[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Friday Fix is a weekly feature of all the things you should know before heading into the weekend.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator border_width=”2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Business” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]Finding your place in the online market

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw a massive surge in the e-commerce industry—online shopping became the new normal as people stayed holed up at home. In fact, throughout the last nine months, nearly 85 percent of Canadians said they shopped online, according to the new BDC report, “Profit from e-commerce: How to compete in the online marketplace.” 

Despite the high number of online shoppers, less than half of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in Canada plan to continue selling online once the pandemic passes. Given the opportunities that e-commerce can allow for SMBs, BDC has outlined how to best implement online sales for maximum returns:

Five steps to sell online:

1. Understand your market
2. Know your customer
3. Review your partnerships and business model.
4. Develop your skills.
5. Define your objectives and optimize your efforts. 

The report emphasizes that while the pandemic sped up the advancement of e-commerce, the online market was already set to increase. The e-commerce industry saw a steady rise in the last few years, nearly tripling between

The pandemic will eventually pass and stores will open to the public in a normal capacity again, but the habit and convenience of online shopping is set to remain. According to the report, eight out of 10 Canadians who purchased online for the first time during the pandemic will continue the practice even after a normalcy has been restored.

The report outlines frequent challenges that SMBs face when growing their online presence, like providing good customer service and ensuring profitability, and offers solutions to business owners.

Sign up to receive the full report here and take your e-commerce offerings to the next level.[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Fashion” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]Powerhouse, content creator, influencer and now fashion designer: Valeria Lipovetsky has expanded her talents to create the perfect loungewear for all of your working from home needs.

The capsule collection, called The Everyday Sweatset marks her first venture into designing apparel. As a part of Leia—an e-commerce store filled with a personal collection of Lipovetsky’s hand picked products—The Everyday Sweatset is her take on the must-have clothing item of the pandemic: a sweatsuit.[/vc_column_text][vc_gallery interval=”5″ images=”20846,20847,20849,20848″ img_size=”1200×1200″ onclick=””][vc_column_text]“I’ve been looking for the perfect sweatsuit since the beginning of quarantine. I wanted it to be comfortable while lounging at home with the kids but tailored enough that I felt confident when I left to go to the grocery store or work at my studio,” said Lipovetsky. “The perfect sweatsuit is one that you never want to take off and don’t have to because it suits different parts of your life.”

The collection features a carefully tailored sweatpant, sweatshirt and everyday t-shirt in a range of four colours: Black, Forest, Navy and Rose. Each garment has a washed-down, lived-in look for the perfect comfy chic aesthetic.

The Everyday Sweatset is produced in low quantities and crafted in Toronto, so you can feel good knowing that it’s as sustainable as it is stylish. 

Available in S-XL, starting at $58.

RELATED: How Valeria Lipovetsky built a community of over 1 million followers[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Food” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]Continental Noodles is combining three-generations of pasta making with holiday spirit. 

The family-owned Italian business is known for their fun pasta shapes and this holiday season is no exception. The fresh pasta shop is offering ravioli shaped like Christmas trees, gingerbread men, and stars available for pick up at both Toronto locations and for home delivery. The festive pasta comes with two filling options: veal or cheese.

To celebrate the holiday season, Continental Noodles shared its secret family sauce recipe with Bay Street Bull. Our gift to you is the perfect sauce to go with your meat ravioli:

½ a bunch of fresh basil 

1 medium onion

2 cloves of garlic 

2¼ pounds ripe tomatoes or 2 x 14-ounce cans of whole peeled tomatoes 

olive oil 

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

• Pick the basil leaves (reserving a few baby leaves to garnish), then roughly chop the remaining leaves and finely chop the stalks. 
• Peel and thinly slice the onion and garlic. 
• If using fresh, cut the tomatoes in half, then roughly chop them or open the cans of tomatoes. 
• Put a saucepan on a medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of oil and the onion, then cook for around 7 minutes, or until soft and lightly golden. 
• Stir in the garlic and basil stalks for a few minutes, then add the fresh or canned tomatoes and the red wine vinegar. If using canned tomatoes, break them up with the back of a wooden spoon.
• Season with a pinch of sea salt and black pepper, then continue cooking for around 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. 
• Stir in the chopped basil leaves, then reduce to low and leave to tick away. 
• Meanwhile… Bring a large pot of salted water up to a boil, add ravioli.  Use the timing on the package.
• Once the pasta is done, ladle out and reserve a cup of the cooking water and keep it to one side, then drain in a colander or sieve over the sink. 
• Add a splash of pasta water to the sauce if it’s a bit thick. 
• Tip in the ravioli and use a spoon to toss well, adding a splash of the pasta water to loosen, if needed. 
• Enjoy!

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