Nunavik’s co-op group offers online shopping

KANGIQSUJUAQ — The selection of merchandise at Nunavik’s co-op stores just got a lot better since customers can now order from a new online catalogue.

The Fédération des coopératives du Nouveau-Québec recently launched an online store to give customers across Nunavik better access to all its merchandise, excluding food items.

“A lot of our customers can never find the right size or colour of what they’re looking for,” said Rita Novalinga, director general of the FCNQ. “We regularly receive complaints like that so we decided that rather than send [excess] merchandise up north, we’d keep it down south so customers can choose what they like.”

The online option won’t change the amount of merchandise available on store shelves, but it will offer co-op shoppers a better selection, Novalinga said – especially in villages with smaller stores.

Online prices will be the same as in-store, although customers will have to pay shipping costs.

Novalinga said the FCNQ will focus on fast, efficient delivery – ideally within a week from the day merchandise is ordered.

Kangiqsujuaq co-op store manager George Pilurtuut said the idea of an online store came from the population, who wanted more variety.

The co-op didn’t want to lose business from the younger, more computer savvy population.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Pilurtuut said, adding it would take a few months to see if the idea catches on.

Promotion of the online store just began, he said, and he expects cyber-shopping to pick up soon.

However successful the online store is, though, Pilurtuut doesn’t expect it to change the amount of shopping done in-store.

Visit the FCNQ’s trilingual website at www.fcnq.ca for more information on how to order on-line.