A recent report from Statistics Canada shows that Canadians seem to be warming up to the idea of online shopping. In comparison to 2005, StatsCan found that in 2007 there was a 61% increase in Canadians making purchases online. This resulted in "$12.8 billion worth of orders". The Canadians with the biggest expense account was, not surprisingly, Albertans. They made up half of the number of online shoppers from Canada in 2007.

Canadians customers like to shop knowing two things. The first is that they'll get a great bargain. The second is that if they're shopping online, they want to make sure they can know everything about a product, right up to how a piece of clothing will fit on them.

While the StatsCan report is great news for companies in the business of online acquisitions, it sends a strong message to affiliates and merchants who have not yet tapped into the Canadian market. If you’re a creative thinker, the Canadian online market could be your cash cow. All it takes is some careful research and a clever marketing strategy. Companies in the US and the UK are already aware of this. Canadians could benefit as entrepreneurs by entering the affiliate marketing industry. You'd be pleasantly surprised at how attending an affiliate marketing conference could open up a world of new possibilities.

Wondering what categories to tap into? Well, StatsCan has already given you a hint. They reported that the most popular areas of purchases made came from the following categories:

• Travel
• Books and Magazines
• Concert Tickets and other entertainment-related items
• Clothing
• Jewellery and accessories

Additionally, Canadians aren't that crazy about the idea of using their credit cards on the internet, but an estimated 82% of shoppers paid over the Internet with a credit or debit card. This shows that Canadians are slowly overcoming their fears about online security risks. It also indicates that more online retailers are modifying their shopping carts to accommodate these payment method trends. Another incentive that gets Canadian customers to actually buy online without using PayPal is promotions. Things like free shipping in Canada and banking institutions that accept cards from Canadian banks could make all the difference.

This is very promising news, whether you're a Canadian affiliate or merchant, or a customer looking for the best online products and services. It's a great time to pay attention the Canadian market. With 2009 on the horizon and people looking for alternatives to make a living, this is a great moment for Canadians to embark on new business opportunities via the internet.

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