Shop First Nations
Shop First Nations is an Indigenous-owned digital platform operating a curated e-commerce gift store, a community business directory with paid listings, and corporate gifting services connecting Indigenous-owned businesses across Canada with conscious consumers and corporate buyers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersNew Westminster, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Shop First Nations does
Shop First Nations is an Indigenous-owned digital commerce platform founded in 2020 by Métis entrepreneur Rob Schulz, headquartered in New Westminster, British Columbia. The company operates a unified marketplace-plus-directory model: a curated e-commerce gift store (gifts.shopfirstnations.com) selling Indigenous-made art, home decor, food and beverage, books, and seasonal items; a community business directory of Indigenous-owned businesses across Canada; and a corporate gifting program targeting B2B buyers. The platform was created to enable economic reconciliation through e-commerce, digital storytelling, and education, with curated products such as the Indigenous Canada Box — The Thirteen Moons Collection marketed to FIFA World Cup 2026 visitors.
The underlying platform is built on WordPress with an integrated e-commerce storefront and directory/content management system; there are no disclosed proprietary technology components, AI capabilities, or APIs. Product surface spans gift boxes and bundles, the Indigenous Canada Box, corporate gifting, the Sockeye free business listing, the $99/year Wolf Pack enhanced listing, and digital/technology advisory add-ons. The business supports a network of Indigenous makers, artists, and entrepreneurs — including suppliers such as Spirit Bear Coffee Company, Botanacine, Boreal Heartland Herbal Products, Red Rebel Armour, and Wickaninnish Gallery — and co-presents the annual Indigenous Market & Expressions of Reclamation event in partnership with Arts New West and the Native Art Renaissance Foundation.
The company monetizes through three streams: (1) direct e-commerce product sales (transactional), (2) recurring directory subscription revenue from Wolf Pack enhanced listings at $99/year alongside a free Sockeye tier, and (3) corporate gifting sales handled via direct outreach. Go-to-market is hybrid: product-led self-serve e-commerce for consumers, community-led directory growth for Indigenous entrepreneurs, event-driven marketing through the annual Indigenous Market, and direct enterprise sales for corporate gifting. Marketing relies on blog content, social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), email newsletters, SEO, and partnerships with bodies such as Smudge Certified (founding partner), Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, Métis Nation BC, and Indigenous Tourism BC.
Shop First Nations firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Shop First Nations
- Legal name
- Shop First Nations
- Website
- https://shopfirstnations.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Shop First Nations is an Indigenous-owned digital platform operating a curated e-commerce gift store, a community business directory with paid listings, and corporate gifting services connecting Indigenous-owned businesses across Canada with conscious consumers and corporate buyers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Shop First Nations industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Indigenous Online Marketplace
- NAICS
- Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Retailers (45942), All Other Miscellaneous Retailers (45999)
- SIC
- Retail-Miscellaneous Retail (5900), Retail-Miscellaneous Shopping Goods Stores (5940)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Local Artisan, Handmade & Craft Gifts Retail (CRALAJAL)
Keywords
Where Shop First Nations is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New Westminster
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Shop First Nations business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- E-commerce Product Sales: Direct consumer sales of Indigenous-made gifts, art, home decor, food & beverage products, books, and curated gift boxes. Products sourced from verified Indigenous makers, artists, and entrepreneurs across Canada.
- Business Directory Memberships: Two-tier subscription model for Indigenous businesses: Free Sockeye listings (basic visibility) and paid Wolf Pack Enhanced listings ($99/year) with blog features, video inclusion, social media amplification, and technology advisory services.
