WHERE PEOPLE & BUSINESSES GROW TOGETHER Town of Windsor, Colorado A FULL SUITE OF TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS Walgre Transport AN OLD COMPANY WITH NEW IDEAS IOA Healthcare Furniture BUSINESSINFOCUSMAGAZINE.COM OC TO BE R 2 02 2Built for speed. In an industry that moves and innovates at a lightning pace, there’s no time to slow down. At Dehnco, we’ve been out-pacing industry bests with modular, pack-and-ship solutions. With exible, forward-thinking components, our equipment is exactly what you need, exactly when you need it. Built for speed. In an industry that moves and innovates at a lightning pace, there’s no time to slow down. At Dehnco, we’ve been out-pacing industry bests with modular, pack-and-ship solutions. With exible, forward-thinking components, our equipment is exactly what you need, exactly when you need it. EDITOR’S CORNER Built for speed. In an industry that moves and innovates at a lightning pace, there’s no time to slow down. At Dehnco, we’ve been out-pacing industry bests with modular, pack-and-ship solutions. With exible, forward-thinking components, our equipment is exactly what you need, exactly when you need it. “While I’ve yet to see a flying drone drop off my online order, I suspect that changes behind the scenes in the industry have been even more influential to the growing mobile availability of everything.” Built for speed. In an industry that moves and innovates at a lightning pace, there’s no time to slow down. At Dehnco, we’ve been out-pacing industry bests with modular, pack-and-ship solutions. With exible, forward-thinking components, our equipment is exactly what you need, exactly when you need it. 3 Over the past couple of years, the act of getting some- thing from point A to point B has been… complex. We’ve seen shortages where we didn’t expect them, supply chain issues that identified all the weak points in the established systems, worker (especially driver) shortages—and yet we also have unprecedented access to just about anything we can think of delivered to our doorstep. It seems that the global pandemic has provided the kind of challenge combined with stimulus that the logistics industry needed for change and innovation. While I’ve yet to see a flying drone drop off my online order, I suspect that changes behind the scenes in the industry have been even more influential to the growing mobile availability of everything. And it’s the com- panies who are embracing the changes that are really thriving. Allison Dempsey takes a closer look at how the logistics industry is evolving in her latest piece, Positive Potential – Logistics Sector Adapts, Changes and Grows. Tim Hocken Editor Suite 300, 7071 Bayers Rd. | Halifax, NS | B3L 2C2 | Canada P: 1-647-479-2163 | E: EDITOR Tim Hocken DEPUTY EDITOR Jaime McKee COPY EDITORS Thora Smith | Allister Havercroft CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Allison Dempsey | Claire Suttles David Caldwell | Jen Hocken | Jessica Ferlaino Margaret Eaton | Nate Hendley | Pauline Müller Stephanie Belliveau | William Young DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS James Corbett CONTENT MANAGERS Aaron Ferguson | Erin McWhinney | Louis Susara Scott Forbes | Wendy Hood-Morris SALES & MARKETING MANAGER Luke Simms SALES TEAM Pamela Taylor | Morgan Culpepper OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Julia MacQueen GRAPHIC DESIGN MANAGER Severina Gachparova GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Laura Pratt | Ashley Dowling Ebic Tristary | Yoana Ilcheva CONTROLLER Jen Hamilton PUBLISHER Jeff Hocken INSIDE OCTOBER FOCUS ON: BUSINESS & INSTITUTIONAL FURNITURE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION (BIFMA) ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 4 Logistics Sector Adapts, Changes and Grows The past few years have created some uniquely difficult chal- lenges for the logistics sector due to a number of factors, particularly the ongoing pandemic coupled with worldwide geopolitical and economic crises. Large-scale supply chain interruptions, perplexing new rules and restrictions, and tur- bulent shifts in consumer demand, have all adversely affected almost every single area of the industrial segment, with a domino effect that will linger in the coming years. PRODUCTS & SERVICES 5 BUSINESS IN FOCUS ISSA SHOW NORTH AMERICA 10 – 13 October, Chicago, IL ISSA is the leading trade association for the cleaning industry worldwide, dedicated to promoting cleaning as a valuable investment in human health, the environment, and an improved bottom line. The association’s 2022 show will offer networking opportunities, education, and product discovery at a time when collaboration and learning are essential. Staying up to date on the latest trends and solutions for cleaning, disinfection, and infection prevention and pursuing accreditation, training, and certification helps us further evolve the industry and change the way the world views cleaning. For more information BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & ENTREPRENEUR CONFERENCE FOR AFRICANS & BLACK CANADIANS 27 – 29 October, North York, ON This conference represents an international program focused at bringing Black business owners and entrepreneurs into Canada to invest in the Canadian economy. This conference aims to engage foreign companies and to inform both existing and new entrepreneurs about the oppor- tunities and supports available to them to establish their companies in Canada. It will also be an avenue for creating employment opportunities for Canadians in different provinces and territories and establishing foreign companies in Canada. For more information visit: BRAND & LICENSING INNOVATION SUMMIT 8 – 9 November, Convene, New York Themed, ‘Shaping the future of licensing and retail,’ the Brand & Licensing Innovation Summit (B&LIS) brings together brand licensing leaders and delivers thought-provoking content and networking opportunities to help drive the industry forward and deliver business insights to address some of these critical topics. The industry is in a time of transition, all led by an increasingly complex and demanding customer. Topics to include: Retail disruption; Supply chain challenges; SVOD; Metaverse; Inflation; Influencers; NFTs; and Representation. For more information BIOMEDEVICE SILICON VALLEY 29 – 30 November, Santa Clara, CA BIOMEDevice Silicon Valley returns this November, bringing together the brightest minds in the industry to demonstrate and discuss emerging trends, innovation, and disruptive tech changing the future of the medical device industry. Experience live demos and uncover the latest technologies, solu- tions, and medtech products on the show floor, and enhance your onsite experience with direct access to experts and their exclusive presentations. For more information INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS AND SITUATIONAL MESSAGING 30 November – 1 December, Austin, TX With the theme of, ‘Fostering Community and Leading With Empathy to Drive Employee Engagement and Organizational Commitment,’ this conference will help you fortify your Internal Communications function to build workplace communities with a widespread workforce and delve deeper than ever before into Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives. This program will provide insight, tools, and strategies to accom- plish these goals and boost employee engagement, organizational commitment, and employee branding. For more information INDUSTRY EVENTS 6 Are you planning an event relating to North America’s growing Business Industry? To get your event listed in Business in Focus, please contact us at least six to eight weeks before the event takes place at or call 1-647-479-2163INDUSTRY NEWS CANADA: RECESSION ON THE HORIZON? Although the number of persons with COVID-19 is declining, Canada’s economy is still feeling the effect of over two years of slowed supply chains, reduced discretionary spending, and workers being laid off, never to return. This summer, Statistics Canada reported commercial bankrupt- cies were rising, while the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB) stated 10 percent of small businesses would consider closing for good if they were no longer solvent. And although Canada’s rate of inflation cooled somewhat in August (the most recent available data) to 7.0 percent, the price at the pumps increase 22.1 percent in August, and the cost of grocer- ies went up a whopping 10.8 percent over the same time last year, the fastest increase since 1981. These factors—along with the Bank of Canada increasing key interest rates five times this year to fight inflation—leave many economists wondering if we are on the brink of another recession. According to the latest Macroeconomic Outlook from the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), Canada needs to brace for a “bumpy landing.” Stating, “We expect the year ahead to bring recessions for Canada, the United States, the Euro area, and the United Kingdom,” experts at RBC believe the downturn will be “moderate” by historical standards, and that “central banks will continue to pump the monetary policy brakes until consumer demand has softened enough to bring inflation rates fully back to target.” WALMART HIRING DOWN FROM LAST YEAR America’s biggest private employer has announced it is once again hiring staff for the Christmas holidays—except numbers are far lower this year than last. The company stated that most of the 