Ottawa eCommerce (other than shopify)

Jayday23 · #1 Posted **May 3, 2018, 2:48 PM**

When the media talks about the Ottawa tech scene, Shopify always always comes up. It makes it seem like ottawa's ecommerce sector only has one player... are there other's representing our city??

Horus · #2 Posted **May 3, 2018, 3:16 PM**

SMITH is located in Gatineau

ars · #3 Posted **May 3, 2018, 5:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayday23

is shopify really that big?

In short, yes.

It's arguably Ottawa's best(and most important) startup story in the last decade.

Jayday23 · #4 Posted **May 3, 2018, 6:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Horus

SMITH is located in Gatineau

It really makes me happy to see others out there. I really do think that both Smiths and Leemi road the shopify wave into the city.

I imagine that in Quebec, most of the e-commerce is probably located in Montreal, but its really nice to see a couple close to YOW as well.

YOWetal · #5 Posted **May 3, 2018, 7:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ars

In short, yes.

It's arguably Ottawa's best(and most important) startup story in the last decade.

Isn't it nearly unarguably the most important startup story in CANADA in the last decade?

What canadian tech company is currently more important or for that matter more valuable.

TransitZilla · #6 Posted **May 4, 2018, 1:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayday23

When the media talks about the Ottawa tech scene, Shopify always always comes up. It makes it seem like ottawa's ecommerce sector only has one player... are there other's representing our city??

I know there's another one called Leemi but i haven't heard of any more. Why not? is shopify really that big?

Not specifically the tech sector, but of course Canada Post's HO (and much its IT work) is in Ottawa. They just reported a 25% increase in parcel volume in 2017 vs. 2016.

Radster · #7 Posted **May 4, 2018, 4:43 PM**

There is also Macadamian in Hull:

http://www.macadamian.com

Jayday23 · #8 Posted **May 4, 2018, 7:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by YOWetal

Isn't it nearly unarguably the most important startup story in CANADA in the last decade?

What canadian tech company is currently more important or for that matter more valuable.

What i'm really interested in is "what's in the Ottawa Water"? This is a government city and some of the biggest e-commerce firms (e-commerce seems like the antithesis of government IMHO) are stationed here.

I guess the shopifys, and Smiths of the city all know something i don't.

bikegypsy · #9 Posted **May 6, 2018, 5:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayday23

When the media talks about the Ottawa tech scene, Shopify always always comes up. It makes it seem like ottawa's ecommerce sector only has one player... are there other's representing our city??

I know there's another one called Leemi but i haven't heard of any more. Why not? is shopify really that big?

Shopify is to Ecommerce what Facebook is to social media

bikegypsy · #10 Posted **May 6, 2018, 5:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayday23

What i'm really interested in is "what's in the Ottawa Water"? This is a government city and some of the biggest e-commerce firms (e-commerce seems like the antithesis of government IMHO) are stationed here.

I guess the shopifys, Smiths and Leemi's of the city all know something i don't.

They know that Ottawa is not only a government town but also a hi-tech hub and has been so for the past 40 years. Seriously, high-tech employs nearly as many people as the feds do in this city.

YOWetal · #11 Posted **May 7, 2018, 10:34 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayday23

What i'm really interested in is "what's in the Ottawa Water"? This is a government city and some of the biggest e-commerce firms (e-commerce seems like the antithesis of government IMHO) are stationed here.

I guess the shopifys, Smiths and Leemi's of the city all know something i don't.

Actually the high level of stable employment allows spouses to take chances and start companies. Sort of like the safey-net in Scandinavia. Also Government research in Ottawa's case was the impetus of a lot of the sector.

Jayday23 · #12 Posted **May 7, 2018, 1:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikegypsy

They know that Ottawa is not only a government town but also a hi-tech hub and has been so for the past 40 years. Seriously, high-tech employs nearly as many people as the feds do in this city.

It's hard to shed old perceptions i guess...

bikegypsy · #13 Posted **May 7, 2018, 7:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayday23

It's hard to shed old perceptions i guess...

I guess it's all about presence.... Downtown Ottawa is dominated by the federal government and various 'canadiana things for all' stuff like flags and bronze statues, while most things related to hightech are 20 kms westward in Kanata. Let's hope that Shopify's move to downtown is the beginning of a trend.

AuxTown · #14 Posted **May 16, 2018, 12:47 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikegypsy

They know that Ottawa is not only a government town but also a hi-tech hub and has been so for the past 40 years. Seriously, high-tech employs nearly as many people as the feds do in this city.

A bit late of a reply, but this is pretty far from the truth. There are 145000 federal government workers in Ottawa and a bunch who work for provincial and municipal governments as well. High tech employs about 70000. We are definitely a tech hub, but still a government town at heart.

YOWetal · #15 Posted **Aug 10, 2023, 2:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AuxTown

A bit late of a reply, but this is pretty far from the truth. There are 145000 federal government workers in Ottawa and a bunch who work for provincial and municipal governments as well. High tech employs about 70000. We are definitely a tech hub, but still a government town at heart.

Curious how each has grown over these 5 years.