November 23, 2006

A window into the world of Roots

Issue 61 November 23, 2006

MAKING THE SCENE Why Roots is the venue for so many special events

Last week, the Roots flagship store in Toronto hosted the launch of the online magazine xyyz.ca. The CBC’s Jian Ghomeshi, (middle), emceed the event along with Publisher Peter Coish, (left), and Executive Editor Russell Smith, (right) Issue 61 - November 23, 2006

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I N S I D E I S S U E 61 MAKING THE SCENE Why Roots is the venue for so many special events ONLINE AND IN FOCUS Roots.com undergoes major revamp GOOD BOOKS, GOOD LOOKS Staff at Canada’s largest chain of bookstores styled by Roots NIGHT MOVES Roots Visual Team goes the extra mile after hours

PRESENTS FOR A GOOD CAUSE Paramount CEO comes to the right place for the right gifts IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Roots makes cameo appearances on big and small screens SHINING IN LA BELLE PROVINCE Latest MVP of the Month at the helm of Roots Centreville THE VOICE PUTS OUT THE CALL Roots personality hosts evening to help Canadian team at world tournament

Departments FRESH INK NEW AND NOTEWORTHY GUESS WHO JUST DROPPED IN SPREADING THE WORD OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS MOMENTS THAT MATTER GREEN TIPS HEALTH TIPS STAYING POWER

Publishers MICHAEL BUDMAN, DON GREEN Editor ROBERT SARNER Editorial Assistant PAULOMI PATEL Interns CHARLENE CHAE, JOHANNA DAHL

The Source is published every two weeks

by Roots Canada Ltd. We welcome letters from readers for publication. Please address all correspondence to The Source , Letters to the Editor, Roots Canada, 1400 Castlefield Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M6B 4CR or by email to rsarner@roots.com Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

Each issue of The Source is also available, in an abridged version, on the Roots website at www.roots.com

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DON STANFIELD

ON TOUR WITH ROOTS B2B responds to insatiable demand from music heavyweights

SPECIAL DELIVERY A selection of recent letters from the world of Roots DONNA DOES IT WELL I wanted to take the time to tell you that one of your employees in particular at the Roots store in Georgian Mall, Barrie (Ontario) is fabulous. Donna Perkunder goes far beyond what is expected, and that is appreciated.

Whenever I enter the store, she always calls me by my name and helps me find what I am looking for, whether it is on the shelves, in the back of the store or if she has to call other stores to find my size. Since I often visit the store with my two small children, Donna gets what I need efficiently. She does a great job and I love going there because of her.

Thank you for having employees such as Donna and such wonderful products.

Kim Metcalfe-Rennie Barrie, ON NO DETAIL TOO SMALL As a parent of a toddler and a Roots employee, I have to congratulate the Roots design team for how they created the Baby’s Matt Pants, especially its adjustable elastic waistband. This is a great selling feature.

Toddlers often have small waists and once they are out of

diapers, they have even less to hold up their pants. I have had to make many adjustments myself to my 3-year-old’s waistbands.

Thanks again from parents of toddlers everywhere.

Lisa Moorhouse Assistant Manager Roots Spring Garden store Halifax, NS THE RIGHT DESTINATION In keeping with the eco-friendly values of Roots, I wanted to voice a concern related to the printer cartridges used at the Head Office and in stores. As you may know, printer cartridges that end up in a landfill stay there for many years and this is not the best form of disposing them.

Corporate Express, a supplier of office products, collects used cartridges and recycles them. To make use of their program, you must return a minimum of three DEPARTMENT OF CLARIFICATION Setting the record straight In Issue 60, the ‘Guess Who Just Dropped In’ section featured an item on actress Tori Spelling and her husband shopping at the Roots store on Vancouver’s Robson St. He should should have been identified as Dean McDermott.

cartridges at a time.

I suggest that a truly environmentally responsible company like Roots should participate in this cartridge-recycling program.

Aida Ambrosio Manager Roots Cavendish Store Montreal Editor’s note: We always appreciate suggestions from Roots staff on how to make our company even more eco-friendly. In this case, however, Roots has been taking part in the Corporate Express printer cartridge recycling program for many years now. The used cartridges at the Head Office and stores are collected and sent to The Recycling Centre of Corporate Express on a regular basis.

The Source wants to hear from you.

