December 7, 2006

A window into the world of Roots

ANDREW MILLER

DELIVERING THE GOODS

Issue 62 - December 7, 2006

Issue 62 December 7, 2006

Far from the spotlight, the Distribution Centre plays a vital role at Roots, ensuring that products get where they’re supposed to every day

Bob Baker, Director of the Distribution Centre, leads the way with strong support from his two co-managers, Kathy Schweir, (left), and Maxine Correia, (right).

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I N S I D E I S S U E 62 DELIVERING THE GOODS With the onset of the holiday shopping period, the Distribution Centre is busier than ever WHEN BHL SPEAKS, PEOPLE LISTEN Roots supports Toronto lecture by noted French intellectual SHINING ON THE SLOPES OF WHISTLER Roots takes part in annual film festival in BC ski resort

MARIO’S THE MAN Roots employee uses music to teach “underserved” youth valuable life lessons HOLIDAY SPIRIT AT ITS BEST Store teams show their real colours by helping their local communities MOVING UP New promotion expands Shyrose’s role in Outlet Department GET CONNECTED New innovation on roots.com links you with the store of your choice

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 STANDFIELD

THE SOLUTION IS YOU… AND US, TOO Roots supports new book by famed environmentalist Laurie David

SPECIAL DELIVERY A selection of recent letters from the world of Roots ANOTHER ROOTS HIT Roots leather masters Karl and Henry Kowalewski deserve an award. Yet again they’ve come up big with another hit made at the Roots leather factory. Their latest score is the New Emily leather jacket that I purchased several days ago.

The minute I put it on, I loved its feel, fit and styling, to say nothing of the fine details, such as the yellow stitching along the seams which reflects the crisp gold hardware on the zippered pockets, cuffs and full front. I have received compliments on it almost every time I’ve worn it, which has been just about every day since I bought it.

The versatility of Emily, worn with jeans, tailored pants, shirts, sweaters and skirts, is a definite winner in the Roots leather collection for women.

Dress it up or down as you like, and walk out the door looking like a fashion ad for Roots.

Need I say more?

Well, I could go on and on…Oh, zip it up or down, and have fun with zipped or unzipped cuffs, depending on the event, fashion feel or mood.

Toques off to you guys on another great Roots design.

Can’t wait for spring!

Janie Bale Account Manager, Roots Business-to-Business Dept.

Toronto ZIPPER HITS THE SPOT I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for creating a fall jacket for infants that makes sense. I recently purchased a fleece jacket, size 6-12 months, that has a zipper on the hood.

The zipper is such a great idea.

For example, when we get in the car I just have to unzip the hood and my son is happy. I don’t have to worry about which way to position it. Keep up the good work.

Shira Avidar-Cohen Richmond Hill, Ontario ICING ON THE CAKE A big thank you to Roots for creating truly special gift bags for the Toronto International Film Festival dinner for the film Bobby. All the dinner DEPARTMENT OF CLARIFICATION

Setting the record straight In Issue 61 of The Source, Ken Seeback, mentioned in the Staying Power section, is a Keyholder in the Roots store in Oakville, Ontario.

guests, including Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Sharon Stone and Christian Slater, were thrilled to receive the gorgeous, custom made, chocolate brown Roots weekender bags, filled with upscale goodies. Your commitment to quality and excellence, even under brutal time constraints, is unbeatable and appreciated.

Thank you for providing the icing on the cake to a tremendous evening. We couldn’t have asked for more accommodating partners in crime. We are looking forward to our next adventure!

Laura Sosin/Dinah Quattrin Entertainment Director/Publisher Toro magazine, Toronto 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 63 OF THE SOURCE In keeping with our fortnightly publishing schedule, the next issue of The Source will appear on Thursday, Dec 21.

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 62 - December 7, 2006

THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT COMES ALIVE DELIVERING THE GOODS With the onset of the holiday shopping period, Roots stores are busier than ever.

Which means so is the Distribution Centre, the vital link between the manufacturing and the retail and wholesale sides of Roots

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ou can design the best product in the world; you can manufacture it beautifully; you can give it a fair, attractive price; you can create an engaging ad campaign around it; you can inform and excite your staff about it; And yet... without one other element, all the above is meaningless.

If a product does not reach its customers, it’s worth nothing. Not only must it reach its destination, it better get there in a timely manner. Otherwise, you won’t be in business very long.

Such is the responsibility riding on the shoulders of Bob Baker and his team at the Roots Distribution Centre every business day of the year.

Especially this month when the stores require a constant replenishment of products due to the huge surge in sales from holiday shopping.

