Designed by retailers, for retailers, with executives from leading retailers speaking and breakout sessions addressing hot issues, HR2017 is the way to keep up on the leading edge of human resources in Canadian retail!
Approximately one out of every eight workers in Canada is employed in retail, accounting for about 6% of Canada’s economy. The health of our sector impacts Canadian families across the country. Unfortunately the Canadian retail sector employment hit a multi-year low in 2016 as the total number of retail jobs decreased 2.6% over last year as companies invest in technology and trim costs. The loss is most acutely felt at the hourly level as the growth of e-commerce, automation and self-checkout is helping retailers reduce labour costs to face slow sales growth.
While the industry lost retailers like Danier, Aeropostale and Ben Moss, 2016 saw continued expansion and in particular the growth of the luxury and the off-price sectors in Canada—including Piaget, MCM, Saint Laurent, Saks Off Fifth, Nordstrom Rack, and Marshalls. Craig Patterson, Editor-in-Chief at Retail Insider estimates approximately 20+ new brands will enter the Canadian market in 2017, primarily from Europe and the US, with a continued emphasis on luxury brands opening free standing stores.
2016 concluded with what is expected to be modest sales growth. Retailers face the prospect of moderate gains in 2017 amid less traffic in physical stores and more focus on e-commerce. Further volatility with the Canadian dollar, economic uncertainty south of the border, and a domestic economy that seems to be stuck in low gear is keeping retail executives up at night as online commerce is forcing a complete rethinking of their business model.
Will you be at HR2017 - Canada’s leading human resources conference, being presented by the Retail Council of Canada on April 19th?
Designed by retailers, for retailers, with executives from leading retailers speaking and breakout sessions addressing hot issues, HR2017 is the way to keep up on the leading edge of human resources in Canadian retail!
We’re proud to be a silver level sponsor again in 2017, and we highly encourage all retail HR professionals to attend if possible.
If you do, please drop by our booth and say hello to the JRoss team!
“A ship is always safe at shore, but that’s not what it’s built for.” Albert Einstein
I’m a rock climber and a skier. Last year I started distance swimming in open water. These are all things that initially scared me. I’m all about trying new things and pushing my boundaries in the physical realm.
An employer can legally choose not to hire based on any (visible) tattoos or piercings. There would be no violation of the Human Rights Act and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms is not relevant. In general, the Human Rights Commission says dress codes and appearance standards are at the discretion of the employer.
It’s easy to get disheartened when you are job seeking, especially if you’ve been searching for a long time. The retail and hospitality industries are competitive, and it can take a while to find a suitable role, especially at the more senior level. Rejection is tough, especially when it is repeated.
Here are some tips and strategies to help you stay positive, and motivated, during your search for the perfect retail job.
At JRoss we ideally like to meet candidates for an in-person interview. It is not always possible considering we conduct searches nation-wide and often in small remote markets. When necessary, we opt for a virtual interview using Skype. The purpose is to qualify candidates based on skills and fit for a role with our client but also understand what they are looking for in their next role. As we have all experienced, sometimes no matter how prepared you are, technology won’t always work as you anticipated. It is always best to be prepared.
Here are some tips:
After more than fifteen highly successful years we’re revitalizing our brand in a number of ways, for a number of reasons.