Retail Council of Canada “Retail West” conference Nov 4 – join us there!

As vaccination rates go up and health regulations ease, what’s the outlook for Canada’s retail industry?

Statistics Canada reported that July core retail sales were up 3.1% YoY, and sales for the bellwether clothing and apparel sectors were up 7.6%, reaching their highest levels since the start of the pandemic. And consumer confidence was at its highest level since pre-COVID levels.

Yet we’ve seen recent re-tightening of health regulations, and consumer confidence in September had dropped for the second month in a row. Labour shortages are now at major levels across the country. Retail employment has increased to just 2.2% under pre-pandemic levels, and in July, 101,000 retail jobs were vacant – the second largest number after the hospitality sector. Supply chain shortages have been happening since the 2019 holidays, and shipping costs have increased 5X since the start of 2020.

To navigate the route to a new normal, while balancing the potential for major growth against significant labour shortages and supply chain challenges, retailers will need retail professionals who are on top of current retail trends, challenges and opportunities.

On November 4, the Retail Council of Canada’s Retail West conference will give you the opportunity to learn from leading retailers, consultants and vendors about the challenges and opportunities facing retailers in 2021 and beyond. Visit www.retailwest.ca to learn more and register.

On November 4 you’ll have an opportunity to network with hundreds of other retail professionals from across the country and learn about:

  • Consumer insights
  • Employee engagement and retention
  • Supply chain pivots
  • Ecommerce strategies
  • Creating great customer experiences
  • And more...

We’re proud to be sponsoring the Retail Council of Canada’s 2021 Retail West Conference, learning and sharing alongside you and other Retail professionals. It’s one of the ways we ensure we remain on the leading edge of recruiting for the Canadian Retail industry from our offices across the country.

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For more information about the event, visit the Retail West web page.