Back to Search
Written by Abigail Guevara, Senior Content Writer, Freelance
Some may still not be familiar with the term e-commerce, although they engage in it regularly. By definition, e-commerce is a commercial transaction done electronically through the Internet. One example of e-commerce, from a consumer perspective, is online shopping, which accounts for over 20 per cent of retail sales and billions of dollars worldwide.
geekspeak Commerce is an e-commerce content development agency that has been in business for over 20 years in Whitby and is contributing to global e-commerce success. Acknowledged with awards for its various achievements, geekspeak’s Founder, Isaac Wanzama, has also been recently nominated for a Peter Perry & Business Achievement Award through the Whitby Chamber of Commerce.
“The essence of our business lies in helping clients develop strategies and roadmaps to expand their online presence. We create compelling content—written copy, imagery and manage digital advertising campaigns that drive sales across a wide range of our clients' products,” explains Tricia Williams, Managing Partner, geekspeak.
In addition to content development, the agency offers unique services including 3D asset creation, web design and product taxonomy (organizing and classifying products into categories based on similarities to help consumers find products easier when online shopping). geekspeak services also include setting up online accounts on major marketplaces like Amazon and Walmart and enriching content for products listed on high-profile retailer client websites like Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, Staples Canada, McCain, Best Buy and more.
Getting in on the ground floor
Isaac Wanzama, Founder and Chief Strategist started geekspeak in 2003. He was working as a freelance writer successfully winning government contracts, when he had the intuition and foresight to use his fundamental skillset to start his own business supporting the explosive growth of the e-commerce retail industry.
“In 2010, when I joined the company, e-commerce was really getting off the ground. We saw that it was a burgeoning area of business, and a lot of people didn't have a handle on it or what it could become, but we saw the unique opportunity,” remembers Tricia. “E-commerce requires great content to market products effectively, retailers need more than just a product code to promote and sell their products.”
According to Statista, 56 percent of items purchased online in the United States are returned because they don’t match their online descriptions. Therefore, product descriptions, details and images matter. They must be accurate and correct because returned products cost retailers millions of dollars in lost profits quarterly.
geekspeak helps to make sure this doesn’t happen to their clients with content that clearly depicts products; thereby meeting consumer expectations and reducing returns to increase client profitability.
geekspeak in Whitby blends innovation and community
Isaac initially chose to set up geekspeak in Whitby to have proximity to home, and it proved advantageous in more ways than one. geekspeak’s current office is a unique space they own, which was once a theatre, then a nightclub. geekspeak renovated and transformed the building into a dynamic workspace with beautiful, eclectic art that inspires and a studio for producing photography and content for major brands.
The move to their current location is a milestone, from renting space to owning their own building, and symbolizes the company’s growth—expanding both its physical presence and capabilities.
Whitby’s local economic development team also introduced themselves and took an interest in geekspeak.
“Our interactions with Whitby’s economic development team led to local events and opportunities helping us connect with Whitby’s business community as we got involved in charitable events and community-driven initiatives,” notes Tricia.
For example, geekspeak has hosted exciting and innovative hackathon events for the past five years. They invited local developers into their office space to tackle and find possible solutions to various societal challenges, with themes ranging from environmental issues to health and wellness.
Participants spent 36 hours straight, napping and eating in between, brainstorming and building prototypes to address these issues. The collaborative spirit of geekspeak’s hackathons fostered innovation and positioned geekspeak as a tech hub, supported by the Town of Whitby and confirming geekspeak’s role as a key player in the tech and business scene.
Pacing yourself in a 24/7 online world
The e-commerce retail world never closes. There are no lights to shut off or doors to lock. So, Isaac and Tricia make sure to find the time to disconnect knowing they have set up a capable team.
“The key lies in building and trusting a strong team that we’ve built over time, so everyone can work smarter, not harder,” Tricia explains.
Staff can work both in the office and remotely—a hybrid work environment which everyone appreciates.
Evolving with the e-commerce landscape
E-commerce retail sales continue to grow and are estimated to exceed 4.1 trillion U.S. dollars in 2024 and geekspeak is well positioned to grow with it.
“We are committed to keeping up with current trends and try to anticipate future ones,” notes Tricia. We’re driven by innovation as we deliver on our reputation as e-commerce experts in Canada.”
One such innovation is geekspeak’s proprietary content creation platform called 'ginnie' that uses artificial intelligence to help generate robust product descriptions.
It’s this kind of progressive thinking that has made geekspeak a trusted partner in the e-commerce space, helping their clients thrive in digital merchandising.
“We set out with the goal of being the voice of the expert in Canada when it comes to e-commerce,” says Tricia. “Obviously Canada is a large nation with evolving services, innovative tools, and forward-thinking practices, geekspeak is now well known in the industry, and we’ll continue to build on the momentum we’ve generated moving into the future.”
Innovation and Inclusivity: Stories from Durham Region's Black Business Leaders, Entrepreneurs, and Professionals (members of DRAPBE) is a series of stories about thriving Black professionals choosing to do business in Durham Region.
