june 2008

The Source • 1Issue 84 - June 2008

A window into the world of RootsRootsRootsRootsRoots Issue 84 • June 2008

SUMMER OF LOVEWith a splash of colour and a fresh take on the peace symbol,

Roots presents an eye-catching collection inspired from the ’60s

PH

OT

O B

Y I

LIC

H M

EJI

A

PublishersMICHAEL BUDMAN, DON GREEN

EditorROBERT SARNER

Editorial AssistantCARLY ANDERSON

InternsMARA SOFFERINFARRAH LADAK

The Source is published every month byRoots Canada Ltd. We welcome letters fromreaders for publication. Please address allcorrespondence to The Source, Letters to theEditor, Roots Canada, 1400 Castlefield Ave.,Toronto, Ontario, M6B 4C4 or by email [email protected] Letters may be edited forlength and clarity.

Each issue of The Source is alsoavailable, in an abridged version, on theRoots website at www.roots.com

DepartmentsFINE PRINT

GUESS WHO JUST DROPPED IN

GREAT MOMENTS IN RETAIL

MOMENTS THAT MATTER

GREEN TIPS

HEALTH TIPS

STAYING POWER

I N S I D EI N S I D EI N S I D EI N S I D EI N S I D EI S S U E 84I S S U E 84I S S U E 84I S S U E 84I S S U E 84

SPECIAL DELIVERYA selection of recent letters from the world of Roots

EXTRA! EXTRA!In keeping with our monthlypublishing schedule, the nextissue of The Source will appear atthe end of June.

• The Source wants to hear from you.Please send your letters to Robert Sarnerat [email protected]. Letters may beedited for length and clarity.

POSITIVE IMPACTI am writing to tell you howimpressed I was with the qualityof customer service I receivedrecently at the Roots store at theUpper Canada Mall in Newmar-ket, ON. In particular, I greatlyappreciated the way I wastreated by Sherry Bishop. Shewent out of her way to help meand to find the item I wanted. Ihave never been treated like thisin person at any store, let aloneon the phone.

I will surely share this highlypositive experience with myfriends, colleagues and familywhen speaking about differentcompanies and customer service.

I look forward to shoppingat Roots more often now. Sherryhas definitely made a positiveimpact to my shopping experi-ence.Ashley BhanjiToronto, ON

THANKS FROM CITY HALLAllow me to express, on behalfof Toronto’s Queen Street Westresidents, their grateful thanksfor your compassion andgenerosity in the aftermath ofthe tragic fire that destroyedtheir homes.

The true measure of acommunity is how it respondsto adversity. I have been soproud of the outpouring of giftsand support from the local

neighbours and from residentsacross the city. These gifts havemade it possible for the firevictims to heal and rebuild theirlives. Please be assured that youhave touched the lives of othersin your community and helpedthem to look forward again withhope.

Please accept my personalthanks for your help in thiscrisis.Adam Vaughan, CouncillorWard 20, Toronto

LANCE HITS THE SPOTGiven that my family had such awonderful experience at one ofyour stores on a recent Saturday,I felt it was important that Iwrite you. We realized that wehad told everyone we knowabout it but hadn’t yet told themost important people, namelythe Roots Head Office.

My family and I have beenshopping at the Roots store onPrincess Street in Kingston foras long as we can remember.Recently, we were contacted bythe manager, Lance Lakins, tolet us know that you werehaving a Customer Apprecia-tion Weekend. In a world whereyou are normally treated only asanother customer, this was apleasant surprise to see that weare truly valued as customers.Lance and all the staff always goout of their way to make our

shopping experiences enjoy-able; our children love receivingstickers when they visit. Weheaded in on the Saturday totake advantage of this wonder-ful sale and although the storewas extremely busy, Lance andthe girls working there seemedthrilled to see us. Our shoppingexperience was no differentthan had we been the onlypeople in the store.

My wife and I wanted tosalute your dedication towonderful products, which wehave enjoyed over the years,both for ourselves and nowwith our children. We alsowanted you to know that wethink it’s wonderful you have aCustomer Appreciation event tolet all of us regulars feel justthat little extra bit special.Equally important, we wanted toensure that you are aware thatLance and his team representthe finest staff in downtownKingston.

We look forward to continu-ing our love of Roots!Neil Anderson and FamilyKingston, Ontario

SUMMER OF LOVEWith a splash of colour and afresh take on the peace symbol,Roots presents an eye-catch-ing collection inspired fromthe 1960s

BEHIND THE BRANDCBC’s The Hour goes one-on-one with Roots co-founderMichael Budman

RENOVATIONSIN THE EASTAsian stores undergo massiverevamp in time for summer

THE FUTURE OF RETAILLOOKS BRIGHTBarrie sales associate winsacademic scholarship

TONING UP ONRECYCLINGIT Department implementsnew store-wide eco-friendlysystem

SUMMER OF LOVEWith a splash of colour and a fresh take on the peace symbol, Roots presents an

eye-catching collection inspired from the ’60s. BY CARLY ANDERSON

Roots always reservessomething special forsummer and this year

stays true to that tradition. Thisseason, Roots pays tribute to theSummer of ’67 — an excep-tional moment in time thatbrought social activism, civilrights and environmentalconcern to the mainstream,leaving its indelible mark on thefuture.