Please send your letters to Robert Sarner at rsarner@roots.com. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

ISSUE 62 OF THE SOURCE In keeping with our fortnightly publishing schedule, the next issue of The Source will appear on Thursday, Dec 7.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY In each issue of The Source, we publish a creative photo on the top of this page. We invite readers who take pictures to submit images they feel would be appropriate for this feature. Please send submissions to photogallery@roots.com Issue 61 - November 23, 2006

THEMAKING HOLIDAY SPIRIT ALIVE THECOMES SCENE Why Roots is the venue of choice for so many special events

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PHOTOS: KARLA STUEWE

hen Russell Budman. “Part of that Smith and is supporting creative Peter Coish, people who are doing the principals behind interesting things. We the new Canadian web like to pay tribute to site xyyz.ca, decided to them by hosting a spelaunch their online cial event in honour of men’s lifestyle magatheir recent achievezine this month, they ments or an important chose the Roots flagship cause. We feel fortunate store in Toronto as the to have the opportunity venue for the evening. and ability to use Roots When writer Noah as a venue to bring Richler and McClelland good people together & Stewart, the publisher for the right reasons of his recent book on and to help make things Canadian literature, dehappen.” cided to launch it in Already in its earliToronto in September, est days in 1973, Roots they held the event at was involved in differthe Roots Rosedale Upstairs at Roots 100 Bloor Street proved the perfect setting for last week’s launch of ent creative pursuits the online magazine www.xyyz.ca store. and connected with personalities from the world of January, they held it at Roots.

The list goes on, with good arts and entertainment. The first store in Toronto seemed at reason. Roots is much more times like a hub for future stars than a retail business. With its including actors/comedians longtime involvement in the Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, arts, entertainment, amateur Martin Short, Bill Murray sports and countless good and John Candy who were causes, Roots goes way befrequent visitors and often lent yond being simply a purveyor a hand attending to customers. of fine leather goods and stylEver since, Roots has atish apparel. For as long as anytracted and supported scores of one can remember, Roots has performers, directors, musisupported people doing things worthy of recognition. It’s part cians, athletes, and environmentalists, many of whom of the Roots ethos. have become close personal “We’ve always believed in friends of Roots. Many have being active in the community been the focus of an evening in in different ways,” says Roots Suzanne Boyd at the event with Don Green and Michael Budman Co-Founder Michael Continued on next page When CTV wanted a temporary home for eTalk where host Ben Mulroney could tape interviews for the popular entertainment news show during the recent Toronto Film Festival, CTV contacted Roots to use the flagship store.

When Matthew Teitelbaum, CEO of the Art Gallery of Ontario, was looking to have an exclusive AGO fundraiser involving 35 people last summer, the indoor and outdoor facilities of the Roots Head Office proved the perfect

Issue 61 - November 23, 2006

setting for the evening.

When Nikki Byrne, Campaigns Manager at the Rethink Breast Cancer charity, wanted to launch their 2006 campaign, she and her team chose the Bloor St. store for an evening last spring, for the third year in a row.

When writer and acclaimed health practitioner Xiaolan Zhao and her publisher Random House planned an evening to celebrate the publication of her book Reflections of the Moon on Water last

Russell Smith, Executive Editor of xyyz.ca, addresses the crowd.

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Serving specially prepared drinks at the Johnnie Walker station Continued from previous page

tails right. There’s a lot more their honour at Roots. to it than most people realize.

Hosting special events has Raymond Perkins should multiple benefits. It generates know. As the Director of Puba lot of attention for people, lic Relations and Special projects and causes that Roots Events, he’s been organizing feels deserve the spotlight. It all kinds of special events at brings together an interesting Roots for the past 20 years. group of people, creating a “If Roots has a reputation sense of for community throwing with Roots great as the events, common it’s beground. In cause we so doing, first try it’s not to make exactly sure that been bad the focus for the of each business event has Dressed right for the occasion either. Ina convariably, these events, and the nection to the Roots ethic,” media attention they attract, says Raymond. “Whether it’s add considerable luster to the the launch of a new book or brand, further enhancing the movie or in support of a cerperception of Roots. tain cause, it’s important that it Few businesses in Canada be congruent with Roots valrival Roots when it comes to ues. Second, it’s essential to regularly staging original and have the appropriate mix of engaging events that attract a guests with people from differgood crowd and excellent ent walks of life who share a press. Roots may make it look common interest, who have a easy but it’s not. Putting on a connection to and care about successful evening is all about the event, not people who just getting the big and small dego to any event.”

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nary reception, in part thanks to the slew of sponsors who wanted to make the scene and to be associated with Roots and xyyz.ca. They ranged from Pfaff Porsche, which parked a fleet of Porches in front of the store, to Johnnie Walker, which installed a special drink station with several attractive hostesses serving JW concoctions and Sony, which had half a dozen of its latest laptop computers on display connected online for people to consult www.xyyz.ca. In addition CBC’s pop culture specialist Jian Ghomeshi did a masterful job as emcee for the evening which included a raffle benefiting prostate cancer research.

