Bruce Winder of Retail Advisors Network talks about the dramatic evolution taking place in retail and where the marketplace will go next
Bruce Winder is co-founder and partner of Retail Advisors Network. Tell me a little bit about your background and what you do now? Winder: I spent about 20 plus years in big retail at places like Canadian Tire, HBC, Sears and Air Miles before deciding I wanted to explore life outside a head office and…
The case for moving away from cash for food purchases is strong: it’s efficient, convenient, and cuts down on theft and human error. But it’s not all good
Canadians’ food transactions are becoming more digitalized and the rate people are moving away from using cash is phenomenal. According to a recent survey by Payments Canada, 42 per cent of consumers use cash fewer than four times a month when purchasing food, compared to 20 per cent who did the same a year ago.…
Understand what motivates you, do something you're good at and commit to doing your very best
I Used to Write for Sports Illustrated. Now I Deliver Packages for Amazon is a brilliant article by Austin Murphy in the December 2018 issue of The Atlantic. Murphy articulates his career journey as a result of being in an industry disrupted by technology. What really resonated for me about his story was his transformation…
Trust requires consistency and transparency. It must be understandable. And we need regulations that protect the public
The big success stories of our time have scaled at exponential rates – Facebook, Amazon, Apple and the other ‘super bigs’ relentlessly enlarge themselves. When something scales, however, the mix of characteristics, benefits, and costs of a business or organization may scale with it. In contemporary life, the tools that business, research and social interaction…
Burdensome regulation, limited competition and unfavourable taxes hold Canadian companies back
Studies show that innovation is the driving force behind long-run increases in incomes in developed countries. But Canada is falling behind. The implementation and adoption of new methods of producing goods and services, along with the introduction and use of new products and new ways of organizing businesses, remain critical to improving living standards. Canada’s…
Grocers understand that e-commerce only makes sense if consumers get convenience. That means delivery
Grocers can no longer afford to wait for money to show up at their stores. They need to go after it. Grocery e-commerce was barely a thought five years ago – retailers didn’t want to cannibalize sales and decrease foot traffic. The primary idea has always been to have more people in grocery stores, not…
Construction will create about 700 jobs. And 600 people will be employed once the centre is complete. It’s scheduled to open in early 2020
Amazon is building a one-million-square-foot fulfilment centre in Leduc County, just south of Edmonton. In a announcement on Monday, ONE Properties and TD Greystone Asset Management said the facility will be developed on 58 acres of land within Border Business Park, a development at the centre of Alberta’s industrial hub. This will be Amazon’s second…
The leading food retailer in Canada wants to become a true online contender to counter the Amazon effect
Loblaws’ latest e-commerce move is significant. Canada’s largest food retailer has launched a subscription program for its PC Optimum members – more than 16 million people. For $99 a year, members of the newly-created PC Insiders program can get perks such as extra points for certain products purchased online, along with free delivery. This is…
New Kindle Paperwhite, Fitbit Charge and the iRobot Roomba models make for great contenders
Have you ever hesitated to buy a gadget because it wasn't quite right? Or perhaps you bought something but found the technology wasn’t up to the job? You’re not alone, but there are always new things coming onto the market or retooled devices that might fit the bill. So we’re having a first look at…
You can get one off the shelf configured for Apple or Android, or have one fully customized
Most people have so many gadgets to charge, wouldn’t it be nice if they could all be lined up in one place, without all the chaotic cable clutter? Germany's Marcus Kuchler, a 25-year product design veteran, and a team of 10 engineers worked for three years to create udoq, a universal docking and charging station.…