CANADA: FDFA ®


Windsor-Detroit Tunnel Duty Free Shop, acknowledges that the Canadian dollar has increased its value in previous months, but he does not see this as a long-term prospect. “I think we will see a strengthening of the US dollar, especially due to the inflation rate,” he notes.


SLOW DOWN


‘Quieter regulatory front’ Currency fluctuations aside, the FDFA reports that at present, ‘all is quiet’ on the regulatory front in its dealings [on behalf of members] with the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) who administer the Federal Government’s Duty Free Shop Programme. As such, the association is not anticipating anything drastic


to change in the near-term. “We are really focused on core mandates set out by the


board, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t going to maintain an ongoing and positive dialogue with CBSA,” stresses Taqtaq. Looking at the bigger picture, 2017 marked a period of transformation for the association. “We’ve made some strategic moves in terms of the


management of our FDFA office so that was a big change,” he says. “Also, we made a big change in terms of refocusing our efforts as a board and association.” Accordingly, this has zoned in on two core principles: maintaining positive relationships with the CBSA and assessing the operation of the FDFA’s Annual Convention. In the case of the latter, a new mandate has been established to focus on delivering best value for operators and suppliers alike to ensure the convention is being used as a platform for business expansion.


Strategic Convention Commitee One facilitator has been the formulation of a new Strategic Convention Committee, which has coincided with a thorough review to identify best value. “Rather than the typical convention meetings that revolve


around marketing plans for each store, we would be able to provide a forum for our major suppliers – attended by all the operators – and transfer knowledge to our stores,” says Taqtaq. The net effect of this knowledge sharing is designed to


arm suppliers with a more ‘uniform and consistent message’ that in turn allows FDFA to execute more effective strategies across the border and better represent its members. “We are hoping and anticipate that the value we can


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transfer by those meetings will be more beneficial to our vendors, buyers and stores to execute things more effectively at the retail level,” he says. In addition to the Strategic Convention Committee, the


FDFA has formed a separate committee looking specifically at its operation. This involves a view of the currently vacant role of ‘Executive Director’, which has not been filled since Laurie Karson left the post towards the end of last year. “That committee is planning to report back to the


membership at our next annual meeting in the spring,” confirms Taqtaq. “At that time there will be some decisions made as well. The


process is well along the way; there are a few different options on the table. It is being looked at in a very detailed manner. “I have full faith in the committee to put forward some good recommendations. «


MARCH 2018


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