As the world entered lockdown in March 2020, a small, diverse group of Canadian thought leaders gathered virtually to speculate, collaborate and share their insights on the waves of disruption facing retailers.
"The Business of Retail” podcast emerged as an unflinching strategic alternative to the conventional discourse. Listen or watch as root causes are revealed and new paths forward for the wider retail ecosystem are explored. As the pandemic ended in 2022, so did this series.
However, we continued to see downloads, follows and personal inquiries whether we would revive the discussion. In 2023 we tested in-person learning circles we called the Canadian Retail Leaders’ Salon to great success.
And in 2024 we are relaunching the Podcast as a monthly series.
Scroll to meet the crew…
George Minakakis
George Minakakis is a global executive having launched and developed Retail, Restaurants, Health Care businesses to the number one and two market positions. He serves as a Board Director and Chair in the Energy Sector and start-ups in the consumer space. Having held the positions of Country General Manager and Chief Executive Officer, leading businesses in Canada, USA, China, and Hong Kong and temporary assignments in Australia and Europe. Currently, George the CEO of Inception Retail Group Inc. advising businesses and private equity firms taking an active role in mergers and acquisitions. He’s also the author of The Great Transition - The Emergence of Unconventional Leadership and The Last Retailer Standing - Relevant Leadership Relevant Brands. Frequently interviewed by the media and writes Op Ed’s on the consumer sector.
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Craig Patterson
Craig Patterson is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Canada’s most-read online retail industry news publication, Retail Insider. He is also a Director at the University of Alberta School of Retailing, as well as a research consultant at Retail Council of Canada. Craig has studied the Canadian retail landscape for over 25 years and has also been involved with strategy pertaining to urban revitalization in several cities, as well as retail and shopping centre-related design. He is an industry consultant who also gives retail tours and is a public speaker. He is a graduate of the University of Alberta and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and Bachelor of Laws degree.
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David Ian Gray
David Ian Gray, Principal and Retail Strategist, DIG360 Consulting Ltd, is a recognized expert on retail and shopper trends, consistently producing high-impact knowledge for over 28 years. With his team, David provides fresh counsel across Canada to Founders, CEOs and other executives on defining customer-relevance, rethinking customer-experience and tailoring roadmaps for evolving their retail concepts.
He presents on emerging retail trends, the role of retail in a sustainable future, the need for strategic adaptation and management of innovation, and other drivers of transformation. David has taught senior executives globally for the prestigious London Business School and is widely sought for insight by business media
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Gary Newbury
RetailAID www.retailAID.ca
Gary is a “Senior Exec on Call” focused on rapid performance improvement across end-to-end retail supply chains. He has a track record of consistently building marketplace prominence, shareholder value and consumer trust. He helps Boards and Business Leaders to become more Agile, Innovative and Digital across the “make-move-sell” flow of Manufacturing, 3rd Party Logistics, Wholesaling, Retailing & The Last Mile. When it comes to diagnosing mission critical issues, armed with multiple operational turnarounds and strategic transformations completed, Gary helps executives navigate disruption and reinvigorate supply chain performance to establish enduring competitive advantage.
Gary is a sought after thought leader, facilitator, speaker, podcaster and trainer in “End to End Retail Supply Chains & The Last Mile” by many professional bodies. Recently awarded Supply Chain Canada’s “Top 40 Immigrants impacting on Supply Chains” and recognised for his creative thinking via CITT’s “2020 Innovator Award”, Gary has been recognised as one of “Rethink Retail’s Top 100 Global Retail Influencers 2021”.
Gary has an MBA and an MSc (Supply Chain Management & Logistics) from Cranfield University and recently CCLP, CSCMP, PMP, LSSBB and Retail Management certified.
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