Ocanova offers a dedicated and secure space for Canadian businesses to sell their products directly to Canadian and international consumers. Any purchase made on our transactional platform will mean that the customer is supporting a Canadian business like yours. Unlike platforms that support international sellers, we focus on fostering national support by giving Canadian manufacturers, distributors, importers, and individual sellers an easy way to manage their sales and thrive online!

 

 

The design of the Ocanova logo is steeped in purpose. Here is the thinking that inspired its creation.

 

The letters "OCAN" are short for "O Canada", our national anthem, which reminds us of our patriotism, pride, and love for Canada.

 

"CAN", the abbreviation for Canada, is in red, which distinguishes it from the other black letters in the logo. The analogy is that Canada stands out from the rest of the world for its culture, inclusion, quality of life, and freedom.

 

The abbreviation "CAN" is also in red to reflect the color of our Canadian flag and to foreshadow our patriotic movement with the words "WE CAN"!

 

The inclusion of the Canadian flag within the "O" signifies our identity as a Canadian company, whose mission is to serve and support Canadian businesses.

 

We included the word "NOVA" because it signifies "new" and is also the astronomical term for a new, bright star that suddenly appears in the sky with a burst of powerful energy. We built this platform to be a powerful and brilliant new resource.

 

The colours blue and yellow were also included in our logo because they are prominent colours across many Canadian provincial and territorial flags. These colours reflect our connection to the rich heritage and diverse landscape of Canada.

 

Our logo also features a dynamic blue arc around the Canadian flag that symbolizes our network reaching businesses from coast to coast.

 

 

 

There are two business-oriented directors that drive Ocanova. The senior director and president is Norman Roy and the junior director and vice-president is Mathieu Stevenson.

 

Norman Roy

With more than 25 years of experience as an entrepreneur, he has built a business that evolved from a single retail store in the early 2000s, into a wholesale distributorship with sales locations across Quebec and Ontario. Upon selling his business fifteen years later, he transitioned into the commercial real estate sector, focusing on investments while also pursuing several smaller projects. A focused, ambitious, and hardworking professional, his business expertise lies in commodity importation, distribution logistics, marketing and business development. As the initial driving force behind the Ocanova project, he is determined to make it a successful venture. His vision is to create the ultimate online national marketplace for all Canadians, thereby helping local businesses to prosper.

 

Mathieu Stevenson

Ocanova was co-founded by an individual with a quarter-century of experience as a technical and marketing consultant, known for consistently increasing business profits and providing vital technical expertise for web systems. This diverse background, further enhanced by work as a real estate marketing strategist, led to the creation of Ocanova: a new, reliable Canadian-only platform. The marketplace is designed to securely connect verified Canadian entrepreneurs with consumers, building on the founder's comprehensive expertise to promote and grow this new venture.

 

 

Ocanova was established to empower Canadian businesses and support the national economy by offering a streamlined, secure, and intuitive e-commerce platform. Its mission is to build a loyal customer base by aligning with Canadian values and the "buy local" movement, aiming to be the leading online destination for products made and/or sold by Canadian merchants.

 

The "buy local" movement in Canada has gained significant and potentially long-term momentum, driven by a blend of economic nationalism, a desire to support local communities, and a preference for Canadian-made goods perceived to be safe and of quality. 

 

Key Trends and Statistics:

 

High Consumer Priority

A vast majority of Canadians (91%) state they are prioritizing Canadian products when shopping. As of May 2025, 84% of Canadians said it was important to buy local products, a 12-point increase from 2024.

 

Willingness to Pay a Premium

Many Canadians are willing to pay more for Canadian products. One poll found 70% would pay a significant premium for a Canadian product.

 

Economic Impact

The movement has had a tangible effect, with small and medium-sized Canadian retailers reporting a 10% to 25% increase in sales. Every dollar spent locally helps strengthen the community tax base and supports domestic jobs.

 

Shifting Behavior

Over 78% of Canadians have actively shifted at least one monthly purchase from a big-box or international retailer to a local Canadian business. This suggests a concrete change in shopping habits, not just a fleeting sentiment.

 

Information Gap

Despite the strong desire to buy local, there is often confusion about which products and brands are truly Canadian. All products on Ocanova will be properly identified, whether they are Products of Canada, Made in Canada, or imported products.

 

Overall, the "buy local" movement is a powerful and potentially lasting force that is reshaping the Canadian retail landscape and influencing consumer choices across the country. Driven by this vision, our platform was established exclusively for Canadian businesses to engage with Canadian and international consumers.

 

Our mission is to cultivate a thriving environment for Canadian businesses, while simultaneously establishing our website as the premier Canadian destination for online shoppers seeking to purchase a broad range of products from Canadian vendors.

 

 

 

 

Dedicated Canadian Marketplace

Since our platform is Canadian-oriented, only Canadian businesses will be allowed to become vendors on our platform. This strategy resonates strongly with Canadian consumers and helps build a loyal customer base eager to support local businesses.

 

Product Identification

Every product's country of origin claim or content claim will be clearly identified. When you add products in your Store, you will have to assign the correct abbreviation for each product.

 

                                                      1.            PC – Product of Canada (Requires at least 98% of Canadian content. This includes the ingredients, processing and labour)

                                                      2.            MC – Made in Canada (Requires at least 51% of Canadian content. May include imported ingredients, but processing and labour is in Canada)

                                                      3.            AC – Assembled in Canada (Assembled in Canada but is not made in Canada)

                                                      4.            CC – Canned in Canada (Canned in Canada but is not made in Canada)

                                                      5.            DC – Designed in Canada (Designed in Canada but is not made in Canada)

                                                      6.            DB – Distilled and bottled in Canada (Distilled and bottled in Canada but is not made in Canada)

                                                      7.            EN – Engineered in Canada (Engineered in Canada but is not made in Canada)

                                                      8.            PA – Packaged in Canada (Packaged in Canada but is not made in Canada)

                                                      9.            PE – Prepared in Canada (Prepared in Canada but is not made in Canada)

                                                  10.            PO – Processed in Canada (Processed in Canada but is not made in Canada)

                                                  11.            PD – Produced in Canada (Produced in Canada but is not made in Canada)

                                                  12.            PU – Published in Canada (Published in Canada but is not made in Canada)

                                                  13.            RE – Refined in Canada (Refined in Canada but is not made in Canada)

                                                  14.            RB – Roasted and blended in Canada (Roasted and blended in Canada but is not made in Canada)

                                                  15.            IM – Imported from (country of origin)

 

Free Shipping

All prices listed on Ocanova must include shipping. Statistics from various reports consistently show that customers highly value and expect free shipping, often making it the decisive factor in their purchase decisions. 62% of online shoppers say they will not complete a purchase without a free shipping option and unexpected shipping costs are the leading cause of shopping cart abandonment. Your customers will therefore enjoy a simple, all-inclusive checkout process without additional shipping charges.

 

Tailored Menus

Our website features menus that allow customers to filter products by their origin, including those made in Canada, within a specific province, or shipped from a specific province. These menus make it easier for customers to find local vendors and purchase products made in Canada.

 

Faster, Reliable Domestic Delivery

Domestic shipping avoids customs inspections and border delays, leading to faster and more reliable delivery times for Canadian customers. This improves customer satisfaction, reduces cart abandonment, and boosts customer retention for future purchases.

 

Vendor Identification

A customer will be able to know if you are a manufacturer, wholesaler, retailer, importer or individual seller. This knowledge can sway consumer decisions and draw them toward your products.

 

 

 

Huge Exposure

Thanks to our major advertising campaign, you will gain unparalleled visibility, which will substantially enhance your chances of making more sales! Our advertising campaign will also persist over time to drive more website visits and add new customers daily.

 

Less Competition

We proactively manage our vendor base to ensure your products are highly visible to our engaged customer community. Join a marketplace where your business has room to grow, with less competition and more focused customer traffic. Unlike larger, more crowded marketplaces, our platform does not allow vendors from other countries to sell their products on our website. By ensuring a fair playing field and mitigating vendors with a competitive edge, this strategy serves to optimize competitive dynamics for your business.

 

Targeted Market

Supporting Canadian businesses helps build a more resilient economy that can withstand external pressures and economic fluctuations. The fact that many Canadian citizens are changing their buying habits and willing to support Canadian vendors, Ocanova becomes the perfect partner for your business.

 

Low-cost for New Customer Acquisition

Reach millions of Ocanova customers actively seeking your products, all for a fraction of traditional advertising costs. Combined with our vast visibility, our minimal fees and low commission structure are designed to maximize your profits and ensure the success of your business.

 

Expand Market Reach

If you are currently not selling your products online, a physical store is limited to local foot traffic. Ocanova allows you to sell to customers anywhere in the world, dramatically increasing your potential customer base. Ocanova can significantly help your business by expanding your reach and providing you with a 24/7 digital storefront with a global presence.

 

 

Inventory Fulfillment Program

Sell more, manage less. We'll handle all the logistics for you! With our partnership with a reliable third-party, our inventory fulfillment program lets you warehouse your products in their facilities. Our third-party's reliable logistics will quickly and efficiently get your deliveries to your customers. After a sale is complete, they manage the entire fulfillment process, from picking and packing to shipping. For a minimal cost, you can free yourself up to concentrate on what truly matters: selling.

 

Complete Vendor Dashboard

The Ocanova Vendor dashboard offers everything you will need to manage your Ocanova Store efficiently. This specialized interface allows you to effortlessly build your Store by choosing a website theme that best suits your business, add your products either manually or with the Vendor API Integration, and set-up the prices for your products, which will include shipping.
You will have the flexibility to choose one of our recommended shippers or choose to incorporate your own shipper if that suits your preference.
Managing your inventory, processing orders, tracking deliveries and processing returns will simplify management and boost efficiency, ensuring your marketplace runs smoothly and profitably.

 

Effortless API integration
Import all of your products from another e-commerce platform. With this feature, you can import all products from your current website, handpick the ones you want to list, and map them to your Ocanova Vendor Store.

 

Seamless Vendor Store Synchronization

Ocanova offers real-time, bidirectional inventory synchronization: when an item sells on Ocanova, the stock is also adjusted on your other selling platforms, and vice-versa. Using our Vendor Sync feature, you will be able to synchronize products, inventory, and orders with other e-commerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, Squarespace, and Etsy.

 

Vendor - Customer Chat

Ocanova's Vendor-Customer Chat feature revolutionizes how you and your customers interact, by eliminating the frustration of waiting for email responses or navigating third-party communication tools. With our innovative platform, conversations happen in real time, ensuring a smooth and efficient customer experience.

 

Customer Reviews

We offer a customer review featurethat you can use in your Ocanova Store. This has numerous benefits that can significantly boost your business performance. The primary advantages revolve around building trust, improving your product, and driving more sales to your Ocanova Store.