“Having the xyyz evening at Roots seemed a natural match,” says Russell Smith, Executive Editor of xyyz.ca (and a columnist for the Globe and Mail). “From the beginning, Roots has been very supportive of us and our vision of what modern guys in Toronto want and need. Roots seems to share our vision of where media is going. We’re a site for ordinary guys who live busy lives and who want to be more sophisticated. We think a soft, luxurious leather briefcase or travel bag from Roots pretty much represents that personality type. We were pleased to be able to hold a party in such a glamorous space like Roots on Bloor.”

Regardless of the specific theme of the evening, the great thing about these special events is that they are a winwin for everyone involved. Let the party continue. – R.S.

Other components help determine the fate of an evening.

“There’s no real mystery to the winning recipe,” adds Raymond. “In addition to the right people and right theme, you need appropriate food and drink that is simple but the best; lighting that creates ambience, good music that people can hear without inhibiting conversation. Also vital to the mix is to surprise the guests with a great gift, a celebrity, or an idea or thought that stimulates and makes an ordinary event extraordinary. You also need a team of people you can count on to make everything seem effortless.”

Last week’s event for xyyz is the latest case in point. All the necessary ingredients were in evidence – good food, good music (not too loud), good lighting, a good mix of guests, and money being raised for a good cause. It was no ordi- Sponsors provide more than just products at Roots events

Issue 61 - November 23, 2006

ON TOUR WITH ROOTS

THE NUMBERS

B2B responds to insatiable demand from music heavyweights months attending to all these orders, Product Coordinator David Jackson could be forgiven for thinking the music world seems to never get enough of Roots.

Earlier this month, the Stones ordered some 300 Roots leather o sooner bags to be used does the as giveaways Businessduring their curto-Business Derent world tour partment pro“A Bigger duce Roots cusBang”. tomized products Rolling Stones - A Bigger Bang David coorfor the likes of dinated the order Madonna, Barbra Streisand, along with Ed Cox, Senior and Roger Waters than it’s Product Coordinator at the asked to do it again for other leather factory. More than 270 major names in the music Banff Bags in black Tribe scene such as The Rolling leather and some 80 New Gym Stones and the Dixie Chicks.

Bags in Africa Tribe leather Given the amount of work will be shipped this week to he’s been doing in recent Vancouver.

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Meanwhile, in a similar development, the all-female country music trio, the Dixie Chicks recently ordered some

The Dixie Chicks

125 brown Small Banff Bags for their current “Accidents and Accusations” tour. The bags will be shipped next week to the American Airlines Centre Arena in Austin, Texas where the trio will be performing.

As if this were not enough, the Business-to-Business Department has also snagged two other prestigious orders. See below and page 8 for details.

PRESENTS FOR A GOOD CAUSE

Paramount CEO comes to the right place for the right gifts

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hen million to qualfund a new ity is Children paramount in the and Family customized gifts Health they offer, many Center. in the entertainThe ment business event, which turn to Roots. In honoured yet another exBrad Grey ample, earlier as a leader this month the in the enterhead of Paratainment mount Pictures world, was Brad Grey conattended by tacted Roots CoMichael Founder along with Michael his son Left to right: Jamie Foxx, Brad Grey, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony Matthew Budman for gifts for a major Budman. charity dinner gala.

The bags were used as gifts Among the many movies Brad On short notice, Roots pro- for friends of Brad Grey at The has produced are: the hisduced some 900 gift totes and Los Angeles Free Clinic’s Antorical epic Troy, starring shipped them to Los Angeles nual Dinner Gala, held earlier Brad Pitt and Orlando within a span of a few days. this week in Beverly Hills. The Bloom; Charlie and the The rush order, coordinated by Clinic provides health services Chocolate Factory, starring David Jackson of the Busito people in need. One of the Johnny Depp; and The Deness-to-Business Department, most eagerly anticipated philparted, directed by Martin consisted of bags made from anthropic events in LA, this Scorsese, starring black nylon fabric and leather year’s Dinner Gala celebrated Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt trim at the Roots leather facthe Clinic’s 40th anniversary Damon, Jack Nicholson tory in Toronto. and its campaign to raise $15 and Mark Wahlberg.

Issue 61 - November 23, 2006

Behind the opening of a store

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his week, the ‘Roots 73’ fam-ily of outlet stores expanded with the opening of its latest location in London, Ontario. In getting the store ready, some 800 boxes of products came in through the door ahead of the opening.

Among the tens of thousands of units placed on the floor, Manager Phil Papadopoulos and his team personally folded more than 6,000 sweatshirts, sweatpants, tops and other apparel in time for the inauguration of the store. They were assisted by the two Roots roving store openers: Colleen Weber, (Senior Manager, Roots Heartland) and Donna Isley (Assistant Manager, Windsor Crossing) who just returned two weeks earlier from Calgary where they helped open the Roots Beacon Hill store.

