b'ONLINE RETAILgrocery sales have also expanded expo-nentially, seeing growth of 330 per cent GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT in the U.S. in the same period. In addition to selling their products online, e-commerce businesses alsoIn Canada, there is no other form of market their products online, often on social media platforms. These sitesbusiness that can access over 38 million provide a cost-effective way of reaching a large audience with little expensepotential customers simultaneously. compared to traditional advertising channels. And e-commerce is not restricted to Businesses can purchase online brand-sponsored content or sociallarge companies. On the contrary, the commerce, which can boost brand engagement. According to a 2023model lends itself to companies of Comscore report, larger and more established social media sites canall sizesfrom massive corporations increase brand engagement substantially: 175 per cent on Instagram, and 153like Amazon to single-owner, small per cent on Facebook. Even TikTok content sees a 33 per cent interactionindependent operations. If someone increase. This form of advertising is easy to produce and distribute usinghas a product to sell and a strong organic and keyword driven algorithms. internet connection, then e-commerce Search engine optimization (SEO) can also be used to attract customers tois possible. a business. For a cost, a company can pay for their products and website toCHALLENGESshow up earlier on search engines, thereby pulling more people to their site.Thats not to say that e-commerce is SEOs are a low-maintenance and low-cost but highly effective method ofwithout its challenges. Reliable internet driving sales.access is vital for running a sustainable online business, and this remains the biggest hurdle for Indigenous busi-nesses located outside of large urban a physical store. The convenience of2021, and together with Walmart.ca andcentres. Startlingly, less than 30 per cent having products delivered right toCostco.ca they make up 41.9 per centof First Nations and rural indigenous your door has huge appeal. Access toof the countrys e-commerce revenue.communities have access to high-speed coupons, real-time product reviews, andinternet today in what experts refer to a quick and easy checkout process areOverall, Canada is a highly connectedas the Connectivity Gap, and progress also big draws. People are willing tocountry, with more than 98 per cent ofis slow to provide the necessary infra-wait for their goods to be deliveredthe population having access to thestructure and capacity. (For more on this over visiting physical locations if theseinternetalthough not always a strong- topic, turn to pg. 68.)conditions are present.enough connection in Indigenous communities.SincethestartofAccess to equity and capital for indig-An increasing number of customersCOVID-19, certain sectors have shiftedenous small businessesboth online today are even relying on e-commercealmost entirely to e-commerce. Eventand physicalalso remains a challenge, for their everyday goods, with recog- ticket sales, for instance, are now domi- since the colonial legacy of the Indian nizable brands taking the lions sharenated by e-commerce, with 90 per centAct makes it difficult to find collateral of revenue in Canada. Amazon.caof the market share, compared to justfor large loans on-reserve. The nature reported revenue of $9.81 billion in50 per cent four years ago. Onlineof reserve land, for example, doesnt JACOB HANDEL JOINS FINITE CARBONAS DIRECTOR OF FOREST CARBON ORIGINATION, CANADAAfter decades of working in Indigenous relations on resource issues,I am thrilled to bring this experience to the Finite Carbon team. The natural resources sector and the need to address climate change are inseparable. It is vital that Indigenous groups and communities are part of this vibrant economytheir active participation is crucial for the success and overall health of Canada and the U.S.$500 MILLION 52 MILLIONjacob.handel@finitecarbon.com returned to indigenous forest carbon credits finitecarbon.com communities issued to indigenouscommunities18A CCAB PUBLICATION2023'