Meghan Roach is the CEO of Roots, one of Canada’s most recognizable brands. She spoke with The Peak about the brand’s recent moves into new countries and product categories.
How do you keep up with the times while preserving brand heritage?
We view our past as an irreplaceable asset, with a rich archive that consistently inspires us. But our history is marked by strategic pivots that have kept the brand relevant and growing.
Is it hard to get customers to buy beyond fleece?
Our core fleece offerings have been the heart of our business for the past 50 years, but our customers come to us for more than just that. This is evident from the strength of our leather products and the significant growth of our activewear category, which grew by 45% last year.
Where do you see the most opportunity for growth?
We see opportunities in new market expansion, product category diversification, and new customer acquisition within existing markets. A key initiative has been the relaunch of our business in China, one of the world’s largest consumer markets, with a digital-first approach.
Do you see a similar path into Asia as Canada Goose?
We have a substantial network of partner-operated stores in Taiwan, where we have had a presence for over 25 years. We expect to add physical stores and pop-ups in the region.
Is there a podcast or book that you’d recommend?
I recently finished Chip War by Chris Miller, a book about the challenges and innovations in the semiconductor industry. It’s particularly relevant to us at Roots, given our significant presence in Taiwan. I also highly recommend the Acquired podcast. As a former private equity investor, I find their in-depth explorations of businesses engaging and informative.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.