In stores now, the look forthe Summer of ’08 is that of“modern day hippie.” The Rootsdesigners reinterpreted the free-

spirited, youthful clothing of thebohemian counterculture, givingit a contemporary twist withinnovative organic materials andhandcrafted detailing. Thecollection embodies all thethings important to Roots —respect for the environment, anappreciation of music/arts/culture, spending time outdoorsand leading an active, healthylifestyle.

“Creating the right visuals tosupport the collection is anintrinsic part of this initiative,”says Stephanie Holden, Crea-

tive Director. “The Summer ofLove was the most complicatedphoto shoot we have done todate. We used various locations,multiple models and props. Itwas challenging, but great to seeall of our plans come to life. Ibelieve the campaign trulycaptures the artistic mood of theproduct. Ilich Mejia [ArtDirector, Photographer] andPeter Paquette [Senior VisualMerchant, Stylist] are a greatteam to work with. We’re reallylooking forward to shooting ourupcoming fall campaign to-

gether.”Shot on the West Coast over

a period of two days, theSummer of Love photo shoot setthe standard for all futurecampaigns.

“It was very exciting,” saysPeter. “It’s always amazing tosee the concepts come to life.There was a lot of stress andchallenges involved, but Iwouldn’t trade this part of myjob for anything!”

For women, the “modern day

The new men’s graphic tees take their inspiration in part from natural surroundings

Continued on next page

4 • The Source Issue 84 - June 2008

BEHIND THE CIRCLE OF PEACEPopular symbol used in Roots ‘Summer of Love’ collection is more than just a sign of the times

In 2008, the peace sign turns50, yet remains as relevant as

ever, helping inspire thisseason’s Summer of Lovecollection. The iconic sign andthe sentiment it represents isthe theme of the current Rootscampaign in stores now.

In a new book, Peace: TheBiography of a Symbol, com-memorating the golden anniver-sary, author Ken Kolsbunchronicles the evolution of thepowerful image.

Created in 1958 by Britishartist Gerald Holtom, the

forked symbol was designed fora “Ban the Bomb” protestmarch, where it was thenadopted as thebadge of theBritish Campaignfor NuclearDisarmament.

The symbol isbased on theletters of flag-signaling alpha-bet, super-imposing N, fornuclear (a figurewith arms held

downward and out from bothsides), and D, for disarmament(a figure holding one arm above

its head while theother points tothe ground),within a circlesignifying theEarth.

The peacesign was latergeneralized tobecome aninternational iconof the 1960s anti-Vietnam War

movement and was alsoembraced by the countercultureof the time, taking on additionalmeanings for civil rights, theenvironment and the women’srights movement. These sameissues are also very much partof current events, which helpsexplain the resurgence inpopularity of the symbol.

Interestingly, as the peacesign has deliberately neverbeen copyrighted, no one hasto pay or seek permissionbefore they use it. As a symbolof freedom, it’s free for all.

Kolsbun’s book is nowavailable in stores

hippie” theme offers endless funand versatile options for sum-

mer, blending Rootsquality and comfortwith stylish details.Bright coloursabound, as do airytanks and billowydresses in floweryprints of organiccotton and bambooblends. Classic teesmeet the ’60s, as thebeaver icon under-goes a psychedelicmakeover for thesummer and “Peace,Love and Roots” isproclaimed loudlyfrom bold tie-dyedtees.

A major trendreflecting the hippiestyle, was to take

inspiration from Eastern cul-tures. This is seen in the collec-tion’s line of crisp, peasant-styletops with detailed embroidery

and prints derived from India.Many other garments featurehandicraft detailing, a techniqueseen everywhere this season.Tanks and tunics with crochet orhand-knitted detailing in deep,rich shades are getting manypositive reviews from customersand staff.

For men, the Summer ofLove comes across moresubtly, in gentle transitions oftie-dyed colour as seen in theCarlo Slim Dip Dye tee, andflowery printed surf shorts,great for a day at the beach.The nature-inspired shirts, madeout of organic cotton and hemp,feature a variety of earthygraphics, many with a nativeCanadian feel to them.

Among other Roots plans forsummer, the patriotic CanadaDay line is already hittingstores, with Canadian Olympickayaking champion Adam van

Koeverden (whowas also featured inthe Summer ofLove campaign) asthe face of the in-store visuals.

The mostly red,white and blackcolour scheme,features manyclassic items, suchas polos, tees andsweatshirts withaccents ofCanadiana in boldgraphics. Allproducts in the line

are made in Canada and arealso part of the Roots Greenline.

Other collections for thesummer include the WhiteCanada Collection, available in12 flagship stores this month.The complement to the otherpatriotic line, the White Collec-tion is more athletic-inspiredwith clean and technical lines.The featured colour is whitewith sleek accents of slate greyand heritage red. Each garmentis emblazoned with multiplelogos by Graphic DesignerAshley Allwood, and comeswith a custom rubber patchand keepsake keychain,celebrating Canada and thebrand’s longtime passion forsport.

With waves of colourful,new merchandise in stores thisseason, this is truly a summerof love – to love. - C.A.

