David Ian Gray's presentation on topic of Sustainability in Retail as part of panel discussion at Retail BC's Passion for Retail Conference 05/09 Vancouver, Canada.

1. Creating A Culture
of Sustainability
Retail BC
Passion for Retail
Conference
May 5,2009 - Vancouver BC

2. Panelists
 Amy Curry-Staschke, Director of
Global Compliance, Lululemon.
 David Labistour, CEO of Mountain
Equipment Co-op.
 Satnam Lalli, Independent Pharmacist
and National Board of Pharmasave.
 Carmen Spagnola, Founder of M,
Sustainable Bed and Bath Retailer.

3. Change
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4. Change
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5. Three levels of true green
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6. Three levels of true green
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7. Complex systems
Shoppers Retail
shape shapes
retail shoppers
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9. Retail strengths and weakness
 Stronger: on tactics and short-term
strategy, adaptation to its ‘environment’
and adopting new tactics.
 Weaker: true innovation, organizational
change, long-term vision and strategy.
www.dig360.ca

10. Types of retail competitors
Growth start-
Mom & Pops
ups & Chains
(Self employed)
concepts*
The majority Fewer in
At risk (but number Concentration
continuously of Sales $
Catalysts for
emerging) retail Greatest
innovation influence
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11. Technology drives retail change
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12. Global Sourcing has too
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13. “Good & Evil”
Often a paradox in the
same shopper.
Shoppers want green
plus:
 Price, Quality,
Convenience, Design
 This is changing...
 ... frugal = chic?
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14. Canadian Retail Sales % Change
Decline begins in Nov.
% change from same month prior yr.
www.dig360.ca Source: Statistics Canada

15. Now = tide is changing
Long period of
growth slowing
even earlier
“Rocks” getting
exposed
There will be a
period of retail
chaos
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16. www.dig360.ca

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18. Short-term challenges
 No growth
 Some winners
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19. and opportunities
 Acquisition
 Real Estate
 Improvement
 For those with
good balance
sheets
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20.  Green still on
agenda
 Must help
bottom line
 Catalyst to price
curve
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21. Sustainable Retail
 The next
transformative
catalyst!
 Similar to
Internet in 90’s
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22. Lessons from Internet adoption
Dial-up, bbs Publishing “Retail Dead” Alt. Channels Multi-Channel
email “Yellow Page” New Economy DSL Web 2.0
Netscape Ecommerce Rich media Alt Platforms
1994 1999 2009
Disruptive or Transformative?
www.dig360.ca

23. Discussion:
Creating A Culture of Sustainability
Retail BC
Passion for Retail
Conference

24. Q1: Possible barriers…
(from DIG360 Retail Cares Study)
Customers not paying for it.
Lack of human resources
Budget restraints
Lack of time
We are doing much already; there are
diminishing returns to our efforts.
Customers not demanding it
Difficult to make a business case
www.dig360.ca

25. Question #1
Why discuss “change”, “strategy” &
“culture”? ...
... we’ll tactically outsource or add
solutions created by others as
appropriate.
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www.dig360.ca

26. Sustainability drivers
 Waste Reduction – cost savings
 Not green product sales
 Health + kids excepted
 Price falling will help
 Labour Market key
 Risk management
 Brand differentiation
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27. Q2: Green retail drivers
(Executive survey from DIG360 Retail Cares Study)
More common Less common
 It’s simply ‘the right  Generating sales from
thing to do’ “ethical” shoppers
 Reducing costs  Responding to key product
vendors’ demands
 Acting as a general brand
differentiator  Attracting investors
 Avoid lag behind our peers
 Attracting and retaining
employees
 Meeting regulation
www.dig360.ca

28. Question #2:
OK, so we should consider ‘culture’,
change management ...and
continuous green improvement...
But how do I build that foundation in
my organization? What do I need to
consider?
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29. Question #3:
What is retail’s gift (to a
sustainable future)?...
Am I to be an outstanding adapter
and adopter of other solutions? Or...
help develop the future ?
Do I do this alone, or work with
peers?
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www.dig360.ca

30. Green retail activities
(Executive survey from DIG360 Retail Cares Study)
More common Less common
 Reducing waste in operations +/  Supporting specific
or reducing energy use. environmental groups
 Conducting green building and
 Offering environmentally
design (such as LEED)
friendly products to consumers
 Many mall-based / leased
 Mandating eco-friendly premises
packaging
 Using green power
 Developing or designing green  After sales environmental
products product stewardship
 Incorporating green procurement  Public accountability reporting
of supplies and services.
 Participation in carbon offset
programmes
www.dig360.ca

31. Thanks!
For more information, contact:
David Ian Gray
DIG360 Consulting Ltd.
davidiangray@dig360.ca
www.dig360.ca
Follow on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidiangray