Who this is for: Atlantic Canada and New Brunswick entrepreneurs from a single-location retail shop taking first steps online to established brands planning serious growth.
Goal: Show how a modern, hosted ecommerce platform (think: quick to launch, secure, and app-friendly) can help you start, streamline, and scale without locking yourself into one toolset.
If you’re choosing between “custom build from scratch” and “use a hosted platform,” here’s the short version:
Faster launch, lower maintenance: Hosting, security patches, and updates are handled for you. No servers to maintain.
Built-in payments & checkout: Offer major cards, Interac Debit (via supported gateways), and digital wallets out of the box optimized for conversion.
Peace of mind on security: PCI-DSS compliant checkout, SSL certificates, and modern fraud tools are standard.
Canadian readiness: CAD pricing, GST/HST/QST rules, bilingual storefront options, and Canada Post integrations are common.
App & integration ecosystem: Plug in what you need (marketing, shipping, accounting) without a custom rebuild.
Portability & control: Own your domain, export your products/customers/orders, and connect via APIs keeping future options open.
SEO focus terms to keep in mind: ecommerce platform, online store, POS integration, omnichannel retail, inventory management, payment processing in Canada, GST/HST, shipping in Canada, bilingual storefront, app integrations.
Typical starting point: A local shop in Moncton, Saint John, Fredericton, St. John’s, or Halifax that wants to sell online and keep foot traffic.
A branded online store with a modern theme and mobile-friendly product pages.
Simple product management: Add photos, variants (size/colour), and inventory in one dashboard.
Local pickup & delivery: Offer in-store pickup, curbside, and local delivery within a set radius ideal for NB/Atlantic cities and rural routes.
Shipping in Canada: Print Canada Post labels, set regional rates, and show delivery ETAs.
Built-in payments: Accept CAD with major cards and Interac Debit (through supported gateways), plus wallets like Apple Pay/Google Pay.
Taxes done right: Apply GST/HST automatically based on province (e.g., 15% HST in NB, NS, PEI, and NL).
Basic analytics: See traffic, top products, and sales by channel without extra setup.
“Harbour Home Goods,” a Saint John gift shop, launches an online store in two weeks. They start with 150 SKUs, enable local pickup, and run a small Facebook/Instagram campaign. Result: weekend orders from out-of-town customers who never knew the store existed, plus weekday pickups that drive add-on sales in person.
Logo, colours, and a few high-quality product photos
10–20 bestsellers to start (expand later)
Shipping & pickup policies (clear and simple)
Basic pages: About, Contact, Returns, Privacy
A free Google Business Profile linking to your online store
Once you’ve launched, small improvements compound.
Trust signals: Reviews, detailed FAQs, and clear returns policy.
Bilingual content (EN/FR): Serve both languages in NB and across Atlantic Canada.
Email & SMS automations: Welcome series, abandoned cart, and post-purchase follow-ups keep revenue steady.
Content for SEO: Product guides, sizing help, and “how-to” posts targeting Atlantic search terms (e.g., “off-grid gear NB,” “winter-ready” queries).
Social & marketplaces: Sync your catalogue to Facebook, Instagram, and (optionally) marketplaces to meet customers where they are.
Inventory accuracy: Low-stock alerts and multi-location counts prevent overselling.
Shipping rules: Flat-rate for Atlantic provinces, free shipping thresholds to boost AOV, real-time carrier rates for transparency.
Returns workflow: Print labels and restock with a simple RMA process.
“Maple & Pine Outfitters,” a Fredericton retailer, adds email automations and a bilingual store. A welcome discount lifts first-order conversions by 12%. Local pickup stays popular; adding a $99 free-shipping threshold nudges average order value up by $14.
As order volume grows, integrations pay off in time saved and fewer errors.
Unified product & inventory: Online and in-store share the same catalogue and stock counts.
Staff tools: Barcode scanning, easy exchanges, and customer profiles at checkout.