Continued from previous page

Olympian Adam van Koeverdenis the face of the Canada Day Collection

Peace, love and tie-dyed tees are the look for the Roots Summer of Love


BEHIND THE BRANDCBC’s The Hour goes one-on-one with Roots co-founder

Afamiliar face graced latenight television in earlyMay, when Roots Co-

Founder Michael Budman satdown with The Hour’s GeorgeStroumboulopoulos in front ofa live studio audience.

In a candid interview for theCBC’s popular current affairsshow, the pair discussed thehistory and future of the iconicbrand. Michael chronicledmeeting fellow co-founder DonGreen in Algonquin Park, andmoving to Toronto in theearly1970s when they firstconsidered selling waterbeds oryogurt before finally deciding onthe successful negative heelshoe.

Interspersed with footageshot at the Roots leather factory,Michael touched on the impor-tance of finding a niche formanufacturing in Canada,as well as the decision notto outfit the United Statesteam for the upcomingBeijing Olympics. Dis-cussing his involvementwith Robert KennedyJr.’s Waterkeeper Alli-ance, he stressed thededication and importancethat Roots places on theenvironment as a corevalue of the company.

As a special gift toGeorge, Michael pre-sented him with a custom-

made leather jacket, which hethen wore the next evening onhis highly acclaimed program.

If you did not see the

interview the first time aroundon television, you can view it onthe internet at CBC’s websitewww.cbc.ca/thehour.

Michael Budman, (right), discusses the making of a great brand on The Hour

RENOVATIONS IN THE EASTAsian stores undergo massive revamp in time for summer

Change is in the air andmany Roots stores inTaiwan are debuting an

updated look as the opening ofnew locations and renovations toexisting stores have been takingplace since April.

With two inaugural siteslaunching in the cities of

Kaohsiung and Tainan and threerenovated locales re-opening inKaohsiung, Taichung and thecapital city of Taipei, the Rootspresence is steadily increasing inthe bustling country.

The shops, located withinpopular Taiwanese departmentstores, incorporate eco-friendly

design features central to thecompany’s core values. Manyare implementing the new darkerstained bamboo floors, while theMitsukoshi A9 shop features thefirst green wall in the country. Agreater emphasis is also beingplaced on leather items, with allstores integrating bag walls or

display tables of the merchan-dise, offset by stylishly simplephotos of nature.

With another location slatedto open at the end of June and anad campaign being featured inTaiwan’s Vogue and Elle, thefuture looks bright for Roots inAsia.

Far Eastern 21, Kaohsiung Han Shin 1, KaohsiungMitsukoshi A9, Taipei

THE PLACE TO BE IN JULYSpecial discount for Roots employees on premier sporting event in Canada

Tickets are going fast as thetop men’s players in theworld of tennis battle once

again at York University’sworld-class Rexall Centre inToronto for the 2008 RogersCup.

This July 19-27, the biggestnames in international tennisincluding Roger Federer,

Rafael Nadal,NovakDjokovic andAndyRoddick willtake to thecourts andRoots invitesall employeesto be a part of

the action for adiscounted price.

In a specialoffer to staff andtheir family andfriends, primeLevel 100 silverseats are availablefor up to 25% off.To order: Log

onto www.rogerscup.com/groups and use your groupaccess code RCL0-7388164 orcall Tennis Canada at 1-877-283-6647 ext. 4306 [email protected].

With high intensity matchesand the top men’s players inthe world, the Rogers Cup isthe sporting event of the summer.


Saluting those who gothe distance

Recently, many Rootsemployees marked major

anniversaries of their time at thecompany. By ‘major,’ we meanbenchmark achievements as in5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 yearsspent at Roots.We invite anyone celebratingsuch an anniversary to send therelevant information to TheSource.

Congratulations to thefollowing employees for theirsignificant contributions andenduring loyalty to Roots:

STAYING POWER

• Raymond Perkins, Director ofPublic Relations and Special Events,10 years• Ellie Thiessen, Store Manager,Rosedale, Toronto, ON, 10 years• Sean Vicary, Graphic Designer,Head Office, 5 years

• Please send us details of similar good newsand we’ll be happy to publish it in The Source(email: [email protected])

MOMENTSTHAT MATTERBig developments inthe life of Roots staff

• Jolene Andrews, AssistantManager at Jackson Square,Hamilton, ON, gave birth toa baby boy named JudeSteven Bowers on March 21.

• Justin Sood, RetailOperations Analyst wedLinda Kettlewell on May 9in Stratford, Ontario.

Hearty congratulations toall of the above for thesegreat moments in their lives.

Jude Steven Bowers

Justin and Linda Sood

As a company which pridesitself on its commitmentto the environment, it seems

that everyone at Roots is findingways to reduce, reuse and recycle.

The latest innovation comesfrom the IT Department at HeadOffice where Janice Blair,Retail Store Systems Analyst,has implemented a store-widetoner cartridge recycling program,which is getting many positivereviews.

Working with printing andimaging support providerLaserNetworks, the strategyallows all Roots stores to couriertheir empty cartridges back tothe contractor for free, where

they can be reused. Launched inCanadian stores in January andjust recently introduced in theUnited States, the program willconserve hundreds of litres of oilover the course of a year as wellas divert the non-biodegradable

plastic from landfills.“Recycling our cartridges is

one of the easiest things we cando to lessen our impact on theenvironment,” says Janice.“We’ve made the process asconvenient and simple as possibleto ensure the cooperation of allstores. Now it’s just a matter ofre-educating people about thesteps involved. A partnershipwith one of the environmentalleaders in this field [LaserNetworks]seems only natural for Roots.”

