show floor is Incubator Alley, where emerging brands showcase groundbreaking products and fresh new perspectives.
As consumer spending slows and inflationary pressures persist, Canadian retailers are facing a growing challenge: managing excess inventory in a volatile economic environment.
“Retailers are sitting on a lot more stock than usual,” said Alex Hennick, an industry expert who specializes in inventory and product distribution. “Lower consumer spending, driven by inflation and high interest rates, means products just aren’t moving the way they used to. That’s tying up cash flow, increasing warehousing costs, and creating major logistical headaches.”
Alex Hennick
The issue is especially pronounced for seasonal items, where timing and weather can make or break a season’s sales.
“Here in Toronto, we had a slow start to summer,” explained Hennick of Toronto-based A.D. Hennick & Associates. “So items like patio furniture, trampolines, and barbecues didn’t move as quickly. Retailers often buy these products in the off-season when supply is high, but if the timing is off or the season underperforms, they’re stuck with unsold inventory.”
Excess inventory is more than just a storage issue. It affects everything from liquidity to pricing strategies. Many retailers are being forced to offload products quickly, sometimes at a loss, to avoid the long-term costs of holding unsold goods.
“A furniture company might contact us in August with stock they need to clear before winter,” said Hennick. “Holding that inventory until next summer would cost them more in storage and staffing than it’s worth. In many cases, it’s more cost-effective to take a loss now than to carry the product for another year.”
To clear inventory, retailers are turning to several options:
Discounting to loyal customers (though this risks devaluing the brand)
Bulk sales to liquidators or through warehouse events
Selling to off-price or discount retailers
Donating surplus products
Exporting inventory for potential duty drawback claims
“We’re seeing more requests for liquidation and redistribution,” said Hennick. “It’s not just distressed stock anymore. It’s situational inventory. A distributor goes bankrupt, leaves product in a warehouse, and suddenly the warehouse owns goods they don’t want. These kinds of unique deals are becoming more common.”
The economic slowdown in housing is also spilling over into adjacent categories like home décor, blinds, and flooring, where consumer demand has softened significantly.
“People aren’t holding back because of price,” Hennick noted. “They just don’t have the money to spend. That’s where opportunity arises for those who can help retailers recover value from their unsold goods.”
Although a recent federal announcement to remove certain tariffs, originally imposed earlier this year, could ease some pressure on costs, Hennick cautioned retailers not to overreact.
“Yes, tariff removals offer short-term relief,” he said. “But the policy landscape is unpredictable. Tariffs can return mid-shipment, and if you haven’t accounted for that in your pricing strategy, your margins can evaporate.”
His advice for retailers moving forward: order less, plan smarter, and stay nimble.
Photo: Tima Miroshnichenko
“Many retailers are still forecasting based on trends from one or two years ago,” he said. “That’s a mistake. Focus on current demand. Build contingency costs into every decision. And above all, work closely with suppliers, customers, and logistics teams to ensure everyone’s on the same page.”
Timing, he added, is everything, especially when it comes to seasonal products.
“If your swimsuits show up in August, you’ve missed the window,” said Hennick. “Now you’ve got a warehouse full of unsold goods and zero opportunity to move them until next year.”
Ultimately, Hennick believes proactive planning and strategic relationships will be key to surviving the current retail environment.
“Someone will always have to absorb the cost,” he said. “But if the burden falls too heavily on one party, that business won’t last. The ones that survive will be those who adapt quickly, communicate well, and make decisions based on today, not yesterday.”
City Bracelet Collection (New York City). Image: Lisa Gozlan
Toronto-based jewellery brand Lisa Gozlan Jewelry is marking its six-year anniversary with a milestone event that could set the stage for a major U.S. expansion. The brand, co-founded in 2019 by Lisa and Ryan Gozlan, will host its first pop-up shop in New York City from September 17 to 21 at 21 Spring Street in SoHo. The timing coincides with the launch of its City Bracelet Collection, a six-piece lineup honouring six years of brand growth, with a seventh bracelet, inspired by New York, being revealed at the event.
The SoHo pop-up was deliberately timed to coincide with September Fashion Week and chosen for its international draw.
“New York feels like a second home, often called a ‘bigger Toronto,’” said Gozlan. “Given this connection and the city’s vibrant energy, especially around September Fashion Week, a pop-up here was a clear priority. SoHo is ideal due to its dynamic, trendy atmosphere, aligning with our customer base and serving as a global discovery hub.”