Local promos: Run location-based discounts and events; sync gift cards across channels.
Label printing & pickups: Canada Post pickups, branded packing slips, and standardized packaging sizes.
Multi-carrier options: Add regional couriers or LTL for larger goods.
Rules by region: Different rates for Atlantic vs. rest of Canada; exclude remote zones if needed.
Automated reconciliation: Push orders, refunds, and fees to accounting software; keep books clean.
Inventory & purchasing: Connect to a lightweight ERP or inventory app for purchase orders, supplier lead times, and demand forecasting.
Ads & attribution: Connect ad platforms to track ROAS; feed back conversions for smarter targeting.
Loyalty & referrals: Points programs and referral links to reward repeat buyers.
BNPL options: Offer pay-over-time responsibly to lift conversion without deep discounting.
Helpdesk & chat: Centralize email, chat, and social DMs; view order history while replying.
Self-service portal: Order tracking, returns, and exchanges without tickets.
“Atlantic Outdoor Supply” adds POS integration for two locations, Moncton and Halifax, and an accounting sync. Result: fewer stockouts, clean month-end close, and faster training for seasonal staff.
If you’re planning rapid expansion or B2B/wholesale, choose a platform level that supports it.
Route orders to the nearest location, split shipments, and show store-level availability online.
Offer “buy online, pick up in store” (BOPIS) across multiple sites.
Company accounts & approvals: Let buyers invite colleagues and set roles.
Price lists & minimums: Tiered pricing, MOQ, and payment terms.
Net orders & quotes: Drafts, purchase orders, and negotiated pricing without hacks.
CDN & scaling: Fast load times across Canada, even during holiday surges.
Checkout extensibility: Add custom fields (e.g., PO numbers for B2B) while keeping payment security intact.
Keep the platform as the commerce engine while using a custom front end or mobile app.
Connect to data warehouses for deeper analytics and forecasting.
PIPEDA-aligned practices: Clear consent, data access requests, and privacy disclosures.
Security posture: MFA for staff, permissions by role, and audit logging.
Speed to value: Launch in weeks, not months, with a theme and core apps.
Lower ongoing costs: Hosting, updates, and security handled by the platform reduce reliance on custom dev for routine tasks.
Fewer errors, faster operations: Accurate inventory and integrated shipping/accounting save hours weekly.
Scalable fees: Entry-level plans for small shops; advanced tiers as you grow—pay for what you need.
Risk mitigation: You own your domain and data; exports and APIs keep you portable if your strategy changes.
Clear product mix and margins
CAD pricing and HST/GST rules verified
Shipping strategy (local pickup + flat rate or real-time)
Returns policy that customers can understand in 30 seconds
Mobile-optimized theme and fast product pages
Email/SMS basics (welcome + abandon cart) turned on
Inventory counts accurate across locations
Accounting sync tested in a sandbox or with sample orders
Staff roles and MFA enabled
Data exports enabled (products, customers, orders) to avoid lock-in
Will rural shipping costs kill my margins?
Use a free-shipping threshold informed by your average order value, and set regional rules. Many platforms let you exclude remote zones or require quotes for oversized items.
Do I need bilingual content?
If you sell across NB and into QC, a bilingual storefront and support content will improve trust and conversion.
Can I start small?
Yes, begin with your top 20–50 SKUs, validate demand, and expand. The platform model means you can add features as you grow.
What about data ownership?
You own your domain and your data. Keep regular exports and use APIs to integrate with other systems, future-proofing your stack.
A modern, hosted e-commerce platform gives Atlantic Canadian businesses a fast, secure path from “we should sell online” to “we’re growing across channels” without painting you into a corner. Start with the basics, layer in the right integrations, and scale when the signals say you’re ready.
We offer a free e-commerce consult for Atlantic Canada and New Brunswick businesses covering launch plans, integrations, and a practical 90-day roadmap. Contact Link NB to book a session and get a tailored action plan.