E-Commerce

The Quebec Gap in Google Shopping That Canadian Retailers May Be Missing

Retail Insider -
Canadian retailers advertising nationally through Google Shopping may be overlooking French-language search opportunities in Quebec. With 82% of Quebec adults shopping online in 2025, expert Joshua Uebergang examines product-feed language, advertising visibility and practical steps retailers can take.

Canadian Shoppers Still Want Human Reviews as AI Changes Product Research, Butterly Survey Finds

Craig Patterson -
Butterly's 2026 consumer survey finds Canadians increasingly use AI for product research while continuing to value authentic reviews. Founder Ali de Bold discusses brand reputation, review credibility and checkout transparency.

Walmart Brings Sparky AI Shopping Assistant to Canada

Lee Rivett -
Walmart has launched its Sparky AI shopping assistant in Canada, bringing conversational product discovery and shopping-list tools to Walmart.ca and its mobile app. The rollout follows U.S. findings of higher average order values among Sparky users as Canadian retailers expand their AI commerce strategies.

lululemon Adds Shopify’s Shop Pay to Canadian and U.S. Online Stores

Lee Rivett -
lululemon has introduced Shopify's Shop Pay across its Canadian and U.S. e-commerce websites, adding accelerated checkout and Shop app product discovery without replacing its existing online infrastructure.

Retail Insider’s Canadian Retail Monitor: October 2026 — Retail Spending Rebounds, but Growth Remains Uneven

Craig Patterson -
Canadian retail sales rose 1.2% in August 2026 to $74.6 billion, with gains across all nine major subsectors. Retail Insider's October Canadian Retail Monitor examines category performance, regional differences, wholesale activity, e-commerce growth and persistent affordability pressures heading into the holiday season.

Are Canadian Retailers Making Shopping Too Complicated? Samsung Research Raises Questions

Craig Patterson -
New Samsung Canada research finds that 68% of Canadians say technology gives them more to manage. Samsung executive Tarik Akad tells Retail Insider why retailers should reconsider how apps, loyalty programs and digital communications affect the customer experience.

How Shipping Disruptions Threaten Canadian Retailers’ Profits and Customer Loyalty

Craig Patterson -
A Retail Insider webinar with UPS Capital examines how lost, damaged and stolen shipments affect Canadian retailers' profitability and customer relationships. The discussion explores shipping risks, customer-service costs and InsureShield Shipping Insurance as an option for managing eligible financial losses.

Q3 2026 Grocery: Capacity Expands as Competition for the Basket Intensifies

Craig Patterson -
Canadian grocery retailers expanded and repositioned capacity during Q3 2026 despite limited underlying supermarket volume growth. The report examines discount conversions, specialty formats, former department-store projects and changing online fulfilment models, distinguishing announced investment from additions to operating grocery capacity.

Q3 2026 Retail Technology: AI Moves Deeper Into Retail Decisions

Craig Patterson -
Canadian retailers moved AI and digital technology deeper into operating decisions during Q3 2026. Applications at Canadian Tire, Instacart and Loblaw span merchandising, grocery shopping and distribution, while data quality, integration, payments and measurable business results remain important constraints.

Daily Synopsis: September 18, 2026

Retail Insider -
Ikea pitches affordability in Canada, Mandy's lands in Vancouver's Kits, No Frills opens in former Whole Foods, Pokemon cards stolen, dogs in restaurants discussed, and other news.

From The Desk: Canadian Retail Navigates Expansion, Consumer Shifts, and Supply Challenges

Craig Patterson -
This week in Canadian retail: store expansion, shifting consumer spending, tariffs, supply chain pressures, loyalty strategies and key industry developments.

Daily Synopsis: September 3, 2026

Retail Insider -
Lululemon reports numbers, Gather Packaging pivots after US tariffs, Couche-Tard shifting convenience store mix, D Spot Expansion, and other news.

Retail Insider’s Canadian Retail Monitor — August 2026 Edition: Demand Strengthens as Volumes Rise

Craig Patterson -
Retail Insider’s first edition of the Canadian Retail Monitor finds demand strengthened, with sales volumes rising faster than headline sales. Health, apparel and general merchandise led growth, while grocery weakened and e-commerce rebounded sharply.

Daily Synopsis: August 24, 2026

Retail Insider -
Canadians still head to malls, Ilia Beauty grows out of Vancouver roots, Reformation opening at CF Toronto Eaton Centre Sept. 1, Toronto camera store closing after 25 years, and other news.

Daily Synopsis: August 21, 2026

Retail Insider -
FreschCo opens 1st Atlantic stores, Apple stores prepare for product expansion, Lordco expands in Western Canada, thrift stores deal with excess donations, Columbia House Records shuting down, and other news.

Daily Synopsis: August 20, 2026

Retail Insider -
FreshCo expands in Nova Scotia, Circle K promotes customized drinks, downtown Ottawa retail expected to return to pre-pandemic levels, Kiokii and opens in Windsor, and other news.

What Couche-Tard Could Gain from Żabka Beyond 13,000 Stores

Craig Patterson -
Couche-Tard’s Żabka acquisition adds more than 13,000 stores, while giving the Canadian retailer access to advanced convenience technology, compact formats and digital capabilities. Retail strategist Carl Boutet says the Polish convenience retailer’s compact stores, autonomous technology and digital capabilities could make the US$8.6-billion acquisition particularly significant for Couche-Tard’s global business.

World Cup Drives 35% Increase in International Card Spending in Canada: Visa

Lee Rivett -
Visa says inbound international card spending in Canada rose more than 35% during the opening weeks of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Toronto and Vancouver.

Lululemon Opens Massive Automated Distribution Centre in Brampton

Lee Rivett -
Lululemon’s new one-million-square-foot Brampton distribution centre will support e-commerce fulfillment across Eastern Canada and the eastern U.S.

Costco Canada Sales Growth Moderates as Warehouse Expansion Continues

Lee Rivett -
Costco Canada's June comparable sales growth slowed from earlier in the year, but the warehouse retailer continues to post healthy underlying gains while expanding its Canadian store network.

Future of Toys “R” Us Stores in Canada Unclear as Operating Platform, Brand Split Among Buyers

Lee Rivett -
Toys “R” Us Canada's brands, store leases and operating assets are set to be divided among three buyers, leaving questions about the future of the retailer's remaining stores and operations in Canada.

Q1 2026 Luxury Retail Report: Flagships Expand as Brands Seek Greater Control

Craig Patterson -
Q1 2026 luxury in Canada split in two: brands doubled down on flagships and boutiques, while platforms and department stores faced restructuring risk.

Q1 2026 Broad Retail Trends Retail Report: Polarized Spending Forces Hard Choices

Craig Patterson -
Q1 2026 split Canadian retail into premium worth paying for and value cheap enough to forgive. Here’s who’s winning, who’s exposed, and what to watch next.

Retail and Grocery Leaders Honoured at RCCSTORE2026 Awards Programs

Retail Insider -
Retail Council of Canada recognized retailers, brands and industry leaders at RCCSTORE2026 through its Excellence in Retailing Awards and Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards.

Q1 2026 Retail Technology Retail Report: AI Agents Rewrite The Buying Journey

Craig Patterson -
Q1 2026 saw AI move from retail tool to shopping interface. Winners are building data, loyalty, and execution foundations; laggards risk losing customers.
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