The pop-up will serve as both a sales event and a brand-building initiative.
“Beyond driving sales, our primary goals for this pop-up event are to build brand awareness and foster deeper customer connections,” Gozlan explained. “We aim to offer an immersive experience that allows customers to interact with our brand and feel part of the LG community. This approach has proven successful in the past, as demonstrated by our partnership with Holt Renfrew and our newest partnership with Selfridges in London to test new markets.”
Lisa Gozlan pop-up at 21 Spring Street in NYC. Image: Lisa Gozlan
Celebrating Six Years with City Bracelets
The anniversary will also see the launch of the City Bracelet Collection, each piece inspired by a city meaningful to the brand’s journey.
“City-inspired bracelets leverage universal themes of travel, nostalgia, and personal identity,” said Gozlan. “Wearing a city bracelet is about carrying a memory, commemorating a journey, or embodying an aspiration. Each city reflects our brand’s evolution, inspired by places that resonate with us and our customers over six years.”
The New York bracelet will debut exclusively at the SoHo pop-up.
“Our City Bracelets tap into the human desire to connect with travel or specific cities,” Gozlan said. “The New York bracelet was uniquely designed to capture the city’s distinct energy and iconic spirit, standing out while seamlessly integrating with the collection.”
Lisa Gozlan with an oversized City Bracelet in NYC. Image: Lisa Gozlan
The bracelets are special editions and will not be routinely restocked, though a re-release could be considered if demand is high.
“The City Bracelets are special edition and we currently do not have plans to restock them,” Gozlan confirmed. “However, if there is increased demand, we may consider re-releasing them in the future.”
This approach supports the brand’s strategy of encouraging customers to build personal collections.
“Our collections are versatile, allowing customers to build upon them by stacking and mixing designs,” Gozlan said. “The City Bracelet Collection aligns with our aesthetic of bold, collectible, and style-led pieces that can be effortlessly styled alone or combined with bestsellers, encouraging ongoing engagement beyond new launches.”
Lisa Gozlan opening party for the Soho pop-up. Image: Lisa GozlanLisa Gozlan at 87 Cumberland St. in Toronto. Image: Lisa Gozlan
Canadian Retail Footprint and Growth
Since its debut, Lisa Gozlan Jewelry has expanded its brick-and-mortar presence to four Canadian stores: Yorkville and Yorkdale in Toronto, Square One in Mississauga, and a west coast location in Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighbourhood.
The Yorkdale boutique, which opened in the summer of 2025, underscores the brand’s positioning in top-tier retail environments. The 435-square-foot store was designed by Clarisa Llaneza with signature elements by Etherington Designs and construction by Gozlan Group. Lease negotiations were managed by Brandon Gorman of JLL, reflecting a meticulous approach to real estate strategy that prioritizes prime locations and high foot traffic.
Lisa Gozlan outside the Soho pop-up. Image: Lisa Gozlan
Toward a Permanent U.S. Presence
If the SoHo pop-up meets key performance indicators, a permanent New York presence could follow in 2026.
“New York has consistently been on our radar and is highly requested,” Gozlan said. “Its proximity to Toronto also makes it easily accessible for our team, a key factor in our strategic expansion. Each existing market has provided invaluable insights into customer preferences and operational nuances.”
The company is also considering other U.S. metros for future growth, with a focus on urban neighbourhoods and high-traffic retail streets that match the brand’s positioning.
Site selection remains a cornerstone of Lisa Gozlan Jewelry’s strategy, with the brand favouring spaces that align with its design language and culture.
“Our site selection goes beyond traditional factors,” Gozlan said. “While co-tenants, pedestrian counts, adjacencies, and demographics are considered, the most crucial element is that the space ‘feels right.’ It must align with our brand aesthetic or have transformation potential. We are selective; our aim is not to open everywhere but to strategically expand while maintaining the brand’s exclusive yet accessible appeal.”
Lisa Gozlan jewellery. Image: Lisa Gozlan
Brand Origins and Design Philosophy
Lisa Gozlan Jewelry was founded to create modern, mixable jewellery pieces that could be worn daily without compromising on quality or style. Drawing from Lisa’s background in fashion and Ryan’s fifth-generation jewellery heritage, the brand merges contemporary aesthetics with craftsmanship rooted in tradition.
