TORONTO, April 18, 2017 /CNW/ - Flexiti Financial, a leading provider of point-of-sale (POS) financing and payment technology for retailers, today announced that Diane J. Brisebois, President and CEO of the Retail Council of Canada (RCC), and Rick Padulo, Chairman and CEO of Padulo Integrated, a multi-media retail communications company, have joined Flexiti Financial as the first two members of the company's Advisory Board.
For decades, both Diane and Rick have influenced and shaped the retail industry in Canada. As the head of the RCC since 1995, and active member of boards including Ryerson University's School of Retail Management, Diane has served as the voice for over 45,000 retailers across Canada and an advisor to the organizations that impact them. Rick, a Marketing Hall of Legends inductee, has defined the retail marketing and communications landscape for over 30 years. Together, Diane and Rick bring unparalleled experience and expertise in the retail industry to Flexiti Financial's Advisory Board as the company continues its strong growth and momentum across Canada.
"Throughout my career, I have built campaigns for retailers looking for ways to better promote and sell their products and increase customer loyalty," said Mr. Padulo. "Flexiti Financial's POS Financing platform has already proven to be a unique and powerful tool to achieve both of these objectives, and I am excited to help the company further expand into the retail market through my understanding of what consumers want from retailers."
"I have spent my career advocating for regulations and tools that help retailers be more relevant to their increasingly sophisticated customer base, while facing competition at the local, national and global levels," said Ms. Brisebois. "I look forward to working with Advisory Board members to help Flexiti Financial better understand retailers' needs when looking for alternative financing options, and helping the company continue to navigate the retail space and achieve greater success."
Diane and Rick will form the Advisory Board effective immediately, working with Flexiti Financial's senior executive team.
"Our mission is to be the leading POS Financing platform in Canada, and we can only accomplish this through an unwavering focus on delivering a solution to retailers that will increase sales and keep their customers happy," said Peter Kalen, Founder and CEO of Flexiti Financial. "Adding the deep expertise and understanding of the retail space that only Rick and Diane can provide is a critical step in positioning Flexiti Financial as a true and trusted partner to retailers across Canada."
About Diane J. Brisebois
Since 1995, Diane has spearheaded RCC, the largest retail association in Canada serving over 45,000 retail establishments, representing independent merchants, regional and national chains, big-box, mass merchants and online merchants in general merchandise, grocery and pharmacy. Prior to joining RCC, Diane was the Executive Vice-President of the Canadian Office Products Association. In addition to her Director duties on Stewardship Ontario's board, Diane serves as Immediate Past Chairman of the board for the Forum for International Retail Association Executives (FIRAE) and Chairman of the Board for Fair Factory Clearinghouse (FFC). Diane also sits on the Advisory board of Ryerson University's School of Retail Management and the University of Alberta's School of Retail in Edmonton. Diane also served for many years on the Board of Covenant House Canada and continues to volunteer with many charitable organizations.
About Rick Padulo
In 1985, Rick founded Padulo Integrated, with the goal to be the most innovative retail communications company in the world. Since then, Rick has launched some of the biggest and most recognizable ad campaigns in Canadian history, including Leon's "Don't Pay a Cent Event", Zellers "The Lowest Price is the Law", and "Blacks is Photography".
Rick has been voted business-to-business marketer of the year by the American Marketing Association, and his company was voted one of the 50 Best-Managed Private Companies in Canada by Arthur Andersen & the Financial Post. He was recently inducted into the American Marketing Association's Marketing Hall of Legends. Rick has spent time as an editorial broadcaster, regularly writes marketing columns for various publications and is the author of "I CAN GET IT FOR YOU RETAIL: DOWN AND DIRTY TALES OF A CANADIAN ADMAN."
About Flexiti Financial
Flexiti Financial is a Canadian sales financing company founded in 2013. We help retail businesses increase sales by providing instant consumer financing at the Point-of-Sale (POS), with higher approval rates and superior customer service compared to other providers. Using Flexiti Financial's award-winning mobile application process, customers can apply for financing and receive approval within minutes – no paperwork, no scanning and mailing, plus retailers get paid within two business days. Today, over 5,000 customers use Flexiti financing in over 1,000 locations across Canada. Flexiti Financial is backed by some of Canada's leading investors including Globalive Capital Inc. For more information, visit www.flexitifinancial.com.
SOURCE Flexiti Financial
Media Contact: Jason Kinnear, [email protected], 647-291-8026
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