JRoss Retail Recruiters E-Blast – March 2019 |
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Positive signs and a new arrival mean good things for 2019!
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The Retail Council of Canada's "Retail by the Numbers" showed 3.46% YoY growth in November for core retail same-store sales. On December 18, Moneris reported that Black Friday sales were up 5% YoY. The Retail Council of Canada followed up in February with a report that 60% of retailers in Canada reported same-store holiday sales increases averaging 2% YoY, despite a more pronounced and longer than normal lull after Black Friday & Cyber Monday. Building on that, 83% of retailers reported January sales increases averaging 3.6% YoY. These are solid, steady results, and many retailers reported being on – or even above – plan.
And there's more.
Canada's newest retail sector – cannabis – came into being on October 17. While supply issues are currently constraining growth, retail cannabis was predicted in 2018 to become a $6.5 billion market by 2020. That's less than 2 years from now, and delivering on the prediction could mean hundreds of new stores being opened across the country in a very short period of time.
Solid performance for traditional retailers combined with the huge potential of Canada's newest retail sector means growth for retail in Canada in 2019. For more details visit our blog.
But to grow you need people, and so does your competition. The challenge becomes one of competing successfully to find those people. Fortunately, we can help!
To give you some ideas of what we could deliver for you, we've showcased below a few examples of candidates we've worked with and roles we've worked on in today's exciting retail world.
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FEATURED CANDIDATE PROFILES
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Regional Manager — Consumer Electronics | Vancouver
"Good is good but let's be great" is this enthusiastic leader's motto. A focus on store operations and strategic retail management has positioned this impressive operator as a proven industry leader. In many cases they've been a true trailblazer, facilitating impressive change and innovation in a number of world-class organizations. In every role they've tirelessly helped shape and champion corporate endeavours, and been an excellent face to the business. Before the age of 20 they were the youngest restaurant GM in the history of one of Canada's most respected restaurant brands. Since joining Canada's top retailer as they launched into Canada, this flexible and dynamic Regional Manager has been instrumental in assisting the organization with its national expansion, leading multiple areas of the business and assisting with store openings across the country. Relocating to Vancouver, they've directed 1000+ employees to execute new programs, embrace new products and deliver between $30-$80M in sales while maintaining top customer satisfaction scores. This proven professional is programed to succeed and push the limits, and is a great example of the best in Canadian retail. Now imagine them delivering their best for you!
Interested in candidates with this type of profile? |
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Director of Planning and Merchandising | Montreal
This energetic and thoughtful leader bridges the art and science of merchandising within multi-channel retail organizations. They can effectively connect the dots between strategy, financial objectives, and execution to deliver growth. In department store, specialty and on-line channels, they have led the transformation and modernization of merchandising processes, tools and organizational structure to improve performance, customer experience and efficiency. In addition to their technical skills, their top grade leadership qualities, breadth of business knowledge and strong decision making skills have allowed them to successfully lead and promote strong cross functional teams. Skilled planning professionals are always in high demand, and hiring someone who can ensure you are in-stock but not over stocked can make or break your bottom line during a challenging year. What could this proven Director for yours?
Interested in candidates with this type of profile? |
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Ecommerce Marketing & Digital Strategist | Vancouver
This executive lives at the intersection of business and technology. Armed with an MBA, they have global experience in e-commerce, digital marketing and ERP technology for bricks and mortar, pure play e-commerce and B2B organizations. They've moved through executive roles covering IT, planning and merchandising, marketing and Ecommerce. They've planned, launched, and maintained merchandise and team resources to expand global online presence and enhance product lifecycles for one of the world's most recognized retailers. As VP of Ecommerce, they led all online channel initiatives to deliver on P&L objectives by directing an in-house team, negotiating third-party vendor services and implementing new systems. In their last role, they transformed a 50-year old global brand's identity into a fully faceted digital presence, recognizing and honoring the value and endurance of its legacy while creating a direct to consumer channel and helping transform the organization into a future directed entity. This successful visionary understands how to connect meaningful stories to create an emotional connection to a brand. Their background and education in merchandising, marketing and digital commerce makes them one of the most flexible and knowledgeable authorities on bridging the gap between online and in-store retail. If you have audacious goals, they have the digital business transformation experience to help you achieve them!
