We recently had the pleasure and honour of speaking with Angela Allan who’s the Director of Operations for 49 Dzine. The Q and A below is in her words but coming from our perspective, and we’re so very thankful for her time, kind words, and wonderful insights. Their Canadian ecommerce story is unique and fascinating, and inspired us to share it here.
In the interview below you will learn about the 49 Dzine story, their mission, how they give back to the indigenous community, challenges they’ve encountered along their journey, insightful business advice, how Chit Chats benefits them, and so much more.
What is 49 Dzine’s Canadian Ecommerce Story?
49 Dzine started as a passion project by Michael, our founder. Michael began making indigenous clothing out of his garage about 6 years ago. Michael posted some of his creations on Facebook and the response from the community was huge! He started taking orders for the clothing he was making, quickly outgrew his garage’s space and couldn’t keep up with all of the orders. Michael then partnered with Nathan (pictured above) who’s our current owner to work on growing and expanding the business.
Nathan launched the 49dzine.com website and began sourcing manufacturing partners from across the globe to meet the demand of the community. Nathan and Michael continued to run the ecommerce business out of their homes for four years.
In 2020, the decision was made to take the plunge into brick and mortar retail stores and the first physical 49 Dzine location was opened in the summer of 2020 in Calgary, Alberta. In the fall of 2021, 49 Dzine opened its second retail location in Edmonton, Alberta, with plans to continue expanding in 2023.
What’s the Mission?
49 Dzine is a two-spirit indigenous-owned business whose mission is to provide culturally relevant goods to the underserved indigenous community.
The indigenous community has been underrepresented in business and they have made it their mandate to change this by being loud and proud of who they are, where they have come from, and where they are headed.
Passion For Their Indigenous Roots
49 Dzine strives to create a business that is a reflection of the community it serves, and they are proud of the fact that 85% of its employees are indigenous.
The organization prides itself in supporting and uplifting the indigenous community. They partner with local groups including Bear Clan Patrol and Riel Institute to help make a difference in the lives of indigenous community members.
49 Dzine is also committed to financially giving back to the community and has created a Residential School Survivor and Descendants Scholarship Fund. All proceeds from the sale of orange campaign merchandise are given to recipients to further their studies and support their entrepreneurial spirit.
Hardships Faced
The last 2 years have been full of hardships for their business from COVID-19 lockdowns to blocked borders. They are thankful for their partnership with Chit Chats which has allowed them to weather the instability they have all faced, and maintain a business position that allows them to continue to grow and serve the community across the U.S. and Canada.
The indigenous community is marginalized in all areas of life and business is no different. As a company, they have faced multiple hardships due to their heritage from many directions. Indigenous companies find it extremely difficult to succeed as they not only have to deal with all of the traditional issues that small businesses face but must also battle the discrimination that the indigenous community deals with every day. They are proud of everything they have been able to do and how they have grown.
They will continue to grow and support their community but also look to the future and see the role that 49 Dzine can play in breaking down stereotypes. They work hard to teach all people that supporting a small indigenous business is not cultural appropriation, it is cultural appreciation. When non-indigenous customers shop in their digital and physical stores, this directly allows them to provide additional support to our communities.
Advice for Canadian Ecommerce Entrepreneurs
For any small business starting out, especially in Canadian ecommerce, the most important advice they can give is to form relationships like the one they have with Chit Chats. As a small business, one of the biggest expenses they have is the cost of shipping, and having a business like Chit Chats allows them to reduce their cost without sacrificing the service level they provide to our customers.
The number one complaint that they have received from their customers has not been about product or pricing, but the speed of shipping. They claim that they’re not and never will be Amazon, but working with Chit Chats allows 49 Dzine to compete in a global market and meet the shipping standards that their customers require.
49 Dzine + Chit Chats
Note: This part is directly from Angela with no edits made on our part.
Chit Chats has given 49 Dzine the ability to compete in a global market by allowing us to reach customers in multiple markets, and at a cost that is not detrimental to the business. Without Chit Chats we would have never been able to grow our Canadian ecommerce business south of the border.
We are extremely lucky to work with Chit Chats and their ability to continue to support small businesses such as ourselves. Through all of the struggles that COVID-19 has brought, Chit Chats have been an integral part of our continued success.
Chit Chats allows us to reach rural marginalized indigenous communities across North America as the vast majority of indigenous communities are located in hard to access rural areas.
Closing Remarks
In closing, 49 Dzine knows how hard it is to be a small Canadian ecommerce business with all of the hurdles that are unique to the country. They understand that navigating the world of shipping sometimes seems overwhelming and confusing. However, together with Chit Chats, the shipping process has become streamlined and easy to understand, giving them the time they need to focus on growing their business.
Our Gratitude
Thanks again to Angela and 49 Dzine for allowing us to step into their world, and for giving us a fascinating look at their past, present, and future. They have quickly built an amazing business since 2016, and their future is very bright. We are also so impressed with how they give back and support the indigenous community – their generosity is truly inspirational and heartwarming.
To experience the Chit Chats shipping experience as 49 Dzine does, sign up now and receive a $5 account credit to get started.