| Retail Council of Canada has a long history of sponsoring research and developing partnerships that advance the interests of RCC's members and contribute to retailers' ongoing education, and this
past year was no exception.
In late 2007, RCC and Scotiabank partnered to produce Independent Retail: A Changing Landscape, a yearlong consultation project involving RCC's independent retail members across the country. Chaired by RCC Board Member Paul Simmonds, President of Robert Simmonds Inc. of Fredericton, N.B., the task force is meeting with retailers, consultants, educators
and government officials to undertake a critical review of the current state of independent retail in Canada, focusing on the various challenges and changes in the industry and what they will mean to independent retailers nationwide.
In 2007, RCC and a group of leading technology, fi nancial and software partners launched eTill, a comprehensive point-of-sale and operations system designed to help Canada's independent retailers compete in today's marketplace. After a successful product launch at STORE 2007, the customized and scalable eTill system was shipped out to its first customers in Q3 2007.
At the Retail Loss Prevention Conference in September, RCC and its partners RBC, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ipsos Reid released the preliminary findings of the 2007 Canadian Security Report: Shrinking Shrink, |
New Perspectives on a Persistent Problem, a report in two parts that looked at the security issues affecting both larger retailers and the independent retail sector. Both reports found several key issues affecting retailers of all sizes, and the findings will be used to press the case for a stronger legislative approach to retail crime.
In early 2008, RCC and the Ontario Service Safety Alliance (OSSA) partnered to produce a series of posters emphasizing safe workplace practices, available for free to all RCC members across the country through its Web site and its Customer Service helpline.
Also in 2008, RCC partnered with RBC to offer independent retailers a series of tip sheets dedicated to loss prevention best practices.
To salute Fraud Awareness Month in March, RCC, in association with the Bank of Canada and other industry associations, launched Fighting Fraud on the Front Lines, a guide for retailers featuring advice on how they can avoid becoming victims of bank note counterfeiting, payment card crime, cheque and money order fraud, and identity theft.
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