When Looking for Retail Staff Say Hello to Swob — The New Technology

Date:

Share post:

By Stephanie Florio

Are traditional job boards not working for you? Do you dislike seeing a high volume of applications come through from candidates who aren’t even in your area, let alone the same country? Sure, you can post your jobs for free on traditional job boards, but free doesn’t always mean free when they waste your time. This is why we spent more than a year asking employers such as McDonald’s Canada, Recipe Unlimited, etc. what they want to see in a recruitment platform targeted to their industry. Out of the research, Swob Inc. was born.

SWOB FOCUSES ON HELPING EMPLOYERS IN HIGH-TURNOVER INDUSTRIES

Swob is an award-winning recruitment platform developed to help employers in high-turnover industries such as Retail, Food Service, and Hospitality, find qualified local talent.

IMAGE SHOWCASING SWOB FEATURES

With businesses reopening, it’s more important than ever for employers to hire all the staff they need, in a fast, efficient and cost-effective manner. All of the features unique to Swob were developed from employer feedback, as it was evident that the job boards already available were not sufficient. For example, a Tim Hortons Franchisee in Toronto mentioned to us his frustrations when posting on other traditional job boards. He mentioned that when he would post part-time roles for his store in Toronto, he would receive applications from candidates in Vancouver, which was a complete waste of his time. Once we heard this, we took his feedback and developed a solution called ‘Maximum Applicant Distance’, which allows employers to select how far they want candidates to apply from, ensuring local applicants. Now employers find people who are close by their stores. Swob has also developed a ‘Web-Based Careers Page’, which allows employers to showcase vacant job opportunities on their own website, without the costs of having to hire a developer. This feature will help attract more qualified candidates to your business.

SWOB LOGO

A recent survey indicated that 85% of Swob users feel comfortable returning to work and are actively seeking employment. Although businesses have reopened, many employers are struggling to retain staff and hire new employees. A member of the Store Operations team at M&M Food Market reports: “We use Swob to recruit for general temporary help for our 300+ locations across Canada during the pandemic. The initial set up of our ads went very quickly and the admins’ responses to any questions we did have was timely and helpful. The platform is easy to use and we particularly liked the feature that allows us to copy a previous ad. This is very useful when we are recruiting for the same position across the network.”

A survey completed by Retail Insider in partnership with Best Retail Careers Inc., reports that “the vast majority of retailers surveyed are looking to hire into the fall and winter of this year”. The findings also suggest that “66% of respondents said that they were looking to hire only part time staff, and about 35% said that they would hire full time staff”. If you’re an employer getting ready to hire, don’t waste your time and resources posting your roles on traditional job boards. Find out why companies such as McDonald’s, Leon’s, Lone Star Texas Grill, Bell Canada, and more have made the switch and are now using Swob to hire.

Visit www.swobapp.com and sign up for our 30-Day Free Trial. Let Swob focus on bringing the right candidates to you.

Sponsored content. To advertise with Retail Insider, email: darryl@retail-insider.com

RELATED ARTICLES

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Subscribe

* indicates required

RECENT articles

Retail Insider “Q3 2026 Apparel & Fashion Report”: Stores Have to Earn Their Investment

Canadian fashion retailers are expanding, relocating and closing stores within the same market. The Q3 report examines why location productivity and network contribution matter more than headline store counts.

Canadian Franchise Sector Supports Nearly 2 Million Jobs: CFA

Canadian Franchise Association CEO Sherry McNeil discusses franchise ownership, opportunities for entrepreneurs, industry growth and the importance of due diligence.

OpenTable report highlights restaurants’ economic impact on Canadian communities

OpenTable survey finds half of Canadian diners spend an average of $133 at nearby businesses before or after restaurant visits, while no-shows remain a cost for operators.

Tahini’s targets 30 new restaurants as social media drives franchise growth

The Canadian Mediterranean fusion chain has 76 restaurants and plans further expansion in Canada and the U.S., with some franchisees discovering the brand online.

Toronto-Based Panda Hub Raises $4 Million to Expand Mobile Car Care Marketplace

Panda Hub plans to launch its Panda 2.0 platform, enter new markets and add premium automotive services as it prepares for Series A funding.

Canadian Small Businesses Emphasize Local Identity as Holiday Costs Rise: VistaPrint Survey

VistaPrint research finds 51% of Canadian small businesses cite financial pressures as a key holiday challenge, while 32% prioritize attracting new customers.

Daily Synopsis: October 22, 2026

Canada Post starting weekend parcel delivery in Toronto Montreal and Ottawa, Walmart Supercentre opens in Fort McMurray, Stony Plain Costco under construction, adults drive Halloween candy sales, and other news.

Kith Opens Second Canadian Storefront at Vancouver’s Oakridge Park

Kith has opened its second Canadian store at Oakridge Park in Vancouver. The approximately 9,000-square-foot store features men's, women's and children's fashion, footwear, Kith Treats and a distinctive street-facing design within the shopping centre's expanding international retail mix.

NAPA Canada Sales Rise 9% as Acquisitions Drive Expansion Amid Soft Market

NAPA Canada reported 9% sales growth in the third quarter of 2026, supported by its acquisition of Benson Auto Parts. Comparable sales rose just 1%, highlighting subdued demand as parent UAP expands its Canadian automotive distribution and repair network.

MUJI opening first Vancouver Island store as Canadian expansion continues

The Japanese retailer is introducing a community partnership program in Victoria, with plans to extend the initiative to future Canadian store openings.

WitchSchool Canada Tests ‘Reciprocal Retail’ Model in Ottawa’s ByWard Market

WitchSchool Canada is testing a collaborative retail model in a 160-square-foot storefront in Ottawa’s ByWard Market. Founder Kiki Keskinen says the grant-supported residency connects independent entrepreneurs through shared programming, customer referrals and promotional opportunities, while raising questions about long-term operating costs.

Cozey doubles size of Toronto flagship showroom (Photos)

The furniture retailer is expanding its Queen Street West location as it adds products and prepares for new store openings in Edmonton and New York City.

CouchHaus Expands Toronto Presence With New King East Pop-Up Showroom

The Canadian furniture brand is returning to Toronto after its 2024 Stackt Market test, using an in-person showroom to support customer experience and national growth.

Retail Insider “Q3 2026 Grocery Report”: More Capacity, a Harder Fight for the Basket

Canadian grocers are adding stores, converting banners and reworking online fulfilment. The Q3 report examines whether more capacity can capture additional household spending at an acceptable cost.

Two-thirds of small business owners plan to exit within decade, CFIB says

A CFIB report says limited succession planning could put Canadian business assets, jobs and community services at risk as owners prepare to retire or sell.

One in four Canadian small business owners required to guarantee financing personally: Equifax

Equifax Canada survey finds younger entrepreneurs are more likely to use personal credit and assets to support their businesses as owners face customer, cost and cash-flow pressures.

HEINZ enters Canada’s ready-to-eat soup market with six new products

Kraft Heinz Canada is introducing six soup varieties in portable bags, targeting consumers seeking convenient meal options beyond traditional canned soup.

Canadian small businesses expand teams as employee turnover declines: Wagepoint

Wagepoint’s 2026 report finds median hourly pay rose 27% from 2019 to 2025, while part-time roles declined and Gen Z’s share of small-business workers more than doubled.

Pinterest teams up with Mattel for Barbie experience

The experience lets Pinterest users bring Barbie DreamHouse inspiration into their homes through five signature style edits, offering a new example of how brands can use personalized, visual experiences to move people from inspiration to action.

Mine & Yours Celebrates 13 Years with Glamorous Toronto Fashion Show as Canadian Expansion Continues

Mine & Yours celebrated its 13th anniversary with a glamorous fashion show at Toronto's El Mocambo featuring Jeanne Beker and luxury designer labels. Founder Courtney Watkins also confirmed new Holt Renfrew developments in Montréal, Mississauga and Calgary as the Canadian resale retailer expands.