Amazon not hurting Canadian retailers yet

TORONTO — Amazon.ca continues to dominate its Canadian competitors in clicks and site visits, Financial Post reports, but the bricks-and-mortar stores’ online sales aren’t feeling the pinch just yet. A BMO Capital Markets report says that the Canadian launch Amazon Prime in July drove site traffic, but didn’t translate into sign-ups as consumers found the deals “underwhelming.” It also notes that the e-retail giant’s top sales, like baby accessories and technology, don’t pose a direct threat to traditional retailers. Canadian visits to Amazon increased over the summer and BMO analyst Peter Sklar warns that, “In the long term, e-commerce will eventually result in pressure on Canadian bricks-and-mortar retailers”.