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title: Hope in Black Friday | Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards Deadline extended
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Your weekly retail news round up.

| View in browser RETAIL IN CANADA A holiday miracle? Desperate Canadian retailers see hope in Black Friday numbers Image from Toronto Star “Getting shoppers back into their bricks-and-mortar stores is the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Hutcheson, managing partner of retail consultancy J.C. Williams Group. “Every single retailer needs a good holiday season.” (Toronto Star) Supply chain woes hit Black Friday deals as shoppers search for sales According to Retail Council of Canada, shoppers are optimistic this year and will be heading back to brick and mortar stores in droves. “There is a strong desire to return to in-store shopping and we have seen that over the past weeks as malls see an increase in foot traffic,” spokesperson Michelle Wasylyshen said. (Global News) Walmart Canada acquires Foodmaestro to personalize online shopping Walmart Canada said acquiring Foodmaestro was part of its commitment to innovation and transforming the experience for its customers. The acquisition will also deepen the retailer’s talent bench by bringing in the Foodmaestro experts, including engineers and health and wellness talent. (Canadian Grocer) Amazon’s B.C. footprint tops 10k workers The company has four fulfillment centres in B.C., one sortation centre in Langley and six delivery stations across Metro Vancouver. In addition to the tech hub in Vancouver, it also has a corporate office in Victoria, where subsidiary AbeBooks operates. (BIV) 2021 Brand of the Year: Aritzia climbs to new heights “Our business has gone from a $500 million business to a $1 billion business in the last few years and our e-commerce, particularly with the pandemic, has increased meaningfully,” says founder and CEO Brian Hill. “Now we can confidently launch \[new\] products and \[our\] e-commerce channels can support whatever expansion we want.” (Strategy Online) RCC EVENTS RCC Member Town Hall Briefings (Members Only) December 8, 2021 Retail Conditions Report: Holiday Edition December 15, 2021 EXTENDED Submission deadline for Grand Prix New Product Awards  December 31, 2021 Excellence in Retailing Awards Submission deadline March 11, 2022   INDUSTRY EVENTS NRF 2022: Retail's Big Show January 15-18, 2021   MUST-SEE VIDEOS There will be a huge focus on online shopping this holiday season: Harry Rosen's EVP of digital and strategy Retailers have to navigate a new variant and supply chain bottlenecks this holiday season : Mastermind Toys CEO     The Voice of Retail Podcast TM If you are a frequent listener, you'll know Michael LeBlanc often asks guests, "what's next?" to wrap the episode. Well, in this interview with Sarah Owen, Global Futures Directory, SOON Future Studies, "what's next?" IS the episode. Next, Mike Bradley, Founder & CEO at Clik2Pay, an innovative new payment solution, takes us through online payment trends for consumers and retail e-commerce operators. LISTEN NOW   INDEPENDENT RETAILERS How Calgary-based women’s fashion brand Sophie Grace plans to grow after launching pre-pandemic Image from Retail Insider “This was a strategy where it was let’s start online and have a digital first strategy. There are some people who still aren’t necessarily comfortable buying online or who want to touch and feel the product first,” said May. (Retail Insider) Hear from Sophie Grace founder Emma May on The Voice of Retail podcast. Shoppers hunt for Black Friday discounts in Barrie Retail Council of Canada shows many people are anxious to return to in-person shopping this year and eager to check off their holiday wish list. (CTV News) Weed on the menu: Uber Eats partners with Tokyo Smoke to offer cannabis products for pickup in Ontario The province temporarily allowed delivery and pickup of marijuana products during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in October proposed a plan to make those changes permanent. The legislation has yet to be passed. (Toronto Star) ‘True community builders’: Bolton family-run grocery store ‘staple’ in community “The Carbone family are consistently strong supporters of the community and are definitely 'go-to' people when you need help. I believe one of their most significant ongoing contributions is the hundreds of jobs they have provided over the years for Caledon youth. (Toronto Star)   RCC Spotlight: Enjoy $300 when you sign up for payment processing with Chase As an RCC member, when you sign up and process payments with Chase for 6 months, you will get $300 back into your pocket! Chase Merchant Services, provides: Safe and reliable ways to accept card payments, whether that’s in-store, online or curbside. Competitive, transparent rates on card acceptance 24 / 7 / 365 Customer Service, so you have support whenever you need it This offer expires December 15, 2021. LEARN MORE   STORE OPERATIONS Two years later, thefts from Liquor Marts in Manitoba have plummeted Image from CTV News “In fact, both our employees and customers at Liquor Marts with controlled entrances have told us how relieved they feel to return to a safer shopping and working environment in our stores. We are seeing positive customer satisfaction results as staff can now focus on serving