The Source

THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT

Roots outfits star-studded cast and crew of film and TV programs

In recent months, true to form, Roots has been active in the film and television world, adding one film and three TV programs to its already illustrious list. The cast and crew of The Other Guys were outfitted in more than 500 Roots Dark Midnight Full Zip Hoodies, which have the film’s name embroidered on the front in gold.

         The Other Guys is an upcoming action/ comedy movie starring many famed actors, including Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Wahlberg, Will Ferrell, Eva Mendes, and Anne Heche.

         For Nurse Jackie, a comedy TV series starring Edie Falco, more than 200 Black Zip Polos were ordered for the cast and crew of the show’s second season. The show’s name is embroidered on the front of the garment.

         The daytime talk show, The Bonnie Hunt Show, ordered more than 200 Dark Midnight Zip Polos with the show’s logo embroidered on the front for the cast and crew of its second season.

        As part of its ongoing work with Roots, Jimmy Kimmel Live reordered 75 Dark Midnight Full Zip Hoodies. A long-running souvenir, these sweatshirts are gifts for celebrity guests who visit the ABC late night talk show.

         All orders were coordinated by Los-Angeles based Roots representative Wendy Goodman, and Senior Product Coordinator in the Business-To-Business Department Mary Jane Saliba. All the apparel was made in Canada.

AND THE WINNER IS...

Poetic words capture top prize in ‘What Makes Canada Priceless’ contest

 

Over the summer, Roots and MasterCard Canada held a month-long contest that focused on the true north, strong and free. In tribute to Canada Day, the contest encouraged people to answer the question: What makes Canada priceless? Contestants were invited to submit a video or short story for a chance to win a grand prize of a $1,000 MasterCard shopping spree or one of four $100 Roots gift cards.

In total, more than 200 people sent in submissions with a wide range of styles. After reviewing all the entries, a panel of Roots staff selected the words of Rhonda Short of Uxbridge, Ontario as the winner.

“The poem I submitted for the contest is something I wrote over the summer while waiting up late for my teenage daughter to return home from a party,” says Rhonda, a full-time mother and interior decorator. “I used to write a lot of poetry as a teen and this one was easy to write because I love Canada and Roots is a great place to shop.”

Why Canada Is Priceless To Me

Evergreen trees
A warm summer breeze

Crystal clear water
The agile swimming otter
Make Canada priceless to me.

A crackling lakeside fire
Marshmallows on a wire
Mosquitoes humming about
A freshly caught trout
Make Canada priceless to me.

Touring along a winding road
While fall colours expertly explode
Heading off to Roots
When in need of new hiking boots
Make Canada priceless to me.

Frosty days spent at the rink
Warming my hands with a Tim Hortons drink
Swooshing down my favourite slopes
Friends and neighbours and really bad jokes
Make Canada priceless to me.

Watching syrup trickle out
Of that tiny little spout
Wishing the snow would finally melt
Make Canada priceless to me.

 

THE POWER OF GIVING

Roots leather bag brings joy to recipient after heart surgery

Sometimes giving a Roots gift has greater impact than expected.

Recently, while in a Toronto hospital for heart surgery, Fred Leber was pleasantly surprised to receive a special gift that had been first sent to his office
and then brought to him by his daughter.

Wrapped in a black box with a black and white bow, Fred opened the gift to oohs and ahhs from his family members. Inside the box, to Fred’s delight, was a black leather Roots Destiny Bag.

“After receiving my bag, my family used it every day to bring things back and forth to the hospital for me,” says Fred. “It is one of my newly treasured possessions.”

The bag was a gift to Fred from Bullock Associates, an interior design firm in Toronto. Earlier this year, it ordered custom-designed Roots Awards Jackets and Destiny Bags for its staff and clients to celebrate the company’s 30th anniversary.

    Bullock Associates worked with Roots five years ago when Roots Co-Founder Don Green enlisted the firm to help design the company’s award-winning global headquarters on Castlefield Ave. in Toronto.

HEALTH TIP #54

Easy ways to stay healthy

 

A HEART-HEALTHY DIET: Simple changes in your diet can extend your life no matter where you live. Studies show that eating a Mediterranean-style diet can help improve your cardiovascular system.

The Mediterranean diet incorporates the basics of healthy eating, plus olive oil and red wine in moderation, among other components characterizing the traditional cooking style of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea.

Most healthy diets include fruits, vegetables, fish and whole grains, and limit unhealthy fats, but subtle variations or differences in proportions of certain foods may make a difference in your risk of cardiovascular problems.

    To reduce your risk of heart disease, try the following recommendations from the Mediterranean diet: Eat a generous amount of fruits and vegetables. Use herbs and spices instead of salts on your food. Consume healthy fats such as olive and canola oil. For protein, eat fish or shellfish at least twice a week and consume very little red meat. 

    For more information about how the Mediterranean diet can decrease the risk of heart disease, visit www.mayoclinic.com

GREEN TIP #57

Easy ways to help the environment

 

ON A WINTER’S DAY: As temperatures get colder, many people have a tendency to crank up the heat in their homes. You can save energy and money this winter by following a few simple steps:

Minimize the energy needed to heat your home by making sure windows and doors are well sealed. One of the quickest dollar-saving tasks you can do is caulk, seal and weatherstrip all seams, cracks and openings to the outside. This easy, inexpensive fix can save as much as 10 percent of winter heating costs.

