How to Distribute to Edmonton

Edmonton is the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta. Edmonton’s 2020 population is now estimated at 1,461,182. In 1950, the population of Edmonton was 163,473. Edmonton has grown by 169,031 since 2015, which represents a 2.49% annual change. These population estimates and projections come from the latest revision of the UN World Urbanization Prospects. These estimates represent the Urban agglomeration of Edmonton, which typically includes Edmonton’s population and adjacent suburban areas.

The urban population of Edmonton is estimated at 980,000. The Edmonton census metropolitan area (CMA) has a population estimated at 1.8 million, of which 70% live in the city proper.

All these facts indicate that Edmonton is a large city that can draw in many sales for upscale items and commodities.

Distributing to a large area like Edmonton requires being strategic in approach. You can either use the direct or indirect distribution method to get products to the retail stores and shopping centers. These methods will be discussed below when talking about the areas in Edmonton.

To fully understand distribution to an area like Edmonton, it will help to look at the areas under the city. Distribution to those areas is indirectly distribution to Edmonton itself.

Distributing Products to Casselman-Steele Heights

Casselman-Steele Heights is a residential area in the northeast portion of the City of Edmonton in Alberta, Canada. The area comprises Casselman, the western portion of Clareview Town Centre, formerly known as Clareview Business Park, Ebbers, McLeod, Miller, and York.

Distributing to an area like Casselman-Steele Heights will take understanding many things about the area. First, it’s in Canada – different laws and codes apply. Second, consumer patterns and behaviors are different everywhere. Third, Edmonton isn’t like every other place in Canada.

This is why many manufacturers use the indirect method by engaging distributors. Distributors understand the factors that affect product sales in a particular area – as long as they make product distribution to the area. They can use the data gathered from a particular area to know what products do well in that area.

More, distributors know the distribution network well enough to get products to hundreds of stores. The manufacturer can work with distributors to understand these markets. The manufacturer can also understand the competitiveness of other brands in the area.

All these ultimately depend on the type of products for sale. The downside to going indirectly is the loss of useful data in the distribution chain. As much as the distributor may gather data, it may not be satisfactory to a manufacturer. Maybe consumers would like a particular feature – the manufacturer may not get to know this.

Distributing Product to Dickinsfield

Dickinsfield is a residential area in northeast Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, that consists of Evansdale and Northmount.

There are two shopping malls in Dickinsfield. One is the Dickinsfield Mall. The other is North Town Centre, located at the southwest corner of Northmount. Immediately across 137 Avenue from the North Town Centre is Northgate Centre – that’s where you’ll find many of the shopping centers.

Dickinsfield is not a very large area. Many manufacturers prefer to navigate the distribution networks themselves. This can be daunting, but it could be achieved with a focus on retailers’ associations. Retailers’ associations present an opportunity to network with retailers who are the major members of these associations.

These retailers are mostly geographically-based. The Retail Council of Canada is the largest retail association in Canada. From here, you can increase your targeting to the Edmonton area.

Going directly has its benefits. First, you get direct data on consumer reaction to the product. Second, you can get real-time inventory data from the stores. Third, it’s easier to know the problem if demand or shipping slows down. It’s not surprising that the direct distribution method used by Tesla has worked successfully for the brand.

Distributing Products to Londonderry

Londonderry is a residential area in northeast Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, that consists of Kildare and Kilkenny’s neighborhoods. A lot of shopping happens at the Londonderry Mall.

Getting products into this area could take either of the direct or indirect methods of distribution. It is important to note that the products matter. They determine the distribution methods, the marketing strategy, and a whole lot of other things. How much is available for distribution also matters. Manufacturers who invest a lot in distribution tend to get better results as they can be more involved in the process.

Things to Note When Distributing to Edmonton

Large Market

Edmonton is not the biggest market in Canada, but it is considerably large, with almost 1.5 million people. This means that the market is quite large in Edmonton. And as with every large market, you should expect stiff competition. You can set your brand apart by focusing on a unique selling point. This is the point that sets you apart from your competition.

Marketing

You almost can’t run the same marketing throughout Canada. There are places like Quebec, where the French language and culture are pretty dominant. You want to put this into consideration in your marketing.

More, marketing is as vital as the product you’re selling. You should invest considerably in marketing to get your brand message to your target audience. Ensure you tailor the message to them.

Laws and Codes

Canada is different from the United States. Different laws apply here. It is important to note whether all products – or some – need to be certified by a regulatory authority. For instance, in the United States, the FDA has to certify food and drug items as fit for public consumption before it can be sold to the public.