customers, who then get to experience the excellent service we’re known for.” (CTV News) Not all Montreal retailers embrace Black Friday as supply, staff shortages take toll "We've been less promotional in the last few months, and we've been selling a much more regular price as a way to control inventory levels," she said. (CBC) Liberals downplay concerns about record-breaking milk prices “Indeed, that’s why we’re working on affordability,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday when asked about rising dairy costs. (Global News) Storms and destruction bring climate change home to Atlantic Canada Retail Council of Canada also warns retailers will encounter difficulties moving things through the province with the shutdown of the ferry and the highway but says damage is still being assessed. (National Observer) Governments of Canada and B.C. announce joint supply chain recovery working group The Working Group is developing options for contingency transport and logistics for essential goods and materials. As infrastructure gradually reopens, the Working Group will prioritize and advise on the best routes and use of limited capacity for the movement of goods across all transportation modes, while balancing community needs and national economic interest. (Electrical Industry)   Store systems: Could they be the weakest link in your security system? With a goal of enabling mobile ordering and simplifying store pick up for customers, Little Caesars Canada launched Pizza Portals and leveraged technology to thrive during the pandemic and well into the mobile-driven future. DOWNLOAD NOW Sponsored Ad RETAIL AROUND THE WORLD Shoppers are buying from resale retailers more than ever. Here's why Image from Bloomberg / Getty Images "While many retailers have been forced to raise prices due to inflation or supply chain pressure, we do not have the same level of exposure," James Reinhart, CEO of ThredUp, said on the company's recent third quarter earnings call. (CNBC) Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen says new cooking skills, bigger holiday gatherings are lifting grocery sales “An awful lot of customers learned how to cook and they really enjoy it,” he said Thursday on CNBC’s “Closing Bell.” “What they’re telling us is they like to eat healthy and they feel like they can eat healthier by cooking at home. They also like to show off their new skills.” (CNBC) Amazon exec says Omicron variant’s impact on holiday spending is uncertain “Consumers are going to wait and see in terms of what happens … but are going to move on with their lives into this holiday season,” Mr. Clark said. (The Globe & Mail) How warehouses are taking over the U.S. "The leasing volume is almost triple in some cases to what's being built every year," Mehtab Randhawa, senior director of industrial research for the Americas at JLL, told CNBC. (CNBC) Gymshark to take over J Crew spot on Regent Street And just like the recent Fabletics opening, the store is intended to be as much a community space as a shop that sells products, uniting the brand’s community that has built up on social media and via its online offer. (Fashion Network)   RESOURCES / SERVICES / PROGRAMS Future Consumer Index: People are moving on; be part of their normal - EY Retail The eighth EY Future Consumer Index suggests consumers are growing accustom to supply disruptions and uncertainty, and shifting values to focus more on quality of experience and the future of the planet. Learn more. Economy ahead: Unclear road, clearer destination - CIBC Economics We might know where the economy is going by 2023, but still can’t quite pick the road that will take us there through 2022. While the new omicron variant has raised fresh uncertainties, the early read from epidemiologists suggests that it might delay but not prevent COVID from become a less disruptive disease globally by 2023. That alone entails further room for a services recovery, and an improving global supply picture. Learn more.  Product Safety - RCC Retailers across the country play an integral role in the everyday safety of individuals by ensuring the items we buy are not dangerous. RCC actively advocates on behalf of retailers on important product safety issues. RCC provides members the vital information they need to know to address upcoming regulatory changes or significant recalls. Through website updates, webinars, regular member notices and calls – including regular product safety calls on the last Thursday of every month to inform members – RCC helps keep retailers informed.   Please contact Cory Anderson, Senior Manager, Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs, if you would like to participate in these product safety calls. Visit RCC’s product safety page to learn more. RCC Job Connect Do you have new employment openings? Looking for work? RCC members can fill out this form and RCC will list you on Job Connect.   Retailers currently hiring: Peavy Mart, Suzy Shier, Lindt, LCBO, Princess Auto, Longos, London Drugs, and 20 others. LEARN MORE ABOUT RCC Join RCC \| Community Hubs \| News \| Videos \| Podcasts Events and Webinars \| Supplier Directory \| Sponsorship Opportunities Retail Council of Canada \|  1881 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON     retailcouncil.org  Customize your communication preferences or unsubscribe. 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