SPREADING THE WORD Guide to new ads appearing this week and next

Thurs.,Nov. 23 - Now magazine (Toronto): Full-page ad for Roots Sweat Sale.

Sat., Nov. 25 - National Post (Toronto): Full page ad featuring Roots leather bags.

Mon., Nov. 27 - Toronto Subway: Posters featuring gifts for her, gifts for him.

Thurs., Nov. 30 - Globe and Mail: (National): 1/8 page ad featuring Roots for the holiday.

Sat., Dec. 2 - National Post (Toronto): Full page ad featuring Roots for the holiday.

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ONLINE AND IN FOCUS Roots website undergoes major revamp

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nybody who has visited Don’s son. As part of the rede- site related to their respective departments. the Roots website resign, many new features are “The aim is to have a more cently will have noticed being added such as a recomprehensive website with its impressive new look. Curvamped section for the Busimany people contributing to rently, the homepage features a ness-to-Business Department, it,” says James. “The new softbeautiful winter image of the and a special ‘Get Connected’ ware will allow us to focus on Roots lodge in Algonquin Park section where customers can developing quality content for under two feet of snow. It’s locate Roots stores and view the site with modern userframed in the red and black their up-to-date details along friendly technology.” buffalo plaid, the visual motif with pictures of the store.

At the same for this year’s time, James has holiday season continued to upat Roots. The date the website next page on the making the most site’s Canadian recent products section shows available online. another pastoral He has been asphoto for the sisted by his reseason along cently expanded with an ecoweb team, comfriendly tip, in prised of Graphic keeping with the Designer in InforRoots longtime mation Technolcommitment to ogy Raynold the environment.

Dela Cruz, Prod“The new uct Coordinator look of the site Anjali Singh, and is a bold move Manager, E-comforward,” says James Connell, The home page image that greets people this week at roots.com merce Operations, Victoria Director, ECommerce, Digital Marketing Customers can also sign-up Lee. The Business-to-Business and New Media. “While still to receive store-specific emails keeping the site user friendly, to stay updated with new styles section of the site has been integrated with support from we’ve created a dramatic as soon as they hit their neighSales Assistant Josann change from the past look of bouring Roots locations.

Creighton-Robinson from the the site so that consumers noAdditionally, the website B2B department and Account tice an obvious difference features blogs updated by Representative Patricia starting with the first page itRoots employees that customMacInnis from the Wholesale self.” ers can read for information Department.

The redesign process began about various company initiaAdditionally, PFSweb and last spring with the developtives and activities. There will Cybernomics, that provide rement of the Roots Canadian also be links to the separate lated technical services to online store. Prior to this, websites for Roots Home (for Roots, have also supported the roots.com sold products only home products) and Roots development of the new in the US while Canadian cusYoga (yoga apparel and acceswebsite. tomers were channeled to sories). sears.ca with which Roots had “The new look was devela special agreement to sell oped to better align the in-store products in Canada. retail experience with the The new look of the entire online experience,” says Roots website is a work in James. “For example, when the progress that will be completed shopping bags at the stores during the winter. The current change, we will also change configuration was uploaded in the shopping bag icons on the stages this month with input website to match.” from Roots Co-Founders Evolving further, roots.com Michael Budman and Don will soon implement a content Green along with Product Demanagement system. This will velopment Coordinator Syd enable Roots employees themBeder and Anthony Green, selves to update sections of the Each store will have its own page 6

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ON THE MOVE New appointments and promotions at Roots

Shehza Behrainwala, promoted to Manager, Merchandise Planning Menswear, Head Office, Toronto Monico Digio, appointed Merchandise Flow Analyst, Menswear, Head Office, Toronto Andrew Gerock, appointed Jr. Visual Merchant, Calgary Daisy Li, appointed Purchase Order Administration, Sourcing, Head Office, Toronto Faisal Maju, appointed Merchandising Manager, Leather, Toronto Eugenia Mendez, appointed Production Assistant, Leather Factory, Toronto Shevon Sigouin, appointed Graphic Artist, Wholesale, Head Office, Toronto Anjali Singh, appointed Purchase Order Administration, Sourcing, Head Office, Toronto

STAYING POWER Saluting those who go the distance

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his month, many Roots employees marked major anniversaries of their time at the company. By ‘major’, we mean benchmark achievements as in 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years spent at Roots.

We invite anyone celebrating such an anniversary at Roots to send the relevant information to The Source.