For step-by-step guidelineson recycling toner cartridges, visitthe Policies section on Storenet,(a program available online to allRoots stores).

IT Department implements new store-wide eco-friendly systemTONING UP ON RECYCLING

Janice with her toner, all ready to go

YOU OUGHTA BE IN THE MOVIES

When Raiders of the LostArk came out in 1981,its success extended far

beyond the box office. Avid fanscouldn’t get enough of IndianaJones — they wanted to emulateeverything about the character(as performed by Harrison Ford),right down to his beat up leatherjacket and dusty fedora.

Rick Theriault was one ofthose bowled over by the IndianaJones look. But, like many others,he had no idea where to beginsearching for an “Indy” jacket ofhis own. In 2000, he came acrossthe coveted garment on theinternet. While searching formore information about it, hediscovered he wasn’t alone in hisquest.

“The obsession was therebefore me,” says Theriault, 45,an environmental manager for apaper company in New Hamp-shire. He found that many otherswere equally fanatical about thejacket — the shape of the pocketflap, the zipper facings, theadjustable straps at the waist, theshape of the collar. After pur-chasing his own Indiana JonesJacket, Rick decided to look foranother favourite on-screengarment — the motorcycle

Roots featured on website devoted to jackets with cinematic appeal

jacket worn by Hugh Laurie onthe Fox television show HouseM.D.

It was at this point that Theriaultrealized that although there weremany interested fans such ashim, there were no websitesdevoted to helping people findreplicas of jackets seen in filmsand on television. Much of theinformation for each style wasavailable, but it was scatteredamong various websites. Con-vinced this was a niche that hecould fill, Theriault and hisfriend Mike Sicoli foundedfilmjackets.com in 2007.

Theriault and Sicoli areconstantly searching for newreplica jackets to feature on theirsite. Recently, they came acrossthe Roots Raiders Jacket, which

was released this year to celebratethe new Indiana Jones film,Indiana Jones and the Kingdomof the Crystal Skull. It was thefirst time Theriault heard ofRoots, but after doing someonline research, he discoveredthat the company had an excel-lent reputation for leather goods.

“I learned that Roots Canadamakes a top-quality product,”says Theriault. “Tough creden-tials to ignore and filmjackets.comtook notice. We love high-quality jackets!” This led him toadd the Raiders Jacket to his sitewhere Indiana Jones fans fromaround the world can now findit. The jacket is listed underRaiders of the Lost Ark in the‘Film Jackets’ portion of the site,and includes details on how toorder it from Roots.

For Theriault, hunting downjackets to add to his site hasbecome a new love. “It’s reward-ing to find something that youare passionate about and realizethat others share your interest,”he says. “What I like best is thefeeling I get when opening anemail in which someone thanksfilmjackets.com for helpingthem find a jacket. You can’tbeat that.” – Anne Theriault

Rick, in his House M.D replica jacket


BEST OF

2007FINE PRINT

Herearesomerecentsightingsof

Roots in the pages ofnewspapers and magazines:

- Compiled by Carmela Ledo

A selection of coverageof Roots in the media

GUESS WHO JUST DROPPED INTaking attendance of special guests at Roots stores

Celebrities have long madea point of shopping atRoots. Here are the latest

sightings of prominent figures inthe world of entertainment andsports who visitedRoots stores recently:• 100 Bloor St.,Toronto – AcademyAward winning actressHillary Swank pickedup a variety of itemsincluding the Mantrayoga pant, Portlandplaid shirt, leggings and avariety of shorts and accessories.• Erin Mills Town Centre,Mississauga, ON – CanadianOlympic kayaking gold medalistand Roots model currently in the

GREAT MOMENTSIN RETAILSpotlighting the topperforming stores in April

As this issue of The Sourcewent to press, the final sales

figures for stores in May werenot yet in but we’re delighted toreport the performance of moststores in April was impressive.

Topping the pack in terms ofcompany stores was the West4th store in Kitsilano, BritishColumbia that captured thelatest Store of the Month honours,beating its sales target by 160%.

As for the Roots 73/Outletcategory, the Brossard Outletstore in Brossard, Quebec tookfirst place with a score of 126%over its sales budget.

Congratulations to DebbieBarnes, Manager of the Kitsilanostore and Nataly Keroack,Manager of the Brossard Outletalong with their respective teamsfor their winning performances.

West 4th staff are on top this month

Summer ofLove adcampaignAdam vanKoeverden

visitedthestore.• Robson, Vancouver,BC – One half of theCanadian Olympic figureskatingpair,Jamie

Sale, shopped atthe storestocking up onscarves, head-bands,sweatshirts, tees and leather bags.

Jamie Sale

Adam van Koeverden

Hillary Swank

ON LOCATIONCatherine Zeta-Jones wears Roots onNew York City set of latest movie

While in New York filming her newromantic comedy slated for

release next year, Catherine Zeta-Jones was spotted by paparazziwearing the latest in Roots leatherbags.

The candid moment betweentakes made for a great photo opportu-nity as the Midtown Slide, thenewest in the popular Flat bagcollection, was on prominent display.

A long-time fan of the brand,Catherine’s new movie, The Re-bound, features the star as a singlemom captivated by her muchyounger neighbour.

CatherineZeta-Jones and herRoots Midtown Slide

SHERWAY GARDENS GETS A MAKEOVERNew concept store opens in western Toronto

The Roots store at SherwayGardens in the city’sEtobicoke suburb has been

attracting a lot of attention inrecent weeks. Construction crewand the Roots Visual team workedaround the clock in order to debutthe Etobicoke mall’s new eco-friendly renovations to the publicin late April.

In what has been a series ofsustainable upgrades to variousRoots stores in Canada and Asiain recent years, Sherway Gardensis one of only a few locations tobe transformed into the boutique-style concept of shops.

Designed by Roots CreativeDirector Diane Bald and Director

of Visual Planning and StoreDevelopment Pauline Landriault,the space incorporates many eco-friendly features which Roots aimsto implement in all its stores. Inkeeping with its green buildingpractices, all finishes are made withsustainable materials frombamboo floors to reclaimed wood

accents on walls. The newly‘right-sized’ store provides amore intimate shopping experi-ence while cutting down onenergy consumption. The focalpoint of the space now rests on thechic, geometric bag wall, highlight-ing the latest offerings in Rootsleather.

• Stephanie Holden appointedCreative Director, Head Office,Toronto

ON THE MOVENew appointments andpromotions at Roots

• Wish, June issue. Roots two-toneEnvelope Clutch is featured in the‘Easy Street’ fashion shoot section.• Toronto Life, June. RootsEmbroidered Pillow featured in theSuper Shopper column available atRoots Rosedale, Roots Home andBloor Street.• Wish, May. Spotlight on Roots leathersatchel and Converse sneakers.• Toronto Life, June. Roots new darkblue Beach Bucket featured in the ‘Allthings blue’ section.• Loulou Gift Shopping Guide,June. Roots is mentioned for offeringswimsuits with tags indicating the cut,fit and length so that customers knowwhat will best fit their body type in the‘All Over Quebec’ section. Also,mentions the Roots yoga line launch.• Globe and Mail, May 25. Articleentitled, ‘Beachy Keen’ featuresprominently the Roots Raiders bag,men’s shorts and Jack PurcellConverse shoes in the Style section.• The Toronto Sun, May 12. Articlesmentions Roots is a safe alternativecompared to other companies usingchild labour.• The Sudbury Star, May 10, LeJournal de Quebec, May 9, TheToronto Sun, May 6, The EdmontonSun, May 6, The Calgary Sun, May5. Roots Lauren bag in grass-coloured leather featured in the ‘Showmom the love’ section.• Metro, May 9. Article entitled, ‘Youknow you want it!’ mentions Rootsclutches.• Le Journal de Montreal, May 9.Roots leather bags featured in the‘Gift Ideas’ section as the perfectweekend getaway companions.• Fashion, May, The National Post,May 10. Roots Midtown Slide withMom heart charm featured in thefashion’s top Mother’s Day picks.• The Toronto Star, May 3. Articlementions Roots made almost all theapparel for the Canadian team for lastsummer Olympics here in Canada andalso for the United States Olympicteams. Robert Sarner is quoted.• Hello, April 21. Article mentionsParis Hilton shopping at the RootsCentreville in Montreal. Also, spotlightsRoots Chatelaine Bag given to guestsat the magazine’s 80th Anniversarycelebration.


Fashion has always been apassion for ShannonNielsen, a Roots employee

at Georgian Mall in Barrie,Ontario. A love of clothing anddesign naturally led to herposition at Roots where she hasworked for the past year.

In late May, Shannon wasone of the recipients of the 2008Retail as a Career ScholarshipAward courtesy of the CanadianRetail Institute, a division of theRetail Council of Canada.Applicants are chosen based ontheir academic performance andan essay explaining their

THE FUTURE OF RETAIL LOOKS BRIGHTBarrie sales associate wins academic scholarship

experiences inthe retail fieldand how theireducation willmake an impacton the industry.Shannon re-ceived $1,000 toput toward herpost-secondaryeducation atRyerson, whereshe has appliedfor both the Design and FashionCommunication programs.

“Although fashion has alwaysbeen a preoccupation for me, the

thought ofentering thatfield didn’tcross mymind until Istartedworking atRoots,” saysShannon, 18.“The goodworkingconditions,excellent

training, valuable experiences,rewards, and opportunities foradvancement are remarkable.This job allows me to make use

of my creative talents and practicesocial responsibility. It is acareer choice that makes sense!”

In addition, Shannon will behonoured by Canada’s retailindustry leaders at a specialceremony during the CanadianRetail Hall of Fame Luncheonheld during the Store 2008Retail Conference at the TorontoCongress Centre in early June.She will join the 25 other scholar-ship recipients from acrossCanada who exemplify excel-lence in retail and demonstrate astrong commitment to the futureof the industry.

MEET THE PRESSFashion editors get sneak peek at fall collection

The official start of summermay be just around thecorner, but for

the Roots designteam Fall/Winter’08/09 is here andin full swing, asthey premiered thenew collection tothe fashion media.

