ROOTS MVP OF THE MONTH
It takes special qualities to be a successful store manager. For nearly a decade at Roots, Aran Pamplona has been demonstrating what it's all about
September 2006

To manage a store is to be the captain of a ship. It takes many attributes and skills, especially a keen ability to motivate people, to ensure things stay on course. You need to be highly attentive to both customers and staff, all the while staying true to the values and culture of the brand.

At Roots, each store and its team are indispensable to the success of the company. While reflecting Roots, each store also has its own personality that begins with the manager. In Montreal, store managers must also contend with an extra challenge - interacting with customers and staff in Canada's two official languages, English and French.

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ROOTS MVP OF THE MONTH
More than just being a highly popular figure at the Roots Head Office, Julie O'Neill is a master at what she does, even if it’s little understood by many people
August 2006

Ask people at the Roots Head Office about Julie O'Neill, and you're sure to hear sincere superlatives from anyone who works with her. With her easy smile and even-keeled, extremely pleasant manner, Julie always brings a positive, team-oriented attitude to her job as Merchandise Manager in the Women's Department. Proactive with an unfailing sense of initiative, Julie never shies away from taking on new responsibilities.

But for all her attributes, Julie was selected as the latest Roots MVP of the Month for other reasons as well. In recent weeks, the results of her work have shown themselves in the particularly strong sales of the women's fall collection. Of course, others in the Women's wear also deserve credit. Jules Power, Senior Designer in Women's wear, plays a big part in this achievement having created the winning styles. Likewise Stephanie Briers (Graphic Artist), Nikki Kime (Senior Technician), and Yougin Lee (Technician) are also important players in the process.

Julie’s role is less understood by many people. In the general scheme of things in the fashion business, design is relatively easy to comprehend and more celebrated. Not so Julie’s function, which is just as critical to the success of sales. At a company like Roots that is at once a major manufacturer and retailer, Julie's well-honed buying skills are vital. She's responsible for assortment planning - deciding on the right quantities to order for each style, colour and size - pricing and meeting gross margin targets to ensure profitability and growth in the women's wear department.

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ROOTS MVP OF THE MONTH
In the Roots Finance Department, the numbers all add up to some pretty impressive statements. Just like the people behind them, such as Anna DiNella.
July 2006

Like with any business, numbers play a key role at Roots. All kinds of numbers. It’s no secret that to succeed in business, you've got to make sure certain numbers are big, and others small. Someone of course has to stay on top of the numbers and also draw the right conclusions, or else. Ultimately, the numbers tell the story.

At Roots, some of the most important numbers relate to the retail side of the business. Every day of the week, the 130 Roots stores in Canada and the United States generate a plethora of numbers. Gross sales numbers, net sales numbers, gift card numbers, shrink numbers. Numbers galore.

Fortunately, for Roots, Anna DiNella is on the case. As the Retail Accounting Supervisor, Anna -- with help from her three Retail Accounting Associates -- is responsible for all the financial accounts of the stores. That includes sales audit functions, store balances, petty cash, credit cards and inventory control. Anna also sets up the banking requirements for each store, does the month-end closing and reporting as well as oversee the Roots gift card operation.

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ROOTS MVP OF THE MONTH
It's thanks to people like Andrew Ligama that the shopping experience at Roots stores is so positive and customers keep coming back for more. 
June 2006

One of the major strengths of Roots, in addition to quality products, has always been the caliber of people working in the stores. Ultimately, they are the ones who have the greatest impact on customers and, by extension, on the bottom line.

The retail team is a source of considerable pride at Roots. It's made up of men and women of diverse ages, interests and roots that span the globe. They all share a passion for what Roots is, and they reflect it. In today's highly intense retail market, our people in the stores give Roots a competitive edge. Their dedication, friendliness and the way they engage customers are indispensable to the success of Roots. This month's MVP exemplifies the best attributes in our retail staff.

Andrew Ligama may be the youngest member of the Roots team ever selected as the MVP of the Month but a rookie he's not. Despite his tender age, he's already amassed considerable experience on the frontlines of Roots.

