Shelfspace - Topshelf News for Aug 17, 2011

Topshelf News for August 17, 2011

INFORMATION, IDEAS & INSIGHTS FOR SHELFSPACE MEMBERS

August 17 , 2011

TOPSHELF NEWS
Passion for Retail Registration
Farewell Donna
Retail Connections - Tell Us Your Stories
Social Media information
Retail Connections Readership Survey
LiveSmart Update

UPCOMING EVENTS
Passion for Retail 2011
Staffing for Success Webinars
The Vancouver Gift Expo

RETAIL WATCH
Top Headlines
Alberta News
British Columbia News

Passion For Retail Registration

Registration for the Passion for Retail 2011 Conference (PFR) is opening soon! This year’s PFR will be held on Monday, October 3rd at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Vancouver.

Our theme for this year is “Do They Like You? New Models For Customer Engagement”. We’ll be touching on some of the hot topics selected by retailers, as well as launching our brand new ‘pop-up’ supplier showcase featuring the latest and greatest in retail. For more information on PFR check out Upcoming Events below or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Farewell Donna

It is with mixed emotion (mostly very positive) that we announce Donna McKinnon-Heide, Member Services Administrator, will be leaving her post at Shelfspace to enter into the next exciting chapter of her life.

During her 13 years with Shelfspace, Donna has proven herself both tenacious and patient when serving the needs of our members and when going to bat for them to fight for rebates with our suppliers. Donna “lives” the values we aspire to at Shelfspace by demonstrating her commitment to excellence every day and will be missed immensely.

Donna has accepted a position with the Condominium Homeowners Association of BC in New Westminster and although we are sad to see her go, we wish her all the greatest success for the future.

Retail Connections - Tell Us Your Stories

We’re looking for some local stories for our upcoming Fall edition of Retail Connections. Have you ever used e-learning for training? Are you riding the wave of mobile retailing and cloud computing? Share your experiences with us to be featured in our next issue. Contact Renee Luk, Marketing Coordinator at renee@shelfspace.ca or 604-736-0368 and tell us how these latest retail trends are affecting you and your business.

Social Media Information

Have you listed your social media info with us? Add your latest Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn details to your Shelfspace member profile and we’ll make sure to connect with your business and keep up-to-date with what’s happening in our community. Simply login at www.shelfspace.ca and in your Profile, under Social Information you will be able to add your Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn details.

Retail Connections Readership Survey

WIN tickets to Passion For Retail 2011! Simply fill out this survey on Retail Connections, our quarterly publication for retail entrepreneurs, to go in the draw to win one of 3 passes to Passion For Retail. Winners will be drawn on September 19, 2011. Click here to take the survey.

LiveSmart Update

We are working through energy assessments in the West 4th Avenue and West Broadway area. Anyone in this area should contact our Business Energy Advisor for Retail, Peter Conron (Certified Energy Manager and Lighting Certified), by August 31st at peter@shelfspace.ca or 604-730-5250 to be included in the Free Business Energy Assessments being completed in early September.

Association members and future members are welcome with no obligations. On-site time has been averaging about 30-40 minutes in each retail location. Projects have been averaging 2 years or less payback on any net costs above the rebate incentives available. Retail business acceptance of this Shelfspace added-value has been well received. Further information on the LiveSmart program for Small Business can be sourced from either our own www.RetailSmart.ca or http://www.livesmartbc.ca/green_business/index.html websites. Let us help you manage you energy costs and add profit to your bottom line.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Passion for Retail, Monday 3rd October - Registrations Open Soon!

Since 1987, Shelfspace has organized an annual conference for retailers and retailer industry suppliers. This is the only retail event in Western Canada dedicated to bringing the community together to celebrate, support and share their passion through education in the art and science of retail.

This year, Passion for Retail is co-presented with the Retail Council of Canada to bring the retail community together. The 2011 conference will explore and discuss the latest trends, successes and challenges affecting retail and will arm participants with the knowledge to continually achieve retail excellence.

This year’s theme will be Do they like you? New Models of Customer Engagement and will cover four main topics:

· Increasing Customer Engagement

· Retaining and Motivating Staff

· Advances in Retail Technology to Drive Sales Growth

· Sustainability and/or Energy Conservation

Passion for Retail will be held on Monday 3rd October at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Vancouver.

Staffing for Success - FREE WEBINARS

Registration is now available for Retail Council of Canada's online training series, Staffing for Success. Free registrations are available for Shelfspace members. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to get critical HR training and skills - email inquiry@shelfspace.ca with your Name, Company, Address, Phone and Email to register.

August 24, 3pm - Turning Skills into Sales
Kevin Graff, Graff Retail

Hone your team's sales skills in preparation for the holiday season;
Motivate, energize and engage new staff to sell;
Learn strategies to help you mentor your sales team to achieve your short and long-term goals.

The Vancouver Gift Expo
September 18-19, 2011
Your chance to see Canada’s top wholesalers displaying new and unique products for your spring and summer selling seasons.
Location: PNE Forum Building, Vancouver
www.vancouvergiftexpo.com

RETAIL WATCH

TOP HEADLINES

Back to school spending is expected to flatline in still-fragile Canadian market: Ernst & Young
Back-to-school spending is expected to be flat this year compared to last and will compound an already tough situation for Canadian retailers still reeling from a poor spring buying season brought on by bad weather, says Ernst & Young.

UBC prof wants $750 exemption for same day visits to US
B.C. residents who want to bring back more cheap goods from cross-border visits to the U.S. have an ally in Keith Head. The UBC professor, who specializes in cross-border shopping research, is calling for a flat $750-tax-and-duty exemption for Canadians travelling to the U.S. — including shoppers making same-day trips.

Canadians in a frugal frame of mind
Adopting recessionary-type habits, Canadian consumers are hunting for deals and cheap private labels despite a relatively stable economy – and showing scant signs of changing their ways any time soon.

Google to acquire Motorola Mobility
Google Inc. and Motorola Mobility Holdings, Inc. announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Google will acquire Motorola Mobility for $40.00 per share.

ALBERTA NEWS

Alta. Launches Groupon probe
Service Alberta has launched an investigation into popular websites offering online deals after receiving complaints of expiry dates being put on the coupons.

Small business confident in Alberta
Small business confidence has returned to almost normal levels and even after a small dip recently Alberta is still leading the pack.

Slave Lake small businesses to get help from Alberta government
A new centre is set to open in Slave Lake to help small-business owners rebuild or create new development in the northern town devastated by wild fire in May.

BRITISH COLUMBIA NEWS

BC Retail Game Changer: Everything Wine sold to Pattison Group
A potentially game changing development in the retail wine business in BC: the Everything Wine chain has been sold to the Pattison Group.

Handbook, online material address domestic violence at work
British Columbia is set to become the second province in Canada to bring in guidelines aimed at keeping domestic violence out of the workplace.