Congratulations to the following employees for their huge contribution and enduring loyalty to Roots: (listed by seniority at Roots) • Mariannina Fiorucci, Stitcher, Leather Factory, Toronto, 15 years • My Le Luu, Stitcher, Leather Factory, Toronto, 10 years • Sonia Suarez, Embroidery Cleaner, Leather Factory, Toronto, 10 years • Donna Craig, Sales Associate, Georgian Mall, Barrie, ON, 5 years • Christina Hall, Store Manager, Jackson Square, Hamilton, ON, 5 years • Mark Hastings, Keyholder, BCE Place, Toronto, 5 years • Tracy Li, Store Manager, Erin Mills, Missisauga, ON, 5 years • Ken Seeback, Keyholder, Oakville, ON, 5 years • Nikki Sutherland, Sales Associate, Durham Centre Outlet, Ajax, ON, 5 years Issue 61 - November 23, 2006

FINE PRINT

Sneaking a peak inside the just-published Roots holiday catalogue

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n the previous issue of The Source, we reported that a beautiful new gift catalogue was soon to appear in time for the holiday period. Last week, the freshly printed catalogue arrived in stores showcasing the best of Roots products for the season. Here’s a glimpse of what’s inside the 44-page publication that offers a wealth of ideas for everyone – men, women, children and babies – on your gift list.

IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Roots makes cameo appearances on big and small screens

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Wholesale Department, was ou never know where Roots will show up next. surprised to see various elves wearing Roots Film and TV scarves, hats and directors have long sweatshirts when been known to inshe took her famclude characters ily to see the Diswearing Roots in ney comedy last their productions. weekend. She The tradition conwalked out of the tinues. movie theatre In the latest conwith her head firmed sighting, high. “It was nice Roots apparel figto see Roots apures prominently in the new family Santa takes on Jack Frost parel in this very enjoyable family movie Santa Clause movie,” says Mary. “It put a 3: The Escape Clause. Mary Atzori, Leasing Assistant in the smile on my face.”

Issue 61 - November 23, 2006

Directed by Michael Lembeck, Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause is set in the North Pole where Santa (Tim Allen) tries to stop his mischievous rival Jack Frost (Martin Short) from taking over Christmas.

In addition to featuring Roots, the movie has another strong connection to Canada. It was partly filmed in British Colombia and Alberta.

Meanwhile, in another onscreen Roots sighting, this time on television, Roots appeared this week in an episode of the popular daytime soap Days of

Our Lives. Bethany Peckham, Manager of the Roots store in Waterloo, Ontario, was watching the soap and happened to notice that one of the characters, Will Brady, was sporting the Fisher Puff Down Filled Vest.

The cast of Days of Our Lives The Source 7

THE RIGHT STUFF Nothing beats initiative and positive energy

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STARTING LINEUP Introducing the people who make it happen at Roots stores As part of our continuing series of team pictures of all the stores in the Roots retail family, this issue of The Source is shining the spotlight on the store in Spring Garden, Halifax.

Top (left to right): Christina MacLeod, Sarah Jones, Terri Smith(Manager), Arthur Harrison, Ryan DeCoste. Front Row (left to right): Karen O’Hearon, Adrain Rhyno, Lisa Moorhouse(Assistant Manager), Maria Dimitropoulos. Missing in action: Cassandra Given, Bethany Trainor and Meaghan Sullivan.

ast weekend, during the 4-day “Get Ready For Holiday” shopping event at Roots stores, many of the sales staff really got into the act.

At the outlet store in Halifax, NS (Bayers Lake), the team was really excited about exceeding their sales goal.

To that end, Allison Leadley and Leigh Giffin stepped out into the cold and rainy evening in their warm Roots jackets and used their megaphone to announce to passersby that there was one hour left in the sale. Within 15 minutes, the store was packed again. As a result of their initiative, their store generated several thousand dollars more in sales in the final half hour, easily surpassing its sales target.

GOOD BOOKS, GOOD LOOKS Staff at Canada’s largest chain of bookstores styled by Roots

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he next time you enter an Indigo, Chapters, or Coles bookstore, you might notice a certain Roots influence. A few months ago, Indigo (which also owns Chapters and Coles) decided it was time for a new look for their staff. Heather Reisman, CEO of the company, contacted Roots in search of a stylish fresh approach to uniforms for in-store employees. She wanted her people to look and feel good in what they would be wearing and she knew Roots was the place to go. Indigo, Canada’s largest books retail chain, collaborated with Roots designers to develop stylish uni8

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forms for its in-store staff.

Senior Designer of Special Projects David Young and Associate Designer, Joanne Joseph came up with the solution, after working closely with staff from Indigo over the past

few months.

They developed vests made from knit rib fabric that feature the Chapters, Coles and Indigo logos and will be used by employees at all three stores.

David and Joanne were

assisted by Ling Chow, Product Manager, Special Projects, Karen Bryan-Kirkham, Technician, Special Projects, and Karen Fernes, Technician Manager. Joanna Iachetta, Account Manager in the Business-to-Business Department, coordinated the project.