Most customers - even many staff - take for granted how products appear magically in stores. Most people give little thought to how the merchandise gets to each location with such regularity. Not Bob Baker. He thinks about it all

smaller building. The new facility has 110,000 square feet of space, nearly half of which has a ceiling height of 24 feet, providing considerably more storage capacity than the old DC on Caledonia Road. The new facilities also have a highly efficient system for the put-away and retrieval of products along with a computercontrolled system for the daily replenishment of stores based on an automatic analysis of sales and allocation of products.

Working with a team of 50 people, (not including the many temporary employees hired for busy periods like the current holiday season), Bob is a master of logistics and organization, staying on top of countless details at any given moment. He has no choice as upwards of 25 shipments, (ranging from huge tractor trailers to small vans) are coming in packed with Roots products every day. Add to that the 1,200 to 2,500 cartons of merchandise the DC is sending out the door every day via carriers such as Purolator, FedEx and Green Light.

Continued on next page

the time.

The Distribution Centre, (better known at Roots as the DC), may be far from the limelight but it plays an indispensable role in the life of Roots. As Director of the Distribution Centre, Bob is a critical link in the Roots supply chain. He’s responsible for receiving a dizzying amount of new products and then shipping them to all 150 Roots stores in Canada, the United States and Asia.

The two-way flow is constant, five (sometimes six) days a week, 52 weeks a year.

It’s a tall order that entails dispatching nearly 8 million units of merchandise a year, 80% to Issue 62 - December 7, 2006

Roots stores, the rest to wholesale clients. Fortunately for Roots, Bob is at the helm of the DC. Located in Toronto about a 4-minute drive north of the Roots Head Office, the facility also serves as the company’s retail and wholesale warehouse. In addition, it’s responsible for sending supplies to stores including shopping bags, stationery, gift cards, visual material and other items.

It is almost two years since Roots moved the DC to its current location on Tycos Avenue.

Previously, it was situated next to the leather factory in a The Source 3

Every day, up to 25 shipments of Roots products arrive at the DC and up to 2,500 cartons go out the door Continued from previous page

“We consider ourselves to be in the service business,” says Bob, who joined Roots in 1997. “Among our ‘customers’ are Merchandise Admin, Retail Operations, Wholesale, Visual and Sourcing departments at Roots. They all have different needs. Our job is to ensure that these needs, which sometimes change, are satisfied. Whether it means getting merchandise to our stores faster, improving accuracy, special packaging or complying with shipping instructions for our wholesale clients, we are always looking at ways to improve what we do for the Roots team.”

The DC is indisputably critical to the success of Roots.

“Bob is actually running a very large business,” says Roots CoFounder Don Green. “He has a huge responsibility dealing with all of our products, including everything that’s imported and exported. Michael [Budman] and I rely on Bob and his team to make sure that all of our company stores, out-

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let locations, franchisees and wholesale clients are served expeditiously. We know that Bob and his staff go out of their way to try to satisfy everybody. They run a very efficient operation and are a pleasure to work with.”

At the DC, Bob maintains an excellent sense of team spirit. A modest man, he is fast to pay tribute to his staff, starting with his two deputies Maxine Correia and Kathy Schweir. Both started working at Roots in 2000 and today each has the title of Manager in their respective areas of the DC. “These two women are a major factor in the success of the DC,” says Bob. “Maxine manages the distribution and warehousing functions for our retail stores while Kathy looks after our wholesale operations and transportation. Together they are a winning combination and contribute so much to the DC and Roots. And the three of us are fortunate to be supported by a highly competent squad of coordinators, team leaders, material handlers, or-

der fillers and drivers.”

Open from 7 a.m. and rarely closed before 6:30 p.m., the DC is a hive of non-stop activity. To help move products around the large facility, the staff have at their disposal 20 manual pallet trucks, four battery-operated power lift trucks and two powered hydraulic pallet trucks. There’s also 1,000 feet of free rolling conveyor belt, and 500 feet of power conveyor to take away cartons of merchandise for shipping. Up to 16 people work on the conveyor belt at any one time. On the building’s southern side, there are six major receiving and dispatching docks with electric ramps that trucks use to load or unload.

When shipments arrive at the DC (whether from the Roots leather goods factory, or domestic and overseas suppliers), each must be first unloaded and inspected. Staff verify that each shipment includes the correct number of cartons (as indicated on the packing slip), that each product has its appropriate bar code

and price tag, and that nothing was damaged in the shipping.

In addition to the quantity of products, it’s also necessary to ensure that the vendor sent the requested size and colour breakdown.

Sometimes, the DC must also deal with time-sensitive, priority shipments. For example, as part of the Wholesale Department sale of custom-designed leather products for the U2 concert tour, the DC must ensure that products arrive at each venue exactly one or two days before each concert.

Despite the pressure and demands of his job, Bob remains remarkably calm throughout the day. He seems to take it all in stride. He takes great pride in his work, especially the fast turnaround of products.

