Amazon Canada Is continuing to grow its presence in Canada and has become an engine of growth for the Canadian economy as well.
In its 2022 Amazon Canada Impact Report, the e-commerce giant has outlined how it uses its scale, technology, resources and passion to generate economic benefits and technology in the country:
- Amazon has grown to more than 69 facilities across Canada, including Tech Hubs, corporate offices, fulfilment centres, sortation centres and delivery stations;
- There are now more than 600 Amazon Pickup Points in Canada, in provinces including British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Nova Scotia;
- There are more than 40,000 full and part-time employes;
- The company has two tech hubs in Vancouver and Toronto;
- There are now more than 41,000 Canadian third-party selling partners, who collectively sold more than 100 million products (200 every minute) in 2021;
- Amazon donated more than $15 million (both cash and in-kind) to community organizations across Canada in 2021, including hunger relief charities Breakfast Club of Canada (who received more than $1 million), Backpack Buddies and Food Banks Canada;
- 12 Canadian companies have joined Amazon in signing The Climate Pledge, including Holt Renfrew and Flow;
- The solar energy capacity of its local renewable energy projects is enough to power more than 118,000 Canadians homes for a year;
- There were more than 3,500 participants in Amazon Career Choice, a pre-paid tuition program that provides training for high demand occupations;
- More than 25 Amazon Original series and films were shot in Canada;
- Amazon’s paper padded mailer is a recyclable packaging solution optimized for weight, flexibility, and impact resistance, helping reduce packaging waste in Canada.
This is the company’s third impact report.
“The point that our impact report is really making is to underline how we’re part of the local community. The fact that we have more than 40,000 full and part-time employees, 69 facilities, reinforces how we’re proud to be part of the local community. But that extends to how we give back,” said Kristin Gable, Senior Manager, Communications, for Amazon Canada.
For example, she said, in 2021 Amazon Canada donated more than $15 million both cash and in-kind to Canadian charities.
“Beyond what we create, is the fact that our business is also giving back to causes that we care about.”
In its report, Amazon said it invests billions of dollars in people, resources and services that support entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey from inception to global success:
- More than 1,000 Canadian selling partners had over $500,000 USD in sales, up 15 per cent year over year;
- In 2021, the total sales of Canadian sellers selling in Amazon’s store increased by more than 20 per cent year over year;
- More than 4,000 Canadian sellers had over $100,000 USD in sales, up more than 16 per cent year over year;
- Canadian selling partners averaged over $85,000 USD in annual sales, an increase of more than 13 per cent.
Amazon said it is committed to being the best place for businesses to launch and build a successful brand.
“In 2021, Amazon launched the Intellectual Property (IP) Accelerator in Canada. IP Accelerator makes it easier and more cost effective for selling partners to obtain trademarks, protect their brands, and tackle infringing goods both in Amazon’s stores and the broader marketplace. Available to any brand selling in Amazon’s stores, IP Accelerator directly connects Canadian SMB owners with a curated network of local law firms charging reduced, pre-negotiated rates on key services, giving SMBs access to expert legal and general IP advice that may otherwise be cost-prohibitive or hard to find,” it said.
“Building a brand starts with protecting your brand, and Amazon makes it easy to do that. In 2021, Amazon connected more than 5,900 sellers globally to our network of trusted law firms through IP Accelerator. Since the program’s original launch in 2019, over 12,000 brands globally have enrolled in Brand Registry through IP Accelerator.”
“For any small business, but particularly for one like mine, whose invention is becoming increasingly popular, there is a significant risk of competitors copying or stealing your hard work and capitalizing on your growth. As a small business owner, I have many urgent day- to-day priorities that can prevent me from pursuing complicated matters like trademark protection. I am encouraged to see initiatives like IP Accelerator, which connects businesses like mine with specialized legal expertise at a reduced cost,” said Jennifer Pratt, Inventor of Seeding Square, in the Amazon Canada Impact Report.