Editors fromthe likes of Flare, Fashion, Wish,Chatelaine, Glow and the National

Post flocked to Roots Rosedalein Toronto in mid-May for themorning “trunk show.” The

drop-in eventwas hosted byCo-FoundersMichaelBudman andDon Green,RootsCreative

Director Diane Bald, RootsYoga Creator Denyse Green and

Director of LeatherKarl Kowalewski,who walked thepress through thelatest in clothingand leather acces-sories for fall.

Notableproducts includedcozy, texturedhoodies andcardigans with sherpa finishes,slim-fitting thermal tees and an

assortment of cabledknits, Nordic printsand patterned scarves.A highlight of theevent was the latestoffering of leather,including the Oxfordtote from the newTown and Countrycollection, as well asa variety of chic

clutches and classic handbagsreworked for the season.

Shannon Nielsen

Fringe BagDeeva Clutch

DANCING WITH STYLEHip-hop performance features Roots Capris

Last month, the AnickMcConnell School ofDance approached the Roots

store in Orleans, Ontario nearOttawa in search of apparel fortheir upcoming hip-hop danceperformance in Quebec. Theywere particularly interested inthe Roots Camouflage Cottage

Capris.Sales Associate Genevieve

Crete spoke with the school’scostume coordinator and told herthat as the store did not have thedesired quantity in stock, shewould be delighted to help herorder 16 capris in various sizesfrom stores across the country.

KeyholderSteph Jonesensured that allorders weretracked andreceived by thedeadline.

“Thecostumecoordinatorlater told us that

her dancers felt great aboutperforming in Roots,” saysAllison Fortier, Store Manager.“We were happy that we couldhelp get everything together tomake this special order happen.At Place d’Orleans, we all prideourselves on great customerservice in both English and

The Anick McConnell group wins first prize in the style sweepstakes

Place D’Orleans staff help out

French.”Founded in 1994, the Anick

McConnell School of Danceoffers professional classes inballet dancing, modern jazz, tapdancing and hip-hop. On June 7and 8, the school will beperforming at La Maison de laCulture in Gatineau, Quebec.


CHANTING THE MANTRA OF STYLERoots is a presence at yoga exhibition for fifth straight year

For three days in late April,downtown Toronto’s MetroConvention Centre was a

mecca for exercise enthusiasts asthe annual Yoga Show opened itsdoors to the public.

Roots has maintained a strongpresence at the exhibition sincethe event began in 2003, and thisyear was no different as its eco-friendly yoga line (for men,women and children) created byDenyse Green was featured atits on-site booth.

Response to the products wasextremely positive, with salesgreater than the previous year.The most popular items includedthe women’s yoga graphic tee

and the men’s Active Bambootrack jacket. Buttons and flyersfor the Roots Yoga Studio in

Toronto were also given away,along with a pass for one compli-mentary class, which proved

The Roots Yoga line, seen here on Laurie Campbell, was a hit at the show

highly popular among theattendees.

“We had a great team work-ing at the booth this year,” saysDenyse. “We couldn’t have doneit without their enthusiasm,especially Anne Theriault whobrought such energy to the show.This is also a great time toencourage all Roots employeesto take advantage of their freeclasses at the yoga studio.Namaste.”

The Yoga Show featuresmore than 150 exhibitors, 100workshops, classes, demonstra-tions and hands-on training forall those interested in the ancientspiritual practice.

CY

LLA

VO

N T

IED

EM

AN

N

ROCKING A GREAT CAUSE‘Save our Women’ initiative by Roots intern raises funds for fight against breast cancer

What started out as asimple fundraiser for theSusan Komen 3-Day

Walk for Breast Cancer, hasturned into a prospering busi-ness for Mara Sofferin, a thirdyear Business student at McGillUniversity and an intern at theRoots Head Office in theCommunications and PublicAffairs Department.

In 2005, along with her friendSamantha Kelman, the pairdesigned a T-shirt with the logo“Save Our Women,” and beganselling them in Buffalo andDetroit (their respective home-towns) to raise funds for breastcancer research and treatment.The response to the tees wasoverwhelming and the productline soon expanded to includeunisex sweatshirts, scarves andbags for all ages, emblazoned

with the activist logo.“Save Our Women is

all about raising supportand awareness of thedisease among youngpeople,” says Mara, 19.“One in nine women willhave breast cancer intheir lifetime. If one innine is diagnosed, it’s mygoal to get the othereight women activelyinvolved in helping tofind a cure. With thisapparel, people can

wear their passion on theirsleeve and make this causecontagious.”

The non-profit business isseeing great success withrepresentatives on over 20college campuses around theworld, as well as volunteering asmodels. The line is sold onlineas well as in select retail storesin Montreal, Detroit and NewYork, with all profits going to theCanadian Breast CancerFoundation.

The collection made acameo on a 2007 episode ofMuch on Demand, Much Music’slive request show, where VJMatte Babel donned a “SaveOur Women” tee.

Last May, Mara launched anoffshoot of her business in theform of “Rock Your Cause,”partnering with Jordy Beale,

Sales Associate at the RootsLodge store in Toronto. The newline of edgy cause – relatedapparel featuring acid washedtees and slim-fitting deep vshirts, raises awareness ofAcute Lymphoblastic Leukemia(ALL), a disease Jordy’s close

family friend, actress HeidiHayes (A History of Violence)was diagnosed with at age eight.All proceeds from the collec-tion go to Toronto’s SickKidsHospital.

