Latest news with #Canadian market
CBC
5 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Door-to-door salespeople are finding success amid skepticism of online scams
If you get an unexpected knock on the door, it's probably somebody trying to sell you something. Canada is one of the top ranking countries in the world for door-to-door sales, also known as direct selling, with more than one million independent sales consultants. That's how Brendan Quinlan primarily finds work for his pest removal business, Insight Pest Solutions. He says when his sales representatives reach out directly to potential clients, it can give him a competitive edge over larger companies with massive marketing budgets. "We're only going to be one of a handful of people that physically come to their door to talk to them about a service," he told CBC Radio's Cost of Living. Quinlan says talking to someone face-to-face lets them fact-check his sales pitch in real-time, letting him directly respond to questions. "Most people, when we knock on their door, their phone's in their hands. So they're going online to check out and to ensure what you are saying is true," Quinlan said. That accountability may have an advantage over other kinds of marketing today, as stories of bad actors scamming Canadians out of hundreds of thousands of dollars aren't hard to find. WATCH | Canadians lost millions in bank impersonation scams Canadians have lost millions to bank impersonation scams | Hanomansing Tonight 17 days ago Popular schemes have involved landscaping, fundraisers, distressed family members and cryptocurrencies. Scammers often target their victims using email, text, or social media, which spreads distrust of marketing by phone and online advertising. Door-to-door sales may seem old-fashioned — but those in the industry say it's survived, and maybe even continues to thrive because it helps build sellers' interpersonal skills and can foster trust between themselves and their clients. Opening the door to connection Nicole Rourke, a marketing professor at St. Clair College in Windsor, Ont., says humans innately want to connect, and gestures like handshakes and eye contact are important for building a rapport before giving anyone their money. "I think that there is a need for people to really want to feel like they can trust somebody and face-to-face is the best way to establish that trust," Rourke said. She says trust is particularly important when it comes to expensive purchases. "It's much harder to say no to somebody in-person. It's easier to abandon your shopping cart online, ignore emails and social media posts than it is to ignore somebody that's standing right at your doorstep," Rourke said. In Ontario, Quebec and Alberta, it's illegal to sell home heating and cooling equipment unsolicited in most cases due to aggressive and misleading business practices. Some jurisdictions require door-to-door salespeople to be licensed and follow other restrictions. Face-to-face advantage Owen Chilvers is currently a Dalhousie University student, he owns and operates Halifax Student Painters, which employs around 450 sales associates this summer. As soon as he arrives at a property, he'll ask the owner questions about the house — things like the decks, vinyl sidings and trims — to get a sense of what the people's needs might be before making offers. "You never know when the iron's about to strike, so you just gotta keep pursuing forward, no matter what. And a lot of people don't have the motivation," he said. Even then, he stresses it's important not to be pushy or try to sell someone something they don't need; he knows that door-to-door sales reps are sometimes seen as intimidating or known for using high-pressure sales tactics. Quinlan's employees are seasonal, and during the summer months he typically hires university students for work. He says door-to-door sales are better suited to their lifestyles and energy levels than older adults. He says many of his employees are studying business and look at the job as an opportunity to sharpen skills that will give them a competitive advantage in their careers. "Our program is focused on training [students on] how to communicate effectively, meta-verbal communication, eye contact, pitch and tone; all of that good stuff," Quinlan said. Since door-to-door businesses often work on a commission-based sales model, Quinlan argues the sink-or-swim environment is good training for a young person hoping to become an entrepreneur. Rourke added that it also helps develop practical social skills — like handling rejection, a tough lesson that's important for anyone aspiring to have a career in sales. WATCH | A bleak job market for Gen Z How did the Gen Z job market get so bleak? 1 month ago According to a 2022 report from Direct Sellers Association of Canada, an industry advocacy group, more people were interested in working in direct sales that year compared to 2021. Students, women and people aged 18-44 were most likely to show interest in the work. "More students are willing to try this. And I think part of that is, jobs for young people are harder to come by and it's challenged people to think outside the box," Quinlan said. Aside from the pandemic, Canada's youth are currently experiencing the highest levels of unemployment since May 2009, during the financial crisis. According to Statistics Canada, the unemployment rate for returning students aged 15 to 24 was 20.1 per cent in May. Building a future Chilvers set a goal to spend over 1,000 hours painting his clients' homes this season. He says sometimes he works 10-hour days and that the job is "not for the weak." "You have got to have a positive mindset going to every single door to be able to get the results you want," he said. He says a lot of his doorknockers quit because they found the job too tough or weren't seeing the money straight away. But the first-year commerce student says he wants to continue his entrepreneurial path and own a business in the future. Chilvers is unsure what field he wants to enter but he says he's dreaming big — and hopes his door-to-door experience helped him gain invaluable experience.
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
3 TSX Penny Stocks With Market Caps Under CA$500M
Despite rising tariff rates, the Canadian market has shown resilience with inflation and economic data remaining stable. This stability provides a backdrop for exploring investment opportunities in lesser-known areas of the market, such as penny stocks. Although the term "penny stock" might seem outdated, these smaller or newer companies can offer significant growth potential when they possess strong financials and sound fundamentals. Top 10 Penny Stocks In Canada Name Share Price Market Cap Financial Health Rating Westbridge Renewable Energy (TSXV:WEB) CA$0.67 CA$70.8M ★★★★★★ illumin Holdings (TSX:ILLM) CA$2.11 CA$107.87M ★★★★★☆ Fintech Select (TSXV:FTEC) CA$0.025 CA$2M ★★★★★★ Foraco International (TSX:FAR) CA$1.80 CA$176.55M ★★★★★☆ Findev (TSXV:FDI) CA$0.425 CA$12.18M ★★★★★★ Thor Explorations (TSXV:THX) CA$0.78 CA$505.63M ★★★★★★ Pulse Seismic (TSX:PSD) CA$3.43 CA$171.55M ★★★★★★ ACT Energy Technologies (TSX:ACX) CA$4.69 CA$153.38M ★★★★★☆ Hemisphere Energy (TSXV:HME) CA$1.94 CA$185.15M ★★★★★★ McChip Resources (TSXV:MCS) CA$1.80 CA$10.51M ★★★★★★ Click here to see the full list of 449 stocks from our TSX Penny Stocks screener. Below we spotlight a couple of our favorites from our exclusive screener. Mandalay Resources Simply Wall St Financial Health Rating: ★★★★★★ Overview: Mandalay Resources Corporation operates in the acquisition, exploration, extraction, processing, and reclamation of mineral properties across Australia, Sweden, Chile, and Canada with a market cap of CA$439.80 million. Operations: The company generates revenue from its Metals & Mining segment, specifically focusing on Gold & Other Precious Metals, amounting to $263.21 million. Market Cap: CA$439.8M Mandalay Resources has demonstrated significant growth potential, with earnings increasing by 329.7% over the past year and a high net profit margin of 21.5%. The company's financial health is robust, evidenced by its debt being well-covered by operating cash flow and interest payments comfortably managed. Recent exploration updates at the True Blue discovery in Australia and Bjorkdal mine in Sweden highlight promising resource expansion opportunities, potentially enhancing future production capabilities. Additionally, an upcoming merger with Alkane Resources aims to strengthen operational continuity across key mining sites, subject to shareholder approval expected in Q3 2025. Click here and access our complete financial health analysis report to understand the dynamics of Mandalay Resources. Examine Mandalay Resources' earnings growth report to understand how analysts expect it to perform. Quipt Home Medical Simply Wall St Financial Health Rating: ★★★★☆☆ Overview: Quipt Home Medical Corp., operating through its subsidiaries, provides durable and home medical equipment and supplies across the United States, with a market cap of CA$119.91 million. Operations: The company generates $240.85 million in revenue from providing durable and home medical equipment and supplies throughout the United States. Market Cap: CA$119.91M Quipt Home Medical, with a market cap of CA$119.91 million, is trading significantly below its estimated fair value but remains unprofitable with a negative return on equity and high debt levels. Despite generating US$240.85 million in revenue, it faces challenges such as increased losses over the past five years and forecasted earnings decline. Recently, Quipt was dropped from numerous Russell indices and received an unsolicited acquisition offer from Forager Capital Management at a premium price of $3.10 per share, highlighting potential investor interest despite its volatile share price and ongoing financial difficulties. Take a closer look at Quipt Home Medical's potential here in our financial health report. Gain insights into Quipt Home Medical's future direction by reviewing our growth report. Trilogy Metals Simply Wall St Financial Health Rating: ★★★★★★ Overview: Trilogy Metals Inc. focuses on the exploration and development of mineral properties in the United States, with a market cap of CA$417.17 million. Operations: Trilogy Metals Inc. has not reported any specific revenue segments. Market Cap: CA$417.17M Trilogy Metals Inc., with a market cap of CA$417.17 million, is pre-revenue and unprofitable, reporting a net loss of US$2.18 million for the recent quarter. Despite this, the company maintains financial stability with no debt and short-term assets exceeding liabilities significantly. The management team is experienced with an average tenure of 5.1 years, while its board averages 10.1 years in tenure. Trilogy recently filed a follow-on equity offering worth $25 million to bolster its cash reserves further, which currently provide more than three years of runway if free cash flow continues growing at historical rates. Unlock comprehensive insights into our analysis of Trilogy Metals stock in this financial health report. Explore historical data to track Trilogy Metals' performance over time in our past results report. Next Steps Investigate our full lineup of 449 TSX Penny Stocks right here. Contemplating Other Strategies? AI is about to change healthcare. These 26 stocks are working on everything from early diagnostics to drug discovery. The best part - they are all under $10b in market cap - there's still time to get in early. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include TSX:MND TSX:QIPT and TSX:TMQ. This article was originally published by Simply Wall St. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Discover TSX Penny Stocks With Market Caps Under CA$200M