- Corporate Gifting Programs: B2B sales of curated Indigenous gift boxes and custom corporate gift solutions for client appreciation, team events, and VIP gifting occasions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Free basic business listing for Indigenous entrepreneurs |
| Subscription | Annual | Enhanced premium listing with full marketing support |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Shop First Nations product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Shop First Nations operates an Indigenous-owned digital commerce platform aggregating curated Indigenous-made products (gifts, art, home decor, food & beverage, books, themed gift boxes) sourced from verified Indigenous makers across Canada. It also runs a public Indigenous business directory with a free Sockeye tier and a $99/year Wolf Pack premium tier, alongside a corporate gifting program and online gift card shopping.
Product overview
Shop First Nations is an Indigenous-owned digital commerce platform operating as a unified marketplace-plus-directory model. The core platform consists of a curated Indigenous gift shop (featuring Gift Boxes & Bundles and Corporate Gifting) paired with an Indigenous Business Directory that offers two listing tiers: Sockeye (free) and Wolf Pack ($99/year enhanced). Additional services include digital & technology advisory services for listed businesses. The platform supports economic reconciliation by connecting Indigenous entrepreneurs with conscious consumers through e-commerce and the Community Directory.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Indigenous Business Directory Public online directory of verified Indigenous-owned businesses, makers, artists, and entrepreneurs across Canada, searchable by location and category. Free Sockeye tier provides a basic listing; Wolf Pack tier ($99/year) provides enhanced/premium listing features.
- Indigenous Canada Box - The Thirteen Moons Collection Curated, themed gift box featuring Indigenous-made products tied to the Thirteen Moons theme, sold to individual consumers and through the corporate gifting program.
- Curated Indigenous Gift Shop E-commerce storefront selling curated Indigenous-made gifts, art, home decor, food and beverage products, and books sourced from verified Indigenous makers, artists, and entrepreneurs across Canada.
- Corporate Gifting Program B2B corporate gifting service offering organizations curated Indigenous-themed gift boxes and related items for client appreciation, employee recognition, holiday gifting, and VIP acknowledgments, with quote-based pricing.
- Wolf Pack Premium Directory Listing Annual paid directory subscription ($99/year) giving Indigenous-owned businesses enhanced visibility and premium features beyond the free Sockeye listing on the Shop First Nations platform.
- Digital & Technology Services (Indigenous Tech Ally) Digital and technology services offered by Shop First Nations under its Indigenous Tech Ally positioning, providing technology-related services to Indigenous clients and partners.
Quantifiable outcome
- 65+ Indigenous makers and artists showcased at annual Indigenous Market event
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Shop First Nations
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Shop First Nations technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Shop First Nations partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Arts New WestcoreCo-presenter of the annual Indigenous Market & Expressions of Reclamation event in New Westminster, BC. The event celebrates its 5th anniversary in 2026, featuring 65+ Indigenous makers and artists. Arts New West is a community arts organization founded in 1967 supporting visual, performing, and literary arts.
- Native Art Renaissance FoundationcoreCo-presenter of the annual Indigenous Market & Expressions of Reclamation event alongside Shop First Nations and Arts New West. James Groening (Blue Sky) serves on the all-Indigenous Vendor Selection Committee.
- Smudge CertifiedcoreFounding partner of Smudge Certified initiative. Shop First Nations contributes to this certification program supporting Indigenous business authenticity.
- Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB)minorProud Indigenous Business Member providing visibility and credibility through CCAB membership network.
- Indigenous Tourism BC (ITBC)minorIndigenous business member featured on ITBC platform for tourism marketing and visitor awareness.
- Métis Nation BCminorListed in Métis Nation BC business directory, providing visibility within the Métis business community.
- WebnamesminorWeb hosting partner offering free LiteSite package (1 year) to Indigenous small businesses and freelancers. Referred by Shop First Nations to support Indigenous entrepreneurs' digital presence.
- Boreal Heartland Herbal ProductsminorFeatured supplier and story subject on Shop First Nations blog. Indigenous-owned business creating herbal products from boreal forest ingredients, founded 2017. Featured to showcase Indigenous entrepreneurship in the herbal tea and wellness space.