Known for its Happy Face Collection and stackable designs, the brand’s pieces are both accessible and collectible. Sustainability and ethical sourcing remain central pillars, with an emphasis on long-lasting quality and responsibly sourced materials.
Each boutique is designed to foster a sense of community and educate customers about the craft and materials behind each piece. This philosophy has extended internationally through the brand’s recent partnership with Selfridges in London, which allowed for a test of demand in the UK market.
RBC’s cardholder data for August shows core retail sales growth slowed from July—marking the third consecutive monthly slowdown in growth based on a three-month moving average, says Rachel Battaglia an economist at RBC.
Core retail sales—which excludes spending on autos and gas—grew 0.4% seasonally adjusted from July, when it rose 1.1%.
“This trend aligns with our broader economic outlook . We believe Canada’s economy will resume slow, but positive, GDP growth after a Q2 decline with relatively resilient consumer spending offsetting persistent headwinds in the industrial sector,” she wrote recently in a report.
Rachel Battaglia
“Solid consumer spending in July hit a bump in August. Total spending was down 2.2% m/m from July, reversing the previous month’s gain. Monthly spending data is always volatile, but the three-month moving average also grew more slowly for a third month.
“The ongoing contraction in gasoline spending—continuing on a three-month average basis since the elimination of the consumer carbon tax this spring—has been a significant driver of this trend.
“Still, most major spending categories saw growth—but slower—apart from clothing purchases, which accelerated. Travel spending dipped 0.1% seasonally adjusted on a three-month average.”
Battaglia said essential spending has shown a more persistent moderation compared to discretionary categories.
“This pattern is largely attributable to the drop in spending at gas stations—which is deemed essential—after the removal of the consumer carbon tax this spring. Spending on groceries has also flatlined since May, which is contributing to lower essentials spending as well,” she said.
“On a seasonally adjusted, three-month moving average basis, essentials spending contracted 0.6% m/m while other spending categories maintained positive growth.”
Consumer confidence measures were little changed from July. The Conference Board of Canada’s Index of Consumer Confidence contracted marginally after four consecutive months of improvement—and remains substantially lower from a year ago, she said.
The Bank of Canada’s Canadian Survey of Consumer Expectations mirrored the same pessimism among survey respondents regarding their spending intentions, and overall financial health. Consumers highlighted elevated job loss concerns were contributing to pessimism, added Battaglia.
“Despite the pessimistic indicators, consumer spending has remained more resilient than indicators would suggest—continuing to provide underlying support for the economy, even as other sectors face challenges,” she said.
“Meanwhile, the recent cooling in population growth—after years of record increases that bolstered aggregate consumer spending—likely contributes to the current spending moderation, creating an additional headwind for retail sales beyond weak consumer confidence.”
Vancouver has welcomed the return of Milestones with a new chapter for the restaurant brand. On September 4, the company debuted its first Milestones Test Kitchen along with an intimate cocktail destination, Fraser Bar, in a move that both honours the brand’s roots and signals its ambitions for the future. The location is 2745 Barnet Highway in Coquitlam.
The initiative is the result of a collaboration between Pacific Rose Hospitality Group and Foodtastic, the Montreal-based restaurant franchisor that owns Milestones. Together, the partners aim to use the Vancouver location as a proving ground for culinary innovation and a potential model for expansion across Canada.
“This launch marks the beginning of an exciting new era,” said Chad Huff, Partner at Pacific Rose Hospitality Group. “We are grateful to our amazing team and the great partnership that we have with Foodtastic, both of which allow us to focus our efforts on growing this amazing brand in Western Canada.”
Designed to balance familiarity with experimentation, the Milestones Test Kitchen presents a menu split evenly between customer favourites and new dishes under development. The goal is to gather feedback directly from diners and refine recipes before rolling them out to other locations.
Photo: Milestones/Foodtastic
Head Chef Jeff Dell described the approach as both rigorous and collaborative. “I’ve been entrusted with a very special role,” he said. “Our team is working intensely to find the right new recipes, and to gather feedback from the people whose opinion matters most to us – our local patrons.”
Beloved classics like Portobello Mushroom Chicken, Wham-Bam Shrimp and Chilli Chicken Bites remain, anchoring the menu with trusted comfort. But the kitchen is also exploring playful, globally inspired offerings such as Samosa Poutine, Lobster Frites and artisanal pizzas fired in a wood-burning oven.