Despite rising tariff rates, the Canadian market has shown resilience, with inflation and economic data holding steady. In this context, penny stocks—typically representing smaller or newer companies—remain an intriguing investment area. While the term might seem outdated, these stocks can offer growth potential when backed by strong financial health and solid fundamentals. Top 10 Penny Stocks In Canada Name Share Price Market Cap Financial Health Rating Westbridge Renewable Energy (TSXV:WEB) CA$0.70 CA$69.79M ★★★★★★ illumin Holdings (TSX:ILLM) CA$2.09 CA$108.9M ★★★★★☆ Fintech Select (TSXV:FTEC) CA$0.025 CA$2.4M ★★★★★★ Findev (TSXV:FDI) CA$0.425 CA$12.18M ★★★★★★ Mandalay Resources (TSX:MND) CA$4.64 CA$427.48M ★★★★★★ Thor Explorations (TSXV:THX) CA$0.76 CA$492.32M ★★★★★★ Pulse Seismic (TSX:PSD) CA$3.38 CA$176.12M ★★★★★★ ACT Energy Technologies (TSX:ACX) CA$4.53 CA$153.38M ★★★★★☆ Hemisphere Energy (TSXV:HME) CA$1.94 CA$186.11M ★★★★★★ McChip Resources (TSXV:MCS) CA$1.84 CA$8.91M ★★★★★★ Click here to see the full list of 450 stocks from our TSX Penny Stocks screener. Here we highlight a subset of our preferred stocks from the screener. Happy Creek Minerals Simply Wall St Financial Health Rating: ★★★★★★ Overview: Happy Creek Minerals Ltd. is involved in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Canada, with a market capitalization of CA$12.54 million. Operations: Happy Creek Minerals Ltd. does not report any specific revenue segments. Market Cap: CA$12.54M Happy Creek Minerals, with a market cap of CA$12.54 million, is pre-revenue and has faced increasing losses over the past five years. The company is debt-free and recently raised CA$3.25 million through a private placement to bolster its short cash runway. Despite experienced management and board members, Happy Creek's high share price volatility poses risks for investors. Recent earnings showed improvement from a net loss to slight net income in Q1 2025; however, substantial annual losses persist, leading auditors to express concern about its ability to continue as a going concern. Navigate through the intricacies of Happy Creek Minerals with our comprehensive balance sheet health report here. Learn about Happy Creek Minerals' historical performance here. SPARQ Systems Simply Wall St Financial Health Rating: ★★★★★★ Overview: SPARQ Systems Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells single-phase microinverters for residential and commercial solar electric applications with a market cap of CA$87.70 million. Operations: SPARQ Systems Inc. has not reported any specific revenue segments. Market Cap: CA$87.7M SPARQ Systems, with a market cap of CA$87.70 million, is a pre-revenue company facing challenges typical of penny stocks. It recently commenced commercial production of microinverters in India, marking a significant operational milestone. Despite being debt-free and having short-term assets exceeding liabilities, it reported a net loss of CA$1.07 million for Q1 2025 and continues to face going concern doubts from auditors due to ongoing losses. The company's cash runway extends just over a year if current cash flow trends persist, highlighting the financial pressures it faces amidst its expansion efforts. Get an in-depth perspective on SPARQ Systems' performance by reading our balance sheet health report here. Understand SPARQ Systems' track record by examining our performance history report. Northern Superior Resources Simply Wall St Financial Health Rating: ★★★★★★ Overview: Northern Superior Resources Inc. is a junior mining company focused on exploring and evaluating gold properties in Ontario and Québec, Canada, with a market cap of CA$184.06 million. Operations: Northern Superior Resources Inc. does not have any reported revenue segments. Market Cap: CA$184.06M Northern Superior Resources, with a market cap of CA$184.06 million, is pre-revenue and focused on expanding its gold exploration footprint in Ontario and Québec. Recent acquisitions have increased its land position in the Chibougamau Gold Camp, enhancing potential for resource expansion at the Philibert Project. Despite no meaningful revenue, it remains debt-free with short-term assets covering liabilities. The company has a cash runway exceeding one year but faces financial challenges typical of junior miners. Recent drilling results indicate promising high-grade gold zones, suggesting potential growth opportunities as part of its strategic exploration initiatives. Click here and access our complete financial health analysis report to understand the dynamics of Northern Superior Resources. Examine Northern Superior Resources' past performance report to understand how it has performed in prior years. Turning Ideas Into Actions Click this link to deep-dive into the 450 companies within our TSX Penny Stocks screener. Looking For Alternative Opportunities? This technology could replace computers: discover the 26 stocks are working to make quantum computing a reality. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include TSXV:HPY TSXV:SPRQ and TSXV:SUP. This article was originally published by Simply Wall St. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@
