Target's decision to close its Canadian stores obviously will have an immediate impact on its more than 17,000 Canadian employees. But believe it or not, it's also a blow to Canadians hoping to shop locally.

We spoke with Isabelle Remy, founder of Buy Canadian First, a website that exclusively showcases consumer goods made in Canada.

When Target came into Canada, Remy says, "They said, we are going to make a really big effort to carry Canadian brands. I know that some of my members got listed in the store because of that focus, and that's a focus that nobody else really has. I was excited about that and it was such a great opportunity."

One of the ways Canadians benefitted from Target's choice put Canadian goods on its shelves was that it offered Canadian brands at family-friendly price points. It's easier to find high-end goods that are made right here than at the lower end of the price range. Target helped start to close that gap.

Shop Canadian here
Examples of Canadian brands featured at Target include Foxy Originals and Wafu Japanese dressings.

But if you look hard, you can still find Canadian-made goods at a reasonable price: ERAwear food storage containers are on shelves at Dollarama and Walmart carries Blue Whale pillows and Cambridge towels, to name a few.

And it's worth keeping an eye out for those goods. Choosing to shop at home helps Canadians in multiple ways. "It's not just because it has a maple leaf on it…it's because I know that when I buy this, a person in Canada has a job, they can go to a restaurant, the restaurant will make money…they pay their taxes. It's the whole focus on re-investing in the community here. It's not just about the product, it's about everything that is around it," Remy reminds us.

Got a great Canadian product you love? Let us know in the comments! Feeling some national pride? Here are 7 Canadian inventions to make your life better.