Hello
We hope and trust this finds you well, thriving, and with much to be grateful for during this holiday season as together we have much to celebrate as a Cooperative!
Our beautiful Gallery, which not only shines with a positive energetic vibe, has achieved remarkable net sales results despite significant challenges presented by the current COVID-19 restrictions -- going from 82% of 2019 sales in October ($56,615 in October 2019; $46,673 in October 2020), surpassing the previous year’s November sales ($57,396 in November 2019; $60,817 in November 2020) and, as at the writing of this message, sitting at 98.7% of last year’s December sales ($116,517 in December 2019; $115,00.38 at 29 December 2020).
For this reason, we are delighted to extend a well deserved thank you and congratulations to everyone who contributed to these results -- from our professional and resilient staff who skillfully juggled many balls of differing sizes and weights, to our members who consistently provided us with works of the highest standard, to our faithful following of shoppers who came out in full force to support us. Thank you one and all!
We also want to acknowledge the positive contribution of our public relations partner VIVE who helped us both shine a much brighter spotlight on our Granville Island retail location and increase our following and presence on social media. Vive helped us successfully engage our target market through a wide variety of means including launching a #ShopYourCircle campaign, securing local and national media exposure, creating a multi-brand Granville Island giveaway on social media, posting on Instagram and Facebook, engaging local VIP influencers, and sending out 2 email newsletters to 35,570 recipients.
Through our partnership with VIVE, we have come to a better understanding of the power, influence and importance of social media as a means of connecting with our target market and for this reason we would like to strongly encourage you (if you are not doing so already) to actively follow and promote us on Instagram and Facebook.
- CHANGES ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- Wendy Van Reisen joined the board as a Director in November. Wendy brings a wealth of experience to the board -- from sales to merchandising to management -- which she acquired during her 25 years as a self-employed artist and owner/designer of Dahlia Drive Clothing.
- Elaine Brewer-White joined the board as a Director in November. Elaine brings to the board a broad range of skills and experience gained during 36 years as a business owner/entrepreneur throughout which time she actively promoted art and artmaking in both schools and the community at large.
- Emil Fung resigned as a Director in December but will continue to work with the Board in a professional advisory role while finalizing the Signatures’ licensing transaction, which we hope to be able to confirm either this year or early next year. We would like to express our deepest appreciation for Emil’s contributions to the board over the past two years during which time he contributed generously of both his time and business acumen to oversee the establishment of an Audit Committee, improve board governance and fiduciary practices, provide a business/commercial perspective and guidance with respect to many aspects of the Cooperative’s operations -- including the ongoing negotiations with Signatures.
- Sales: As at the writing of this message, Circle Craft have had our second-best December since 2016, and our highest daily December sales average ever.