The décor mirrors this mix of old and new, with a warm, modern aesthetic featuring natural materials and curated lighting designed to encourage lingering over meals.
Photo: Milestones/Foodtastic
Fraser Bar: An Intimate Escape
Directly above the Test Kitchen, Fraser Bar offers a distinct but complementary experience. Inspired by the prohibition era of the 1920s and early 1930s, the space features plush seating, dim lighting, and an extensive cocktail list emphasizing craft and storytelling.
Guests can enjoy shareable plates designed to pair with premium spirits, making Fraser Bar a destination not just for Milestones diners but also for those seeking an elevated evening out. The concept celebrates Milestones’ roots in the Fraser Valley while giving patrons a venue that feels both nostalgic and fresh.
Fraser Bar. Photo: Milestones/Foodtastic
The launch of the Milestones Test Kitchen and Fraser Bar fits squarely within Foodtastic’s strategy of revitalizing and expanding its diverse restaurant portfolio. Since acquiring Milestones in 2023, Foodtastic has invested in menu innovation and store refreshes to strengthen the banner’s positioning in the casual dining segment.
“We’re proud of our Canadian roots and DNA,” said Peter Mammas, founder and president of Foodtastic. “And while that’s true and important, I can tell you we’re just as proud of our people and our partners, like Pacific Rose Hospitality Group, who work tirelessly to serve our customers and live up to our values.”
Image: Peter Mammas
Foodtastic currently operates more than 1,200 restaurants across its 20-plus brands, including Second Cup Café, Freshii, and Pita Pit, with systemwide sales surpassing $1.1 billion annually. Its aggressive growth strategy combines franchising support with a steady stream of acquisitions, and the company has been steadily increasing its presence both domestically and internationally.
A Test Case for National Rollout
If successful, the Vancouver Test Kitchen model could become a template for other markets, allowing Milestones to innovate faster and roll out tested dishes to locations across Canada. The Fraser Bar, meanwhile, could evolve into a stand-alone concept in other cities, creating new opportunities for Foodtastic to reach urban consumers seeking distinctive cocktail experiences.
Industry observers note that the Canadian casual dining sector has been in flux, with operators investing heavily in experiential offerings to draw customers back into restaurants post-pandemic. By combining menu innovation with a fresh bar concept, Milestones appears to be positioning itself to meet shifting consumer expectations.
Retailers like to talk about being “data-driven.” The reality is that many still fly by instinct until the numbers confirm what they already believe. This approach isn’t the best in a tough market like Canada, where shoppers are hunting for value and imports are exposed to currency swings. The companies pulling ahead treat data as a steering wheel, not a rear-view mirror.
Supply chains
Most Canadian retailers lose money in supply chains. June’s$70.2 billion in retail sales looked healthy enough on paper, but 27% of businesses still reported being hit by supply chain delays. That figure, from Statistics Canada, conveys a clear message: growth can mask inefficiency until the next shock comes along.
What helps? Not broad strategy slides, but real-time dashboards that show what’s in stock, what’s on the way, and which supplier might fail you next week.Walmart Canada is spending C$6.5 billion on distribution upgrades, which tells you how seriously the big players take the problem. Smaller chains can’t match that, but they can demand cleaner vendor data and use basic AI forecasting tools. As ever, the choice is to spend now to fix or spend later on markdowns.
Personalization
If Canadian consumers have one consistent message, it’s that price comes first.KPMG’s 2025 retail survey found 56% of shoppers cite it as the main driver. However, 90% also belong to loyalty schemes, and 92% say those schemes influence their choices. That is a profitable system if handled carefully.
The risk is turning loyalty into surveillance. Leading retailers use customer segmentation and first-party data to tailor offers, notifications, picks, and cross-sells. Canadians worry about how their data is handled. The trick is to be transparent by saying, “Here’s the data we collect, here’s the discount or service you get in return”. When businesses offer personalized experiences, they should keep this in mind.
Omnichannel integration is also essential. This means making sure what customers see online matches what’s available in-store or for pickup. Poor inventory management will cause postal delays, which will cause shoppers to lose trust.
All this boosts lifetime value. Personalization lets you spend less on acquiring customers by keeping existing ones engaged. It turns occasional buyers into fans.
Pricing
Pricing remains the bluntest but most crucial tool. Core retail sales rose 5% in August, but only because retailers absorbed costs in some categories while passing them on in others. The Canadian consumer is more price-sensitive than ever, and a 1% misstep on the shelf can mean a lost sale.
That’s why dynamic pricing systems are becoming mainstream. Monitoring competitors’ prices online, adjusting in real time, and protecting margin thresholds is no longer optional if you want to remain competitive. Data, in other words, lets you avoid being caught flat-footed when rivals cut prices or currency fluctuations jack up import costs.
Forex Tools
Most Canadian retailers don’t like to talk about foreign exchange, but they should. Imports are enormous, and every fluctuation in CAD/USD or CAD/CNY translates directly into costs. The Bank of Canada notes that average daily FX volumes in April 2025 were up 12.7% from the year before, with derivatives activity up by more than a third. Someone is managing risk more actively.
CFOs in retail are hunting for the bestforex trading app to track live rates, set alerts when currencies hit pain points, and even take hedging positions. The goal isn’t exotic speculation. It’s simply protecting margins. If CAD weakens and your next container of goods costs 8% more, you need to know early enough to adjust pricing or lock in a forward contract. Ignoring currency risk is the quiet way profits vanish.
Implementation Steps
It’s easy to say you’re “data-driven.” It’s harder to prove it when margins are thin and shoppers can switch with a swipe. The difference between talk and practice lies in execution. Here is how to get started:
1. Audit your data foundation
Plenty of retailers claim to run on insights, but the data itself is too often a mess. Making decisions will become a guessing game if point-of-sale, warehouse, and supplier feeds don’t connect. Start with the basics: clean up your SKU master data, reconcile stock levels, and ensure product costs include everything from shipping to duties and currency fluctuations.
2. Deploy demand forecasting tools
Even simple forecasting adjusted for seasonality and promotions will cut overstock and stockouts. Pilot forecasting on your top sellers or fastest-moving lines, then expand. You may not need it every day, but the one time you do, it saves you from a nasty crash.
3. Ensure accurate pricing monitoring
Price remains the bluntest weapon in retail, which makes it too dangerous to handle without data. Competitor monitoring tools can flag when rivals shift prices so you’re not exposed. The key is to set rules so you never dip below margin thresholds. Without those rules, “dynamic pricing” becomes a code word for “margin suicide.”
4. Build a forex-enabled financial flow
For retailers relying on imports, ignoring currency risk is real. A modern forex app lets you track live rates, set alerts, and secure forward contracts before volatility eats your profit. Budgeting and procurement plans that don’t account for FX swings are unrealistic.
5. Personalize without creeping
Yes, Canadians like loyalty programs, and yes, personalization can turn occasional buyers into loyalists. But don’t push too far. Use loyalty data to group customers, offer relevant deals, and highlight local availability. Keep it transparent.
Turning Data into Dominance
Canadian retailers talk endlessly about being customer-focused and digitally savvy. The numbers show that only some have earned the right to claim it. The ones who are winning have taken the basics and turned them into operating habits.
The others risk being caught out by the next shock in supply chains, inflation, or exchange rates. The competitive edge in 2025 isn’t about inventing new retail. It’s about using the data that’s already on your desk.
A few years ago, I was working with a startup that was scaling quickly but struggling to keep up with operations.
Their internal team was buried in support tickets, late invoices, and messy handoffs between sales and customer success. The ops lead was so deep in fire drills he hadn’t touched the roadmap in weeks.
I stepped in to help fix things. We mapped the full process stack, from support queues to billing workflows, and identified three main areas that could be offloaded with the right workflows.
We brought in a BPO team to take over Tier 1 customer support, invoice processing, and CRM management.
Within six weeks, average response time dropped by 4%, invoice errors went to zero, and their sales reps finally had clean data to work from. More importantly, the leadership team had breathing room and a clear runway to focus on growth.
That’s the value of BPO when it’s set up right. The trick is finding a partner that can actually operate at that level. Here’s who’s doing it well in 2025.
Want a more detailed breakdown and 7 more top agencies? Keep reading.
How To Choose the Right BPO Partner (Before You Sign the Contract)
1. Define Whether You Need Muscle or Strategy
Every BPO firm will promise efficiency, but the reality is different. Some are execution-heavy, great for handling tickets, data entry, or transaction volume. Others lean strategic, offering feedback loops, process re-engineering, and operational insight.
If you only need task execution, you’ll pay less, but you won’t gain leverage. If you’re scaling fast or want to improve workflows, look for a partner who can sit at the table with your ops team.
