This week, on Season 5 Episode 71, of the Gent’s Talk podcast, we chat with Ian Rosen of the iconic Rosen Family. Ian is the grandson of the namesake founder Harry Rosen, and son of the chairman and CEO, Larry Rosen. Harry Rosen Inc. has been a staple in Canadian menswear since its inauguration in 1954. When we sat down with Ian, the president and chief operating officer of Harry Rosen, we got to chat with him about how it’s been like to work with family, and joining the family business as a 3rd generation member and leader. While also detailing the processes he took with Harry Rosen to maintain its competitive advantage during the pandemic–what’s now, and what’s next.
Introducing, Ian Rosen
Ian Rosen, who was not pressured into the family business, was encouraged to pursue a career outside Harry Rosen. As an expert in vegetation management (which is not what one would expect from the COO of a menswear retailer), the urge to jump into the family business was not his intended destination. Instead, he mentioned how he consciously sought his MBA in the US to help him establish, and distance, himself from the Rosen legacy.
When he entered the e-commerce workforce, Ian Rosen realized his career path and the family business fit like a glove. It was the gap in Harry Rosen’s digital infrastructure that sparked his curiosity and a business model that was not prepared for online shopping that opened Ian with open arms. Ian Rosen explained how initially he did not want to work with his father. He mentioned that together, they learned how, and “it’s become an extremely rewarding experience.” The pandemic resulted in a rise in online shopping, and trends began to show the world was becoming more casual. There was a need for Harry Rosen to transition digitally to continue its legacy, and if Ian wanted to grow, they would need to lean on each other.
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Money and blood can mix.
There have been countless unsuccessful examples of what can happen when business and family intertwine. It can be challenging, as we’ve been led to believe not to mix family and business. The Rosens have pulled it off successfully. Ian let us in on some of the processes they have implemented to do it successfully. Listen as Ian breaks down the “3 pillars of a family enterprise”.
See Also: Gent’s Talk: Ep. 71 – A Sit-Down w/ Sandi Treliving.
Above everything else, Ian Rosen emphasized that it cannot be possible without proper planning and admitted that they brought experts to help them navigate things. “There are too many examples of [working with family] going wrong, but when you can get it right, it’s so valuable,” he mentioned. Here are some questions to consider when setting a family business up for success:
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- When do you not talk about certain things?
- What norms are going to be created to maintain a typical family dinner?
- How does a business conversation not become a “father vs son” or “brother vs brother” conversation?
- How do you divide family/business time?
- Are there established roles?
A story, a legacy
We all search for our voice to be heard, and many equate that to writing our own story. Ian’s beautiful perspective on the subject is eye-opening. “If I’m looking to write my novel, this is the wrong path,” he stated, “I’m looking to continue this unfinished novel.” He pointed out how it gets increasingly tricky from generation to generation; you start to live in two generations of shadows. Ian’s resume speaks for itself, but because of his last name, the distinction can get overlooked. “When you enter a family business, you have to accept that you’re probably not going to get full credit for anything you do. And you have to be comfortable with that.”
Today’s, Harry Rosen
When thinking of Harry Rosen, one would expect a wall of dress shirts and a lot of blue blazers and grey suits. Ian quickly informed us that Harry Rosen is “no longer your father’s suit shop” and that today, it’s much more of a dynamic environment that caters to the everyday man. The national retailer carries everything from blazers to casual shirts to swimwear. He mentioned that their tailoring process extends throughout their entire collection, not just suits.
Episode 71, Season 5 of the Gent’s Talk podcast
Presented by, Bulova Canada, season 5 episode 71 of the Gent’s Talk podcast, is available to stream on Youtube, Spotify, Goodpods, iHeartRadio, Apple, Audible, Amazon Music and Google Podcasts! Seasons 1-4 are now all on board Air Canada flights via the in-flight entertainment system. Please make sure to like, follow and subscribe. Your continued support throughout this journey is greatly appreciated.
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Here’s last week’s episode:
