Introducing…. Shelfspace, the Association for Retail Entrepreneurs

To be honest we are prepared that the introduction of the ‘new and improved’ retail association is probably being met with confusion, excitement, caution, distain and delight… most likely, a combination of any of these emotions. What is this? What does it mean to me? And why was it done? are probably questions rolling around in your head. In some cases, it may be more of a shoulder shrug, and hope that nothing but the brand really changes, and for others you may be eager to find out what this external change of your trade association really means and how it will impact your business.

So, let’s start at the beginning shall we, and make sense of why and how we got here. Shelfspace is an association, made up of two other associations that you are familiar with: Retail BC and Retail Alberta. Both organizations have been around for nearly a hundred years each. These groups were formed when a number of keen retail heavyweights decided that they needed to come together to make a powerful support network and cohesive voice for themselves and their peers.

Since that time, both associations have ebbed and flowed – tackling policy issues, making your voice heard, offering the power of group buying to reduce business costs, and generally responding to the needs of retailers whatever those needs may be, given the times. I think that suffices with the history lesson – on to today. I don’t need to tell Connections readers that retailers are many things, including: spry, creative, interpersonal, entrepreneurial, innovative, multi-taskers, risk-takers and optimists. On the cusp of trends, as the front liners responding to consumer demand, and business people fueled by the idea of the possible, we have come to know and love retailers for their passion.

Not long ago, once again putting this passion into practice, the board of the organization (the majority of them are also dynamic retail entrepreneurs themselves) decided that the association needs to look more like the market it serves. This means being more responsive to customer demand, and ultimately, more relevant. As a result, we brought together a variety of retailers to find out what it is that really makes them tick and what they are looking for. What came of this was resoundingly clear: you want a voice, to be kept up-to-speed on things that will impact your businesses, to save money on business costs, and now you’d also like your key staff to be involved and kept up-to-date too. And above all, you want to be recognized as business professionals, who contribute to a significant industry that makes up part of the backbone of each provinces economy.

With input and guidance from our leaders, we went back to the drawing board and took a look at what all this means, and how we can use what we have, to give you what you need and want. We also had to take on your character – living on the cusp of trends and learning to be different in a sea of uniformity. With that in mind we tackled the name and the look. Now serving two provinces, the words BC and Alberta would no longer do. Our leadership also asked us to think outside of the box. So we went one step further and chose our name from way outside of the box.

So Shelfspace… what is that, anyway? First of all, it was not conjured up over a few drinks on a whim. It was selected by a group of retail entrepreneurs who thought it was time to take a bit of a risk and propel the organization into the future. As most people know, associations don’t usually name themselves this way. But now we do. The phrase “shelf space” is a common measure in retail, where products are displayed for customers. Shelves are a funda¬mental component of retailing; so much so, that even in the virtual world the concept is perfectly understood. Space, where people congregate, a shared place of imagination or an actual physical location – it’s where things happen. This is the space for retail entrepreneurs who are committed to evolving themselves in the spirit of excellence!

This brings us to a second common question – how are you going to be relevant to retailers throughout both provinces? Well, that’s the beauty of this space. It can be a physical location, or a virtual one. We have worked closely with Leadership Networks of retailers to help us develop our online ‘storefront’. This is a space where retailers can hear about what is going on ‘out there’ and connect with others to share their thoughts, frustrations and ideas. We’ve also added much more information and many more tools to serve you better, regardless of your geographical location.

Another thing that we heard from you was that many business owners would like to further support their staff in their own retail careers; however, time and resources often run thin. Enter Shelfspace. As a Premium Business Member, your staff can too become members. Already, we have had feedback saying that www.shelfspace.ca is a great resource to help train your staff and get them excited about the art and science of retail. So come one, come all – if you are interested in the business of retail, this is a space for you. Like you do with your customers, you change and update your inventory on a very regular basis to ensure your offering is relevant to their needs. We’re not much different. Yes, you like that we are a powerful voice to government and media, and you also like our publications and information. We know this. But we were told it was time to add more. So more, we added. Now, not only is there a wider selection of Costsaver programs for your business to save money, but we’ve also added a series of Costsavers that purposely serve your personal lives as well. We’re already hearing that key retail staff are excited about taking advantage of this inventory.

One of our key values is open communication. So we will be open in communicating with you, our community. We’ve been told that it was time for change; we’ve put significant work into finding out what you wanted and needed as an industry. We’ve done the legwork to negotiate new programs, gather new information, and build a new platform online, by which you can access and share information. We’ve followed the premise of our new mission statement ‘entrepreneurs connecting entrepreneurs with the art and science of retail’. And we’ve taken steps to live out our vision to ‘share the passion of retail excellence’. We will continue to develop, add and bolster our inventory and develop new programs and services for you and your staff – but it is all worth nothing if you, our community, don’t embrace this new, evolved association. We hope we’ve done enough to invigorate and excite you, to support you in your success and ultimately to be what you need us to be.

We hope that you are proud of the industry you are a part of, just as we are honoured to serve you. The entrepreneurial spirit is contagious, and we also hope to fan the flame of that spark, and to enable you to connect with others who share that passion. We are counting on you to let your networks and community know about why we are here and what we can do for you. We also hope that you will connect with one another and the organization for support, guidance and encouragement. The strength of this association is in your hands; it will be as strong as you make it. So in our commitment to open communication, we truly hope to have struck a chord within you, and that you will embrace what it is we stand for, puff out your chests a little, and serve this community the way we wish to serve you.

Some may still not understand or accept the massive evolution that we are going through; however, it is what it is, an evolution that will take these hundred year-old organizations well into the future. To evolve is to take “a gradual process in which something changes into a different and usually more complex or better form ” and we are proud to have taken the first few steps in that significant process.

So please, if you are unsure about the name or the look, put that to the side. Check out what it is we have to offer and if it makes sense for you. Shelfspace is the epicentre of the excellence revolution in retail, and we hope that you embrace it and will be a significant part of it.

Written by: Sonja Kennedy