Core retail in Canada showed 4.3% YoY growth in May and Statistics Canada predicted additional increases to follow in June. Health and Personal Care continued to lead as the only sector with double-digit growth at 12.7% YoY, followed by Miscellaneous retailers at 8.3% and General Merchandise at 7.3%. With ecommerce at 3.1%, bricks and mortar stores continued to deliver.

However, JC Williams pointed out that a significant portion of May’s increases related to price, and the sectors experiencing decreases were those where purchases could be delayed. Canadian consumers are buying, but intentionally.

Balancing this off were Canada’s job gains in July, with 21,000 jobs added in the wholesale and retail sectors alone and 75,000 jobs in total, driving unemployment to its lowest level in 2 years and delivering above expectations. Employers are hiring, and with 3 months in a row showing movement in the right direction, the labour market seems to be gaining momentum

The demand for Top Talent continues!

We’re seeing single unit store operations roles back in the lead with the greatest degree of immediate demand. Adding onto that has been increased interest in senior roles, from the Director level to the C-suite. Searches continue to open in areas from ecommerce to marketing, buying and direct sales as retailers plan to fill roles in the fall.

Wherever it is you need to build your team, we can help with management, key support and Director to C-Suite level retail roles in :

• Single & Multi-Unit Store Operations
• Product Management
• Distribution and logistics
• Marketing, digital branding and ecommerce
• Finance, HR, Real Estate & Construction and other key support areas

Here’s how we can help!

This highlight shows some of the top performing retail professionals we’re connected to. We’ve also included examples where leading retailers have turned to us for help finding Top Talent.

To see how we can help you, contact Lee Arthur-Burke at 416.420.5316 x1, or via email – we’d be happy to chat!

Here are some of the high performing retail professionals we’re connected with – imagine having them as part of your organization …

Regional Operations Manager | Specialty Retail (Vancouver)

This strategic regional leader has successfully managed complex retail operations across British Columbia and Western Canada. Their expertise includes market performance, store openings, leadership development, workforce planning, and operational improvement. They are known for creating alignment across dispersed teams and turning broader business priorities into practical store-level action. By combining commercial insight with strong people leadership, they consistently deliver sustainable growth across their region.  Get more information on this results driven operator here… 

Director of Retail Operations | Multi-Location Retail (Edmonton)

This strategic retail operations leader brings extensive experience overseeing multi-unit teams, operational programs, and performance improvement initiatives. They have led business planning, labour optimization, store standards, leadership development, and cross-functional execution across large retail networks. Their collaborative style allows them to partner effectively with merchandising, marketing, human resources, and finance. By combining analytical insight with a strong understanding of field operations, they consistently improve execution and profitability.  See more information on this accomplished retail executive here … 

VP Talent Acquisition | Delivery & Strategy (Toronto)As a forward-thinking Human Resources executive who transforms talent acquisition into a strategic engine for growth, this senior HR executive has deep experience across complex, multi-unit organizations. They excel at building data-driven recruiting strategies that strengthen leadership pipelines, enhance organizational culture, and enable business performance at scale. Recognized as a trusted partner to executive teams, they have a track record for successfully bringing clarity and direction during periods of transformation, integration, and significant organizational change. Get more information on this true business partner here… These are only a few examples of the thousands of retail professionals we’re connected to. Click here to find the one you’re looking for!

Here are some of the exciting and challenging searches we’ve worked on for other top performing retailers – imagine how we could help you …

Store Manager | Home Improvement   (Bathurst, NB)

This successful home improvement retailer turned to us for assistance finding a Store Manager capable of leading a complex retail operation while building a strong customer-focused culture. The successful candidate needed to bring extensive experience in large-format retail, combined with a proven ability to lead teams, manage operational priorities, and deliver strong sales results. With a focus on team development, inventory management, merchandising standards, and community engagement, they needed to be able to balance business performance with a strong people-first approach. See more on this highly rewarding search here …

Director of Marketing & Visual Presentation | Bath & Lighting (Montreal)

This leading bath and lighting retailer needed a Director of Marketing & Visual Presentation role to strengthen their brand strategy, customer engagement, and their overall retail experience. We focused on finding them a creative and commercially focused marketing leader with the ability to connect brand vision with compelling visual execution across the customer journey. Their new Director of Marketing & Visual Presentation combined expertise in marketing strategy, visual merchandising, retail storytelling, and cross-functional leadership, with a proven ability to enhance brand presence while supporting business growth. They had a track record for being able to blend creativity, customer insight, and retail execution to create impactful and differentiated experiences. See more background on this challenging and specialized search here … 

Store Operations Executive | Appliances (Vancouver)

A specialty appliance retailer needed experienced Store Operations leaders capable of elevating performance across their complex retail environments. Our candidates brought strong backgrounds in big-ticket retail, consultative selling, customer experience elevation, and operational leadership. From successful Store Managers to senior multi-unit executives, they understood how to build sales-focused teams, improve processes, and create exceptional customer journeys while managing the operational demands of specialty retail.   See more background on this results-focused search here …

Here at JRoss Retail Recruiters :

We have …

• An exclusive focus on retail
• An extensive network of top retail talent from the single unit operator to CEO levels
• A highly experienced team of recruiters across Canada

We can …

Successfully fill roles in all areas of retail from management, key support and Director to C-Suite level retail roles in :

• Single & Multi-Unit Store Operations
• Product Management
• Distribution and logistics
• Marketing, digital branding and ecommerce
• Finance, HR, Real Estate & Construction and other key support areas

We’ve been delivering successfully for Canada’s leading retailers since 2002 – let us know how we can help you in 2026!