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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 the spotlight on the Champlain Place store in Moncton, New Brunswick. From left to right: Haley Silk, Ashley Hamilton, Megan LeBlanc (Manager), Chantal Gibson, Marie Eve Lanteigne and Wabigonikwe Tenasco. Missing in photo: Megan Ostridge, Ben Pattson and Amanda Allen.
Roots introduces an artful tribute to Vancouver ahead its winter in the international spotlight
With Vancouver soon to be the focus of world attention this winter, Roots is introducing an original product that adds to the celebration of the city. From Stanley Park to Gastown to the Rockies, the new Roots Vancouver Pillow depicts key elements of the West Coast city with vibrant hand-embroidery that elevates this item from a simple comfort piece to a work of art. The pillow, will be available in late October 2009, will be sold online and in 12 Roots stores across the country.
To produce the Vancouver Pillow, Roots partnered with the California-based husband and wife team, Terrell and Carmel Swan, and their company, Catstudio. Terrell and Roots have been friends for a long time. In 1975, he began his involvement with the company when he opened a Roots franchise store in Houston. In 2007, the Swans and Catstudio produced the Canada Pillow, which takes you on a cross-country tour from coast to coast. Using vivid colours and superior workmanship, the pillow portrays many of the country’s famous attractions from the lobsters on the East Coast and Toronto’s CN Tower to the Calgary Stampede and Victoria’s Empress Hotel.
It was the Swans’ love of travel, which inspired them to begin creating artistically embroidered maps on pillows showcasing cities, states and countries as a hobby. In 2001 they started Catstudio.
“Given our extensive travels, we knew a lot of people in many places,” says Terrell. It’s these people who the Swans rely on to authenticate their artwork and ensure its relevancy and accuracy.
“I wish we could fit everything in,” he says. “It’s important we also get the feeling and spirit of the area right.”
The artwork for both the Canada and Vancouver Pillows was done by a team of Catstudio artists. In the case of the Vancouver Pillow, it was then submitted to Roots designers for their input. Once the artwork is approved, it’s sent to India where the embroidery is done. For the Canada Pillow, it takes up to 11 days to embroider because of its large size and a few days less to finish the Vancouver Pillow.
The Canada Pillow is available in select stores across the country and online for $235.
The Vancouver Pillow will retail for $180.
Easy ways to stay healthy
MINIMIZING THE RISK OF SWINE FLU: In late August, the World Health Organization (WHO) predicted a substantial rise in swine flu cases during the rest of 2009. It said the H1NI virus behind the pandemic would continue to spread and that many countries could see the number of cases double every few days for several months until the rate of transmission reached its peak in 2010. As such, the WHO is advising countries, especially those in the Northern Hemisphere, to take extra precautions this autumn as the flu season begins.
Swine flu is a respiratory illness with symptoms similar to ordinary seasonal flu. The virus is highly contagious and can spread quickly. Symptoms include headache, chills and cough followed by fever, loss of appetite, muscle aches and fatigue, runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes and throat irritation. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea may also occur.
The WHO is advising everyone to follow these few simple steps to minimize the chances of contracting this virus:
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when sneezing or coughing. Throw the tissue away after using it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after sneezing and coughing. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Try to avoid close contact with people who are ill.
• If you do become sick with H1N1, stay home from work or school and limit your contact with others to avoid infecting them.
If you become ill with flu-like symptoms, contact your health care provider or call TeleHealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000.
• Source: All You Need To Know About H1N1 Flu newsletter. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
No need to saddle up to appreciate new Roots Equestrian collection
In late September 2009, Roots launched its new Roots Equestrian collection.
Designed and manufactured in Canada, Roots Equestrian is sold nationwide exclusively at Greekhawk, the country’s largest retailer of riding apparel and accessories.
Initiated by Anne Marie Hargreaves, Account Manager in the Business-To-Business Department at Roots, the athletic lifestyle collection consists of classic Roots-style hoodies, polos, track jackets, graphic tees and Roots Green items including a yoga-inspired bamboo jacket with an equestrian twist.
