ESSENTIAL NEWS FOR AGRI-RETAILERS
The Communicator
April Issue – See All
Developing Deeper Relationships
When a customer looks to you, their retailer, as a trusted resource, opportunities are created to build a relationship that is mutually beneficial to both parties. You help them, and they help you.
Panel Discussion: Mergers and Acquisitions
Four industry leaders provided their insight into the recent wave of mergers and acquisitions and shared their advice for ag retailers during the 2019 CAAR Conference.
Retailer of the Year: South Country Co-op
South Country Co-op (South Country) prides itself on its commitment to creating safe and productive workplaces. The company is known for investing highly in its staff and empowers team members to take ownership and make decisions in the best interests of their fellow employees and their customers. This has paid off enormously for the organization, through staff retention, customer loyalty and, now, winning CAAR’s 2018 Retailer of the Year award, sponsored by Bayer CropScience Inc.
Keys to Managing Your Customer's Expectations
Maintain positive, long-term relationships with customers by managing their expectations.
Retailer Hall of Fame: Wayne Deschouwer
CAAR’s 2018 Retailer Hall of Fame award, sponsored by Univar Canada, was presented in memory of Wayne Deschouwer, who was taken from family, friends and Manitoba’s agriculture community far too soon when he passed away on Oct. 1, 2018, at the age of 63.
A Shared Responsibility
Retailers play an important role in farmer education.
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The Essentials for Agri-Retailers
Recently, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) held a webinar for employees, fertilizer businesses and industry associations to provide an overview of key elements of proposed changes to the Fertilizers Regulations. This webinar is now available online and can be viewed by anyone wishing to gain further information about the proposed changes.
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Join the Germination Retail Roundtable on March 12, 2019 to learn more about value creation and how it will benefit the industry. “Value Creation: How You Can Bust the Myths” will leave you well-informed about value creation and its benefits and better equipped to discuss the subject with customers and others.
Thank You For Another Great CAAR Conference!
CAAR extends its sincere thanks to our many sponsors, exhibitors, auction donors, planning committee members, attendees and special guests for lending their time, support and passion for their industry to the 2019 CAAR Conference. Thank you for participating in the CAAR Conference!
Getting Disruptive
Graham Sherman’s inspiring and motivating talk was the perfect presentation to open the final day of the 2019 CAAR Conference. Sherman is the co-owner of Tool Shed Brewing Company, an Alberta brewery that took an approach to creating policy change that can truly be described as “disruptive behaviour.”
A law that was impeding the startup of new breweries, including Tool Shed was in litigation, but no headway was being made. But what couldn’t be accomplished through the courts was handled with a lot of disruption. Not only did Tool Shed’s inventive and unconventional approach to overcoming their roadblock highlight lost economic opportunity in the province, but it was something that had never been done. And in about one year, their efforts led to legislation change.
Day Two of the 2019 CAAR Conference featured a sensational speaker program, plenty of networking opportunities, CAAR’s always-popular Pro-Ag Investments Auction and ag retail's biggest evening: CAAR's Choice Awards Banquet.
Roundtable Networking Discussions
The morning started bright and early, with a select number of conference delegates enjoying a working breakfast during Roundtable Networking Discussions. Attendees pre-registered for one of four discussion topics: Retail Management, Safety and Training, Technology and Services and Sales and Customer Services.
Brian Downie, manager of Shur Gro Farm Services Wawanesa branch, called the Retail Management discussion a great way to start the day with inspiration from hearing a variety of perspectives in his group.
“The discussion went very well. I was seated primarily with new contacts. It was good to hear perspectives from different retails, different companies and think about how I can maybe take some of these ideas home to my business,” says Downie. “It was definitely very valuable.”
And we’re off! Ag retailers from across Canada gathered in the heart of the continent in Winnipeg, MB today to break the ice at the 24th Annual CAAR Conference.
Taking Care of Business
Before getting the celebrations underway, CAAR’s board, staff and membership took care of important business at CAAR’s Annual General Meeting.
“I think that for any organization that you’re a part of, it’s important to be an active participant with all aspects of the organization, including its official meetings,” says conference delegate Steven McQueen from MC Ag Solutions. “Voting at CAAR’s AGM is what drives the association’s activities. If you’re involved in an association I think you should be engaged at all levels.”
CAAR is proud to celebrate Canada's Agriculture Day at tonight's Icebreaker Cocktail Reception, sponsored by John Deere Financial. Use the #CdnAgDay and #CAARcon2019 hashtags on Twitter to share your love for Canada's agriculture industry on social media.