He regularly appears on the national Canadian TV as a food expert and has a two minute segment on the national lifestyle program just before the weather report. These segments can include how to identify when mangos are ripe to how to cook new potatoes to preparing celeriac and beetroot soup.

Pete has a regular thirty minute documentary program on the Food Channel. Each episode takes one fruit or vegetable and follows its origins, how it is grown commercially and unique ways of preparing and cooking the produce. Programs have been produced on mangoes, macadamias, kiwi fruits and truffles.

Pete is also a motivational speaker. I have shared the stage with him at retail conferences in Canada, USA and the United Kingdom. His enthusiasm is contagious and an excellent advertisement for his business.

Effective retailing

Consumers don?t just visit Pete?s Frootique because it is a fun place to go. They visit because he and his team are excellent retailers.

Power displays are built with skill based on years of experience. The team know how to effectively dummy displays, so that a little can look a lot. Endcaps are used throughout the store and cross merchandising ensures that they maximise the basket spent per customer.

Branding is critical

The brand ?Pete?s Frootique? is precious to Pete and his team. The logo is evident outside the business, on all team members? business cards and on all signs used to promote products. Every customer is constantly aware of what business they are in.

Pete is fully aware that all his customers have to go to a supermarket to finish off their weekly shop. He has secured the position as the expert on fruit and vegetables and the company that cares about the customer where consumers can enjoy shopping. This is a truly unique experience that customers talk about to their friends.

Pete and I have produced a training video ?Winning at Retail? based on Pete?s Frootique. Its aim is to act as a training tool for retail team members on how to develop an experience in a retail environment. This video is available via our web site www.johnstanley.cc

If you have the opportunity to visit Canada, put Pete?s Frootique on your itinerary. You won?t be disappointed.

John Stanley is a conference speaker and retail consultant with over 20 years experience in 15 countries. He regularly contributes to retail magazines around the world and has authored several successful marketing and retail books including the best seller Just About Everything a Retail Manager Needs to Know. Visit www.johnstanley.cc