b'GETTING STARTEDPatrick Hunter, Patrick Hunter Art & Design Shelli Nixon, Happi-Nest Home Tracey Grienke, Let Them Playpeoplewantsomething,theyusually messagemethroughFacebookor Instagram, she notes. Grienkehadpreviouslytriedusing theEtsyplatform,aglobalonline marketplace focused on arts and crafts, handmadegoodsandvintageitems. Each seller has a dedicated page for their listings, with Etsy charging a fee per listing, plus a transaction fee when an item sells. While Etsy has exploded in popularity since its launch in 2005, Grienkefounditdidntworkforher particularbusiness,Itssosaturated, so its hard to get a sale. Its frustrating, she says.This is not surprising: as of December 2022, Etsy had more than 100 million itemsinitsmarketplaceand7.5 millionsellers.Grienkesdilemma, shared by others, points to an undeni- LICENSED TOBACCO MANUFACTURERablefact:whilereachingacolossal numberofpotentialcustomers, theglobale-commercemarketis attracting an equally high number of sellers, each vying to make a sale. AsThe Odjick Group will produce products Grienke pointed out, it is overloadedfor the Canadian market, provide export withsellerswhichcanmakeithard tomakeyourproductsvisibletoproducts labelled EXPO or ALGONQUINpotential customers.and cigarette brands. Made in Canada While platforms like Etsy, eBay, Shopifyfor Canada.or Amazon can help anyone develop an online e-commerce presence, it is up to individual sellers to promote and drive potential buyers to their products. The more popular the spaces become,The Odjick Group Inc. the more work required to grab atten- Landon MillerProud tioninthecrowdedmarketplace.Amembers website or a listing on an e-commerceLinda Odjick-Phone: 819-306-0885ofsite like Etsy or eBay is only the startingEmail: odjickinc@gmail.compointbut its an important one.Aboriginal BUSINESS REPORT 31'