For teams already operating out of a shared virtual office setup, the right BPO partner should feel like an extension of that environment, not a disconnected external vendor.
2. Probe Leadership Tenure, Not Just Agent Numbers
It’s tempting to choose based on scale, but headcount can be misleading. A 10,000-agent BPO might feel impressive until you realize their account managers cycle out every six months. In my experience, stability at the leadership and team-lead level matters more than raw size.
3. Test for Tech Fluency, Not Just Tool Familiarity
Plenty of BPOs advertise support for platforms like Zendesk or HubSpot, but there’s a big difference between “we’ve used it” and “we’re fluent.” Fluency means agents who can navigate workflows, create reports, and troubleshoot inside the tool without slowing down your internal teams. When evaluating vendors, don’t just ask if they use your systems.
Why Somewhere is the best business process outsourcing company in 2025: Somewhere has built its reputation on helping scaling companies plug in high-quality remote talent without the friction that usually comes with outsourcing.
Most BPOs hand you a prepackaged team. Somewhere doesn’t. They run a selective hiring process with just a 0.5% acceptance rate. In other words, every person you get has already been tested for communication, problem-solving, and remote-first skills.
It’s a setup startups and mid-sized teams both like. No retainers or no upfront fees. You can scale up or down without getting locked into a fixed contract.
They also back every hire with a six-month Perfect Hire Guarantee, which is rare in the BPO space.
With strong coverage across LATAM, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe, Somewhere offers both cost efficiency and genuine operational leverage. For founders or operators who want outsourced support that feels like a seamless extension of their own team, Somewhere delivers.
2. TaskUs: Best for Tech-Enabled Customer Experience
Founded: 2008
Headquarters: New Braunfels, Texas
TaskUs is basically the go-to outsourcer for SaaS companies and high-growth brands. They’re built for primarily online businesses – handling customer support at scale, content moderation, and all kinds of technical work. All with automation and analytics baked in.
If you want a modern partner that actually understands tech, TaskUs is a relatively safe bet. They don’t just answer support tickets, they give you reports that show customer trends and help you improve your product.
3. Helpware: Best for Multichannel Support Delivery
Founded: 2015
Headquarters: Lexington, Kentucky
Helpware builds custom teams across the U.S., Ukraine, Mexico, and the Philippines. Their superpower is flexibility – you can mix in-house and outsourced staff to cover voice, chat, email, and social channels.
They’re a strong fit for companies that need support across all channels to feel like part of their brand. Weekly QA checks keep the tone and quality consistent across every channel.
4. Conectys: Best for Compliance-Sensitive Outsourcing
Founded: 2004
Headquarters: Bucharest, Romania
Conectys focuses on regulated industries like fintech, healthcare, and gaming. They operate in 10 countries, with multilingual teams trained to work in compliance-heavy industries.
If audits and various regulations are a big deal for you, Conectys brings the right mix of scale and control. Their QA systems and escalation protocols are built to hold up under external audits, which makes them a solid pick for risk-sensitive businesses.
SupportYourApp handles customer and technical support for SaaS startups. Their teams are trained on tools like Intercom, Salesforce, and HubSpot, and they offer 24/7 multilingual coverage.
The big win is speed – they solve issues fast without sending everything back to your engineers. They also run structured onboarding programs for early-stage companies, so you can scale support without piling on headcount.
6. Transcom: Best for Enterprise Contact Centers
Founded: 1995
Headquarters: Stockholm, Sweden
Transcom has 30,000+ employees across Europe, Asia, and North America. They’re built for scale, managing large enterprise accounts with voice and digital support, technical services, and sales ops.
Their compliance systems and infrastructure make them a safe choice for enterprise outsourcing. They can also handle complex, multi-region rollouts with centralized reporting and local delivery teams. In other words, perfect for companies with global customers.
7. Flatworld Solutions: Best for Back-Office BPO
Founded: 2020
Headquarters: Princeton, NJ
Flatworld is focused on tasks like accounting, HR, data entry, and other repetitive back-end operations. They’re a good fit for companies that want to outsource routine workflows and keep costs predictable.
They’re known for transparent pricing and a focus on getting thins done. You can also customize service packages to match your exact process needs.
