Congratulations to Dave Booth on his promotion to the newly created role of Director of Merchandising and Facilities. Dave is excited to prepare for the future from a merchandising and layout perspective in his new position. "I aim to ensure that there's continuity between our online and in-branch presence. The goal is to make it easier for customers to shop seamlessly no matter how they chose to transact with Gescan," said Dave.
Big project
Tasked with updating and innovating how we merchandise in order to make navigating through Gescan branches easier, Dave said, "Creating an intuitive and creative customer experience across every branch will be exciting."
Dave has more than 20 years of experience in retail environments. This new role allows him to apply his retail expertise and experience. "We are a wholesaler with a retail presence in our branches and we will continue to make it easier for our customers to find what they are looking for. Having our web shop, app and branch experiences be as seamless as possible is the objective," said Dave.
The journey
When Dave stepped into the electrical industry with Gescan eight years ago, he had no idea there would be so many opportunities to grow and develop within the industry. After more than two decades in retail, Dave was looking for a new challenge professionally. At that time, Gescan was looking for a Branch Manager in Whistler which proved to be perfect timing and the opportunity for change that Dave was looking for.
Dave learned everything electrical on the job. Being able to work with contractors and touring job sites helped him understand the products in detail. "It was exciting to learn all the pieces and how they all fit together," said Dave.
After four successful years at the Whistler branch, Dave was promoted to the Regional Manager's position for the BC Lower Mainland overseeing the nine branches from Whistler through to Chilliwack. The Regional role exposed Dave to more of the industry and allowed him to work more closely with all departments within Gescan.
Driving consistency
Dave has always been passionate about the customer experience. "Making our customers lives easier is at the heart of everything we do, and we must continue to adapt and improve what we do to better serve our customers now and in the future" said Dave. “Being consistent in our customer experience, no matter how or where they chose to transact with us, is what drives us to continue to innovate and improve,” he added.
Cross-collaboration
Dave believes in the power of working in a cross-collaborative work culture. "The leadership team loves to take on big challenges and develop and implement creative solutions through getting input from multiple stakeholders" said Dave.
Every change or transition is not without its set of issues. "I love puzzles… If there is a problem, I see it as something that needs solving. The good part of being in an engaged and experienced team is that we face the challenges together," said Dave.
To anyone new looking to be a part of this industry, Dave says it's helpful to come in with an open mind. "Change provides an opportunity for everyone – those that are here and everyone else who joins in. Keep room for learning and changing," said Dave.
As a former Ironman triathlete, Dave is up to big adventures and enjoys being active; with mountain biking and skiing being lifelong passions. “I am naturally competitive and love setting goals and challenging myself… especially when it comes to the outdoors”. When Dave is not at work, he’s spending time with his family, dog Joey and guinea pigs Nora and Penny.