CANADIAN RETAILER Winter 2014 WA WALKING THE WALK G L Fluevog Shoes has built a reputation on its unique product offering. And they marry that offering with store environments that excite and engage the unique personalities of its customers. PAGE 24 PAGE 24 FEATURES RECRUITING TALENT RETAIL 12 SOURCINGNEEDS TALENT FOR TODAY'S BUSINESS Retailers across the country are increasingly challenged in their quest to find the right talent to propel their businesses forward. To continue meeting staffing needs, many HR departments are looking outside of the traditional channels and tapping into underrepresented groups within the workforce. OMNICHANNEL HR 16 HR: THE MISSING PIECE TO THE OMNICHANNEL PUZZLE As the retail shopping experience continues to evolve, so too are the skills and attributes that are required of retail professionals to meet the needs and preferences of today's consumer. And some companies have realized that their organizational structure also needs tweaking to ensure that the right people with the right skills are in the right positions. MYSTORE: RETAILER'S GUIDE 19 EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR EVERYBODY Retailers that generate loyalty among customers with special needs are those that serve them with the same dedication and eagerness with which they serve every customer. This Retailer's Guide discusses how accessibility initiatives can translate into a renewed dedication to customer service excellence. MYSTORE: INDIE PROFILE IS THE BRAND 24 DIFFERENTproducing some of the most unique Known for and desirable footwear the market's ever seen, Fluevog Shoes has grown to meet the mass appeal of its fanbase by expanding its North American store count to 18. And they've done so by creating unique spaces and store designs to match the uniqueness of the Fluevog experience. RETAIL PROFILE OFF TO CUSTOMER SERVICE 30 HATS Canada has grown from 17 stores to a LIDS network of 100 at a rate of about 20 per year. And they've committed to ensuring the continued growth and success of the business through the hiring of passionate and engaging employees to fill roles at all levels of the company. PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE THE NUMBERS 34 TOTAL REWARDS: BEYOND top talent today Efforts by retailers to retain include compensation and incentives that go well beyond traditional monetary rewards. Find out how some within the industry are using nonmonetary rewards to incent and retain their top performers and enhance their brand reputation among potential employees. DEPARTMENTS 4 PUBLISHER'S DESK 6 RETAIL CURRENTS 37 ADVERTISER'S INDEX 38 RETAIL QUICK TIPS COVER Photo by Banko Media www.retailcouncil.org/cdnretailer | winter 2014 | canadian retailer | 3http://www.retailcouncil.org/cdnretailer