Retail is seasonal. Q4 holiday sales generate 40-60% of annual revenue, but you need to buy inventory in August. That gap drives most retail financing in Canada. New platforms like Shopify Capital and Clearco have made e-commerce inventory loans nearly instant — but at factor-rate pricing equivalent to 30-50% APR.
Buy stock for peak season (Q4)
Quick capital · paid from daily sales
Auto-offered to e-com merchants
E-com inventory + marketing
Classic retail financing pattern: borrow $200K in August, buy fall/winter inventory, sell through Q4 holiday season generating $400-600K revenue, repay loan in January. Margin matters — if your gross margin is <40%, this pattern doesn't leave enough buffer for loan costs.