Turning your thermostat down just five degrees can cut energy bills and pollution by 10 percent. Keep it at 68 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter. Using a programmable thermostat, you can automatically turn down your heat at night or when you are not at home.

Keep the drapes and shades on your windows open during the day to allow sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.

    Fireplaces can make your home more cozy in winter months. Look for artificial logs made of wood only. Avoid those that contain paraffin, a petroleum-based by-product that generates high emissions. Some alternatives include fireplace logs made of recycled cardboard, recycled paper briquettes and logs made out of used coffee grounds, which burn hotter and longer than wood, while producing fewer emissions.

• For more information on how to conserve energy, visit: http://www.countmeinontario.ca

CAMPAIGNING FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

Roots employee travels to Ottawa to take part in eco-action on Parliament Hill

 

True to the company’s core values, Roots employees often take initiative to give
back to their communities by devoting time to worthy causes. 

Recently, Diego Garzon, a part-time sales associate at the ‘Roots 73’ store in London, Ont., participated in Climate Day: Fill the Hill, as part of his commitment to fighting global warming.

“I strive to help others become aware of the effects our actions have on our planet and the power we have to help make a difference,” says Diego, 18. “That’s why I felt it was important to join the many others on Parliament Hill on Climate Day who share my ideas, and passion for the environment.”

As part of the worldwide effort to affect legislative action on climate change, most notably at the much anticipated United Nations Climate Conference in Copenhagen in December, Canadian environmental groups hosted Climate Day in late October in Ottawa. To learn more about Climate Day, go to http://cday.atypical.ca/.

 

SPEAK TO MY AGENT

The littlest customers show their Roots

We often receive unsolicited photos from people eager to show us pictures of their children, cousins, grandchildren, or even pets, wearing Roots. Sometimes the senders ask if we could use the photos in a future advertising campaign for Roots. We can’t promise that but we are happy to publish them in The Source.

Everyone is welcome to submit their favourite shots to be considered for publication. Please send your pictures to photogallery@roots.com. Be sure to include the name and age of each child or pet in the photo, where it was taken, place of residence and a sentence stating that you agree for the photos to be used in The Source

Jenin Halabi, 2 years, Saba Halabi, 4 years, Kettering, Ohio

 

Nathan Hughes, 2 years, North Bay, ON

STARTING LINEUP

Introducing the people who make it happen at Roots stores

As part of our continuing series of team pictures of all the stores in the Roots retail family, this issue of The Source is shining in the spotlight on the Cambridge Shopping Centre store in Cambridge, Ontario. From left to right: Chelsea Willis, Brenda Westbrook (Manager), Sophie Noreen and Emma Slater. Missing in photo: Nancy Hart, Elyse Wilkinson and Deanna Vickery.

 

 

GREAT MOMENTS IN RETAIL

Spotlighting the top performing stores in October and November

Shortly before this issue of The Source went to press, we received the final sales figures for stores in recent months. Topping the pack in terms of company stores for October and November was the Stone Road Mall location in Guelph, Ontario that captured the ‘Store of the Month’ honours, beating its sales target by a wide margin.

As for the Roots 73/Outlet category, for the third month in a row the Cross Iron Mills location in Rocky View, just north of Calgary (Alberta), took first place for October and the Lansdowne Place location in Peterborough, Ontario took first place in November. Both stores far surpassed others in terms of monthly sales budgets. 

Congratulations to Janine Gordon, Manager of the Guelph store, Trevor Chambers, Manager of the RockyView outlet and Todd Fournier, Manager of the Peterborough outlet, and to their respective teams, for their winning performances.

Hats off to all of the other stores that surpassed their sales goals in October and November.

Customer donation campaign raises impressive amount for Jane Goodall Institute
 
In late November, Roots Co-Founder Don Green presented a cheque for $80,300 to Jane Lawton, Executive Director of the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada (JGI). It was the culmination of a highly successful three-month, in-store campaign in which Roots employees invited customers to donate to JGI when making a purchase. Retail staff members rose to the occasion, working hard to help raise funds for a good cause, as part of the latest Roots Cares initiative.
          The money will go toward Roots & Shoots, JGI’s environmental/ humanitarian education program and global network of youth from more than 100 countries.
          At the outset of the campaign, the Retail Operations department organized a contest to reward the stores that raised the most money for JGI. Six stores across Canada won prizes in their store-size category for their exemplary efforts during the campaign. The winning stores, in no particular order, are: Robson Street (Vancouver), Banff (Alberta), Whistler (BC), Sudbury (Ontario), CrossIron Mills Outlet (Alberta), and Signal Hill Centre Outlet (Calgary).
          Staff members of each winning store received a JGI certificate and a goody bag with Roots and other treats for their efforts. Winning stores also received two autographed copies of Jane Goodall’s upcoming book Hope for Animals and their World.