MEDICINE HAT, AB — In the era of technology, social media plays a crucial role in the way people communicate and conduct business.
For two local businesses in Medicine Hat, Rustic Pickle and Finlay Bridge Outfitters, it is the only way they conduct business.
Kristine Russell, owner of the online children’s store Rustic Pickle, said she used to only sell locally until she got on Instagram.
Russell now has over 24,000 followers on Instagram and her success has gone international. She now sells her products across the globe to over 15 countries.
“I have a big customer base in Singapore and Malaysia also and I do think that’s because of Instagram,” she said.
Russell has sold over 10,000 items in three years, and sells nearly 75 per cent of her clothes to the United States.
Dawson Murschell, the owner of Finlay Bridge Outfitters, has also reached a global market using the targeting tool on social media.
Murschell said advertising on Instagram and Facebook is incredibly powerful.
“I can reach pretty much where ever I want to go,” Murschell said. “I’ve had a few sales in Europe and stuff like that and quite a few in the States.”
Christie Dick, an entrepreneur advisor said going online is the future.
“It’s a way to access markets that you couldn’t normally access,” Dick explained. “It’s so connected to people and you can find so many ways to make a difference connecting and getting into new markets with people.”