When it comes to the Roots leather factory, something made in the morning can be sent to the DC the same day and before the end of the afternoon can already be en route to a store. On Fridays, products are sent from the factory to the DC and a special courier picks them up in the afternoon for delivery to six main Roots stores in Toronto to guarantee they’re in stock for weekend customers.

“To ensure that the DC works the way it’s supposed to, you have to make sure that all the bases are covered,” says Bob, 57, who grew up in Guyana and moved to Canada in 1988. “My philosophy has always been you do what’s necessary to get the job done.”

Much to the benefit of Roots, the person running the DC is a man who translates his philosophy into action, every day. - R.S.

Issue 62 - December 7, 2006

WHEN BHL SPEAKS, PEOPLE LISTEN Roots takes part in Toronto lecture by noted French intellectual

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ast week, prominent Paris-based philosopher and author BernardHerni Levy traveled to Toronto as the guest speaker in the latest installment of the 2006-2007 Grano Lecture Series. The acclaimed series features leading thinkers from around the world who expound on topical issues. For each session, the audience is limited to 130 people, many of them heavyweights from the fields of business, the arts, entertainment and politics.

Levy, (better known in France by his initials BHL), is an old friend of Roots. The friendship began in 1983 when he appeared on the cover of Paris Passion, a city magazine published by Roots Co-Founders Michael Budman and Don

Green and Roots Director of Communication and Public Affairs Robert Sarner. The cover story focused on the French intelligentsia and BHL fit the bill perfectly. Outspoken, controversial, highly articulate, the author of many bestselling books, a widely published journalist, a progressive social activist, and handsome no less, he is a true superstar in Europe.

As such, his appearance at the Grano event was much anticipated and attracted considerable press coverage. Roots provided guests with leather-bound journals, made at the leather goods factory in Toronto. Inscribed on the inside cover page, they contained the following

inscription: “In appreciation of Bernard-Henri Levy, a master of well-chosen words and original ideas, spoken and written.”

BHL showed his prowess with words and ideas when he discussed the future of Europe in a spellbinding 45-minute speech (without notes) and then in his answers to questions from the audience. Although his assessment of the current state of affairs in Europe was rather bleak, he said that ultimately France and the rest of the continent would see better days.

Minutes before his speech, to help celebrate the occasion, Michael, his wife Diane Bald, and Robert presented BHL with a custom-made Roots Ultimate Gym Bag in tribe leather that sported his well-known initials.

THE SOLUTION IS YOU… AND US, TOO Roots supports new book by environmental activist Laurie David

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aurie David is nothing if not tenacious, and we should all be grateful for it. If ever the world is going to get its environmental act together before it’s too late, it will be in no small part thanks to people like her.

In recent years, Laurie has been one of the leading ecological activists in the United States, focusing especially on the increasingly dire matter of global warming. To help draw attention to these important issues, she has just published a book entitled The Solution is You! that Roots is now selling in many of its stores in support of her work.

Laurie is active on many Issue 62 - December 7, 2006

fronts. This year, she won acclaim for being the producer of the hit documentary on climate change, An Inconvenient Truth, which became one of the most talked about non-fiction film in decades.

Among her other initiatives, Laurie worked with Roots in creating the popular line of Stop Global Warming bracelets last year to help raise significant funds for the cause.

Her latest project, The Solution is You!,

is a handy pocket guide to curbing climate change. It’s loaded with convincing facts and figures on the growing menace of global warming and features practical tips on how people can reduce their own everyday emissions.

Reading her book, you quickly realize that each person has a role to play in curbing our collective appetite when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions. “It’s not about any one person doing everything,” says Laurie.

“It’s about all of us doing something and then maybe a little more.” As the book title says, the solution is you! And that includes us, too.

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: • The National Post, Dec. 1: Spotlight on Roots Small Banff bag, Small Cafe bag, Rossi and Curling Sweater, and Roots-New Era limited edition Letterman hat.

• Canadian Living magazine, Jan. issue: Spotlight on the Roots cotton blanket, red fleece pillows and women’s grey wool sweater with faux-fur hooded trim featured in a “Home for the Holidays” story.

• Glow magazine, Dec. issue: Spotlight on the Roots zerum leather Melinda Bag featured in the “Holiday Gift Guide” section.

• Flare magazine, Dec. issue: Spotlight on the Roots women’s white acrylic/wool vest featured prominently in a fashion spread.

• Wish magazine, Dec. issue: Spotlight on the Roots leather Saddle Bag featured in a fashion spread.

• CKCO-TV, (Kitchener, ON); CBE-TV (Windsor, ON); CHWI-TV (Windsor, ON), Dec. 4: Mentioned launch of Roots designed city-branded clothing for Windsor, Ontario.

• Wish magazine, (Winter 06/07): Spotlighting women’s plaid hoodie jacket with faux-sheepskin lining.

• La Presse newspaper, (Montreal), Nov. 25: Spotlight on the Roots leather Editor’s Bag and Roots leather gloves.

• Toronto Star, Nov. 25: Article entitled “The Bamboo Bonanza” highlights the Roots bamboo cutting board, cutlery, round dish and olive tray available at Roots Rosedale store. Michael Budman is quoted.

• LouLou magazine, (Montreal), Nov. issue: Spotlight on the Roots Spirit Man featured in the “un homme et son parfum” section.

• Canadian Jewish News, Nov. 2: Mentions Roots Spirit Man promoted

by Adam Van Koeverden.

• Fashion Magazine, Nov. issue: Also features the Roots Village Bag in the ‘Fashion Shop’ section.

• Style Magazine, Nov. issue: Features a Roots bag in green leather.

SPREADING THE WORD Guide to new ads appearing this week and next • Mon., Dec. 4 - Toronto subway: Posters featuring “Gifts for her, gifts for him.”

• Thurs., Dec. 7 - Toronto Star (Toronto): 1/2-page ad featuring “Holiday Gifts from Roots.”

• Sat., Dec. 9 - National Post (Toronto): Full-page ad featuring “Holiday gifts from Roots.”

• Sat., Dec. 9 - Globe and Mail: (National): 1/2-page ad featuring “Holiday gifts from Roots.”

• Sat., Dec. 16 - National Post (Toronto): Full-page ad featuring “Roots for the holiday.”

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SHINING ON THE SLOPES OF WHISTLER Roots takes part in annual film festival in BC ski resort

Film director Norman Jewison, flanked by two beautiful Lyn’s

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or the third consecutive year, Roots was one of the sponsors of the prestigious Whistler Film Festival, which wrapped up last weekend. The annual four-day extravaganza of movie screenings, industry sessions and parties held on and off the slopes of British Columbia’s famous ski resort is an eagerly awaited event attracting many celebrities from the entertainment world.

As part of the program, Roots sponsored a celebrity ski event and prizes for the awards segment of the fest. Jurors of this award, including director Norman Jewison and actor Lisa Ray, received a Roots Aspen Bag made in tribe leather. Roots also presented a Milano Bag and a Venetian bag made from tribe leather to

can Express cardholders can enter contests online and at Roots stores in BC until midDecember to win passes for next year’s Whistler Film Festival.

The project was coordinated

by James Connell, Director of E-commerce, Digital Marketing and New Media; Lyn Frankel, Corporate Sponsorship and Sales Manager in Western Canada; Raymond Perkins, Director of Public Relations; Anisha Gliddon, Public Relations Coordinator; SoniaMichelle De Souza, Marketing Coordinator; and Kim Court Hampton, Executive Assistant to Co-Founder of Roots Michael Budman.

At the same time, the Roots Visual team of Vancouver and the store in Whistler store staff headed

by JM Odgen went the distance in making sure that Whistler shined during the festival.

award winners Andrew Walker, (Best Actor for the movie Steel Toes), and Catherine De Lean, (Best Actress for the movie The Secret Life of Happy People).

Roots, together with American Express, co-hosted a VIP party at the Roots store in Whistler.

During the festival, residents of British Columbia could win tickets to the festival by participating in an online contest on roots.com.

In addiThe Whistler Team: Jusin Krongold, Nadine Crowe, tion, Ameri- Neve Petersen, Ainsley Mackney and Kate Dale

MOVING UP Shyrose’s role in Outlet Department expands As the Roots outlet stores continue their phenomenal growth, the person formerly in charge of their merchandising has just seen her responsibilities grow. Two weeks ago, Shyrose Kassam was officially appointed Executive Director, Outlets. In her new capacity, Shyrose has overall responsibility for the outlet business including apparel design, visual, marketing and store operations.

“This new role will bring synergy to the relationship between Head Office and the field,” says Shyrose, who joined Roots 10 years ago.

“The communication and understanding of each other’s needs is paramount and I hope to be able to improve upon the good base that we have now. I’m excited about spending time out in the field, working in the stores to try to fully understand the issues on the frontlines.”

Shyrose’s latest promotion comes nearly two years after she was appointed Director of Merchandising for Outlets. In that role, Shyrose made a significant contribution to the business, helping to greatly expand the outlet side of Roots, generating sales that surpassed annual targets.

FOR THE FANTASTIC FOUR Roots supplies giveaway items for upcoming movie

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ast year’s cin ematic superheroes, the Fantastic Four are set to hit movie screens again. To help herald their return, the producers of the sequel have turned to Roots.

Roots will supply men’s zipped hoodies to be used as promotional giveaways for the media by the makers of 6

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Fantastic Four and the Silver Surfer, the follow-up to the highly successful Fantastic Four released in 2005. Made in Canada from cotton-polyester fleece fabric with mesh fabric details, some 75 hoodies were shipped

last week to Vancouver , where the film is currently being shot.

The project was coordinated by Los Angeles-based Roots salesperson Wendy Goodman, along with Senior Product Coordinator in The Business-to-Business Department at the Roots Head Office Mary Jane Saliba.

Scheduled for

release next June, Fantastic Four and the Silver Surfer stars Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba and Chris Evans in lead roles. The film continues the harrowing saga of scientist Reed Richards and his team who combat the return of their enemy Dr. Doom who was exterminated in the first edition of the film.

Issue 62 - December 7, 2006

STAYING POWER

MAKING CONTACT

Saluting those who go the distance

Roots Rosedale hosts event for launch of new book on original form of yoga

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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 alphabettically) • Roanne Camagay, Retail Operations Coordinator, Head Office, Toronto, 5 years • Donna Lee, Sales Associate, Sherway Gardens, Toronto, 5 years • Jane Shiraishi, Sales Associate, Roots Central, Toronto, 5 years • Pamela Sletten, Sales Associate, Chinook Centre, Calgary, AB, 5 years • Janet Vanderhor, Keyholder, Whistler, BC, 5 years • Alicia Wade, Sales Associate, Roots Yorkdale, Toronto, 5 years

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ast weekend, as part of its yoga-related activities and longtime commitment to health and wellness, Roots launched the just-published Contact: The Yoga of Relationship at the Roots Rosedale store in Toronto.

Co-author Tara Gruber participated in the afternoon event at the store, signing copies of the book and answering questions from the public and media.

Contact yoga was created by yogi Ken Scott, known as Nateshvar (Tesh, for short), about 18 years ago. At the event, Tesh demonstrated different yoga moves along with Tara and Diane Bald, Creative Director of Roots Home.

Published by Random House, the 160-page Contact

presents an alternative interpretation of yoga created to deepen people’s relationships with those close to them. It explores that mysterious and dynamic edge where two people connect: physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

(The book also has more than 100 photographs by award-winning photographer and filmmaker Norman Seeff whose images capture candid portraits of renowned yoga teachers).

According to Tesh, contact yoga allows those practicing it to feed off each other’s energies, a process that rejuvenates and refreshes their relationship.

• Contact: The Yoga of Relationship, available at Roots Rosedale. Retail price: $35

GREAT MOMENTS IN RETAIL Spotlighting the top-performing stores in November topping all the company stores. For its part, the Sarnia outlet topped all the Roots outlet and ‘Roots 73’ locations, finishing the month 120 percent over budget.

Congratulations to Store Manager JoAnn Modler of the Sunridge Mall store and Manager Deb MacDonald of the Sarnia outlet store, along with their respective teams for their performance.

Sunridge Mall, Calgary From left to right: Britany Luimes, Keyholder Craig Lawson, Janice Modler, Store Manager JoAnn Modler, Monica Chetty. Absent: Dragana Tusun

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ith the latest monthly sales figures now in, the Roots store in Sunridge Mall in Calgary, Alberta has captured the position of ‘Store of the Month’ in its category while the Sarnia Outlet store in Sarnia, Ontario headed the pack in its sector. The Sunridge Mall store came in at 165 percent over its sales budget

Issue 62 - December 7, 2006

Sarnia, Ontario Back row (left to right): David Morden, Shay-Lyn Elgie, Mark Daley. Front row (left to right): Carly Lund, Store Manager Deb MacDonald, Lauren Brush

A TREE WITH ROOTS ABOVE GROUND Visual team creates innovative props to celebrate season

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hile most retailers bring out their traditional Christmas trees every holiday season, Roots outlet stores have their own specially designed, custom-made trees this year. And they’re derived from one of the things that Roots is best known for sweatshirts.

Senior Visual Merchant Peter Paquette initiated the idea of a tree made of sweats to form a festive image for the annual sweatshirt promotion at Roots outlet stores.

“It is visually eye-catching to see sweats in this threedimensional form rather than to see pictures of them laid flat or folded,” says Peter who wrapped some 70 sweatshirts on a wooden frame to make the initial tree. Senior Art Director Ilich Mejia then photographed the creation before it was printed on foam core boards that formed the final product.

“I enjoy the creative process involved in campaigns like this,” says Peter, who worked closely with Shyrose Kassam, Executive Director of Outlets, during the design process of the sweat-tree. “It’s great to work with a good team and the success of the final outcome makes the entire process extremely rewarding.”

The foam board sweattrees that hit stores last month come in two sizes: three feet and five feet. They are part of the holiday campaign at Roots and will be featured in stores throughout the festive season.

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THE HOT LIST A fast look at what’s flying off the shelves at Roots stores

STARTING LINEUP Introducing the people who make it happen at Roots stores

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s 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 Place d’Orleans, Ottawa.

