Canadian Retailer - Spring 2016 - 9

AT ISSUE

SHOPIN™ THE
COMMUNITY

Retail Council of Canada (RCC) proudly supporting Canadian independent
retailers through program catered specifically to their needs.
BY SEAN C. TARRY
THERE'S no doubt that independent retailers are the
lifeblood of the Canadian economy. And it goes without saying that they are a part of the fabric of the local
communities in which they operate.
With this in mind, RCC has established an ongoing
program to support independent retailers with the
tools they need to not only succeed, but to thrive.
The program's objective is to promote independent
retailers and convey their value to consumers at large
in the communities they serve.
One component of the program includes a social
media campaign that focuses on the connectivity between independent retailers and their communities,
and local appreciation for the products and services that
they provide. The social media campaign uses the hashtag #ShopIn.
Another critical piece of the program is the toolkit of marketing materials that are available for retailers to download
from the ShopIn™ website (www.rccshopin.
ca). These materials include elegant and "This is an amazing program that's been developed by
catching creative and social media visuals RCC. We're here to support our independent members.
for Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest, and fly- We want to support them in their challenges and in
ers that can be printed and posted in their their successes. And we want to celebrate everything
stores and shop windows.
And further, a special dedicated quarter- that is great about Canadian independent merchants."
ly newsletter has been developed by RCC,
- MARK STARTUP, Retail Council of Canada
featuring content, information and best practices specific
to the needs and interests of independent retailers in CanThe program was launched in November 2015
ada. The first issue will be released in early May 2016.
to coincide with Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Mark Startup, vice president of RCC's MySTORE divshopping and is meant to support every major
ision, explains that the ShopIn™ program has been a long
holiday and shopping event throughout the year.
time in the making, but that the timing is right to provide
Some upcoming events include Mother's Day,
this kind of dedicated support to the association's inFather's Day, Back-to-School, Thanksgiving, Haldependent members.
loween, ShopIn™ Saturday and Christmas shop"This is an amazing program that's been developed by
ping Boxing Day.
RCC," Startup says. "We're here to support our independent members. We want to support them in their challenges
For more information about Retail Council of
and in their successes. And we want to celebrate everything
Canada's ShopIn™ program,
that is great about Canadian independent merchants."
visit www.rccshopin.ca.

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SPRING 2016 | CANADIAN RETAILER

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