“Equestrian sport has the same values that are at the heart of Roots,” says Anne Marie. “Roots has always promoted an active lifestyle and prides itself in creating winning apparel for those who enjoy sports and the outdoors. That’s why we’re so excited to support this lifestyle through this latest Roots Equestrian collection.”
Equestrian sport has become increasingly popular among Canadians in recent years, especially since equestrian Eric Lamaze won the country’s first-ever Gold Medal in individual show-jumping at last year’s Summer Olympics in Beijing, in addition to a team silver in the same discipline. Since first being introduced to Canadians in the mid-1990s, has proven a winner, especially among those with great horse sense and a good sense of style.
For a list of retail locations where to purchase the new collection, go to www.greenhawk.com.
Spotlighting the top performing stores in recent monthsShortly before this issue of The Source went to press, we received the final sales figures for stores in the summer and early fall of 2009. Topping the pack in terms of company stores in July, August and September was Québec City’s Rue de Buade location that captured the ‘Store of the Month’ honours for the past five months in a row, beating its sales target by a wide margin.
As for the Roots 73/Outlet category, for the fourth month in a row the South Edmonton Common location in Edmonton took first place in July, while the Cross Iron Mills location in Rocky View, Alberta took first place in August and September. Both stores had scores that far surpassed others in terms of monthly sales budgets.
Congratulations to Doris Lamoureux, Manager of the Québec City store, Johanne Chute, Manager of the South Edmonton Common outlet, and Trevor Chambers, Manager of the Cross Iron Mills outlet, and to their respective teams, for their winning performances.
Hats off to all of the other stores that surpassed their sales goals in July, August and September.
Staff lend a hand to help clean the environment
In late September 2009, Roots employees across the country volunteered to participate in the 2009 Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup (GCSC). It was the first major Roots Cares project in conjunction with the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada’s Project Blue, a Roots and Shoots national water campaign. There was a great turnout from Roots staff
in all regions who arrived on site, in their Roots Cares T-shirts, enthusiastic and ready to help.
From Head Office, 67 people took part while 26 came out from the Distribution Centre. On the retail front, approximately 300 staff members, from stores in all regions, participated in the event.
In Toronto, Roots Co-Founder Don Green joined Dr. Jane Goodall at the special ceremony to wrap up the cleanup at the shoreline of Lake Ontario where it meets the Humber River.
Roots participants in this event were given a half-day off to help. As part of Roots Cares, Roots paid employees their normal salary for the time they spent removing trash from areas next to bodies of water.
Special thanks to Liz Doggett, Director of Wholesale Operations, Debbie Scallion, manager of a Roots store in Vancouver and Paulomi Patel, Retail Operations Coordinator, who kindly volunteered to coordinate the Roots involvement in their year’s GCSC. This was only the first of many Roots Cares projects. Stay tuned for more to come.
Taking attendance of special guests at Roots stores
Celebrities have long made a point of shopping at Roots. Here are the latest sightings of prominent figures from the world of entertainment and sports who visited Roots stores recently:
- 100 Bloor Street, Toronto - During the Toronto International Film Festival, Kevin Jonas and Joe Jonas from The Jonas Brothers spent time shopping and checking out the new Roots clothing for fall.
- Bloor Street - Actress Megan Fox came to the flagship store for a private cocktail party hosted by Sierra Pictures, ICM and Creative Coalition for her upcoming movie Passion Play.
- Eaton Centre, Toronto - Canadian singer-songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk purchased women’s merchandise while visiting Toronto.
- Bloor Street - Actor Estefania Iglesias, in town promoting her new film Down for Life, stopped by and admired our new bags for fall.
- Robson Street, Vancouver - Actor Ray Liotta stopped in and purchased a few Roots items including a Zoey Hooded Poncho. He kindly made a donation to the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada.
- Bloor Street - Actor and comedian Bill Murray entertained the crowd and tried on the new Roots Satchel during his visit. Later he was spotted proudly wearing his new Banff Bag in Tribe Leather.
- Eaton Centre - Nikki Blonsky, actress and singer best known for her role in Hairspray, came in to pick up a variety of Roots items, including the Classic Cooper Zip Hoody and Olivia Cap.
- Eaton Centre - American Idol contestant Danny Gokey, dropped by to purchase a Roots men’s watch while in town.