- 1Nation DistributionminorIndigenous-owned wholesale distribution company serving 400+ locations across Canada. Listed as official distributor of Spirit Bear Coffee Company on the platform.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Shop First Nations competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Etsy: Global online marketplace for handmade, vintage, and artisan goods. Competes for the same conscious consumer purchasing handmade and Indigenous-themed gifts, but Etsy is a broad-scope incumbent without Indigenous-verification specialization.
- Amazon Handmade: Amazon's curated marketplace for handcrafted goods. Competes with Shop First Nations for artisan gift buyers and corporate gifting procurement teams, leveraging Amazon's logistics and discovery advantages.
Direct peers
- Manitobah Mukluks: Indigenous-owned Canadian footwear and accessories brand with retail and wholesale presence. Comparable as an Indigenous-verified retail brand in Canada with both direct e-commerce and marketplace distribution strategies.
- Native Northwest: Indigenous-owned Canadian retailer of art, gifts, books, and home decor from Indigenous artists. Directly comparable to Shop First Nations in product mix (art, books, gifts, home decor) and Indigenous-verified supplier model.
- Indigenous Box: Subscription-box service delivering Indigenous-made products to consumers. Closely comparable as an Indigenous-curated e-commerce concept targeting gift-givers, though narrower in offering (subscription-only versus Shop First Nations' marketplace model).
Emerging players
- Cheekbone Beauty: Indigenous-owned Canadian cosmetics brand with e-commerce and retail distribution. Comparable as a digitally native Indigenous brand pursuing both consumer and corporate channels, though narrower in category (beauty only).
- Unceded Apparel: Indigenous streetwear brand blending Indigenous culture with contemporary fashion. Comparable as an Indigenous-verified direct-to-consumer brand pursuing similar conscious-consumer and corporate gifting markets.
- Birchbark Studio: Indigenous-owned Canadian retailer specializing in authentic Indigenous art, jewelry, and gifts. Comparable as a direct competitor in the curated Indigenous gift retail category with similar supplier verification and storytelling approach.
Others
- Smudge Certified: Indigenous business certification program of which Shop First Nations is a founding partner. Relevant ecosystem player that authenticates Indigenous-owned businesses and could be commercialized into a B2B vetting service or premium placement tier.
- 1Nation Distribution: Indigenous-owned wholesale distributor serving 400+ Canadian hotels, resorts, casinos, and travel centers. Ecosystem partner already featured on the platform; relevant as a complementary distribution channel and potential B2B expansion vector.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Shop First Nations social profiles
Digital presenceShop First Nations financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Shop First Nations leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Shop First Nations funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Shop First Nations M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Shop First Nations
What does Shop First Nations do?
Shop First Nations operates an Indigenous-owned digital commerce platform aggregating curated Indigenous-made products (gifts, art, home decor, food & beverage, books, themed gift boxes) sourced from verified Indigenous makers across Canada. It also runs a public Indigenous business directory with a free Sockeye tier and a $99/year Wolf Pack premium tier, alongside a corporate gifting program and online gift card shopping.
Is Shop First Nations a public or private company?
Shop First Nations is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Shop First Nations founded?
Shop First Nations was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Shop First Nations based?
Shop First Nations is headquartered in New Westminster, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Shop First Nations make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. E-commerce Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are business Directory Memberships and corporate Gifting Programs.
Who are Shop First Nations's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Etsy and Amazon Handmade. Direct peers are Manitobah Mukluks, Native Northwest and Indigenous Box. Emerging players are Cheekbone Beauty, Unceded Apparel and Birchbark Studio. Others are Smudge Certified and 1Nation Distribution.
Does Shop First Nations have an API?
No public API is recorded for Shop First Nations.
What industry is Shop First Nations in?
Shop First Nations's product category is Indigenous Online Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRALAJAL, Local Artisan, Handmade & Craft Gifts Retail. Its NAICS code is 45942 and its SIC code is 5900.