CFIB creates online small business directory

Sept. 27, 2013, Toronto – With the support of Interac Association, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) launched a new online directory to support Canadian small businesses.

The free directory, www.shopsmallbiz.ca, will connect thousands of Canadian small business owners with consumers and other businesses looking for local deals.
"Public opinion polls show that Canadians have enormous respect for small business owners and their contributions to society," said CFIB president Dan Kelly.

"However, on a weekend visit to the local big box mall or trip to shop in the U.S., we may inadvertently pass by hundreds of locally-owned and operated small firms. Shopsmallbiz.ca is designed to help give Canadians exposure to some of the products, services and deals offered by small businesses.”

Last year, CFIB piloted Canada's Small Business Saturday and had more than 4,500 small firms post an online deal for a one-day event in late October.

"We had so many firms ask us to continue this initiative [that] we're launching shopsmallbiz.ca as a permanent directory. Importantly, CFIB will be launching several special events to promote the directory, starting with Small Business Day on Oct. 25 – the end of Canada's Small Business Week," Kelly added.

Shopsmallbiz.ca allows consumers to connect with local small businesses to find deals. For small business owners, the directory functions as a marketing tool that allows them to promote themselves to Canadian consumers and each other.

In addition, CFIB's Business barometer Index dropped 1.4 points to 64.5 this month. Only January, February, and August saw higher index values this year.

On
a scale between 0 and 100, an index above 50 means owners expecting
their business’ performance to be stronger in the next year outnumber
those expecting weaker performance. An index level of
between 65 and 70 shows the economy is growing at its potential.

The
long standing pattern showing highest optimism in Newfoundland and
Labrador, Alberta and Saskatchewan has been maintained. Modest
improvements in business sentiment are seen in Nova Scotia, Manitoba and
British Columbia, while the opposite holds true in Ontario, New
Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Quebec's index shows stability, but
at levels still more than six points below the Canadian average.

Remaining
indicators show a general level of stability. Full-time hiring plans
are typical for this time of year, with 19 per cent expecting to hire
and 11 expecting to downsize in the next few months. Forty per cent of
owners report a generally good state of business, while orders and
accounts receivables show gradual trending improvements. Pricing
expectations remain stable – averaging 1.3 per cent annual growth, while
wage expectations are trending just a little higher at 1.6 per cent.
Business owners are not reporting any dramatic shifts in operating
constraints or pricing pressures.