Postal strike creates record-breaking weekend for Ottawa-based delivery service Trexity

The following is a preview from Ottawa Business Journal

“It was an incredible weekend for us across Canada, especially here in Ottawa. It was wild. Last Friday was a record day for us for revenue and for deliveries and that carried over the entire weekend. Friday was the record, then Saturday became the record, then Sunday became the record,” he told OBJ Tuesday.

Since the strike began Nov. 15, Trexity has tripled its number of merchant sign-ups, as well as increased sales 40 per cent over its predictions for the busy holiday season. Ahuja said he’s also seen four times as many inbound messages from clients in Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver looking to Trexity to help them during the strike. 

Outside of businesses looking to ship their goods to customers, Trexity also has seen an influx of “corporate people” wanting to send gift baskets to clients.

“So gift baskets, wine bottles, chocolate boxes, are all things that would normally go out through Canada Post or other couriers. We’re taking those all on. So it’s really interesting how we’re diversifying into not just small business, but like any local company that needs something delivered,” he said.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business said Monday that the strike has negatively affected three-quarters of small businesses, with 41 per cent reporting $2,000 in costs related to lost orders, more expensive delivery alternatives, late payments, and an inability to promote their business at a crucial time of year. 

Ahuja said the comments he’s heard from his clients have been overwhelmingly positive.

“People are asking our merchants, ‘How did you guys get this here when Canada Post is on strike?’ The merchants are starting to look like absolute rock stars. Our goal was to make (the merchants) look like champions and that’s what we’ve done,” Ahuja said. 

He said that some merchants have created marketing campaigns to entice customers to shop up until Dec. 24, knowing that Trexity will ship their goods right up to the end of the holiday season.

Read the full article at Ottawa Business Journal