Why
Find your opportunity: Retail shop in Shelburne
Should I do this? · quick read Indication only
Promising — worth a closer look
83out of 100 · 10 of 12 points from 6 of 6 signals How scoring works
Verified fact
Why Favourable: +10.7% growth is at or above the county's 7.3% (Favourable) · 2 of 2 points
Indication only
Why Neutral: 12 main retail types mapped vs about 11.5 expected at the county rate (104%; Neutral is 70–130%) · 1 of 2 points
Verified fact
Why Neutral: unemployment 10% is not above the county's 10% (Neutral; Labour is never rated Watch) · 1 of 2 points
Indication only
Why Favourable: 3 reviewed listing(s) fit your budget (Favourable is 1 or more) · 2 of 2 points
Verified fact
Why Favourable: 2 open or check-intake program(s) match your type and stage (Favourable is 2+, Neutral 1, Watch 0) · 2 of 2 points
Verified fact
Why Favourable: 100% of ISED map areas have 50/10 Mbps for most homes (Favourable is 75%+, Neutral 40–74%, Watch under 40%) · 2 of 2 points
How this is worked out
Full scoring rules, sources and limits
This is an indication only: a quick summary of the figures on this page, not a forecast, market study or advice. Each of six signals is rated Favourable (2 points), Neutral (1) or Watch (0):
- Demand: the community's 2016–21 population growth. At or above the county (7.3%) is Favourable; at or above Ontario (5.8%) is Neutral; below Ontario is Watch.
- Competition: only businesses of your chosen type (for a restaurant or café: restaurants + cafés; not pubs or other food types). We compare how many are mapped with how many the community would have at the county-wide rate per resident. If fewer than 2 would be expected, the sample is too small and it says Not enough data. 70% of expected or fewer is Favourable; 70–130% Neutral; more than 130% Watch (crowded). "Anywhere in Dufferin" is always Not enough data.
- Labour: unemployment above the county rate (more people looking for work) is Favourable; otherwise Neutral.
- Space: at least one reviewed WhyDufferin listing that fits your budget is Favourable, none is Watch; if we have no reviewed listings at all it is Not enough data.
- Funding: 2 or more open or check-intake programs matching your type and stage is Favourable, 1 Neutral, 0 Watch.
- Internet: share of ISED map areas where most homes get 50/10 Mbps. 75% or more Favourable, 40–74% Neutral, under 40% Watch.
Signals with Not enough data are left out. The score is the points earned divided by the points possible, out of 100. If fewer than 4 signals have data, no score is shown. 67 or more reads "Promising", 45–66 "Mixed", under 45 "Challenging".
The evidence
Market & competition
Our directory lists 2 retail businesses in Shelburne (40 county-wide).
Our directory is incomplete. A low count is not proof of demand.
Gaps nearby
- 🗺 Clothing store in Shelburne: 1 mapped vs ~2.7 expected; nearest Glen Cross Pattery (~16.6 km) · score 60
- 🗺 Car dealer in Shelburne: 0 mapped vs ~2.9 expected; nearest Trillium Ford Lincoln Ltd. – Shelburne (~4.3 km) · score 43
- 🗺 Sporting goods / bike in Shelburne: 0 mapped vs ~1 expected; nearest Sport Chek (~18.2 km) · score 33
People & demand
- Population 2021
- 8,994 (10.7% since 2016)
- Median household income
- $99,000
- Participation
- 70.1%
- Unemployment
- 10%
- Commute out of town
- 72.4%
- Renters
- 19.8%
Costs: wages & workforce
| Job (NOC) | Region $/h | Ontario $/h |
|---|---|---|
| Retail salespersons and visual merchandisers (64100) | 17.6 | 17.6 |
| Cashiers (65100) | 17.6 | 17.6 |
| Retail sales supervisors (62010) | 19.36 | 21.5 |
| Retail and wholesale trade managers (60020) | 44.47 | 43.27 |
| Store shelf stockers, clerks and order fillers (65102) | 17.6 | 17.6 |
Business counts Verified fact
| Industry | NAICS code | Shelburne | Dufferin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 44-45 | 33 | 241 |
| Food and beverage retailers | 445 | 8 | 47 |
Census industry employment Verified fact
Retail trade employs 12.7% of the labour force living in Shelburne, vs 11.6% county-wide and 10.8% in Ontario.
Wages for key occupations Verified fact
| Occupation | NOC code | Low | Median | High | Ontario median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail salespersons and visual merchandisers | 64100 | $17.60 | $17.60 | $30.00 | $17.60 |
| Cashiers | 65100 | $17.60 | $17.60 | $18.00 | $17.60 |
| Retail sales supervisors | 62010 | $17.60 | $19.36 | $33.08 | $21.50 |
| Retail and wholesale trade managers | 60020 | $20.00 | $44.47 | $84.13 | $43.27 |
| Store shelf stockers, clerks and order fillers | 65102 | $17.60 | $17.60 | $23.00 | $17.60 |
Shelburne at a glance Verified fact
- Commuting: 72.4% of commuters with a usual workplace work outside Shelburne.
- Labour force participation 70.1%, unemployment 10% (county 69.3%, 10%).
- Median household income (2020) $99,000 (county $108,000).
- Renter households 19.8%; median tenant shelter cost $1,100/month.
- CMHC rent data is published for Orangeville only (average $1,532, October 2025).
Internet and transit Verified fact
Broadband: in 1 of 1 ISED hexagons in Shelburne, more than 75% of households can get 50/10 Mbps.
- Orangeville and Shelburne fibre to the home · Under way (Wightman construction updates)
Providers: Wightman Telecom 1-888-477-2177 (check). All provider contacts
No GO Transit stops in Shelburne (GTFS feed 20261005110625).
Space, utilities & internet
Downtown rear-access unit, Unit 104 · lease · Retail · About 740 sq ft · $700/month (as shown)
Main Street storefront, Unit 104 · lease · Retail · 1,650 sq ft · $2,300/month
Industrial land, 1 to 10 acres · lease · Land · 1 to 10 acres · $2,500/acre/month
- Power
- Hydro One (Town of Shelburne)
- Gas
- Enbridge Gas is the county's gas utility; confirm the address with Enbridge
- Water
- Municipal water and sewer (Town of Shelburne)
- Internet
- Wightman fibre to the home under way; see /data#fibre
Next steps
Your plan
- Talk to the free SBEC before spending money.
- Visit the area and the comparable businesses; talk to owners.
- Shortlist locations and check zoning with the municipality.
- Draft a business plan and cash flow, then check funding.
Find a space: commercial realtors
The Mullin Group (Mike Mullin, Broker; Shane Mullin, REALTOR®)
Amanda Ross, Sales Representative
Ann Butler, Sales Representative
James Tasca, Broker of Record
Utilities & internet
- Power
- Hydro One (Town of Shelburne)
- Gas
- Enbridge Gas is the county's gas utility; confirm the address with Enbridge
- Water
- Municipal water and sewer (Town of Shelburne)
- Internet
- Wightman fibre to the home under way; see /data#fibre
Who to call
Weigh it up
See Shelburne side by side with another community, same business and budget.