For more information visitwww.saveourwomenonline.com.

A SLICE OF THE PIEMontreal store celebrates leather bag success

A great retail performancedeserves a reward, and

that’s exactly what RootsCentreville got after achievingits leather bag goal for themonth of April.

For a job well done, thestaff at the Montreal store got afree pizza party courtesy ofRoots. Held at Store ManagerMark Yoders’ home in mid-May,

the get-together was a hit withthe employees and an incentiveto keep up the good work.

“We all had a great time,”says Keyholder Erica Cheung.“We really appreciated therecognition for all our determi-nation and teamwork to makeour sales goal. Many thanks toRoots and to Mark for openinghis doors to the staff.”

A cause for great stylee


A U G U S T THE ROOTS TOP 10A guide to the sounds ofRoots for June

- Compiled by Davin Bujalski

MUSICAL ROOTSThis month, we spotlight the band Coldplay

CHEF’S CORNERRoots-friendly recipes to bring pleasure to your palate

- Anne Theriault

For this month’s Chef’sCorner, we present the

recipe for making whitechicken chili.

INGREDIENTS

6 skinless, boneless chickenthighs1 large onion, chopped2 cloves of garlic, finelychopped1 container (approx. 14 oz)

chicken broth1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon dried oregano1/2 teaspoon of salt1/4 teaspoon hot sauce2 cans (approx. 15 oz each)white kidney beans, rinsedand drained1 can (approx. 11 oz) corn,drained3 tablespoons lime juice

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a medium-sized slow-

White chicken chilii

1. Viva La Vida, Coldplay2. Beautiful Nightmare,Beyonce3. Funky Bahia, SergioMendes Feat. will i am4. Cruise Control, MariahCarey Feat. Damian Marley5. I Decided, Solange6. Roots, Etana7. Bleeding Love, LeonaLewis8. You Are, Estelle Feat. JohnLegend9. Like You’ll Never See MeAgain, Alicia Keys10. All I See, Kylie Minogue

Coldplay secured a perma-nent position amongmusic’s elite by simply

writing beautiful songs. Al-though most of their songs arepensive, each one is alsosteeped in an unusual andsincere optimism rarely found inmodern rock bands. The band’smusic has been called “medita-tive,” reflecting its emotionalside created largely by leadsinger/songwriter Chris Martin.

Songs like the remorseful“Trouble,” with its memorablepiano-line, the lonely “Fix You”and the mega-hit single “Clocks”reveal a hybrid of lyrics that canonly be described as joy andremorse, all wrapped into one.“We just want the songs toreflect reality,” says Martin, oneof the founders of Coldplay.

Martin grew up in Devon,England in a close family, theeldest of five kids, raised by aschoolteacher mother and anaccountant dad. He startedbanging out tunes on the familypiano at an early age.

Martin still visits his familyin Devon often. He is a self-proclaimed over-achiever andworries constantly. He rarelydrinks, never smokes and admitslife can be pretty damn good.He’s a product of boardingschool where he soon graduatedto the guitar and has been inbands since the age of 15. Heconsiders the big three in music

to be Bob Dylan, Neil Youngand Tom Waits.

A critical moment in Martin’sfuture musical career took placein 1996 when he met guitaristJohnny Buckland their first weekof college at University Collegein London. Two and a half yearslater, they had their first officialband session along with fellowclassmates, bass player GuyBerryman and drummer WillChampion. After completingtheir final exams, Coldplaysigned to Parlophone Recordsfor a five-album contract in thespring of 1999.

Just months after Coldplayreleased their #1 debut album,Parachutes, they were hailed as

Band of the Year 2000, in themusic press. In doing so,Coldplay may well be thebiggest British act to emerge outof the new millennium so far. Noone was more surprised by theirpopularity than the band mem-bers themselves.

A Rush Of Blood To TheHead soon followed in 2002 torave reviews and would earnthem two Grammy’s, includingRecord Of The Year. Their thirdalbum, X&Y, was released inJune 2005 and went on to sell8.3 million copies worldwide.

Coldplay began work ontheir latest album Viva La Vidaor Death and All His Friends inlate 2006. They would soon take

a break from recording to tourSouth America and Mexico.

The album, set for releasethis month, is a mix of Hispanicinfluences. It was recorded inchurches and other areas inLatin America and Spain duringtheir tour. Martin has describedthis album as a new directionfor Coldplay featuring muchless of his falsetto, while hehas allowed his voice’s lowerregister to take precedence.Some songs on Viva La Vida,such as “Violet Hill,” containdistorted guitar riffs and bluesyundertones.

– Davin BujalskiListen to Roots Radio to hearthe music of Coldplay. To findout more about Coldplay visitwww.coldplay.com

cooker, mix onion, garlic,broth, cumin, oregano, saltand hot sauce. Add thechicken to this mixture.

2. Cover. Cook on low heatsetting for 4 to 5 hours.

3. Stir in beans, corn andlime juice. Cover again andcook on low heat for 15 to20 minutes, or until beansand corn are hot.