Additionally, Lee Moderate and his team in the Wholesale Department and Bob Baker and his team at the Distribution Centre were instrumental in making the Roots-Indigo project come together in a timely and successful manner.

Founded in 1996, Indigo is today Canada’s largest books retail chain that has also become a trusted resource for music, gifts and literary events.

Issue 61 - November 23, 2006

SHINING IN LA BELLE PROVINCE Latest ‘MVP of the Month’ at the helm of Roots Centreville

New MVP Aran Pamplona

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ontreal has always had a special place at Roots. It’s where Roots opened its second store in December 1973 in the early days of the business. Since then, the brand has enjoyed great support and loyalty from Quebec customers.

The flagship store in the province is known as Roots Centreville, located in the heart of Montreal next to the well-known intersection of

Peel and Ste. Catherine. It’s also the professional home of the latest Roots MVP of The Month Aran Pamplona, who has been the manager of the store since it opened in 1999.

Aran never seems to tire of her work, which includes sales, customer service, hiring, training, coaching, visuals, merchandising, motivating the staff, and resource protection in addition to assisting, when needed, Quebec Regional Director Ginette Fillion.

When you work as a manager in retail, your customers and staff count on you to be on every day. “After more than 20 years of retail experience,” says Aran, “the biggest challenge I find is retaining qualified staff.

Most don’t plan a career in retail sales. It’s just a temporary stage in their working life.”

Not the case with Aran who seems to thrive in the retail environment. She joined Roots in early 1997 as the manager

of a smaller store in Montreal after working as a store manager at Femme de Carrière (business attire for women) for seven years.

Born in the north of Spain, Aran and her family immigrated first to Boston in 1975 when she was a child. A year later, they moved to Canada.

Today she lives in Montreal in an area called Le Plateau at the base of Mont Royal.

“It’s easy to explain why I’ve been committed to Roots for so many years,” says Aran, 41, whose first language is Spanish but is perfectly fluent in English and French. “It consists of three main reasons: the values that Roots represents, my great relationship with Ginette Fillion, and being able to communicate easily with [Roots Co-Founders] Don Green and Michael Budman.”

It all adds up to a winning combination.

THE VOICE PUTS OUT THE CALL Roots personality hosts evening to help Canada at world tournament

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he man behind the voice of Roots is inviting friends of Roots out for a night of celebration in Toronto. Andy McCurbin, known in the Roots community as the fun, well-spoken leather specialist and the ‘Da Voice’ of Roots Radio, is hosting a fundraiser for his son Justin.

Next month, Justin will travel to South America as part of the Canadian team in an international youth soccer tournament in Brazil. The venue is Club Cruzeiro in Belo Horizonte where famous Brazilian striker Ronaldo started his career. Among the thousands of spectators will be scouts looking for new talent.

Justin, 14, is one of the youngest players on his team competing against the top squads in the world, including from Africa and Asia. It will be the second time at the tournament for Justin, currently in the Academic Program for Issue 61 - November 23, 2006

Justin McCurbin bound for Brazil

Gifted Athletes (APGA) at Toronto’s Northview Heights Secondary School.

“Education is a very important base of any type of success and this goes hand in hand with Justin’s dream of going professional,” says Andy. “I believe that for chil-

dren to achieve their goals they need the full support from not only their family but also from the community. I would like to thank everyone who has supported us from day one, especially Roots Co-Founders Michael Budman and Don Green for always helping out.

Their continued support has made such a huge impact on this pursuit.”

Join Andy and Justin at the Cantine Bar & Grill on Friday, Dec. 1 for a fun evening of prizes and surprises, as they party alongside Roots DJs and Maestro Fresh Wes, who will be giving a special live performance later in the night.

Latino dance teacher and performer Guillermo will also give people a “taste of Salsa” with a free dance lesson.

• Cantine Bar & Grill: 138 Avenue Rd., just south of Davenport. Doors open at 10 p.m. (If you are unable to attend but would like to show support, please e-mail Andy at: amccurbin @roots.com)

FRESH INK A selection of coverage of Roots in the media Here are some recent sightings of Roots in the pages of newspapers and magazines: • Canadian Family magazine, (Winter 2007): Spotlight on the Roots faux-fur trapper hat featured in the “Holiday Gift Guide” section.

• Lou Lou magazine, (Winter 2007): Spotlight on the Roots wine Zerum leather bag featured in the “Accessories: It Items” section.

• Gardening Life magazine, (Winter 2007): Spotlight on the Roots Natural Organic Pure and True tee, Bamboo Cutting Boards (two sizes) and Village Pack in Vegetable Tan leather featured in the “Nature Lovers” Gift Guide section.

