Posts & Comments
December 3, 2016 - How we selected the manufacturers
Currently there are 237 independent Canadian manufacturers listed on this site, and we expect this number will grow as our knowledge of the landscape improves. But in arriving at this initial roster, we've had to make some very tough decisions indeed.
First, we have done our very best, by examining websites, checking labels and Googling, to ensure that these manufacturers do make their products in Canada according to the guidelines of the Canadian Competition Bureau.
In a handful of cases, we have listed companies whose product line is only partially made in Canada. Roots is a good example of this - they openly declare that only their leather products are still made in Canada, and we're good with this.
Conversely, we have excluded many consumer product companies who clearly state that they do not make their products in Canada, or who do not clearly state where their products are actually made, or if other evidence has raised concerns.
And, with just a few exceptions, for the sake of brevity we have decided not to list the thousands of small or single-person shops of our talented Canadian crafters, artisans, and custom jewellers, or our 500-odd craft breweries!
December 1, 2016: First Post
Dear Reader,
This is the first post in Woqitoq's blog. My name is David Large, founder of Woqitoq Canada Corporation. Currently my full-time occupation is Professor of Marketing Strategy at the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa, where I've taught since 1991, doing my very best to help thousands of our Marketing majors start fulfilling and prosperous careers.
Building and launching Woqitoq has taken two years from my first visit with Janet Campbell at Mrs. McGarrigles. My vision for Woqitoq is to be the premier online directory of upscale made-in-Canada consumer products - to make more visible our best independent manufacturers and their products, to show their products' diversity and quality, and to encourage you to buy these products with pride.
By buying these products, we can all contribute to Woqitoq's mission to help build strong independent Canadian manufacturers, who then become job-creating anchors for stronger communities. I recently wrote a brief paper on this topic entitled "Igniting the Canadian Consumer Product Manufacturing Sector", and it was published in a policy-oriented and provocative online journal called Optimum Online. If you are interested in perusing the paper, the link is here.
The main purpose of this blog is to provide a forum for everyone who is connected to the consumer product manufacturing community (including the consumer!) to post thoughts about Woqitoq's vision and mission, to offer your opinions and/or stories about great (or not so great) new products from our companies, or products we'd like to see, or news in the community we all need to know, or to float ideas for desirable actions or policies from any level of government to strengthen our independent Canadian consumer product manufacturing sector.
I will publish any post that is relatively brief, relevant, thoughtful, and constructive. You can e-mail it to me at info@woqitoq.ca, along with your full name, occupation, and company affiliation (if applicable).
Thank-you for taking the time to read this post. It's a pleasure to meet you.
Sincerely,
David Large