Business Innovation among Immigrants

Author: Riya Catherine George 

 

The task of planning and executing the Malayali Market Place in a week was an immense challenge. A few initial announcements posted across social media handles(bijo.sebastian, youtube@bijosebastian) generated a significant grip across Canada. To be precise,the Malayali Market Place by the Malayali Business Consortium(a wing of the Immigrant Business Consortium was officially announced on August 7, 2026.Inquiries began pouring in immediately.A vast range of vendors-including newly established online clothing and jewelry store owners, experienced retailers, and home based boutiques- expressed a great interest in being a part of Malayali Market Place.”Simultaneously,I launched a promotional campaign to attract public attention, using canva generated simple design with logos of the confirmed vendors.”-Bijo Sebastian

 

This event was organized as promotional material for the soft launch of Malayali Business Consortium(MBC), a pilot project of Malayali Market Place.The stimulating factor behind this great idea was the closure of major Asian shopping centres across the Greater Toronto Area(GTA). “My wife prefers physical shopping for Onam(festival of kerala) and we couldn't find any open stores to satisfy our needs and I worked to find a solution for this problem which resulted in a Malayali Market Place.” said Sebastian.

 

The event took place at Unit 519 & 520, 105 Gordon Baker Road, North York-which is the future site for Jobskills Training Workshops and market place meetups for aspiring entrepreneurs in Canada.All confirmed vendors were asked to announce their presence in MMP through their social media pages and received a great response despite of their very busy schedules.They were given a chance to promote their page during Bijo Sebastian’s live session on Youtube.“On August 14, my children assisted with Venue setup, managing floor plans and space allocations for the vendors. In the meantime, my colleague, Riya Catherine George, organized and coordinated the Day 1 event.”said Sebastian.

 

On Day 1, Vendors set up their stalls in the assigned areas. By11 AM, stores were open to the public with perfect merchandising and creative product displays. Customers were fascinated by the hidden gems in clothing and jewelry. Additionally, vendors explained even the minute details well. Approximately 300 people visited the MPP on Day 1 alone.

 

Day 2 featured another set of new vendors. Both online and traditional media promoted the event, resulting in skyrocketing sales.Both community members and vendors cheerfully supported the venture and they requested an extension of the event. So the market will be back to Toronto

on August 22nd and 23rd, 2026, from 11 am to 8 pm at 105 Gordon Baker Road, Unit 519 alongside the soft launch of the Malayali Business Consortium (MBC). ‘This movement focuses on empowering and supporting immigrant entrepreneurship and second-generation immigrants to fulfill their passion”-Sebastian

 

His second book on entrepreneurship ‘One week MBA-start your own Business' will soon be published and available on www.bijosebastian.com.For ongoing updates, follow the Malayali Market Place instagram page.This event was supported solely by Bijo Sebastian Media, Canadian Skills Development centre and Legato School of Music.