Topshelf News for September 6, 2011
INFORMATION, IDEAS & INSIGHTS FOR SHELFSPACE MEMBERS
September 2, 2011
TOPSHELF NEWS
HST Results
Passion for Retail Registration
Shelfspace New Team Member Announcement
Website Maintenance
Retail Connections Readership Survey
LiveSmart Update
UPCOMING EVENTS
Passion for Retail 2011
Power Smart Forum
RETAIL WATCH
Shelfspace In The News
Top Headlines
Alberta News
British Columbia News
HST Results
In light of the HST referendum results, Shelfspace and the Retail Council of Canada (RCC) acknowledge the decision of British Columbians who have voted to extinguish the HST. We commit to continue working with the Clark Government to ensure a smooth transition for retailers and consumers.
As your retail association, we are here to support you and your business through these changes. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns regarding the implications of the Referendum's results or to provide your input on the reinstatement of the PST.
You can view our official response to the Referendum here .
back to top
Passion
For Retail - EARLY BIRD Registration Open
Registration for the Passion for Retail 2011 Conference (PFR) is now open! This year’s PFR will be held on Monday, October 3rd at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Vancouver. The theme is “Do They Like You? New Models for Customer Engagement”. We’ll be touching on some of the hot topics requested 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 visit www.passionforretail.ca or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
REGISTER EARLY & REAP THE REWARDS!
Register before September 19 and you will save with the Early Bird Rate, as well as a BONUS 3 ½ hour morning workshop – Engagement Based on Customer Experience, with Ted Topping. Valued at $169.
This interactive workshop will be held the morning of the Passion for Retail conference at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver on October 3, 2011. Suitable for mid and small-sized retailers (including owner-operated), this 3-hour mini-course includes:
Ted Topping (www.tedtopping.com) is a Vancouver speaker, writer, trainer and consultant. He is co-author of Start and Run a Retail Business. Ted is also facilitator of Perfecting the Customer Experience, a three-day benchmarking program that delivers serious business lessons in the fun environment of Disneyland.
back to top
Shelfspace New Team Member Announcement
Shelfspace is pleased to introduce Mark Ackroyd who joined us as Member Services Coordinator in August.
Mark will be your first point of contact when calling Shelfspace, and can help to answer questions about your membership, retail issues and benefits available to you.
Mark is from London, UK where he originally practiced social work. In recent years, Mark worked for the Lawn Tennis Association, assisting members to run their businesses safely. Mark enjoyed working with sporting entrepreneurs and seeing the vibrant independent retail sector in London. Now he is looking forward to helping retailers and associates in BC, Alberta and further afield.
Please feel free to contact Mark with any questions you have, or just to say ‘hi!’. He can be reached on the Shelfspace main number (604-736-0368), or by email at
markackroyd@shelfspace.ca
back to top
Website Maintenance
Please be advised that the Member Login section of our website is scheduled for maintenance on Thursday, September 8, 2011 from 9:00pm to 12:00am Eastern Time. You will not be able to access the Member-Only sections of our site during this period. We apologise for any inconvenience.
back to top
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.
back to top
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), 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.
back to top
UPCOMING EVENTS
Passion for Retail, Monday 3rd October - EARLY BIRD Registrations Open!
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.
For more information on PFR 2011 and to register visit www.passionforretail.ca
back to top
Power Smart Forum
October 17-19, 2011
From October 17-19, over 1200 delegates are expected to attend the Power Smart Forum at the Vancouver Convention Centre. This year’s theme, “Resilience and Adaptation: Adjusting to a Changing Climate,” is integrated into many of the 35+ sessions.
Register by Friday, September 23rd and you will be entered into the Early-bird prize draw to win a four-day fishing trip for two in beautiful Ucluelet, BC, courtesy of Canadian Princess Resort.
Unable to attend in person this year? You can still participate at the Forum through live webcasting for both the
plenary
and
keynote
address. Please note: You are still required to
register
for the live webcast sessions.
The highly popular Forum
Tradeshow
will take place on Tuesday, October 18. Delegates will have the opportunity to learn first hand about new technologies as well as network with peers.
back to top
RETAIL WATCH
SHELFSPACE IN THE NEWS
Return to PST may be costly - and complicated
'God help us if the new PST is a return to the old PST," says Mark Startup, the president of Shelfspace BC, an industry organization representing retailers.
What will the restored PST look like?
A retailers' association is anxious to find out what the PST will look like now that the HST has been defeated.
back to top
TOP HEADLINES
Retail Trade for June
Retail sales rose 0.7% to $37.8 billion in June, a third consecutive monthly increase. Excluding sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers, retail sales decreased 0.1%.
Analysis: Canada back-to-school sales tough and to get tougher
Cautious consumer spending, fragile stock markets and increasingly fierce competition will weigh on the fortunes of Canadian retailers this back-to-school season.
back to top
ALBERTA NEWS
Alberta retail sales decline in June
Alberta retail sales fell in June, according to Statistics Canada. The federal agency said Tuesday that sales in the province of $5.243 billion declined by 0.3 per cent from May.
Alberta expected to lead the way in average salary gains next year
Alberta, along with Newfoundland and Labrador, will post the biggest average salary gains in Canada next year, according to a national compensation survey conducted by Hay Group.
back to top
BRITISH COLUMBIA NEWS
VPD launches website to catch suspected Stanley Cup rioters
The Vancouver Police Department's Integrated Riot Investigation Team (IRIT) is asking for the public's help in identifying suspected rioters. It has launched a website that features photographs of suspected rioters allegedly committing criminal acts on June 15 during the Stanley Cup riots.
BC shoppers head online for back-to-school prep.
B.C. shoppers are increasingly avoiding lineups by purchasing back-to-school items online, according to a survey released.
back to top