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ROOTS MVP OF THE MONTH
Way out west, Lea Weir and Roots go way back. Fortunately for Roots, that collaboration flourishes today more than ever.
May 2006

Whether it's her long-time commitment to Roots, her great affinity for the brand or her major contribution to the company,  

Lea Weir has few rivals when it comes to her storied relationship with Roots. For more than 30 years, Roots has figured prominently in her life. During that time, Lea has been involved with Roots in Western Canada in various roles.

To listen to Lea talk about Roots - both the people and the products behind the name - is to marvel at her genuinely gracious, positive manner and her deep sense of pride in working at a company and for people she respects.

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ROOTS MVP OF THE MONTH
He's worn many hats in his five years at Roots and this month Jarar Kazmi has added yet another as he plays an increasingly vital role at the company.
April 2006

Ever since he joined Roots in 2001, Jarar Kazmi has covered a lot of ground, both in the field and at the head office. This month, in the latest move in his upward trajectory at Roots, Jarar was appointed Director of Purchasing and Flow. It reflects his keen abilities, hard work, and unyielding commitment to the success of Roots.

If Jarar has held many positions at Roots, it's not for a lack of focus or stability on his part. On the contrary. It's simply that no sooner does he quickly prove himself in one position that he's invariably asked by Roots Co-founders Michael Budman and Don Green to take on a new, more senior role at Roots with greater responsibility.

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ROOTS MVP OF THE MONTH
The cachet that special collections add to Roots was again evident last month in Torino with the Olympic apparel for Team USA. David Young had a lot to do with it.
March 2006

Many things set Roots apart from other brands. One of them is special collections. In addition to the great seasonal styles that the Men’s, Women’s and Kids’ Departments create month after month, Roots has long been acclaimed for custom designing apparel connected to major events and teams.

Here are just a few recent examples: The US Olympic team; the Canadian speed skating team; Hockey Canada (Team Canada in affiliation with Wayne Gretzky); the Jamaican bobsled team; Toronto Maple Leafs; the Canadian Six NHL team collection.

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ROOTS MVP OF THE MONTH
When you’re hot, you’re hot, even in the cold of winter. That’s certainly the case with Steve Cummings, Manager of the Roots store in Park City, Utah who keeps going from strength to strength.
February 2006

It takes many things and many people to make a retail store successful. Some factors are more critical than others. High on the list of indispensables is the person managing the store.

For all of Roots’ various activities (retail, wholesale, manufacturing, etc.) the stores represent the frontlines of the business. They have always been critical to the success of Roots. As essential as it is to design excellent products and to have them in stock, it’s not enough. Without a good manager and a well-trained, motivated sales team, a store will never excel.....

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ROOTS MVP OF THE MONTH
With her unswerving dedication to her job, her incredible capacity for work and her human warmth, Maria Chee helps make Roots a better place to be every day.
January 2006

If there was an award for the most radiant, contagious smile at Roots, Maria Chee would be a top contender. When she smiles, which is often, her face lights up and shines. Along with her soft-spoken, friendly nature and sense of modesty, Maria has a winning personality. But that’s only a small part of her MVP story.

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ROOTS MVP OF THE MONTH
In early January, Ed Cox will mark an incredible milestone at Roots. But he’s much more than simply the company’s iron man.
December 2005

Call it staying power. Call it unswerving dedication. A deep sense of loyalty. A strong feeling of belonging. Being part of a winning team. Call it going the distance and then some. When it comes to Ed Cox and his presence at Roots, it’s all of the above and a lot more.

In a few weeks, it will be exactly 30 years since Ed began working at Roots. It speaks volumes of what Ed is all about. It’s all the more impressive in an age when employees often jump from one company to another.

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ROOTS MVP OF THE MONTH
From the look of Roots stores to a myriad of other design-related assignments, Pauline Landriault’s multi-disciplinary skills and exemplary approach to work go a long way at Roots.
November 2005

Sometimes a job title does little justice to the person whose name goes beside it. Pauline Landriault is a case in point. Her business card says she is the Director of Planning and Development. Try figuring that one out. It may sound vague but the impact of her work is anything but.  

