Winnipeg flower business blooms into international operation
A small flower business started in a Winnipeg woman's basement has now bloomed into an international operation. Experts say technology is opening the door for small local businesses to bring worldwide customers right to their virtual front door.
Catherine Metrycki, founder of Callia, started her flower business working out of her basement. Now about four years later, she says Callia has expanded to every province in Canada and is branching out with locations in the United States as well.
But Callia is not your typical florist.
"At Callia we do things differently—we only do online ordering. So no store fronts, just warehouses all across the country where we pick and pack bouquets," Metrycki said.
With locations coast-to-coast, customers can purchase a bouquet online and have it delivered right to a friend or family member's front door, no matter where they are.
Metrycki said she had the idea for the floral delivery business a few years ago when she wanted to send flowers to a friend.
"My lightbulb moment was, if only someone had created an easier, more consistent way to send a really special moment—and so Callia is all about that, we try to create a really delightful experience every single time you want to celebrate with someone," she said.
"It's a really consistent trustworthy way to send flowers to someone you really care about—easy, simple, always on time, always good quality."
Callia recently closed a Series A round of financing, which brought a $6.4 million investment into the company, launching this local business across the continent.
Robert Warren, a lecturer with the University of North Dakota's marketing department, said he is seeing more small businesses opting to go virtual.
"The fact is you can easily compete electronically in those further away markets," he said.
Warren said in many ways, small local businesses have a leg up on the retail giants who have to appeal to a mass market.
"Small companies, though, what they can do is focus down on a particular market and understand what makes that market buy—whether that market is in Winnipeg or that market is in St. John's, Newfoundland, they are going to react the same way," he said.
Organizations like the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce are helping small businesses make that jump into the virtual economy.
"That is truly one of the benefits of the digital age is that your market is no longer just your back yard, but is the entire globe," said Loren Remillard, president and CEO of the Chamber.
"The importance of having that digital presence where people can find you, get to know you, get to understand your product, your service, what makes it unique, is critical whether they are actually going to do an online purchase or they are going to come into your business."
Remillard said getting an online presence, like a website or Instagram page, is the first step to reaching a bigger customer base.
Though—as Warren says the move to digital is the wave of the future—Remillard doesn't believe all customers will be virtual.
"There is always going to be a place for the bricks-and-mortar store. People are tactile, they want to be able to touch it, see it, get a sense of it before they make a purchase."
The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce said businesses looking to get started online can visit its website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Canada recognizes housing as a human right. Few provinces have followed suit
As more Canadians find themselves struggling to afford or find housing, the country's smallest province is the only one that can point to legislation recognizing housing as a human right.
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.