• Ottawa Morning, Business Network, St. John’s Morning, The Early Shift, Nov 14; and • Montreal 940 Radio “News Talk”, Nov 13: Various radio stations across Canada reported on the recent expansion of Roots in Asia, spotlighting the opening of two new stores in Hong Kong.

• The Ottawa Citizen, Nov. 11.

Mentions Roots cotton socks and black faux-fur trimmed leather boots featured in the “Looks that really score!” section.

• The Daily News, (Halifax, NS), Nov. 2. Spotlight on Roots mittens featured in the “Street Styling” section.

• Marketnews, Oct. issue: Spotlight on the Roots leather case for the MotoQ mobile phone from Motorolla.

• Oxygen magazine, Oct. issue: Spotlight on the Roots T-shirt to help Rethink Breast Cancer.

• Homemaker’s magazine, Oct. issue: Photo of the Roots Cream/wool/acrylic cardigan with brown belt featured in the “Fashion Style” section.

• Chocolat magazine (Montreal, QC), Oct. issue: Spotlight on the Roots Cube Lamp available at Roots Home featured in the “Coups de Coeur” section.

• Canadian Jeweler magazine, Oct. issue: Spotlight on the Roots Athletics watch featured in the “Sporting Life” section.

• Elle Quebec magazine, Oct. issue: Photo of the Roots leather Editor’s Bag featured in the “le sac a pochettes” section.

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NIGHT MOVES

GREEN TIP #27

Roots Visual Team goes the extra mile after hours

Roots at Square One, Missisauga after the holiday makeover

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ith Christmas just a month away, the Visual Department has been working overtime setting up and redecorating stores for the busy, all-important holiday period. Over the past two weeks, dozens of Roots stores across Canada have been transformed into a more festive mode by a special team of visual merchants. In the Toronto area alone, the team has spent lots of extra hours revamping nine stores, including the flagship location on Bloor Street, Yorkdale, and Roots Central at the Eaton Centre.

Led by Pauline Landriault, Director of Visual Planning and Store Development, and Peter Paquette, Senior Visual Merchant and Coordinator, the visual team had the tasks of remerchandising entire stores, redressing mannequins and moving around furniture. They also added festive decorations and props around the stores and in their windows.

“This year, the colour red and our red buffalo plaid dominate our flagship stores with red LED lights and natural wood accessory ‘trees’ and ‘stars,’” says Peter. “The Buffalo plaid theme has been carried through to this year’s gift box and gift bags in all stores coast to coast.”

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while the stores are open, but the majority of work is done after hours and continues on into the early morning. The longest revamp was at Central, which took the team 17 hours one night and another 12 hours the next night. Other stores the visual department has redecorated are Sherway, Bayview, Square One, The Lodge, Queen St. and St. Clair.

“Working at night is a great way to adapt the stores for the holidays without disrupting business during the day,” says Pauline. “The team really pulled everything together and we have to thank all the store managers and volunteer staff for supporting us through the long late hours.”

The Toronto set up team involved in the flips consisted

of James Wilford, Senior Visual Merchant; and Visual Merchants Natalie Barone; Marcel Gringras, Senior Visual Merchant from Montreal; Carie Pecora; Candice Hilmarson; Lisa Weagle; Emily Rumble; and Vanessa Haight from Western Ontario.

Visual teams in other parts of Canada have been busy as well. Colin MacDonald, Senior Visual Merchant Vancouver, Deephi Dillon, Jeremy Russo and Samira Khattak of Vancouver, and Andrew Gerock in Calgary have risen to the occasion out west.

Marie-Anne LaPorte has been doing all of the Ottawa region stores, while Marcel Gringas and Sandra Thiel tackled Quebec stores.

The teams also received invaluable assistance from Bob Baker, Director of the Distribution Centre in Toronto, and his team including Kathy Schweir, Warehouse Manager, Non-retail, and Len Boxil in the Supplies Department, all of whom made sure that the teams received the necessary material for the revamp on time.

“We love what we do,” says Pauline. “We really enjoy working together, and being in the stores helps us all be more successful at what we do. We will be visiting as many stores in the weeks to come to give them our support during these exciting months for Roots.”

Easy ways to help the environment Hang up your dryer: This will surprise few people but it needs repeating...

Clothes dryers are huge energy gluttons. To reduce their energy use: Clean the lint filter after each load (which will improve air circulation).

Use the cool-down cycle (this allows clothes to finish drying from the residual heat inside). Better yet, abandon your dryer and buy some drying racks, if you don’t have a clothesline. Generally, clothes dry overnight.

(Source: Vanity Fair magazine)

HEALTH TIP #24 Easy ways to help you stay healthy Sweet potatoes and yams: Not just for holidays...

