🛍️ Throwback Thursday: retail edition

🔔 Your campaign updates feed

• Mode Mobile is back on the platform! What started as a music streaming venture turned into a way to help users earn (and save) money by doing the things they already love on their phones. Learn more about them on the campaign page.

• What do you know about vertical-axis wind turbines? Well, Flower Turbines is here to educate! Their proprietary technology is redefining wind turbines and raising the bar when it comes to expectations. Read more about it in their latest update.

✍ What’s on our mind?

September’s retail sales bump has everyone talking, with a 0.4% rise signalling that consumers are still out and about spending—especially at brick-and-mortar shops. And while inflation may be receding, retail remains strong across many categories, with a 0.7% sales surge when you take out autos and gas. It's clear that even in today's economy, the retail sector is staying resilient, backed by strong consumer demand.

But that’s not the only interesting story in retail. Amazon Canada has been quietly breaking its own records. Flashback to 2013, and Amazon’s Canadian digital sales were a modest $1.5 billion. Fast forward a decade, and we’re looking at a massive $10.5 billion in 2023—an astonishing sevenfold increase. It’s not just about clicks and carts though. Since acquiring Whole Foods in 2017, Amazon has also been working on its physical footprint, with a third of its revenue now coming from brick-and-mortar stores.

What can we take away from these trends? Well, whether it’s Amazon’s digital dominance or the continued strength of in-person retail, it’s clear that today’s retail landscape is more about balance than ever before. Even the most digitally savvy companies are finding value in physical stores, proving that diversification across channels is the key to staying ahead.

This Throwback Thursday, as we look back on a decade of retail evolution, one thing stands out: adaptability is everything. In today’s shifting market, being flexible isn’t just a survival tactic—it’s the key to thriving in the future.

👀 Equity Crowdfunding 101

Investing in equity crowdfunding is exciting, but have you thought about how you'll cash out? That’s where exit strategies come in. Whether you're aiming for a big win through an IPO, a fast-track payout via Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), or seeking flexibility in Secondary Markets, understanding exit strategies is key for investors.

What if your investment turned into the next Oculus VR, acquired by Facebook for billions? Or perhaps a successful IPO, like BrewDog's, piques your interest? These real-world examples show just how rewarding exit strategies can be.

Understanding these options is crucial for informed decision-making, even if no exit strategy guarantees specific outcomes. In our latest blog post, find out more about these strategies and their perks.

🌟 Founder Feature

Shahed Khalili | Boast

💡 On fostering a culture of innovation: We can take inspiration from open-source communities, really relying on people being collaborative and having a clear understanding of what they are building, being passionate about what they’re doing, and most importantly, creating an environment where they have psychological safety, where they feel they can be innovative and experiment without fear of failure.

🤝 On mentors: Whenever I’m at a decision point or a junction where I can’t decide, I ask myself, what would so-and-so do? That helps me get out of my head and look at the same problem with a different perspective such as one of someone who has mentored me, has influenced me in my career, or I just respect.

🚀 On Boast and their mission: There are government programs all over the world that incentivize companies to invest in innovation. In Canada, there are several smaller provincial ones but the main one is SRED. Some companies take advantage of it but many don’t know about it and part of what we do is trying to educate early-stage founders about it. But often, it is very time-consuming and a huge manual process so many companies don’t do it. Our mission is to streamline that.

Want to hear more?
YouTube / Spotify 

🌟 FrontFundr in the Spotlight

We won an award! We’re excited to announce that FrontFundr has been selected as a winner of the 2024 TELUS Business #StandWithOwners award! We’re honored to be recognized for helping Canadians invest in companies they love, and this support motivates us to continue driving innovation in equity crowdfunding. Check out more about the #StandWithOwners initiative here.

It’s that time of year again, we’re looking for feedback! If you have five minutes, consider filling out our feedback form so we can ensure we’re bringing you exactly what you want in your equity crowdfunding journey.

And, if you’ve invested FrontFundr recently, consider sharing your experience on Trustpilot with us.