Interested in candidates with this type of profile? |
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Manager of Learning and Development | Toronto
With technology changing the way that consumers buy goods, it's more essential than ever to invest in staff learning and development programs to maximize both physical and virtual customer satisfaction and retention. This award-winning learning partner has deep experience across a broad range of commodities, selling environments and store formats. They have a track record for successfully leading a diverse team of L&D specialists to align learning strategies with organizational objectives and execute solutions that delivered significant increases in employee engagement and performance. This results driven professional's genuine interest in using the underpinnings of the business as the strategic context for organizational change, their ability to clearly identify needs and their top notch project management skills make them a standout in their field. If a solid business partner who can equip leaders and front-line staff with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to meet the needs of your customers would be of benefit to your organization, look no further!
Interested in candidates with this type of profile? |
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Successfully filled!
Retail Buyer — Cannabis | Toronto
This exciting, new and leading Canadian lifestyle brand is ushering in a new era with an elevated cannabis retail experience and its collection of apparel and accessories. They needed a buyer to be responsible for developing relationships with suppliers and purchasing product for their new national retail footprint. Their new Retail Buyer would have to be able to help launch this exciting new venture while navigating the ever-changing regulatory space and pivoting on a dime, providing new and compliant strategies in this first year of legalization. We found them a great merchant who loves all things retail, with an entrepreneurial eye and big thinking approach. Drawn to the challenges of the start-up world, this procurement professional has a strong commercial sense combined with proven flexibility, and they're already helping successfully position this high profile brand's products in the burgeoning cannabis sector. What could an entrepreneurial and creative talent like this do for your organization?
Interested in candidates for this type of role? |
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Currently open!
Creative Marketing Director | Montreal
Our client is a growing apparel retailer who needs a marketing executive with a consumer-centric and commercial design mentality to overseeing all creative aspects of print, in-store, digital content and communication. They asked us to find them a creative leader, one who can both build the strategy and manage the budget for in-store and on-line execution for this premium fashion accessories brand. Their new Creative Director's key strengths will need to include the ability to deliver retail execution through in-store events, local advertising, animations, and digital drive to store and on-line initiatives. We're committed to delivering, and we'd be happy to do the same for you!
Interested in candidates for this type of role? |
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Successfully filled!
Store Manager | Edmonton
Our client needed an experienced Store Manager for their high volume location specializing in sporting goods and athletic apparel. This dynamic retailer is known for their innovative products, great looking stores and focused service environments. Their key requirement, beyond technical qualifications, was for a keen desire to provide customers with high quality products through knowledgeable and well trained staff and excellent service delivery. We found them a results-driven and customer-focused operator with strong leadership skills and the ability to excel in overseeing this multi-department operation with complex products and services. While new in their role, they are already positively impacting Q1 results and inspiring everyone around them to do the same. Imagine what they could do in your stores?
Interested in candidates for this type of role? |
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Successfully filled!
District Manager — Toys & Games | Halifax
This job's not stuffy — it really is all about fun. Our client needed an experienced multi-unit retail professional with the spirit, motivation and the ability to lead others in a tight labour market. Their District Manager needed to be highly entrepreneurial, able to identify opportunities to develop new and existing businesses. After an extensive recruiting process, they selected an outstanding candidate who had proven success establishing a culture of achievement, and driving best practices by coaching and motivating their teams to achieve the sales targets in specialty retail environments. This candidate is a true business leader who can ensure compliance with corporate controls & directives, and has the ability to leverage performance information to drive district results to the next level. Our client needed someone to build winning teams, troubleshoot challenging situations and build on existing sales momentum — and their new District manager is busy doing just that. If you'd like a leader who could do the same for you, just let us know!
Interested in candidates for this type of role? |
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