Roots partners with Moosehead to create a special gift set for the holiday season
Roots loves to work with other companies that share its passion for Canada.
With the help of Patricia MacInnes, Business-To-Business Account Manager and Kam Ryatt, B2B Product Coordinator, Roots has found a new partner that revels in its strong Canadian heritage. Earlier this year, Moosehead, known internationally for its beer, approached Roots with the idea for a holiday gift box set.
After discussing various possibilities, the two companies decided that Roots would create a Moosehead scarf for the set.
It will include a limited edition Roots Moosehead scarf, two bottles of Moosehead beer and two Moosehead glasses. The scarves are all high quality, full length and have three inches of fringe on each end. Made in Canada, they come in three colours – green, black and charcoal – and feature both the Moosehead and Roots logos in subtle tonal colours.
The gift box was designed by Moosehead and spotlights both companies. The set is a celebration of Canada and the strong connection both brands have with their home country.
Moosehead started brewing beer in Nova Scotia in 1867, making it Canada’s oldest independent brewery. After surviving the Halifax explosion in 1917, the company moved its head office to New Brunswick, where it remains today. The founding family, the Olands, have been involved in the company since its inception.
This is the first time that Roots and Moosehead have worked together but not the last. More joint projects are in the cards for 2010.
The gift box will be available in Ontario liquor stores as of early November and will sell for $27.95.
Windsor Roots 73 teams up with RBC to help disadvantaged kids
This year, the return to school was made easier for a group of underprivileged children in Windsor, Ontario thanks in part to a local Roots store.
The Roots 73 store at Windsor Crossing Outlet Mall teamed up with the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) to give Roots backpacks and lunch bags to 87 children who needed them.
The partnership began when RBC executive Phil Senay was shopping at the store and asked key holder Tania Facchineri about the quality of Roots bags.
“I strongly recommended the bags,” says Tania who’s been with Roots since 2007. “I told him from personal experience that I would never buy another backpack seeing that my own Roots backpack lasted through Grades 9-12 and an additional four years of university.”
Phil, impressed with the quality of Roots backpacks, asked if Roots would join with RBC to hand out backpacks to children from 6 to 18 years old who come from disadvantaged families. The children also received lunch boxes and pencil cases filled with pencils and erasers courtesy of the Windsor Crossing Outlet Mall.
The entire Windsor Crossing team took part in ordering the supplies and putting the packages together. It was in keeping with the store’s tradition of trying to help others. Past initiatives include collecting funds for Haiti and donating clothes, toys and used furniture to a local Windsor church.
Tania said this latest community project wouldn’t have been possible without the Head Office assistance of District Manager Noela Ashworth; Executive Director of Retail Operations Jarar Kazmi, and Senior Planner Jacquelyn James.
Companies team up for great shopping opportunity
From us, to you,” reads the inside of the new Shopportunity coupon booklet being offered to Roots customers in the fall of 2009. The company has joined forces with two other iconic Canadian brands to give back to their customers. Shopportunity is a joint coupon project involving Roots, Indigo and Cineplex. Given out to customers, each booklet contains three coupons to be used at each of the three stores equaling $45 in savings. After Co-Founder Michael Budman discussed the possibility of a collaboration with Indigo’s President and CEO, Heather Reisman, Indigo took the reigns and put it together. With the help of Shyrose Kassam, Vice-President of Merchandising and James Connell, Senior Director of E-Commerce and New Media, Roots solidified its participation in the partnership. “The premise behind the initiative is for three great Canadian companies to be able to say thank you to our customers,” says Shyrose. “To give customers a reason to feel good when they shop.” Roots is offering $25 off merchandise after spending $100 before taxes. Indigo has savings of $10 after spending $40, and Cineplex is giving away a free adult admission when one adult movie ticket is purchased. The booklets will be handed out from mid-Sept. until Nov. 1 and will be valid until Nov. 11. In connection with the Shopportunity promotion, Roots has also launched a new contest. The winner will receive a $3,000 shopping spree at a Roots store. The runners-up will receive one of three $100 gift certificates for Roots products. Customers can visit www.yourshopportunity.ca to enter the draw.
