Canadian Retailer - Store 2016 - 8

INDEPENDENTS' CORNER

MySTORE:
SAVING INDEPENDENT
RETAILERS TIME AND MONEY
Dedicated independent retail division fighting
for issues affecting them most
BY SEAN C. TARRY
INDEPENDENT retailers are the backbone of the communities they serve from
coast to coast. They're major contributors
to their local economies, provide meaningful employment, and are a significant
piece of the fabric of the towns and cities
in which they operate. And they do all of
this, most often, with limited time and
scant resources at their disposal.
It's a challenge that isn't lost on Fred
Pritchard, Co-Founder of Golda's Kitchen
and member of Retail Council of Canada's
(RCC) MySTORE Advisory Committee.
"As an independent retailer, there is
never enough time or money to get all
of things done on your list," he says. "We
are the buyer, sales manager, marketing Fred Pritchard, Co-Founder of Golda's Kitchen.
manager, bookkeeper, human resources
and more. We have a ton of ideas for the "Like in most business, the best work goes unseen
business, just not enough time or money to the customer. RCC does a great job with their
to implement them all."
government relations and media work. They fight on
This hurdle is one that most, if not all, our behalf against poorly thought-out policies, and
independent retailers face when running their business. And it's also one misconceptions. You don't see them having meetthat should probably put the smaller ings everyday on our behalf but they are there."
guys light years behind the country's
- FRED PRITCHARD, Golda's Kitchen
major multi-province retailers. But, according to Pritchard, there are also things about independ- independent members- often tireless work
ent retailers that are inherent- things that the larger chains done behind the scenes that Pritchard and
don't possess- helping to level the playing field.
others reap the rewards of.
"We know our customers, what they like, want and need,"
"Like in most business, the best work goes
he says. "We're nimble enough to make changes to our of- unseen to the customer," says Pritchard.
fering quickly and have new product in our stores months "RCC does a great job with their government
before the chains even get it on a plan-a-gram. We have a relations and media work. They fight on our
full knowledge of all of the products we sell. And we're also behalf against poorly thought-out policies,
incredibly passionate individuals."
and misconceptions. You don't see them
This combination of characteristics, Pritchard suggests, having meetings everyday on our behalf but
often goes a long way to making up for the lack of time and they are there. They also educate the press
resources at independents' disposal. And offering further about our issues and get changes and wins
support, he says, is the work that RCC does on behalf of its for independent retailers. They put on out-

CANADIAN RETAILER | STORE 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Retailer - Store 2016