These powerhouse foods contain higher amounts of betacarotene and vitamin C than carrots, more protein than wheat and rice, and more fiber than oat bran.

Sweet potatoes and yams also happen to be a rich source of DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone).

This is a precursor hormone a substance that remains latent until it converts into a hormone that the body needs.

DHEA can become estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone, all essential for your body’s anti-aging defenses to work.

As one ages, however, the body’s levels of precursor hormones like DHEA drop precipitously.

Eat these vegetables yearround and celebrate a long life!

(Source: Secrets of Longevity,

By Dr. Maoshing Ni) Issue 61 - November 23, 2006

NEW & NOTEWORTHY A guide to just-launched Roots products

KEEPING THE LITTLE ONES COMFY Organic baby layette items are great for holiday gifts grey stripes. Additionally, each top features snap buttons on the left shoulder or down the chest, making them easy to put on and take off.

Currently available at Roots stores in Canada, the collection was coordinated by

Relax Bodysuit Relax Two-Piece

T

he latest baby collection to hit stores this season is the Relax Layette Group.

The simple four-piece collection is comprised of a sleeveless jumpsuit, a twopiece ensemble, a striped jumpsuit, and a bodysuit. Made from 100% organic cotton, the environmentally friendly collection is sure to keep babies comfortable with its soft texture.

Designed by Elsa De Sousa, Senior Designer of Babies, each piece in the collection features a traditional Roots beaver logo and comes in blush with high rise grey stripes and creek blue with high rise

Relax Sleeveless Jumpsuit

WEARING A COLLECTOR’S ITEM Roots and New Era cover heads with the best in baseball caps

T

his limited edition of baseball hats, commissioned by Roots and made by US-based hat-maker New Era, hit select Roots stores in Canada and the US this week. Each hat comes with a one-of-akind numbered hangtag, giving it an individual identity.

Inspired by various Canadian landmarks and famous sports teams, the Roots New Era fitted hat is uniquely shaped, and has a wide flat peak. Featuring the famous ‘59fifty’ New Era fit, the hat is available in seven styles: The Roots Nordique – inspired by the Quebec Nordiques, a former NHL team; The Canadian Shield – inspired by the Roots Zip Polo; The Parliament – inspired by Parliament Hill; The Maple Leaf Hockey Hat; The Letterman; The Argyle and The Cloud.

The hat includes a custom-made Roots gift box, which can be used to store the

Issue 61 - November 23, 2006

exclusive headgear. It is also designed to work as an original gift idea for the holiday season. The box is only available with the Roots New Era hat.

Lynne Morris, Senior Designer of Accessories, spearheaded the initiative with New Era, the legendary hat maker based in Buffalo, NY. “I think our customers will really appreciate the look and quality of these hats,” says Lynne, who designed six out of the seven hat styles.

David Young, Senior Designer of Special Projects, coordinated the design of the Maple Leaf Hockey Hat, made from polyester mesh.

All other styles come in pure wool gabardine fabric.

Designed to suit the current clothing mix, the Roots New Era hat comes with embroidery, print and flock graphics created by Roots.

• Retail price: $59.95 - $69.95

Merchandising Manager for Babies Marisa Battaglia and makes for great holiday gifts for babies. Up until Christmas Eve, a percentage of the proceeds from each organic baby layette purchase will be donated to the Canadian Wildlife Federation in support of polar bears, the number one species being displaced from its habitat due to global warming.

• Relax Sleeveless Jumpsuit, sizes XS-XL, retail price: $29.95; Relax 2-Piece, sizes XS-5T, retail price: $32.95; Relax Stripe Jumpsuit, sizes XS-XL, retail price: $32.95; Relax Bodysuit (2-Pack), sizes XSXL, retail price: $29.95

THE HOT LIST A fast look at what’s flying off the shelves at Roots stores 1. Men’s Cooper Kanga Hoody 2. Men’s Full Cooper Zip Hoody 3. Men’s Cooper Crewneck 4. Men’s Cooper Zip Polo 5. Men’s Laurier Pop-over Hoody 6. Men’s Basic Cooper Pant 7. Women’s Stretch Yoga T-shirt 8. Women’s Horizon Garment Dye T-shirt 9. Women’s Leah Raglan Roots T-shirt 10. Women’s Retro Heather Tee 11. Women’s Basic Kanga Hoody 12. Women’s Basic Varsity Sweatpant 13. Women’s Varsity Sweatpants 14. Women’s Sueded Fleece Velvet Pants 15. Women’s Roots Original Sweatpants 16. Baby’s Igloo Hoody 17. Baby’s Simon Sherpa Hoody 18. Roots Bottled Water 355 ml 19. Roots Village Prince Leather Bag 20. Venetian Village Prince Leather Bag The Source 11

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Issue 61 - November 23, 2006