Training & Resources

Independent Retailer

City Centre Construction
How six small town retailers survived & thrived
Succeeding as a small business owner requires ingenuity, creativity and a lot of hard work. But what do you do when your acumen as an independent retailer is tested even further by a business improvement plan that affects not only the town in which you operate, but your storefront as well?
> Click here to download the Independents Matter poster
Rainbow Foods: Natural Trailblazers
For more than three decades Janet and Michael Kaplan have been providing communities in Ottawa and beyond with alternative food choices to lead a healthier lifestyle. They boast being able to offer the widest selection of health products and vitamins, and pride themselves on their customer engagement and ability to offer the best kind of advice and information for their clientele.
Together We Are Stronger!
The Canadian retail landscape changes at a constant rate, and the challenges related to the operation of a successful business continue to diversify. So too do the needs and interests of independent retailers across the country. And as a result of these changes and diversification, obstacles to the growth of small business are presented. Though, these obstacles — as difficult as they may be for some independent retailers to identify — are equaled only by the opportunities that arise from them.
RCC: Putting the needs of independent retailers first
The retail industry is one that is dynamic and constantly evolving. With shifts and changes in the Canadian marketplace, retailers need to be able to adapt and respond quickly to the needs of their customers. But for independent merchants, there exists a unique set of challenges and concerns. Independents work with tighter budgets and less staff than their larger competitors, and so they need to find creative ways to be both strategic and operational leaders in their business.