The Point of Purchase - October 2022

What's New at geekspeak Commerce?

Grocery Innovations Canada:

That's right! We are exhibiting at this year's Grocery Innovations Canada conference, taking place October 25-26 in Toronto. Planning has been well underway for a few months now, and we're so excited to meet some of Canada's top independent grocers and CPG brands in person.

Not only that, but Isaac Wanzama (Founder + Chief Strategist) and Tricia Williams (Managing Partner + Client Success Leader) will be presenting on the Interac Insights & Innovations Trade Floor Stage on Day One of the conference, from 1-1:30pm. They'll be speaking about the eCommerce must-haves any business should implement in order to grow and thrive online.

Going to the conference? Don't miss Isaac and Tricia's presentation, and be sure to visit our team at Booth #442. We'll be serving up some sweet treats along with discounted services and a free offer you won't want to miss out on!

Fill the Jeep:

Another successful Fill the Jeep donation drive has come and gone! Our team, along with the help of our friends at 360insights , Whitby Chamber of Commerce , Town Brewery , and Render Developments , were able to gather a Jeep-full of food items, baby goods, hygiene products, and unopened toys/gifts for Simcoe Hall Settlement House in Oshawa. These items will be distributed to families and individuals in need throughout the Durham Region.?

THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to our donation drive, as well as to Simcoe Hall for the incredible work they do within our community each and every day.

Get Ready for BFCM - Part One

With Amazon's Prime Early Access Sale now out of the way, the next big online selling event for the season will be Black Friday/Cyber Monday (BFCM), kicking off on Friday, November 25th. Make sure your eCommerce store is well prepared for the rush of online shoppers who will be hitting the digital shelf with the following BFCM preparation tips – and be sure to read November's newsletter to gather Part Two of our tips.

1. Set a Goal. The first thing you want to do when preparing for BFCM is to set a goal for your company. Is it to hit a specific sales figure? To reach a certain number of new customers? Your goal could be any number or combination of things, so be sure to think about what matters most to your brand.

2. Plan Your Offer(s). Planning what discounts and promotions you’ll be offering through Black Friday and Cyber Monday takes more time and thought than one might think. Will offering free shipping make sense for your company? Will a BOGO sale make sense or should you go with a percentage off? The offers you choose to run with should be profitable for your company and engaging for your shoppers.

3. Optimize Product Copy and Images. A key to traffic and sales throughout the year, but especially during promotional periods like BFCM, is optimized product content. Audit your eCommerce website before the big day to ensure your product images are clear, high-resolution and appealing. Read your product descriptions to see if they are engaging and do some research to ensure your keywords are relevant enough to bring in BFCM shoppers organically.

4. Create Engaging Digital Ads. You may already be advertising on social media, Google, Amazon or any other channel on which you’re selling. Be sure to plan an ad strategy specifically around Black Friday and Cyber Monday, since the surge in online traffic will also mean a surge in competitor advertisements. Plan your campaigns wisely and set aside some BFCM-specific budget in order to push that paid traffic.

5. Launch an Email Campaign. Online shoppers who are used to Black Friday are also used to receiving email offers from their favourite retailers. Try to push newsletter sign-ups before the event so you have a solid audience to receive your email promotions, and make sure your emails are engaging enough to stand out from the rest of the inbox. Send messages leading up to, and at multiple points throughout the sale.

October's eCommerce Superhero

For the month of October, our eCommerce Superhero recognition goes out to the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers , as well as the many wonderful grocers who are members of this amazing organization!

Independent grocers face unique challenges in Canada compared to their big-box competitors, and yet they're continuing to innovate and stay afloat. Check out this recent article from the Toronto Star, which goes into detail about the ways in which many Canadian independent grocers, including members of CFIG, are doing just that.

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