In 2005, in a relatively short amount of time, Pauline has made her presence felt at Roots, both at the global headquarters in Toronto and in retail stores across Canada. Her influence extends to different areas in many ways. Not surprising given her diverse talents and rich experience in architecture, store design, visual communication, fashion, and product development.

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ROOTS MVP OF THE MONTH
Rosemary Eisenhut at the helm, the “Roots 73” stores are performing better than ever. It’s the perfect outlet for her many talents.
October 2005

Next month, Roots will open a new outlet store in Windsor, Ontario. This month, a newly designed and renovated outlet store opened in the Toronto suburb of Mississauga. In September, one opened in Edmonton. The month before, another opened in Moncton, New Brunswick. In the coming year, several more will open across Canada.

Of course, stores don’t just open by themselves. In addition to the financial investment, it takes a special type of person to stay on top of all the countless details, put a winning team together, drive the project through to opening day and then ensure that everything stays on track thereafter. This is not a job for most people. It is a job for Rosemary Eisenhut, Roots MVP of the Month for October.

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ROOTS MVP OF THE MONTH
Everywhere you look at Roots, you see the visual influence
of Ilich Mejia
September 2005

The Art Department at Roots is not for the faint of heart. To work there, you have to thrive on frenetic activity, be able to keep several projects on the fly at the same time and meet multiple deadlines, often on short notice. You need to be fast on your feet, highly creative, attentive to detail, resilient, forward thinking but mindful of the past, and open to input from others.

For a dynamic, evolving company like Roots operating in an increasingly image-driven society, visual communication is vital. It makes for busy days for those in the Art Department where all of Roots advertising, promotional material and other printed matter are designed and executed. There’s always something – usually many things – on the go, invariably under the pressure of deadlines. Looming, unforgiving, fast-approaching deadlines imposed by newspapers, magazines and billboard companies that require artwork to fill the space Roots has reserved for advertising. 

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ROOTS MVP OF THE MONTH
He’s not called Mr. Clean for nothing. Toni Bettencourt keeps things spic and span at Roots. What’s the big deal?
August 2005

When Toni Bettencourt is at Roots, he has a one-track mind. He thinks cleanliness. He thinks neatness and order. He takes pride in keeping the home offices at 1400 Castlefield and the Distribution Center (DC) at 75 Tycos looking good. To that end, he vacuums the entire premises every day, dusts off desks, empties the garbage and generally ensures that both places are tidy and pleasant to work in.

But Toni does far more than just that. He’s also responsible for keeping a high sanitary standard in the washrooms, he looks after minor repairs, assists in shipping and receiving, and makes sure that the Roots offices have enough supplies for smooth day-to-day operations. In addition, Toni is a pivotal point person at the DC in terms of maintenance and repairs.

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ROOTS MVP OF THE MONTH
What’s the big deal? Ladi Popoola, that’s what. Ladi and his current Mazda project are a big deal indeed, breaking new ground in the B2B division.
July 2005

Some coincidences are sweeter, more poetic than others. This one is particularly gratifying for this month’s MVP, Ladi Popoola. When informed that he was chosen for the MVP honour, he did not realize that July marks exactly 10 years since he began his career at Roots.

July also marks a significant moment in Ladi’s latest achievement at Roots where he works as an Account Executive in the Business To Business (B2B) division. This month, thanks to Ladi’s major deal with Mazda, Roots will deliver to them the first installment of custom made leather products. The total package includes 1,500 leather activity bags delivered by the end of the summer followed by 600 leather garment bags in the fall. In total, it represents more than a half-million-dollar deal (at wholesale), one of the largest at Roots in recent memory.

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ROOTS STAFF HELP FIGHT AGAINST BREAST CANCER
Getting together to make the best kind of fashion statement.
May 27, 2005

Dozens of Roots head office staff members took part in the "Fashion Targets Friday" nation-wide initiative in late May. It was organized by the Canadian charity Rethink Breast Cancer (of which Roots is an on-going supporter).

