Page 6 - GTA South BU Newsletter No 3

Starting from the beginning, describe your work history?
-Started as a stock boy at Shoppers World Place on the Danforth 1964. I eventually became Front store manager and worked there until I moved into the office in 1967. At 22 years old Murray Koffler gave me the title merchanting coordinator. I was the first non- pharmacist to move into the office. Over the next three years I trained new associates at the Koffler Academy and helped the store teams buy and merchandise. I was then promoted to Director of Operations of Ontario, later moving to Calgary to help with integration of the Cunningham Drugs acquisition. I continued to work west working in many areas of western Canada eventually making it to the Vancouver Office. I spent 2 years working in Vancouver as the Director of Operations. I then returned to Toronto when I was promoted to V.P of Retail Development. While in this role I was instrumental in developing the food basket. It was the first-time food had ever been introduced in the drugstore. I then returned to the store, designing the off-price drugstore called “Howies”. The company opened 13 “Howies” locations, including my current location at 550 Eglington. The company eventually decided to convert “Howies” to a conventional Shoppers Drug Mart, and I kept the top two locations Danforth and Coxwell and my current location.
What is the greatest successes or accomplishments in your entire career?
- My greatest success would be introducing food into Shoppers Drug Mart. My greatest accomplishment would be going from stock boy to Associate Owner of Five Shoppers Drug Mart.
What have been the most significant changes in Shoppers Drug Mart since you started?
- The most significant change could be the introduction of the optimum points program.
What is your Favorite travel spot?
- I love to travel to Florida
If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see cast as you?
- If Hollywood made a movie about me, I could see Matthew McConaughey as me. (It would probably be Danny De Vito) HAHA
If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be?
- If I could do another job, it would be trading places with chef Gordon Ramsey for a day.
Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us?
- You might be surprised to know I enjoy BBQing.
What advice would you have for new associates?
- Spend as much time as possible with your management team and staff.
Howard Trifler
57 years
of Service
Congratlations