Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 36

2015 ERA AWARDS OF DISTINCTION

DISTINGUISHED CANADIAN RETAILER OF THE YEAR

AWA R D S P O N SO R

RISE OF A CANADIAN GIANT
Family business earns Canadian Retailer of the Year nod
BY TALBOT BOGGS
GROWING up and working in a family business,
Terry Leon learned early in life that the keys to
success in retail include developing good relationships with customers, suppliers, employees
and local communities and giving back to the less
fortunate and those who helped you succeed.
"It's been a privilege to accomplish what we
have over the years," says Leon, CEO of Leon's
Furniture and The Brick and recipient of Retail
Council of Canada's (RCC) Distinguished Canadian Retailer of the Year award. "I'm very honoured but this truly is a collective award that belongs to all our associates. Our accomplishments
have been a real team effort."
Growth and expansion

Leon began at the company as a student and
over the years worked in virtually every department, rising to various management positions Terry Leon, CEO of Leon's Furniture and The Brick and Brian Lang,
including Corporate Counsel, Vice President, President, MasterCard Canada.
Chief Financial Officer, President of Leon's Furniture and Chief Executive Officer when Leon's
completed a $700-million acquisition of The
Brick in March of 2013.
The acquisition was a good fit, with Leon's and
The Brick both being family businesses with
- TERRY LEON, Leon's
similar values and some key strategic business
synergies. The acquisition gave Leon's exposure to Western Can- What does the future hold?
ada (particularly British Columbia) where The Brick was founded
Leon hopes to have the integration asin 1971 as well as merchandising opportunities and a national dis- pects of the deal completed within the next
tribution network. The joint organization has created a network of six to eight months. He plans to continue to
some 300 stores in 240 communities across the country and will look for ways to reduce any areas of duplienable the two retailers to better serve customers and compete cation and improve operational efficiencies,
against large U.S. chains competing in the Canadian marketplace.
expand the number of bricks and mortar
stores where appropriate, strengthen the
Giving back
companies' Internet and social media presLeon has made good on his commitment to give back, both on a ence and possibly pursue other acquisitions.
personal and corporate level. Currently he is a member of the Board
"You've got to know who you are, play to
of the Humber River Regional Hospital and has served on the boards your strengths, have a vision and a plan
of the Tom Leon Charitable Foundation and Catholic Children's Aid for how you're going to get there," Leon
Society and was the recipient of the Kidney Public Awareness Award. says. "Both our companies were started by
Leon's Furniture's principle charities include St.Michael's, Sick Kids individuals and were based on family valand Humber River Regional hospitals and the Boys and Girls Club ues of fairness, integrity and trust. Those
of Canada while The Brick supports the Children's Miracle Network, values will remain at our core as we move
Wounded Warriors Canada and Breakfast for Learning charities.
forward as a team together."

"You've got to know who you are, play to
your strengths, have a vision and a plan for
how you're going to get there."

36 |

CANADIAN RETAILER | STORE 2015



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Retailer - Store 2015

Publisher's Desk
Retail Currents
Under the Banner
Success Starts Everywhere
Technology, the Economy and Cyber-Crime: Harnessing Disruption
Top 5 Takeaways From Store 2015
Honouring Retail Leaders
ERA 2015—the Best of the Best
Top Grocery Rookies Showcase Hunger for Innovation
Advertiser's Index
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - cover1
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - cover2
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 3
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - Publisher's Desk
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 5
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - Retail Currents
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 7
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 8
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 9
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - Under the Banner
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 11
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - Success Starts Everywhere
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 13
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 14
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 15
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 16
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 17
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - Technology, the Economy and Cyber-Crime: Harnessing Disruption
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 19
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 20
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 21
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 22
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 23
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 24
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 25
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - Top 5 Takeaways From Store 2015
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 27
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 28
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 29
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - Honouring Retail Leaders
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 31
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 32
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 33
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 34
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 35
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 36
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 37
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 38
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - ERA 2015—the Best of the Best
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 40
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 41
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 42
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 43
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - Top Grocery Rookies Showcase Hunger for Innovation
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 45
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 46
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 47
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 48
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 49
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 50
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 51
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 52
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - 53
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - Advertiser's Index
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - cover3
Canadian Retailer - Store 2015 - cover4
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