Sanjay Padhiar

I saw one brand's image get kicked to dust and a sale lost, while another RFID-ed to a successful outcome. Yesterday was a normal Toronto day, and Yorkville swung between scorching sun and light rain as I strolled out of the office to grab lunch. On the way back, I stopped at the lululemon store in the neighborhood, looking for a travel belt bag. As I hurried up the flight of stairs to the second floor a happy gentleman buzzed down with an RFID scanner in his hand. I beamed at him and said, 'RFID,' and he joyfully replied, 'Yes, it keeps us happy with the stocks'. I was met with a nicely laid display with drawers I could pull out and easily spot what I wanted. Well Done Lululemon. I came out and made my way back to the office. Those familiar with the neighborhood would know there is a competitor's store around the corner. A brand that is buzzing to be more prestigious these days. So I walked in and asked for the same item. The young lady looked around and said, 'Maybe we are out but let me see'. I followed her, and to my surprise, she opened the shelves under the display and pulled the bottom drawers out using her shoes. She was kicking the product. Seeing me not budging she tried a few in the same manner and then said, 'Sorry we are sold out'. I feel empathetic, I don't feel upset, I feel sad more than anything. It is probably not her fault. She was not ready to bend over 50 shelves or check in back-of-office racks for what she could not guesstimate. I wonder if these brands exist on the same road, in the same segment, in the same era of time and world, what can they not see what Lululemon, Zara, UNIQLO, and Marks and Spencer see? It is worth talking to someone about it, 'O Brands', to get a proposal, a process audit, and an ROI calculation done. Empower your people so they can service your customers. P.S. I am not getting on a flight, I was looking for the travel bag for my daughter as she takes off for a quick break. RFID entrepreneurs don't get breaks, we get blocks we need to break :)

18

1 Comment

🌟 Building the foundation of a lasting business? It’s all about caring for people, offering the best of industry’s products with the best service, and never losing sight of your roots. My late husband, Aldo Dominguez, mastered this in the health and wellness industry. Starting his journey in Canada with an unlikely job for a vegetarian from Argentina – making hamburgers with his hands at a restaurant – he went on to establish Nutrition House and was honored with the CHFA Willie Pelzer Memorial Hall of Fame Award in 2007 at CHFA West. Aldo was raised on the principles of healthy living, organic vegetarian foods, grass fed dairy and natural remedies way before it became mainstream. 🌿 This upbringing was the foundation of Nutrition House. The atmosphere of Nutrition House was brought to life through Spanish decor, the soothing strums of the Gypsy Kings, and the Spanish tiles that adorned the floors of the stores. Before Nutrition House, Aldo dabbled in everything from muffin making to to becoming a certified pastry chef, running his own restaurant in downtown Toronto. What made him stand out was how he connected with people. He made sure to know each person involved with Nutrition House, from construction crew to the people on the retail floor to vendors to franchisees, treating everyone with equal respect and ensuring they felt seen and valued. Aldo’s commitment to understanding every role in his company taught me invaluable lessons about leadership and empathy. He made sure he was there for every store build, familiar with every challenge from plumbing to customer service, allowing him to understand his business and all the roles that contributed to success. When a company changes hands, moving from its founder to someone else, there's a pivotal moment where its future is decided. If the new leadership loses sight of the company's original foundation—its core values and mission—and shifts focus from people to profits, the very soul of the business begins to erode. Even if the numbers look good for a while, the loss of that original vision and the genuine care for people and service that built the company's success can lead to its downfall. A business, no matter how successful, stands on shaky ground if it forgets the principles it was built on. It's the heart and soul, not just the bottom line, that sustains a company through challenges and allows it to thrive long term. When these are lost in the pursuit of dollars, the kingdom starts to crumble, losing the loyalty and trust of its customers and employees and, eventually, its place in the market. People still approach me with stories about why they loved Aldo and how he had a profound effect on so many lives proving that service and caring about people is the ultimate key to success. #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #Legacy #HealthAndWellness #CHFAWest #PeopleFirst #Community #Kindness #RealSuccess #BusinessWithHeart" Dalton Dominguez Sheldon Siddique Kaleb Siddique

