I launched a Buy Canadian marketplace in response to US trade tensions. Now traffic is surging.

Valerie Crisp is the founder of Common Goods, an online Canadian marketplace launched last year to cater to the demand for buying locally amidst US trade tensions. The 38-year-old entrepreneur, based in Toronto, developed a product search solution that eventually evolved into a marketplace for Canadian goods.

Crisp's motivation stemmed from the desire to make it easier for customers to discover and purchase Canadian brands, as American products had become the default choice. Her platform has curated gift boxes, a top 10 and top 20 list of best-selling products, and guides to help shoppers shop Canadian. These offerings cater to a variety of categories including apparel, personal care items, tea, and coffee.

Despite the availability of Canadian-made products, Crisp acknowledges the tradeoffs, as not all items are entirely made in Canada. For electronics, for example, finding a product made in Canada can be challenging, and prices for Canadian options may be twice as high. However, Common Goods strives to highlight the unique offerings of Canadian businesses and allows customers to filter products based on their preferences.

When the US trade deal fell apart, Crisp's small business saw a surge in traffic. Within a day, daily site visitors increased from under 5,000 to almost 15,000. Crisp emphasizes that her strength lies in being at the right place at the right time, leveraging public interest in buying Canadian. Despite being a one-person operation without external funding, Common Goods has gained traction driven by the public's support.