8. Invensis: Best for Scalable Support Teams
Founded: 2000
Headquarters: Bangalore, India
Invensis has 500+ clients in 20+ countries, covering customer support, helpdesk work, ecommerce operations, and data entry. They’re known for long-term relationships with their teams and scaling fast without losing quality.
Their onboarding and training make getting started easy, which is great for companies dealing with seasonal spikes or sudden growth.
9. Wing Assistant: Best for On-Demand Virtual Teams
Founded: 2018
Headquarters: Berkeley, California
Wing provides virtual assistants for startups and operators who need fast, task-level help. Their assistants handle things like sales research, scheduling, admin, and support, with U.S.-based managers keeping quality in check.
They’re a good fit if you want quick support without locking into a big outsourcing contract. You can spin up new assistant roles in under 48 hours, which makes Wing handy for teams with shifting workloads or urgent gaps.
10. Unity Communications: Best for Mid-Market Outsourcing
Founded: 2009
Headquarters: Gilbert, Arizona
Unity focuses on SMBs in healthcare, IT, and e-commerce. Their model blends U.S. based quality assurance with offshore delivery centers, giving clients local oversight plus global pricing.
They’re a solid option for companies too big for freelancers but not quite enterprise level yet. Unity also runs process audits and transition planning during onboarding, so you can shift workflows without slowing down daily ops.
Turning Outsourcing Into Leverage
The companies that get the most from BPO don’t treat it as a way to save money.
The startup I mentioned earlier didn’t just save money on customer support. They gained the ability to scale again. That’s the point of choosing the right BPO partner. Reclaiming time, stabilizing processes, and improving the customer experience without dragging down your core team.
Every successful business knows the importance of maintaining a clean and safe environment. However, a crucial aspect often overlooked is pest control. An effective pest control strategy is essential for any business, whether large or small, as pests can pose serious health risks and may also cause significant damage to property, equipment, and inventory.
Identification and Understanding of the Problem
To protect your employees, customers, and your business, it’s important to form a plan which can help you get rid of bugs, rodents, and other unwanted visitors. These pests not only negatively affect the physical aspect of your business, but also its reputation. Having a good pest control strategy will assure your employees and customers that you prioritize their health and safety.
The first step to developing an effective pest control strategy is to identify and understand your pest problem. Hiring a professional pest management service can be useful for this task. They are trained to identify various pests, their breeding habitats and habits, and formulate the best possible preventative and extermination strategies.
Prevention is Key
Once the pests and their habits have been identified, the next step is to prevent their entry into your premises. Pests such as rats, termites, and roaches are attracted to food sources and warm habitats. Therefore, ensure all potential entrances, such as cracks, crevices, and holes, are sealed, and keep areas, especially kitchens and washrooms, clean at all times.
Businesses with wood framing, shelving, or mulch landscaping should also formalize a termite prevention plan that pairs continuous monitoring (e.g., discreet bait-station systems), moisture control around foundations, and scheduled professional inspections to catch activity early. This proactive treatment-and-prevention framework helps avoid costly structural repairs, protects inventory and fixtures, and supports compliance with lease and insurance requirements.
Employee Training
Employee training is essential in maintaining a pest-free environment. Training should include recognizing signs of pest infestations, understanding potential risks associated with certain pests, and knowing what actions to take when a pest problem is detected.
Regular Professional Inspections
Professional pest control companies can provide regular inspections to help ensure that your pest control strategies are working as expected. These inspections can help identify any new pest problems early, before they become too difficult to manage. It also reassures your stakeholders that their health and well-being are a top priority.
Creating an Emergency Response Plan
Despite all precautions, pest infestations could still occur. An emergency response plan will help you handle such situations more effectively. Decide beforehand who to contact and what steps to take, so you can act quickly and minimize the impact on your business.
Use of Non-Toxic Pest Control Methods
Many businesses these days opt for non-toxic or less toxic pest control methods for safety and environmental concerns. Biological control, such as using natural enemies of pests, and the use of traps, are common non-toxic pest control methods that businesses can incorporate.
Documentation
Documentation can assist in tracking patterns and trends of pest infestation, which in turn can help in planning and implementing more effective pest control strategies. Keep records of all pest sightings, treatments applied, and tips on how to prevent future infestations.
All in all, a sound pest control strategy can save a business from a multitude of unforeseen problems. It might require an investment in terms of time and money, but the benefits – a safe, clean, pest-free environment that enhances the business’s reputation, employee morale, and customer satisfaction – make it all worth it.