40,000 new workers will reflect seasonal staff and some full-time roles, such as truck drivers who keep product moving year-round. Current employees will be given first choice if they want to pick up extra shifts and build their own schedules. This year’s hiring numbers are far lower than the same time in 2021, when the retail giant announced it was taking on about 150,000 new U.S. store associates, “most of them permanent, full-time posi- tions across the country,” according to a media release at the time. 7INDUSTRY NEWS IKEA SLASHES FOOD WASTE OVER 50% Always head of its time with competitively priced furniture and home décor items, Ikea is also renowned for its in-store restau- rants where hungry shoppers can take a break and chow down on Swedish meatballs or a coffee and ‘Kafferep’. The company is also legendary for using sustainable sources and recycled materials, and for minimizing waste. To go as green as possible, Ikea uses digital scales to measure food waste, including the type of food, be it hot dog or ice cream, with employees keeping records. In 2017, the company announced it planned to cut food waste in its locations in half. With careful calculations and Artificial Intelligence (AI), Ikea has managed to determine if it is producing too many meatballs or other foods at any one time during the day, and can adjust the amount accordingly. The program has been a huge success. Recently, INGKA Holding B.V., which controls the majority of Ikea stores, announced it has surpassed its 2017 goal of reducing combined food production waste in stores by over 50 percent, furthering Ikea’s commitment “to becoming circular and climate positive by 2030,” according to a media release. A whopping 54 percent in food waste reduction translates into 36,000 tonnes of CO2e prevented, and over 20 million saved meals. At present, approximately one-third of food worldwide is wasted, generat- ing some eight to 10 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions. “I truly believe food is too precious to be wasted and that everyone has a role to play to prevent and reduce food waste, whether it is at home in our own kitchens or in our business,” stated Ingka Group’s Chief Sustainability Officer Karen Pflug in a media release. “The impact we can all have on preventing and reducing food waste is beneficial for both people and the planet. Although this achievement represents a relatively small proportion of our overall climate footprint, it is nevertheless an important step that we are proud of, and our food co-workers have been instrumental in this.” 8INDUSTRY NEWS GAP SLASHES 500 CORPORATE JOBS In the wake of fewer sales and lower profits, San Francisco- based clothing and accessory retailer The GAP, Inc. recently announced it is cutting about 500 corporate positions. The timing of the announcement also comes as the company’s two-year partnership with musician Kanye West’s Yeezy brand comes to an end. The news comes as other giants in the in-store and online retail space struggle with soaring supply chain costs and slumping post-COVID sales, including Peloton, Best Buy, Walmart and Bed Bath & Beyond, which announced the closure of about 150 stores and 20 percent cuts to its workforce. After reporting a profit of $258 million U.S. compared to the same time last year, the second quarter of 2022 saw a loss of $49 million U.S. In addition to GAP, the company offers products through brands including Athleta and Banana Republic. HERTZ ADDING EVS There’s big news for the electric vehicle (EV) sector as General Motors has agreed to the sale of up to 175,000 electric vehicles to U.S.-based car rental giant Hertz Global over the next five years. It is believed the vehicles will include popular models such as the Bolt EVU and the Chevrolet Bolt EV. Other models, including the Chevrolet Blazer and the Chevrolet Equinox, are expected to follow. Set to start providing EVs in the first quarter of 2023, the deal follows similar agreements with other EV makers including Tesla and Volvo startup, Polestar. Hertz’s aim is to have one-quarter of its fleet composed of EVs by the end of 2024. The company esti- mates clients can drive over eight billion miles in the new EVs while saving about 3.5 million tonnes of “carbon dioxide-equiva- lent emissions,” compared to traditional gas-fuelled vehicles. Less than a year ago, Hertz faced bankruptcy owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, but made a stunning pivot as travel restrictions eased. “Our work with Hertz is a huge step forward for emissions reduc- tion and EV adoption that will help create thousands of new EV customers for GM,” said General Motors’ Chief Executive Officer Mary Barra in a media statement. Tupungato/ shutterstock.com 9Next >