GREEN TIP #49Easy ways to help theenvironment

STARTING LINEUPIntroducing the people who make it happen at Roots stores

SPEAK TO MY AGENTThe littlest customers show their Roots

Regular readers of TheSource know that lastyear, we launched this

special feature to showcasephotos of children wearingRoots. It grew out of the factthat we often receive unsolic-ited photos from customers whowant to share with us picturesof their children, cousins,

Easy ways to stay healthyHEALTH TIP #46

As part of our continuing series of team pictures of all the stores in the Roots retail family, this issue of TheSource is shining the spotlight on the Robson Thurlow store in Vancouver, British Columbia. (From l to r):

Edith Cuellar, Serena McGibbon, Mihoko Rabiner, Charlie Penney, Jacquie Thomas and Kaylie Zhou.

nieces, nephews, grandchil-dren, or even pets wearingRoots. They often ask if theycould be used in a futureadvertising campaign for thebrand. We can’t promise thatbut we are happy to publishthem in The Source.

Everyone is welcome tosubmit their favourite shots to

The Source to be consideredfor publication. Please sendyour pictures [email protected].

Be sure to include the nameand age of each child or pet inthe photo, where it was takenand a sentence stating that youagree for the photos to be usedin The Source.

Taras Obelnicki, 13 months, Winnipeg, MB Milan Andres Flores, 8 months, San Diego, CA

NUTS AND SEEDS KEEPYOU YOUNG: Just a handfulof nuts and seeds every daycan help improve circulationand muscle tone. Arginine isan amino acid found in soyand other beans, seafood,whole grains, eggs, dairy,brewer’s yeast, and especiallyin nuts and seeds. It’s anonessential amino acid, asubstance our bodies producein the liver and deplete duringtimes of stress. Arginine ishelpful in fighting heartdisease, impotence, infertility,and high blood pressure aswell as facilitating the healingprocess. Its anti-aging proper-ties may lie in its stimulanteffect on the pituitary gland atthe base of the brain.• Source: Secrets of Longev-ity, by Dr. Maoshing Ni

GO VEGGIE ONCE A WEEK:One less meat-based meal aweek helps the planet andyour diet. For example: Itrequires 2,500 gallons ofwater to produce one poundof beef. You will also savesome trees. For each ham-burger that originated fromanimals raised on rainforestland, approximately 55square feet of forest havebeen destroyed.


NEW & NOTEWORTHYA guide to just-launched Roots products

HAPPY FATHER’S DAYGreat gift ideas for Dad

A strong, reliable fatherdeserves an equally strongand reliable watch

courtesy of Roots and Cosmodaon June 15. The latest offeringsare constructed of sleek,stainless steel, come backedwith a 20-year warranty and areperfect for dads of all ages.

The Roots Panorama is aclassically simple, masculinedesign. Athletic-inspired featuresadd points ofinterest with arubberized crown,black rotating bezeland a matchingcarbon filter dial.Water-resistant upto 100m, thePanorama is perfectfor an activelifestyle.

Retail price:$140.

The RootsLighthouse easilymakes the transi-tion from day toevening. Availablein black or silver,the solid designhas a variety ofeasy-to-useelements includ-ing multifunction

move-mentandluminous hands andmarkers. Mesh-inspired detailingon the chain-linkedband creates aninteresting textureand added aestheticappeal.

Retail price:$185.

As featuredpreviously in The

Source, the Eco-Automatic collec-tion is an environ-mentally friendlygift for Dad. Themechanical watchesrun on “wristpower,” windingitself as a result ofthe wearer’s armmotion, eliminatingthe need forbatteries. Normaldaily

activity createsenough energyto keep itproperly wound,telling accuratetime for up to 36hours.

The RootsEvolution is asportymultifunctionwatch offered in

both solidstainlesssteel andleatherbands.Retailprice: $250- $285. TheRootsAdventureis a classicanalogdesign

pairedwith the moderntechnology of a powerindicator function andsecond sub dials.Retail price: $265 -$295.

For moreinformation onRoots watches forDad, visit thewebsite atwww.watchroots.com.Eco-Adventure

Eco-EvolutionLighthouse

Panorama

ON THE RIGHT TRACKNew menswear item a must-have for the season

Warm weather is here atlast, and while thesunny afternoons are

usually pleasant, the nights andearly mornings can still bring abit of a chill. A good solution is

to layer on light fabrics that cantake you throughout the day instyle, and the latest offeringfrom Associate MenswearDesigner Dylan Anderson issure to do just that.

In stores now, the Sal LinedTrack Jacket is made of soft,cotton poly french terry andlined with 100% cotton suededstriped jersey for ultimatecomfort and a lightweight feel.

Made in Peru, the soft fibreslend a luxurious texture to thegarment.

Other features include two-way zippers, front pockets forsecure storage and an internal

tech compartmentfor an MP3 playercomplete with aheadphone loop.Available ingreymix, pirateblack, vintagewhite and true blue.

All graphics onthe sporty jacketwere designed byGraphic ArtistTracy Klem.

Sizes: XS-XXL; Retail price:$84

The Sal Lined Track Jacket, in its multitude of colours, is versatile enough to wear year-round

june 2008

Documents

shoppingat roots

roots store onprincess

welcome letters fromreaders

namelythe roots head

month byroots canada

theupper canada mall

qualityof customer service

awonderful experience