Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 31
MYSTORE INDIE RETAILING 2014
DIFFERENTIATION AND SERVICE
KEY TO INDIE SUCCESS
Though there are a number of initiatives and tactics that independent retailers
can deploy for success, setting themselves apart with great offerings and
service is going to yield the greatest return in the year to come.
BY TALBOT BOGGS
IN A WAY, this is one of the best times to be
an independent retailer and one of the worst: a
time of great opportunities but a time of great
challenges: a time of technological advances
yet a time of personal service: a time of mass
merchandising and a time of specialization: a
time to be global and a time to be local.
While Charles Dickens used "the best of
times, worst of times" theme to introduce his
famous novel, A Tale of Two Cities, it is a reality for many independent retailers in Canada
today. As the impact of large chains and banners continues to grow and as consumers increasingly adopt technological advances and
applications, independents have been challenged to find ways to be seen and heard, to
differentiate themselves and draw consumers
to their bricks and mortar stores, websites and
product and service offerings.
"It is the best or worst of times," says John
Torella, a senior partner with J.C. Williams
Group in Toronto. "Differentiation is now a
commodity in retail. As big box retail grows
there is a huge opportunity for independents
that can differentiate the shopping experience
through their products, design, presentation
and services. As technology goes global, independents need to go the other way-localize and up their game because people are still
looking for a great service component."
Keeping it local
Aileen Selkirk opened Posh Boutique in the
trendy Beaches area of Toronto in 1989. While
she is currently working hard to develop a
strong Internet presence, her primary strategic
focus is on her local market, providing great
service selling women's casual and professional wear, jewelry and accessories made mostly
from natural materials and from ethical manufacturers in Canada and Europe.
Posh Boutique focuses on buying ethically and locally.
"Our focus has always been on buying only
ethically-made goods-we don't buy from countries like Bangladesh or Thailand where we can't
always be sure of that-and on our local market,"
Selkirk says. "We have a lot of customers who
move away from the area but still come back to us
regularly or for the many free special events we
put on, like our scarf day when designers come in
and work individually with our customers showing them how to wear them, what works best and
even help them to wear their existing scarves better. We love to dress our customers, make them
feel good and emotionally support them."
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Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013
PUBLISHER’S DESK
RETAIL CURRENTS
RETAIL: AT ISSUE
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES THAT HAVE SHAPED RETAIL
MORE SLOW, MODEST GROWTH PREDICTED
CANADIAN RETAILERS INNOVATING TOWARD SUCCESS
17 TIPS FOR RECOVERING FROM THE POSTCHRISTMAS HANGOVER
DIFFERENTIATION AND SERVICE KEY TO INDIE SUCCESS
TECHNOLOGY AND RETAIL INNOVATION
ADVERTISER'S INDEX
RETAIL QUICK TIPS
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - Cover1
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - Cover2
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 3
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 4
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 5
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - PUBLISHER’S DESK
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 7
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - RETAIL CURRENTS
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 9
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 10
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 11
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - RETAIL: AT ISSUE
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 13
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES THAT HAVE SHAPED RETAIL
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 15
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - MORE SLOW, MODEST GROWTH PREDICTED
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 17
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 18
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 19
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - CANADIAN RETAILERS INNOVATING TOWARD SUCCESS
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 21
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 22
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 23
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 24
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 17 TIPS FOR RECOVERING FROM THE POSTCHRISTMAS HANGOVER
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 26
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 27
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 28
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 29
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 30
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - DIFFERENTIATION AND SERVICE KEY TO INDIE SUCCESS
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 32
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 33
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - TECHNOLOGY AND RETAIL INNOVATION
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 35
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 36
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 37
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 38
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 39
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 40
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 41
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 42
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 43
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - 44
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - ADVERTISER'S INDEX
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - RETAIL QUICK TIPS
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - Cover3
Canadian Retailer - Holiday 2013 - Cover4
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