Page 22 - IAADFS Summit of the Americas 2025 Special Issue

INSIDER
INSIDER

Montreal is one of the key airports for Propelle + Konnect in North America.
Propelle + Konnect finds the right people to activate your brands

It is all about the people for reach them all in the near future. coming up with ideas, and other times
Vancouver-based staffing and marketing “I would say we are the premier we’re helping them fabricate the activation.
agency Propelle + Konnect. Company staffing and marketing agency supporting It just depends on the brand, the city, the
founder Ally Grodd tells TMI that the North America. We provide staffing location,” says Grodd.
primary objective for her boutique solutions for our clients in domestic Propelle + Konnect does anything
agency is to bring great people and great markets. But my passion is travel retail. from the pop-up management of the kiosk,
organizations together. Our talent pool is across Canada and the or the liquor or beauty activation, as well as
“Our expertise is people. First and U.S., and we’re in 14 major airports across recruitment, says Grodd.
foremost, we are a people-based business. the two countries. Some of our biggest “Maybe Chanel is looking for a
Our products are the people. And I think airports are Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, permanent brand ambassador in Vancouver,
that’s what sets us apart,” says Grodd. Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and New York,” and they need somebody to support them
Propelle + Konnect is run by Grodd, says Grodd. in the local market. We would provide that
who serves as President and CEO, and her service.
husband Marcus, the company’s COO. Talent pool plus more “We also provide full-time sales
They are now staffing in most of the major “I think there are a lot of agencies associates and brand ambassadors in
airports in North America, with plans to that do a lot of things. But I think for us, it airports such as Vancouver. We have a big
starts with the talent pool. When you go to contract with Coty, which is very exciting
an activation, the brand is really important, for us. Gucci, Kylie Cosmetics, all the
but it is also important who represents the fun, luxury beauty brands. We have four
brand. What are their knowledge, skill set, ambassadors that work for us full time, for
and languages? That’s really where we that brand in Vancouver.”
focus most of our time, and that’s where we
really like to promote our business, in the PK Certified Training
people space.” With people the main product for
While her talent pool of people is Propelle + Konnect, it is imperative that
the main aspect of P+K’s business, the they have the best training, says Grodd.
company can offer options beyond just the “We created our in house training
staffing. called PK Certified, which we invested
“We are really expanding our in during the pandemic. When business
offering, and it depends on what the brands really slowed down, we were able to look
and operators are looking for. We are around and see some holes in the industry.
working with DFS, IShoppes, Avolta, Aer We had an expert come in and help create
Rianta. Every activation will be different. a retail excellence program in house.
Ally Grodd, Propelle + Konnect President Sometimes we’re just providing talent, Any time we hire, our talent pool has to
sometimes we’re helping with ideation, go through a two week onboarding that
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