Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 29

CANADIAN RETAIL HALL-OF-FAME

BRAND MAN HONOURED FOR LIFETIME OF SERVICE

Recognition of a career filled with
achievement inspires awe in Retail
Hall-of-Fame inductee
BY SEAN C. TARRY
WITH more than three decades of experience working with suc-

Offering insight and expertise

cessful brands like Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO),
Torella stayed at the company for ten years
Mark’s, Holt Renfrew, Harry Rosen, Sobeys and others, John and became a partner. He then left Vickers and
Torella has made quite a name for himself in the Canadian re- Benson to join the JC Williams Group as a parttail industry. He does everything with passion and a penchant ner. When asked about his reasoning to make
to help his clients achieve success through relevant differen- the transition from marketing to consulting, his
tiation, creating a completely different world for each brand response speaks to his care for the industry.
that he comes across.
Q&A WITH JOHN TORELLA
“I get up every day to find a way of helping our
What’s the biggest challenges facing retailers today?
clients and individuals become more success- “It’s a hypercompetitive marketplace, so I think providing relevant
ful—however they define success,” he explains. differentiation in a meaningful and substantive way to the cus“It’s work that I love. I couldn’t imagine doing tomer is crucial. If you’re not different or special or unique you’re
a commodity, and if you’re a commodity, you’re interchangeable.”
anything else.”
Torella’s commitment to the success of the cli- What is the next big game-changer in retail?
“Big data. What it’s doing is giving us information, but more
ents that he works with, and the passion that he importantly insight into how consumers shop and buy and
brings to every project, has earned him an induc- use product. Those insights are helping us customize the
tion into Retail Council of Canada Retail Hall of offering. And that big game-changer for me is going to be
Fame. It’s an honour that was recently bestowed the localization of retail. Every store is going to be local in the
sense that it’s going to be edited to that trade area. That’s the
upon him at the 2013 Excellent in Retailing next evolution of this information and data.”
Awards—an honour that humbles him.
“It’s a little awe-inspiring,” he admits. “Receiving an honour
“I could see the challenges that were delike this really gives me a sense that I have some purpose, that veloping in the retail marketplace,” he exit’s recognized, and that it’s of value. Being recognized for the plains. “They were daunting to say the least.
work that I do every day is pretty gratifying.”
I knew the solution to any retail issue was going to become more complex and demanding
Into the brand
in search of developing new skills and techTorella began his career in retail with Eaton’s where he even- nologies. I had insights that could help.”
tually become the company’s Chief Marketing Officer, heading
A graduate of the Kellogg Graduate School
a team that was brought together to reinvigorate the company. of Management's Communications Strategy
“We were brought together to refresh and revitalize, to lit- program, the Brand Value program at Harerally reinvent, Eaton’s,” he explains. “We were the team that vard Business School and Tuck School prolaunched Eaton’s Centre and the Pacific Centre and new stores gram on Strategic Brand Management, Torin Montreal. It was a pretty heady time.”
ella is constantly looking for fresh and new
After a hugely successful experience at Eaton’s, Torella left the ways to help his clients grow and succeed.
company for a position at Canadian ad agency Vickers and Benson.
“Retail is about values, beliefs and the culture
Torella explains that he made the decision to broaden his experi- and integrity of the brand and the company.
ence from that of department stores to a wider range of marketing, That’s where you have to start. You have to tell
communications and branding. It was a decision that he wouldn't those stories. Not what you do or how you do it,
regret making, providing him with exactly what he wanted.
but why you do what you do. What’s the higher
“We had clients like McDonalds, Bank of Montreal and Ford. good? That’s what I help my clients determine—
I really got a chance to broaden my understanding of retailing, the real tangibles of their business. That’s the
but also added an element of depth to my understanding.”
most exciting part of my job every day.”

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Canadian Retailer - Store 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Retailer - Store 2013

PUBLISHER’S DESK
RETAIL CURRENTS
RETAIL: AT ISSUE
STORE 2013—EVOLUTION OF RETAIL
AWARDS OF DISTINCTION
EXCELLENCE IN RETAIL AWARDS
CONFERENCE INSIGHTS
RETAIL AS A CAREER SCHOLARSHIPS
LIBRIS AWARDS
GRAND PRIX AWARDS
TABLETS CHANGING THE RETAIL EXPERIENCE
MYSTORE AS UNIQUE AS MY STORE
RETAIL COUNCIL OF CANADA—CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF RETAIL INSPIRATION, INNOVATION AND GROWTH
50 YEARS STRONG: MOMENTOUS MOMENTS IN RECENT CANADIAN RETAILING HISTORY
STANDING UP FOR RETAILERS’ RIGHTS
CANADIAN E-COMMERCE INNOVATORS: THINKING OUTSIDE THE STORE
THE FUTURE OF RETAIL
ADVERTISERS’ INDEX
RETAIL QUICK TIPS
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - cover1
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - cover2
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 3
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 4
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 5
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - PUBLISHER’S DESK
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 7
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - RETAIL CURRENTS
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 9
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 10
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 11
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - RETAIL: AT ISSUE
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 13
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 14
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - STORE 2013—EVOLUTION OF RETAIL
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - AWARDS OF DISTINCTION
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 17
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 18
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 19
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 20
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 21
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 22
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 23
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 24
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 25
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 26
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 27
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 28
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 29
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 30
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 31
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 32
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - EXCELLENCE IN RETAIL AWARDS
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 34
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 35
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 36
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 37
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 38
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 39
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 40
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 41
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 42
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 43
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 44
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 45
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - CONFERENCE INSIGHTS
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 47
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 48
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 49
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - RETAIL AS A CAREER SCHOLARSHIPS
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 51
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 52
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - LIBRIS AWARDS
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 54
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 55
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 56
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 57
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - GRAND PRIX AWARDS
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 59
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 60
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 61
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 62
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 63
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Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 71
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 72
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 73
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 74
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 75
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 76
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - TABLETS CHANGING THE RETAIL EXPERIENCE
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 78
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 79
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 80
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - MYSTORE AS UNIQUE AS MY STORE
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 82
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 83
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 84
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - RETAIL COUNCIL OF CANADA—CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF RETAIL INSPIRATION, INNOVATION AND GROWTH
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 50 YEARS STRONG: MOMENTOUS MOMENTS IN RECENT CANADIAN RETAILING HISTORY
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 87
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 88
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 89
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 90
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 91
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 92
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 93
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - STANDING UP FOR RETAILERS’ RIGHTS
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 95
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 96
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 97
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - CANADIAN E-COMMERCE INNOVATORS: THINKING OUTSIDE THE STORE
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 99
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 100
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 101
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 102
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - THE FUTURE OF RETAIL
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 104
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 105
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 106
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 107
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 108
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - ADVERTISERS’ INDEX
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - RETAIL QUICK TIPS
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - cover3
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - cover4
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 113
Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 114
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Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 119
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