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A SPECIAL INTEREST SECTION BY MEDIAPLANET
Supporting Canadian SMBs Q&A WITH TONY CHAPMAN
Host of the Award Winning Podcast Chatter that Matters, Inducted into the Small Business Hall of Fame Small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of Canada’s economy. What makes them such an essential part of our country’s growth and identity? Destiny is a matter of choice not chance. With small businesses, Canada isn’t a servant to multi-nationals. Small business knits cultures together. Entrepreneurs overindex among newcomers to Canadian and Indigenous communities bringing fresh ideas, cultural nuances, and strong community ties. These businesses aren’t just economic drivers; they’re expressions of our identity and resilience.
With ongoing economic pressures from tariffs to rising costs, how can SMBs continue to adapt in this uncertainty? Don’t worry about the global economy, circle your own economy. Build on your Canadian identity, make it easy for Canadians to support Canadians, and use technology to export digitally through the cloud. In addition, economic uncertainty rewards the agile. You either show resilience and make things happen, or you wonder what happened.
With so many digital tools and platforms available, how can SMBs use technology more effectively to reach and retain customers? People buy from people, not faceless brands. Use technology to personalize and personify your business. Tell your story online, put a
face to your brand, and build relationships like you would in person. Digital tools are powerful, but authenticity is what drives connection, trust, and long-term customer loyalty.
How can local communities support SMBs? Positioning is a start but to truly support SMBs, communities need action. Create incubators, foster mentorship, and partner with brands that are committed to small business growth. The towns that become real hubs are those that invest in people, infrastructure, and relationships, not just promotion.
To read the entire interview with Tony Chapman visit innovating canada.ca
What excites you most about the next generation of Canadian entrepreneurs, and what’s one piece of advice you’d share with them? This generation grew up as digital natives — gamers, content creators, innovators. They see the world differently and gamify strategy. They are motivated by purpose not just profit. My advice is don’t fear failure, learn wherever you are, and don’t be imprisoned inside the status quo. What worked for your parents is not what will work for you.
How ShipTime Supports Canada’s Small Business Economy As small businesses face rising costs and new trade realities, ShipTime is helping them ship smarter and grow stronger.
R Austin Lewis CEO & CFO, ShipTime
Dan Kelly President, CEO, CFIB
unning a small business in Canada has never been simple. Entrepreneurs today face a landscape shaped by rising costs, shifting tariffs, evolving customs requirements, and increasing customer expectations. Once a straightforward operational task, shipping has become a critical factor that can influence profitability, customer satisfaction, and long-term growth. ShipTime was created to help address these challenges. The Canadian logistics technology platform is designed to make shipping more predictable, efficient, and affordable. By connecting small businesses to discounted shipping from leading national couriers, including Canada Post, UPS, FedEx, Purolator, Uber, DHL, and more, ShipTime removes barriers that can stand in the way of growth. Its focus is on giving business owners practical tools that help them spend less time managing logistics and more time building their companies.
Tools that reflect small business realities As global trade changes and consumer expectations rise, small businesses need shipping solutions that evolve alongside them. Many are managing logistics with limited budgets and small teams, where every decision about timing, cost, and delivery matters. ShipTime’s ongoing development is centred on solving these real-world challenges. Paperless commercial invoicing helps reduce delays at the border, while built-in duties and tax calculators give business owners greater visibility before they ship internationally. Real-time rate comparisons
allow them to make informed decisions about which carrier best meets their needs. For many, the ability to connect these Small businesses are tools directly to platthe backbone of our forms like Shopify, economy, and their WooCommerce, and success is critical to BigCommerce reduces Canada’s future. Our goal is the time spent on to provide them with the logistics tasks and support and resources allows them to focus they need to adapt on their customers and and thrive. growth.
Partnering to empower entrepreneurs Partnership plays a key role in ShipTime’s approach. Its long-standing collaboration with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) ensures members benefit from reliable shipping solutions and advocacy on important issues such as postal disruptions and trade policy. ShipTime also partners with Costco, giving small business owners and Costco members access to discounted shipping and logistics tools that help them save money and operate more efficiently. “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and their success is critical to Canada’s future,” says Austin Lewis, CEO and CFO of ShipTime. “Our goal is to provide them with the support and resources they need to adapt and thrive.” “With recent postal service and supply chain disruptions, we’ve seen how important it is for small businesses to have access to
Get started with ShipTime at shiptime.com
reliable and affordable shipping,” says Dan Kelly, President, CEO, and Chair of the Board of Governors of the CFIB. “This is why we’re excited to renew our partnership with ShipTime to help CFIB members save thousands of dollars each year.”
This article was sponsored by ShipTime
Publisher: Katie Werner Business Development Manager: Luca Bidini Country Manager: Samantha Taylor Content & Client Success Manager: Nicole Kansakar Creative Director: Kylie Armishaw All images are from Getty Images unless otherwise credited. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve The National Post or its editorial departments. Send all inquiries to ca.editorial@mediaplanet.com.