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Recent Sales & Service News & Reports
The Career Foundation’s Workforce Development Centre provides labour market information, sector trends and initiatives, and workforce development planning opportunities to address labour market needs for our communities. See below for recent Sales & Service Sector news and reports.
COVID-19 News — Sales & Service Sector
Small Business, Big Impact: How SMEs are Pivoting During COVID-19
Province Providing Training and Support for Hospitality Workers & Skilled Trade Apprentices
COVID-19: Voice of Canadians and Impact to Retailers
“The world has changed in the blink of an eye—and it has dealt another blow to Canada’s retail sector, an industry that was already facing significant challenges before anyone had even heard of COVID-19. We believe gaining a better understanding of how Canadians’ shopping and spending habits are changing in light of this global pandemic could help retailers, restaurants, and other businesses respond, adapt, and move forward in these incredibly difficult times. We therefore surveyed 1,000 Canadian consumers from coast to coast to coast to gain insights into their confidence about Canada’s economy and their own personal financial situation.”
The Impact of COVID-19 on Tourism
“Tourism is considered one of the hardest hits by the COVID-19 outbreak. The sector is experiencing a rapid and sharp drop in demand and a surge in job losses at global level, putting many SMEs at risk. Despite tourism’s proven resilience in responses to other crisis, the depth and breadth of the current pandemic will likely have a longer lasting effect on international tourism compared to other industries.”
Sales & Service Sector Reports
Industrial Consumerism: Experience the New Normal
“New research reveals the success strategies that have given first movers the edge in the fast-changing industrial landscape. Matching their mastery will be challenging. However, with revenues and profitability at risk, all industrial companies should be adopting these valuable strategies to raise their game. Fast.
Conducted in May 2018, our benchmarking study assessed the readiness of global companies for industrial consumerism. More than 270 organizations across ten geographies in five sectors (automotive supply, consumer durables, construction, industrial and electrical equipment manufacturing, and heavy equipment production) participated in the survey.”
The New Sales DNA Report
“The New Sales DNA Report is the first survey of its kind and it is urgently needed to bring new ideas and benchmarks that will help organize and standardize one of Canada’s most misunderstood and essential professions.
The Government of Canada is targeting 30% growth in goods and services exports by 2025. One key ingredient we know that’s needed to meet this goal must be a strong and vibrant sales profession, armed with the fundamentals. The survey, commissioned by the Canadian Professional Sales Association, was conducted from November 25 to December 6, 2017. A total of 500 interviews were completed by commercial sales professionals and commercial sales managers in B2B and B2C sales across Canada.”
2020 Retail Industry Outlook: Convenience as a Promise
“For consumers, shopping in today’s environment is the most convenient it has ever been. Forward-thinking retailers are setting the expectations bar high for the rest of the pack. In this year’s outlook, we explore convenience, what it means today, and how retailers can position themselves to take on the challenge.
Predictably, 2019 was a year in transition. There was stability in the positioning of the top five retailers, uncertainty among the majority, and a few notable bankruptcies. The emphasis on understanding what consumers really want continued to expand the gap between the leaders and everyone else who followed. For retailers, understanding how consumer expectations are evolving has never been more important.”
Retail Trade: A Sector in Transition (Toronto Workforce Innovation Group)
“For this report, a locational survey of retailers is conducted at one of the biggest shopping malls in Canada, Yorkdale Shopping Centre. This provides a snapshot of the characteristics and essential skills sets required for different positions in retail stores, the recruitment and retention challenges faced by employers in retail stores. Based on secondary research, the report also provides an overview of occupations that retail trade employees commonly move into and an account of the fastest growing jobs in retail trade.”
2019 Retail Trends Report (Microsoft Dynamics 365)
“Over the last 15 years, retail has undergone a significant transformation. The internet has provided customers with access to seemingly endless options while mobile technologies have put information at their fingertips, anytime and anywhere. While these changes continue to reshape the retail landscape, we are beginning the transition into the second phase of this transformation.
As the dust of disruption begins to settle, retailers are reinventing their operations to make them faster, smarter, and more nimble. The following will explore six emerging trends in retail that we believe will help empower retailers to create exceptional, insightful shopping experiences for their customers.”
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