In February, Health and Personal Care led Canada’s retail growth for the second month in a row at 8.8% YoY, followed by sporting goods & hobbies at 8.5% and cannabis at 7.4%. Overall, Canada’s total core retail sales increased a marked 4.2% YoY in February, with Statistics Canada’s advanced forecast suggesting additional increases were coming for March. A significant driver has been consumers’ Buy Canadian sentiment, which the Bank of Canada has reported remains strong in 2026, and JLL’s 2026 Retail Outlook flagged the renegotiation of CUSMA as likely to reinforce it further. It’s welcome news in uncertain economic times!
 

Maintaining growth in uncertain times means having the right people in the right place! 

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In 2026 we’ve seen continued demand for bricks & mortar Store Managers. Demand for multi-unit operators and senior store operations  executives has followed closely, along with product management-related roles.

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

• Store Operations
• Product Management
• Distribution and logistics
• Digital branding and ecommerce
• Marketing
• Real estate and construction
• HR and other key support areas

Here’s how we can help!

This highlight shows more of the top performing retail professionals we’re connected to who can help you grow sales, strengthen operations, reinvigorate product lines, develop and motivate teams, design & implement leading edge strategies, and engage customers. 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 …

Store Manager |Specialty Grocery (Northwest Territories)

With experience operating in remote and community-focused environments, this highly effective Store Manager brings resilience, adaptability, and strong leadership. They manage full store operations, including P&L, staffing, and supply challenges, with a steady and reliable approach. Their commitment to community engagement strengthens both customer relationships and team morale. By balancing operational excellence with local connection, they create sustainable success. Get more information on this proven operator here… – make  “Get more information” a clickable link to generate email to info@jrossrecruiters.com>

Boutique Manager | Consumer Electronics/Small Appliances (Calgary)

With a passion for customer experience and product knowledge, this accomplished Boutique Manager has a strong track record for successfully leading high-performing retail teams within the electronics and appliance space. They focus on creating engaging store experiences that drive both sales and customer satisfaction. Their leadership builds confident teams that are motivated to deliver results. By fostering a strong culture of service and accountability, they consistently achieve high performance. See more information on this dynamic store manager here …  – make  “Get more information” a clickable link to generate email to info@jrossrecruiters.com>

VP Merchandising & Retail Strategy | Apparel & Lifestyle (Toronto GTA)

As a strategic retail executive with deep experience across wholesale, e-commerce, and brick-and-mortar, this seasoned leader specializes in merchandising, omnichannel growth, and brand revitalization. Known for building profitable businesses and high-performing teams, they bring sharp commercial insight, strong operational execution, and trusted cross-functional leadership. With a focus on product strategy, customer experience, and data-driven decision-making, they’ve consistently delivered top- and bottom-line results in dynamic retail environments. Get more information on thishighly strategic retail professional here… – make  “Get more information” a clickable link to generate email to info@jrossrecruiters.com>

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 | Cannabis (Victoria)
 

We helped our client, a leading cannabis retailer in Victoria, find and hire a dynamic Store Manager to oversee store operations and elevate their in-store experience. This proven leader brought a strong foundation in retail management with the proven ability to build engaged teams, uphold rigorous compliance standards, and drive consistent sales performance. With a focus on education, responsible retailing, and creating a welcoming environment for both new and experienced consumers, their new hire highlights the importance of skilled leadership in shaping customer trust and delivering a thoughtful, service-driven retail experience in the cannabis industry. See moreon this exciting search here … – make  “Get more information” a clickable link to generate email to info@jrossrecruiters.com>

Store Manager | Optical (Edmonton)

With our assistance, this modern optical retailer was able to hire a new Store Manager to lead its Edmonton store. Their new Store Manager brings a balance of operational strength and customer care, delivering a consultative and personalized experience. With a focus on team engagement and service excellence, this successful hire the importance of leadership in blending healthcare and retail environments. Our client is already anticipating the positive impact of their new store leader on strengthening customer trust and elevating the in-store experience. See more background on this challenging and rewarding search here … – make  “Get more information” a clickable link to generate email to info@jrossrecruiters.com>

District Manager | Kitchenware (Toronto)

We helped this premium kitchenware retailer hire a strategic District Manager to oversee multiple locations across the Toronto market. This leader brings strong field leadership experience, with the ability to develop Store Managers, drive consistency, and elevate performance across the region. With a passion for product, service, and operational discipline, their new District Manager reflects the importance of leadership that translates brand vision into consistent execution at store level. Their leadership has already created stronger alignment across stores and improved overall performance visibility. See more background on this highly focused search here … – make  “Get more information” a clickable link to generate email to info@jrossrecruiters.com>

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 and key support to the executive level, including :

• Store Operations
• Product Management
• Distribution and logistics
• Digital branding and ecommerce
• Marketing
• Real estate and construction
• HR and other key support areas

We’ve been delivering successfully for Canada’s leading retailers since 2002 - just imagine what we can do for you in 2026!