Back row (left to right): Valerie Gauthier, Allison Fortier, Heather Windling, Christa Hollmann, Laura Ashley Kostiuk, Nick Walker, Ben Brooks. Front Row (left to right): Sherry Hotte and Renee Leduc.

SHIPPING MADE ECO-FRIENDLIER Roots funds reforestation through new project linked to website

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co-consciousness is a way of life at Roots. As such, it should come as little surprise that even for shipping products ordered on its website, Roots is trying to make a difference.

In its latest initiative, Roots is partnering with Zerofootprint, a Toronto-based environmental organization, in an innovative new project to monitor its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. CO2 is one of the main gases contributing to global warming-related climate change.

In moving billions of products every year, the shipping industry worldwide burns fossil fuels, thereby generating more than 600 million tons of CO2 annually. During the current holiday season, Roots will offset CO2 emissions associated with the shipping of purchases made on-line.

Zerofootprint will determine how much CO2 is emitted with each shipment of 8

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1. Men’s Cooper Kanga Hoody 2. Men’s Cooper Full 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 Basic Kanga Hoody 8. Women’s Basic Full Zip Hoody 9. Women’s Basic Varsity Sweatpant 10. Women’s Mantra Pant 11. Women’s Roots Varsity Sweatpant 12. Women’s Sueded Fleece Velvet Pant 13. Women’s Varsity Sweatpant 14. Women’s Canada Track Pant 15. Boy’s Cooper Sweatpant 16. Baby’s Igloo Hoody 17. Baby’s Open Bottom Sweatpant 18. Roots Yoga Headband 19. Roots Bottled Water 355 ml 20. Venetian Village Prince Leather Bag

JUST THE FACTS How to make shopping at roots.com easier in the holiday period

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Roots products, offset it and signify this with a Zerofootprint seal on every (on-line purchase) delivery. Roots will then neutralize these emissions by funding Zerofootprint’s reforestation projects to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere equal to the

amount of CO2 produced with each delivery.

The funds will be used to initiate forestation projects addressing climatic change in British Columbia.

oots retail stores are not the only ones experiencing a huge upsurge in traffic due to holiday shopping. In recent days, the Roots website has also been attracting more on-line customers as Christmas and New Year’s Day approaches.

Here is some useful information to help facilitate shopping at roots. com during the holiday season: • Call-centre phone number: 1800-208-0521. It’s open Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. EST. • You can order on-line and return your purchase in-store.

• You can only redeem gift cards in retail stores, not on-line yet.

• You can track an order using our on-line service by logging into your account if you have created one or by using your order number.

• If you haven’t received an order confirmation by email, please check your spam or bulk email folder.

• Delivery cut-off to receive items

by Dec 24: Orders in Canada must be placed at the latest by December 19, 3pm EST. (In the Toronto area, until Dec 20). Orders in the United States must be placed at the latest by December 21, 3pm EST. Issue 62 - December 7, 2006

MARIO’S THE MAN Roots employee uses music to teach “underserved” youth valuable life lessons to have nothing to t first glance, eat and not to know Mario Murray how long you’re may seem a little going to be living intimidating with his where you are,” neck tattoos and confisays Mario of his dent manner. But this is childhood in St. a young man with a big Lucia and Canada. heart who cares about “I moved from his community. When house to house behe’s not busy helping cause no one wants customers at Roots to deal with a trouCentral in Toronto’s bled kid. I did whatEaton Centre, Mario ever I wanted, came organizes concerts for home whenever I local artists to share wanted, and didn’t their talents through listen to anyone.”

Mario Murray and Ilana Korn, positive music. In his both of Roots Central, at Degrassi Memories of his most recent show last House after Mario’s show past led Mario to month at the Degrassi help others through House, people listened Beatz to Da Streetz. “These to an eclectic mix of spoken their fullest potential. Through things made me who I am toword, rap, R&B, reggae, pop, the music, we bring out how day,” he says.

“My upbringing soul and folk music. they really feel first and then helped me to understand their “I put the show on to show- teach them valuable life lessituations better and since it case Toronto’s real rising sons.” These include teaching didn’t get the best of me, bestars,” says Mario, 25, whose humility and discipline, and cause of God and those who stage name is The Voyce. “The increasing self-esteem, buildwere around to strengthen me, focus was on the artists and ing life skills and opening opI wanted to be that same pertheir relationship with the portunities for education and son for others.” community, and through it I finding jobs.

Now in his second year of got to see who was really Long before he was ininvolvement with the program, about the community and who volved with Beatz to Da Mario says it has taught him a was all about themselves.”

Streetz, Mario himself was a few things as well. “I’ve Being a community man troubled kid growing up in the learned that everyone can himself, Mario spends his small Caribbean island of change and become better peoTuesdays volunteering as a Saint Lucia. When he was ple,” says Mario.