To demonstrate support for the fight against breast cancer, Roots employees (seen here at the entrance to 1400 Castlefield) joined thousands of people across Canada who came to work wearing Rethink's 2005 Fashion Targets Breast Cancer T-shirt. It is sold exclusively at Roots stores. Net proceeds from the sale of each T-shirt go to Rethink to fund their excellent work.

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ROOTS MVP OF THE MONTH
The leather factory is the source of considerable pride at Roots. Here’s one of several good reasons why.
June 2005

If, as the saying goes, behind every successful person, there’s a mate standing in the shadows, then it’s fair to say that behind every successful factory, there’s a support team playing a critical role.

That’s certainly the case with the Roots state-of-the-art leather goods factory and a small group of women behind the scenes. Without them the production of Roots leather products would not happen. Although little known in the company, these women play such a vital role that for the first time we’ve selected a group as this month’s MVP.

I is a distinguisthed team: (presented in the order of how long they’ve been at Roots) Rosa Goncalves, Guida Pitta, Nadeen Peca and Dorothy Krol. The Kowalewski brothers – Richard, Henry, and Karl -- who’ve been running the factory since the founding of Roots in 1973, are the first to pay tribute to this month’s MVPs.

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ROOTS MVP OF THE MONTH
Modern technology helps link all the different branches of Roots. Without Robin Nelson, Roots would be terribly disconnected. 
May 2005

When Roots began in 1973, computers were more science fiction than reality. As recently as ten years ago, there were barely half a dozen in the head office. Today, computers are an indispensable part of Roots. Such is the degree to which companies now depend on modern technology.

That’s why Robin Nelson is so valued at Roots. As the Manager of Technical Services in the IT Department, she plays a vital role ensuring that everyone has the tools to connect with each other and the outside world by computer and telephone. Robin looks after the data and voice network infrastructure at Roots. As such, she’s intimately involved in the planning and purchasing of computer hardware, software, and communications, and loads of other technical stuff that most of us will never understand.

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ROOTS MVP OF THE MONTH
Bob Baker delivers the goods. In more ways than one
April 2005

Most customers take for granted how products appear magically in stores. Why shouldn’t they take it for granted? Most people give little thought to how merchandise gets to each location with such regularity. Why would they give much thought to it? Not Bob Baker. He thinks about it all the time. 

As the Director of Warehousing and Operations, Bob is a critical link in the Roots supply chain. He’s responsible for shipping products to Roots stores five days a week, 52 weeks a year. It’s a tall order that entails dispatching 40,000 units of merchandise on an average day to every Roots store in Canada and the United States.

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THE BIG MOVE - STAFF NEWSLETTER HELPS PREPARES ROOTS TEAM FOR MOVE INTO NEW HEADQUARTERS
February 8, 2005

This week, Roots published a newsletter for all its employees in connection with the move later this month to our new headquarters. Called The Big Move, the newsletter gives the staff a preview of the new offices and provides them with useful information to help prepare for the move.

The new offices represent a major development for Roots. Instead of the current situation of operating out of four different buildings, as of February 21, 2005, all the various departments (except the leather goods factory) will be working under one roof in a spectacular new office environment at 1400 Castlefield Ave.

For more information, click the icon to view a copy of The Big Move.




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ROOTS FACTORY STAFF BREAK BREAD FOR HOLIDAYS AND
WIN PRIZES
December 22 , 2004

In celebration of the upcoming holidays and in keeping with an annual tradition dating back to the first year of Roots in 1973, the entire staff of the Roots Genuine Leather factory in Toronto had a festive lunch with the company’s senior management on December 21, 2004.

Roots Co-Founder Michael Budman, who hosted the event, paid tribute to the factory team for their dedication to Roots and their hard work in creating such high-quality products. In his speech, Michael praised a group of employees who have been working at the factory for the past 30 years. He cited by name Simon Bourgeois, Remo Fierro, Lok Wai Cheung, Filomena Jesus and Arlete Da Silva, all of whom have been working at the Roots production facilities since the mid-1970s.



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