29

13 Comments

That Lululemon is behaving this way is not surprising. That the BC Chamber of Commerce is coming out swinging on Lululemon's behalf is surprising and concerning. There is no reason for an organization the size of Lululemon to skip LMIAs. Period. Do your planning and take care of your people. This is further evidence of an organization on the long slide from value creation to value extraction and exploitation. https://lnkd.in/gx4t7_QV

7

3 Comments

What can event and conference organizers do different to get more retailers to show up? Setting up booths and handing out samples is getting old. I try to invite retailers to show up to events but get lots of resistance. They say "what's the point to attend an event and wait in line for samples when we get more than enough samples given to us at our stores?" Most retailers are busy operating their stores and don't have time to take a day off to go trick or treating for samples. What can we do different to provide more value to make them want to attend events? OCS Ontario Cannabis Store #cannabis

16

7 Comments

We all get caught up in the daily grind, but what about investing in your future self? Today, take a moment to prioritize something that will benefit you down the line. Here are a few ideas to get you started: -- 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴. ✅ -- 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳𝗳. ✅ -- 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀-𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗹𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀. ✅ -- 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗴𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼-𝗱𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁. ✅ -- 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸. ✅ Remember, small steps today lead to big wins tomorrow! #futureself #selfimprovement #careerdevelopment #motivation #management #projectmanagement #planning #letslearntogether #todaylearning #growing

9

Ever found yourself more passionate about orchestrating the symphony than playing an instrument? That’s exactly what happened to me. A few years ago, I started as a Marketing Project Lead for Costco Canada. I soon realized that my values no longer aligned and I wanted to explore my creative side. Intent on finding the right fit, I transitioned to a communications role at the Green Municipal Fund. It was there that I discovered I didn’t enjoy being deeply involved creating marketing pieces. What I truly missed was leading projects. This realization guided me back to my true passion for project management. When the opportunity came up this year, I completed my PMP certification and am now focused on securing a project management role. As I network within the project management community, I often meet people in IT or construction. When asked, “What type of PM work do you do?” I explain that I specialize in creative project management. This niche focuses on organizing and managing large-scale creative projects, from marketing campaigns to innovative programs. With a background in biology, finance, and marketing, I am an interdisciplinary generalist who understands many sides of a business. This diverse knowledge allows me to bring a unique perspective to my next role. I am passionate about driving projects that inspire and make an impact. I look forward to connecting with others who share this vision and exploring opportunities where creativity meets strategic project management. Stay tuned for more insights as I share my journey and experiences in the weeks to come! #ProjectManagement #CreativeProjects #Marketing #CareerJourney #Networking

12

1 Comment

As a Shopify Marketing Expert, I often hear from store owners who are struggling with sales. You've done everything right—beautiful store design, great product photos, and engaging social media—but the sales just aren't coming in. Sound familiar? The truth is, driving traffic to your store is only half the battle. The real challenge lies in converting those visitors into paying customers. This requires a deep understanding of your target audience, optimizing your site for conversions, and leveraging data-driven marketing strategies. If you're facing these challenges, let's connect. I'd love to share some proven tactics that can help you turn things around. Remember, sometimes a few small adjustments can make a big difference! #Shopify #Ecommerce #DigitalMarketing #SalesStrategy #ConversionOptimization #shopifymarketingexpert #shopifyseo

2

READY TO LEARN REIKI? If you’re in the Toronto area and looking to expand your wellness journey we are offering the Reiki Level 1 Course. Spots are limited so do send a direct message as soon as possible. SUNDAY MAY 26th 2024 8:00am-2:00pm Reiki Level One is the entry level of Reiki training and focuses on self-healing and learning the basic principles of Reiki energy healing. Here’s what you can generally expect from Reiki Level One training: 1. Introduction to Reiki: You’ll learn about the history, origins, and principles of Reiki, including the concept of universal life force energy that practitioners channel to promote healing and balance. 2. Reiki Attunement: The training typically involves a Reiki attunement, which is a process where the Reiki Master transfers the ability to channel Reiki energy to the student. 3. Hand Positions: You’ll be taught various hand positions used in Reiki healing, allowing you to channel energy to different areas of the body. These hand positions are generally associated with the chakras or energy centers in the body. 4. Self-Healing Techniques: Reiki Level One mainly focuses on self-healing, teaching you how to apply Reiki energy to your own body, mind, and spirit. You’ll learn to use Reiki for relaxation, stress reduction, and promoting overall well-being. 5. Energy Awareness: You’ll develop an understanding of energy flow, sensing and perceiving energy, and how to work with subtle energy during a Reiki session. 6. Practice Sessions: Throughout the training, you’ll have opportunities to practice Reiki on yourself and fellow students to gain experience and confidence in channeling the energy effectively. 7. Ethics and Safety: Reiki Level One training often includes discussions on ethical considerations, maintaining boundaries with clients, and ensuring a safe healing environment. https://lnkd.in/gRniWYx3

8

Discover How Artificial Intelligence Canada is Changing the Game! - https://lnkd.in/gnQy9XAX #AI #Leadership #DigitalTransformation #Innovation #FutureOfWork #Technology #Business #CareerGrowth #Marketing #Entrepreneurship #Sustainability #Management #Networking #Startups #Diversity

2

🎙 Thanks so much for having me on, Evan M.! Listen below for insights into: - How to take a pain point you face and turn it into a business - Starting an app as a non-technical founder - How to launch lean and get your first Beta users - Why I think of rax as a logistics company

9

1 Comment

Check it out! Our future consumer index report is now live!

11

This month, set one personal or professional goal that challenges you to grow. What’s one thing you’re focusing on to improve? Let’s inspire each other to make it happen and support each other on the journey! 💪 https://lnkd.in/gY2cWEMY #GrowthMindset #EmbraceChange #Goals

4

Pre-Roll Pricing As we analyze the pre-roll market from May to October 2024, it's clear that understanding both retailer price points and gross margins is crucial for successful brand pricing strategies in Ontario. Here's what the data on Volume Weighted Average Margin vs. Market share tells us. 📈 Brands with sizes and types of pre-rolls above the average margin line 32.4% (e.g., Cali Slimz 10x0.35g, Carmel 3x0.5g) deliver profitability to retailers that surpasses the avg. 🔻 Those below the average might need reevaluation or strategic support to enhance their appeal and profitability. 🏷️ With retail margins being a pivotal factor, brands that erode these margins might find themselves needing to offer additional support to maintain their shelf space and retailer relationships, and susceptible to being dropped. 💡 Brands positioned on the right of our graph command a higher market share, but we can also see that the true winners for the most part, are products that reward retailers for carrying them. Brands have two customers the end users and the retailers. 🚀 For brands on the left, innovative marketing or adjusted pricing strategies might be necessary to capture or increase market share. Align your product offerings to these insights, and ensure your pricing strategies not only attract customers but also support retailer profitability to maintain a healthy, symbiotic market presence. #CannabisIndustry #PreRolls #RetailStrategy #MarketAnalysis #OntarioCannabis #ProfitMargins #CannabisRetail

37

6 Comments

🌟 Exciting News for Inclusive Retail! 🌟 As someone living with Essential Tremors, anxiety, and agoraphobia, I know firsthand how challenging shopping can be in overstimulating environments. That’s why I’m thrilled to see companies like Walmart, Sobeys, and Cineplex. embracing sensory-friendly shopping hours! 🚀 Cutting the music, dimming the lights, and reducing announcements are simple yet impactful changes that make shopping more accessible for people with disabilities and sensory sensitivities. It’s heartwarming to see retail spaces becoming more welcoming and inclusive. 💖 Let’s celebrate and support these positive changes in the retail industry! 🛍️✨ #Inclusion #Accessibility #RetailInnovation #SensoryFriendly #CustomerExperience #InStoreAnalytics #DisabilityAwareness #RetailTech #MentalHealthMatters https://lnkd.in/dqHZM6_D 4o

23

2 Comments

I was surprised when I read today there are 1.29 million small businesses in Canada, as of 2024. Entrepreneurs see opportunities where many see obstacles; it is a mindset to continually think creatively about the road to success. Entrepreneurs are resiliant and adaptable, with an unwavering focus on thier company's vision. That is why I love coaching small business owners who love to push the boundaries, chase their passion, and seek knowledge and advice from others to achieve their dream. Need growth strategies, support with entrepreneurial challenges, understanding customer relations, or help with the team, let me know! X5 Management is here to help! Mike Mack, MBA Anoushka Fernandes Hasan Ahmed #businesscoaching #entrepreneurs #smallbusiness

14

2 Comments