Amazon delivery stations in Winnipeg not a major concern for local delivery businesses
Amazon’s two new delivery stations in Winnipeg – the first in the province – aren’t a major concern for some delivery service companies operating in Manitoba.
“Part of our plan here is to help the local community be able to get things out the door to their customers,” said Christina Malinas, general manager for Trexity, a new delivery service for Winnipeg businesses that launched on Tuesday.
Malinas made the comments inside of Danali, a clothing boutique that’s had a physical storefront on Kenaston Boulevard for years.
Danali can now facilitate deliveries by using Trexity’s pool of drivers, who are alerted to orders through a smartphone app, pick up an item from the store, then go directly to a customer’s door.
It’s a step away from the “warehouse model” employed by the likes of Amazon, where items are stockpiled then delivered.
“It would be amazing if Danali could have a huge fulfilment centre so they can ship things out,” said Malinas. “But most times that’s not the case so we’re bringing that power back to merchants.”
Amazon Canada is expecting an uptick in orders from Manitobans this holiday season, with the new delivery stations poised to “significantly increase delivery speeds,” a spokesperson for the company said in a statement to CTV News.
There are about 30,000 packages expected to be shipped from both warehouses, on average, every day, according to Amazon Canada.
The company also said its increased presence in Manitoba won’t hurt smaller businesses.
“We are committed to the small- and medium-sized business community,” Amazon said in a statement, “We are proud to support approximately 40,000 small- and medium-sized businesses across Canada.”
Prairie Flavours is a food-focused delivery service that only sells Manitoba-made items and sends out deliveries to customers once a week.
“I think there will be room for us no matter how large Amazon grows,” said founder Joshua Vatnsdal, who is already noticing an uptick in orders as Manitobans start their holiday shopping.
“People are starting to get their shopping done, getting their stocking stuffers,” he said, “The buy local movement is still going strong so people are searching out those items.”
Vatnsdal adds that Manitobans should also think about ordering local items beyond the holiday season, to help grow the province’s economy.
That’s a sentiment shared by GoodLocal.ca co-founder Obby Khan.
“People are supporting local,” said Khan, with GoodLocal.ca also seeing an uptick in orders for the holidays.
“The real key thing with supporting local, it can’t just be in November and December, it has to be year-round.”
“We’re not competing with Amazon (our products) are totally different.”
Khan adds that, unlike international retailers, GoodLocal.ca is avoiding supply chain-related delays in product shipments since most of the company’s inventory is made in Manitoba.
“The only delay we’re experiencing in deliveries is when we have too many orders and only so many drivers.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.
Manitoba government tables bill to end ban on homegrown recreational cannabis
Manitoba is planning to lift its ban on the home growing of recreational cannabis.