JRoss Retail Recruiters E-Blast – September 2019 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
But not by much
|
|
Positive but by a slim margin – that’s Canada’s economic and retail story for 2019 to the end of August.
Unemployment was up in July to its highest point since April and Canada actually lost jobs in July. Yet for 2019 overall, Canada has added an impressive 353,000 jobs, with 93% of them full time. Business confidence has been below its long term average for every month of the year, but consumer confidence has been above its long term average for every month but one. And our GDP is, as expected, delivering slower growth rates than in 2018 but has still exceeded the annual forecast for four of the first five months of the year.
In Canada’s retail sector, core retail (ex-automotive and related) consistently posted positive year-over-year results that increased each month from January through April – but May changed that, with an increase of only .89% over May 2018. So in the last 7 months of the year, retail will be building on its own positive, but uncertain base in an overall positive, but uncertain economic environment.
You can learn more about Canada’s hospitality industry and key labour market issues on our blog.
In such a challenging environment there is little room for error, and to succeed, your organization needs to consistently deliver top performance. Fortunately, we can help ensure you have the people – the top talent – that you need to make that happen.
To get an idea of how we can help, look below for a few examples of candidates we’ve worked with and searches we’ve worked on in today’s exciting retail world.
|
|
FEATURED CANDIDATE PROFILES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ecommerce Manager | Vancouver
This customer-oriented e-commerce and marketing professional has a background in building and optimizing digital platforms and marketplace strategies for B2B/B2C audiences. They’ve functioned as a big-picture strategist, helping transform businesses to “go digital” and access untapped markets through a comprehensive understanding of user demographics, trends and preferences. They combine this with a deep knowledge of UI/UX, monitoring techniques and web service technologies to translate strategic vision into operational roadmaps and unlock omni-channel growth. This creative thinker is able to ask the right questions and act on emerging trends. They’ve structured, revamped and implemented e-commerce platforms that grew monthly revenues by up to 50% while contributing to higher customer loyalty, brand presence and lower attrition. When e-commerce is the fastest growing retail channel, imagine what this high performing e-commerce professional could do for you!
Interested in candidates with this type of profile? |
 |
Senior Loss Prevention Manager | Montreal
Protecting your company’s most valuable asset, its people, is exactly what this candidate does every day. This exceptional LP leader has experience in corporate security and loss prevention. In their current role as Senior Loss Prevention Manager, they’re responsible for the oversight of the corporate LP plan for 50+ stores and a distribution facility for a national chain. Overseeing a team of investigators, their department has investigated thousands of files with subject matters ranging from workplace harassment to complex fraud. They’ve turned stock shortages from a highly negative position of more than 2.5% to low levels below 1.5%. Always looking for solutions with best possible outcome for all partners in the areas of stock shortage reduction and profit improvement, they’re an asset to any team - how would they complement yours?
Interested in candidates with this type of profile? |
|
Retail Manager — Fashion | Calgary
This highly professional Retail Manager is one of the best senior level operations managers we’ve met in the market recently. They’ve been part of the expansion and development of several international new entrants in the Canadian market and positioned those businesses for growth nationally. Working only for premium profile brands, they have a strong business acuity and a thorough understanding of how each business segment functions and relates to each other in order to drive top line sales. They’ve consistently moved stores and districts from under-performing to top ranked, and have relocated across the country several times to build out new regions. Accustomed to working with a great deal of autonomy and a high level of accountability, this top operator is currently seeking an opportunity with an organization that is operationally progressive and has a strong consumer appeal. Could that be you?
Interested in candidates with this type of profile? |
|
Senior Buyer/Product Developer — Fashion | Toronto
Youthful, hip and on top of trends, this product-focused professional is both strategic and creative, with 6 years of full cycle business & cross functional team management experience. They’re currently leading a team of 10 across 4 functional areas that is contributing to 40% of the business for a large multi-channel fashion retailer. Having worked for Canadian industry leaders in luxury brands and junior-fashion forward, this well rounded merchant has varied market segment experience in designer apparel, children’s wear, junior fashion, athletic apparel and accessories and footwear. Having travelled extensively to attend trade shows, qualify new vendors, source product, negotiate business terms, and consult on product design and development, this results focused candidate has proven season after season that they can develop and execute seasonal strategic plans to increase business contribution. How much could they increase yours?
Interested in candidates with this type of profile? |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Successfully filled!
President/CEO — Cannabis | Vancouver
Our client is a newly-established and well-funded public company that is working to create a significant retail footprint across Canada. With extremely ambitious plans to launch and scale at breakneck speed, they needed to bring aboard a President/CEO to quarterback a historic retail launch and expansion. We found them a builder, a doer, and a visionary that can help them develop their retail roadmap and execute it. They had a hard time picking from a roster of top Canadian retail talent and in the end they sent us this note - “Thanks again for such an amazing candidate and seamless process”.
Interested in candidates for this type of role? |
|
Successfully filled!
Senior Pricing Analyst | Toronto
Forward thinking retailers are investing heavily in consumer data and related analytics to improve productivity, and the focus on pricing as a competitive differentiator has never been so critical. This national big-box chain needed a Senior Pricing Analyst who is responsible for strategy creation, planning, and execution for the pricing and competitive intelligence. Through our extensive network of retail contacts, we found them an experienced Analyst with strong business acumen, excellent communication skills, and a passion for working with numbers who can use internal and external data to help drive their merchant team to optimal pricing decisions that improve sell through and gross margins. Their new Senior Pricing Analyst is adding value as you read this!
Interested in candidates for this type of role? |
|
Successfully filled!
Store Manager — Skin Care | Ottawa
Our client is driving performance through relationship selling, exceptional products and exquisite boutique store environments. They needed a Store Manager passionate about front-line service and in alignment with the artistic, cultural and environmental concerns that are at the core of this organization’s values. After we conducted an extensive search, they hired an experienced store leader who throughout their career set goals and strived to deliver beyond expectation – and in each opportunity they increased sales and had a noticeable impact on KPIs. This industry leader now has a new, outstanding Store Manager with proven success operating and managing small teams in client service focused specialty store settings – and the results are showing!
Interested in candidates for this type of role? |
|
Currently open!
Digital Marketing Specialist — Hair and Esthetics | Montreal
This Quebec based success story leverages a wholesale division and a network of 25 regional stores to provide hair and beauty artists the tools they need to push the boundaries of their creativity. They need a Digital Marketing Specialist to be responsible for the day to day management of all their social handles, focusing on increasing reach and improving engagement metrics for their multi-branded content. They need a highly motivated individual, one who thrives in a fast paced environment and can help further define the culture they’re creating - consumer-centric, intellectually curious, and always innovating. Their ideal Digital Marketing Specialist will have experience managing social media accounts for high-profile consumer brands, great project management skills, and a passion for digital content development and community management. We’re on it!
Interested in candidates for this type of role? |
|
|
|
|
|