“There’s no staff leader at Beatz to Da eight years old, his mother reason not to give someone a Streetz, a Toronto-based nonmoved to Canada to work and chance, even if they’ve profit arts program. There, he prepare a comfortable life for screwed up before. Those are helps “underserved youth” him and his siblings, leaving called mistakes.” develop their creative talents them to fend for themselves.

Beatz to Da Streetz runs a through urban music to pro“I know what it’s like to 15-week series of workshops mote positive social change. survive on five dollars a week, for 15 youth led by industry According to professionals and Mario, these youth run out of Centenmight live in shelnial College. ters or be in bad Through these sessituations with drug sions, youth learn dealers or gangs, about urban music and they can’t seem and culture, and hip to get out of such a hop literacy. At the negative reality. end of the program, “There are many they promote, prokids out there in the duce and perform world who are on their own music in a their last hope,” live concert. says Mario. “No • To get involved with one believes in or the Beatz to Da Streetz cares about them program, visit their anymore, so they website at: http:// www.b2ds.ca. won’t really rise to Beatz to Da Streetz: Giving hope to troubled youth

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Issue 62 - December 7, 2006

WALKING FOR A CAUSE Staff at Halifax Shopping Centre store come together to fight AIDS

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ince 2004, Roots employee Anne Theriault has participated in the annual ‘Walk For Life’ to help in the battle against AIDS. This year, she also gained support and participation from her co-workers at the Roots store in the Halifax Shopping Centre. Clad in Roots T-shirts made for the International AIDS Conference held in Toronto in August, Anne’s collegues joined her in the 4 km march through downtown Halifax.

“When I saw the crowd of people taking part in the event, I had the wonderful knowledge that I wasn’t just walking for something that I believed in,” says Anne, 24, who is a full-time Keyholder at Roots. “I was walking for something that Roots also cared for deeply. And there is no better support that a person could ask for than having the company you work for stand behind something you care about strongly.”

Anne first participated in the ‘Walk for Life’ organized by the Aids Coalition of Nova Scotia (ACNS) when she was acting in a local AIDS-related play. Having been inspired by the thousands of people taking part in the Walk For Life including many who were fighting the disease, she became an active supporter of the event.

The ACNS, established in the 1980s, has conducted many fundraising walkathons.

Money raised from the events helps to offset medical costs not covered by the Nova Scotia medical system for persons with HIV/AIDS. The Source 9

MUSICAL ROOTS

GREEN TIP #28

This month, we spotlight R&B singer/songwriter John Legend

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t can be a heavy load to have “Legend” as your surname. But in the case of singer/musician John Legend, he’s most deserving of it. Only 27, he may still too young to be called a living legend but that’s the direction in which he seems to be heading.

Legend was born John Stephens in Springfield, Ohio where he began singing gospel and playing the piano at the tender age of five. He got his “Legend” stage name from friends who said his music

sounded like an old-school legendary artist. The name stuck; he believes it gives him something to live up to.

Legend left Ohio at age 16 to attend the University of Pennsylvania and to gain a larger audience. Barely 20 years old, he was hired to play piano on Lauryn Hill’s Everything Is Everything in 1998.

He also found success on the nightclub circuits in New York, Philadelphia and Washington before becoming a mainstream artist.

It was Legend’s roommate at university who introduced him to up and coming hip-hop artist and producer Kanye West. The two have worked closely since. Legend sang many of the hooks on West’s Grammy Award-winning album The College Dropout and West also produced Legend’s first major label recording Get Lifted, an incredible debut that captured three Grammy

Awards in 2006.

Legend recently released his sophomore album Once Again. The first single, “Save Room,” can be heard on Roots Radio. – Davin Bujalski To learn more about the musical roots of John Legend: Online: johnlegend.com Music: Get Lifted, 2004, Sony Music; Once Again, 2006, Sony Music; Live At SOB’s, 2002; Solo Sessions Vol. 1: Live At The Knitting Factory, 2003

THE TOP 10 A guide to the current sounds of Roots 1. Roots Woman, Jimmy Cliff 2. Hotel California, The Eagles 3. Showtime, Nelly Furtado 4. Beautiful Day, U2 5. Save Room, John Legend 6. Gimme Some Loving, Spencer Davis Group 7. She Moves In Mysterious Ways, U2 8. Arc Of The Diver, Steve Winwood 9. Where Are We Going, Marvin Gaye 10. Sunday Morning, K-os - Compiled by Davin Bujalski

GUESS WHO JUST DROPPED IN Taking attendance of special guests at Roots stores

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elebrities have long made a point of shop ping at Roots. Here are the latest sightings of prominent figures from the world of entertainment and sport who visited Roots stores recently: · Ketchum, Idaho (Sun Valley) – Hollywood couple Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson visited the store and purchased Roots extra long softee tees.

