Building on Creativity, Collaboration, and Trust

At the heart of Seven Continents’ success is its foundation built on creativity, collaboration, and trust. Steve has streamlined the business to ensure that they can join a client at any stage of development, from ideation to delivery. This client-centric approach is reflected in the company’s mission: “To manufacture quality products utilizing our dynamic and diverse capabilities in support of our clients while respecting the environment.” Steve is committed to improving and implementing the necessary capabilities and talent to ensure the company continues to fulfill its mission.

Embracing Risk and Patience

Steve believes that dynamic leaders must take risks, but he also emphasizes the importance of patience in allowing undertakings to develop and accurately assess the results. He faced numerous professional and personal risks as CEO but has seen the company transform into a strong, well-positioned manufacturer with the capabilities to diversify into other industries and expand globally. His advice to aspiring CEOs is to allow themselves time to think and listen to both negative and positive opinions, but most of all trust the numbers, as they are the most reliable indicators.

One of Steve’s primary tasks as CEO was to rebuild the company’s reputation and return it to profitability. Recognizing and promoting the knowledge, talent, and dedication of the company’s greatest asset—the employees—made this task more manageable. By collaborating with each director, manager, and employee, Steve fostered a sense of empowerment and accountability to clients, making it the company’s singular purpose.

The team at Seven Continents comprises experienced and talented individuals who find fulfillment in design and engineering collaboration. Steve proudly states, “We create new designs and re-engineer existing designs to work for the needs of our clients. Leading a team like this is a pleasure more than a task.” Creativity and trust are essential when collaborating with the world’s largest brands to achieve great designs and great products that function as intended to help them achieve their visions.

Unique Capabilities and Client Support

Seven Continents offers unique capabilities to support clients’ retail philosophy. They are the only manufacturer in the “Store fixture / Visual Merchandising” industry that produces all items in-house and the only North American manufacturer of blow molding mannequins. The company also has a full millwork fabrication shop, a metal fabrication shop, and is well known for its in-house upholstery capabilities.

For example, a large US clothing brand with 1,280 stores worldwide asked Seven Continents to develop and design molds to blow mold their custom line of mannequins in their indestructible and recyclable PRP material, as well as produce fabric upholstered bust forms and supply all supporting wood and metal items. Seven Continents fabricated and distributed all the required items to all 1280 locations within 6 months. The company boasts an annual production capacity of 15,000 full body mannequins and 20,000 upholstered mannequins.

Another example, one of the world’s leading theme park and cruise ship retailer who has been a loyal client for more than two decades, has relied on Seven Continents to engineer their designs as well as fabricate their highly themed custom store fixtures for their parks worldwide.

The Competitive Landscape

The Visual Merchandising Industry is highly competitive, filled with talented individuals all vying to be number one. Steve’s approach as a “just in time” custom manufacturer involves understanding which capabilities align best with clients’ visions and goals. He believes that brand identity is the most principal factor for successful retailers. Strong visual marketing that flows through the retail space and onto displays fulfills the promise of the brand, creating brand loyalty and repeat customers, fueling long-term success. Seven Continents invests considerable time in training staff about our clients’ brands to ensure all requirements are fulfilled, resulting in major growth in the repeat client list.

At Seven Continents, they have become experts at tailoring their designs, engineering, and manufacturing expertise to ensure they meet or exceed the needs of their clients. For example, they have researched and developed machinery, materials, and manufacturing methods right here in Toronto to ensure they support their client’s initiatives, which always includes,

• Recyclable materials and processes
• North American production whilst being competitive with Asian manufacturers.
• Production speed and quality
• Brand protection and exclusivity
• Reliability

Engineering Excellence and Environmental Responsibility

One of the pillars of Seven Continents is its ability to engineer displays and mannequins using materials that meet durability and quality standards. The company has perfected the extrusion blow molding manufacturing process to create mannequins that are extremely durable and fully recyclable. With this modern technology, Seven Continents has replaced tens of thousands of fiberglass mannequins with superior alternatives for existing and new clients. Currently, five major retailers with locations worldwide have committed to using Seven Continents’ mannequins as part of their brand philosophy.

Without a doubt one of the most fascinating parts of Steve’s career has been working with a variety of retailers. From high fashion to mass retailing, to highly themed custom retailers as well custom one-off retailers. All of whom present similar challenges and some, with incredibly unique ones. “The best successes have always been with the clients who chose to include us in the initial design and planning stages of their respective project,” says Steve. “During this period is where we really shine, tailoring our capabilities to the project, which in turn empowers our clients to create well designed and fabricated displays to ensure they meet their target audience. After all their success is our success.”

Steve and his team’s ability to design engineer and fabricate displays and fixtures is best highlighted through the client collaboration process which is acknowledged by our clients and other industry professionals.

Long-Term Client Relationships and Quality Assurance

Seven Continents benefits from having many long-term clients who collectively account for 60% of its annual revenue. All products are covered with a one-year replacement warranty for any failures due to poor workmanship or inferior materials. The company conducts regular field inspections of displays to preempt potential issues and make recommendations. This proactive approach not only sustains existing business but also increases demand as clients request replacements for displays made by others.

In the custom, just-in-time manufacturing model, there is a higher probability of processes and communication not aligning with required goals. To minimize errors, Seven Continents has invested in extensive training and production inspection gates throughout the manufacturing process. The company strives for zero replacements and is committed to rectifying any issues that may occur promptly.

As CEO, Steve believes that the company’s philosophy and reputation start with him. He feels indebted to his staff and clients to continue his journey of innovating, training, and fabricating the best-designed displays. His leadership has transformed Seven Continents into a leader in Visual Merchandising Manufacturing, with the capabilities to diversify and expand globally.

Steve’s journey as CEO of Seven Continents is a testament to the power of visionary leadership, collaboration, and a relentless commitment to excellence. Under his guidance, the company has not only weathered significant challenges but has also positioned itself as a leader in the industry, ready to embrace future opportunities and continue its legacy of innovation and quality.

 Future Plans and Community Impact

Looking ahead, Steve plans to expand the millwork fabrication and the metal fabrication shops to keep up with client demands, whilst creating additional employment opportunities for the community. Seven Continents continues to be recognized, as a leader in the North American Store Fixture and Visual Merchandising industry, with the capability to distribute products globally from our home here in Toronto, Canada.

Steve concludes, “Our advantage of being a full-source manufacturer, combined with our “client first” philosophy, empowers clients to trust our loyalty and in turn reward us with their repeat business. There is no greater measure.”