2013 the Year for Small Business in Canada: Investment in Services, Suppliers and Support Top Priorities

Mississagua, ON, February 04, 2013

UPS Canada launches national offer to help small business compete

After a year of fiscal uncertainty and economic volatility, small business owners from coast-to-coast are looking to 2013 with a strong sense of optimism.

According to a recent survey commissioned by UPS Canada and conducted by Leger Marketing, 60 per cent of business owners believe that they will see an increase in revenue in 2013 when compared to 2012. Additionally, nearly 60 per cent expect to see at least moderate growth in Canada's economy. This optimism has sparked a renewed sense of interest in business investment on behalf of Canadian small businesses.

"It is quite clear that small businesses in Canada are optimistic about 2013 but what's most encouraging is that business owners seem to be adopting a renewed sense of interest in terms of investing in their business," said Paul Gaspar, small business director, UPS Canada. "This is quite positive, not only for small businesses in Canada, but also for the economy as a whole. The choice to invest in the future is a clear sign that confidence is building amongst Canadian business owners and many are already on their way."

As a result, many owners are taking the time to review and reconsider services and suppliers as well as seek out strategic advice and support. The survey found that one in four businesses would welcome support and advice related to infrastructure, shipping and logistics in order to increase business success. Additionally, the survey found that when searching for a new service or supplier, small businesses consider value and reputation, in addition to cost, to be the most important criteria for consideration.

"Before UPS it was difficult to manage our inbound shipments from Vancouver, we had very limited visibility," says Bonnie Sucee, owner, SL Graphics. "Now with my small business account I fill in the electronic shipping label, email it to our vendor and schedule the pickup. We have complete visibility and the flexibility to choose the service that meets our time requirements. It's so simple and more importantly, it allows us to better serve our customers."

Since beginning operations in Canada in 1975, small businesses from coast-to-coast have worked with UPS to reach new customers, grow sales, implement efficiencies and improve customer experience. In an effort to help them stay competitive, UPS Canada announced today it will be launching a new offer dedicated to small business. Customers can sign up online for an account and UPS Small Business Ambassadors will work with them to understand their business needs, offer tailored solutions and discuss the necessary start up steps.

"We want to make it as easy as possible for small business owners to access solutions for the inherent challenges they face," said Gaspar. "Beyond the offer, our goal is to provide our expertise in an effort to help small businesses improve productivity and reduce costs."

For more information on the offer, services available to small business and to review terms and conditions, go to: www.ups.com/mybusiness.