Retired St. Louis Blues NHL player Rick Bourbonnais also visited the store to buy sweatshirts for his children. · Toronto (Bloor Street) – Eugene Levy, Canadian actor, TV director, producer and writer, visited the Roots flagship store. · Halifax, NS (Spring Garden) – Actor John Hurt, who played the role of Mr. Ollivander in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, shopped at the Roots store.

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The Source

Easy ways to help the environment Wet paint!

Forget about staining your clothes and think more about what that new paint job is doing to your health. Most paint is made from petrochemicals, and its manufacturing process can create 10 times its own weight in toxic waste. It also releases volatile organic compounds (V.O.C.’s) that threaten public health. (V.O.C.’s are solvents that rapidly evaporate, allowing paint to dry quickly.)

They cause photochemical reactions in the atmosphere, leading to ground-level smog that can cause eye and skin irritation, lung and breathing problems, headaches, nausea, and nervous-system and kidney damage.

The best alternative? Natural paints. Manufactured using plant oils, natural paints pose far fewer health risks, are breathable, and in some cases are 100 percent biodegradable.

Remember: Never throw your paint away. Check out Earth 911’s “Paint Wise” section for re-use programs in your community; earth911.org.

(Source: Vanity Fair magazine)

HEALTH TIP #25 Easy ways to help you stay healthy Less salt, more years: Salt can preserve food, as sailors knew when they prepared their provisions for long ocean voyages. It doesn’t preserve our health, though.

Recent studies show that increased salt intake is proportional to an increase in cancers of the stomach, esophagus, and bladder. Additionally, sodium has long been implicated in chronic ailments such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis. Use other seasonings such as vinegar, garlic, herbs, and spices as tasty substitutes for salt.

Eugene Levy

Rick Bournbonnais

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson

(Source: Secrets of Longevity, by Dr. Maoshing Ni) Issue 62 - December 7, 2006

HOLIDAY SPIRIT AT ITS BEST Store teams show their real colours by helping their local communities

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ne of the nicer traditions at Roots during this time of year is that the staff at many if not most stores come together to do something in support of those in need in their community. The assistance takes many forms and the recipients vary with each initiative but the intention is the same – to try to make the holiday season sweeter for people whose daily reality is anything but festive.

As we did last year, The Source will spotlight as many of these initiatives as we can. In this issue, we are focusing on east-

ern Canada. Next issue, we will feature stores in other parts of the country.

• Champlain Place, Moncton, NB – Store Manager Erin Cormier and her staff have set up a box in the back room to collect food and toys to be donated to Head Start, a local organization that helps families in need and provides assistance to single mothers.

• Regent Mall, Fredericton, NB – Manager Kelly Smart and her staff are organizing Operation Keep the Change. All employees are donating personal loose change during the month of December, to be donated to the Salvation Army, the Fredericton Community Kitchen and the Fredericton Food Bank.

• Wheeler Park Outlet, Moncton, NB – Manager Mauricio Santos and his staff are collecting food to be donated to the neighbourhood retirement home.

• Spring Garden, Halifax, NS – Store

Manager Terri Smith and her staff will provide board games to be donated through the Kool 96.5 radio station for needy 11-12 year-old children.

• Halifax Shopping Centre, NS – Manager Roxann Keeling and her staff have teamed up with a local gym and the Salvation Army to donate age-specific gift clothing for needy children in the community.

• Sunnyside Mall, Bedford, NS – Manager Tequiera Bedard and her staff are collecting food items from friends and family to be donated to the local food bank a week before Christmas.

• Bayers Lake Outlet, Halifax, NS – Manager Drew Thomas and his staff are collecting non-perishable food items for the local food bank.

• Mic Mac Mall, Dartmouth, NS – Manager Johanna Ventoso and her all-girl staff are donating contributions to the local Diabetes Association.

Mic Mac Mall store: Johanna Ventoso, Sabrina Hoskins, Elizabete Almeida, Carly Chevarie, Amanda Baker, Jessica Carter, Lindsay Harding, Tara Mosher, Holly Nelson

Fredericton store: Back Row (Left to Right): Kelly Smart, Sarah Lewis, Tina Trethewey.

Front Row (Left to Right) - Devin Dunham, Emma Lally, Adam Bowie

Bayers Lake Outlet: Jen Mackinnon, Drew Thomas and Laura Hanna

Spring Garden store: Lisa Moorhouse, Terri Smith and Karen O’Hearon

Halifax Shopping Centre store: Anne Theriault, Hannah Jefferey, Roxann Keeling, Anne Gorman, Jack Saraga Issue 62 - December 7, 2006

Sunnyside Mall store: Lesley McIntyre, Ashley Delaney, Tequiera Bedard, Carmen Jay Grabo and lying across us is Sarah MacMillan The Source 11

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The Source

Issue 62 - December 7, 2006