Retail Tech Insights: Specials Magazine

The year was 2006 when the seed of Opterus began to take root. Retail professionals Janet Hawkins, Rick Peters, and Ian Long identified the core problem crippling store operations, attributing it to antiquated paper-based systems, ineffective communication channels and poor time management. Managers struggled to decode endless directives while associates scrambled to act on them. Promotions launched late, shelves stayed half-finished and sales quietly slipped away. For the trio, it was a structural gap and not just operational inefficiency. Point-of-sale systems managed transactions and inventory tools tracked stock, but there was nothing to support daily execution, the very heartbeat of retail. Refusing to accept that void, they left their jobs to build a platform that could help retailers connect every store with clarity and streamline communication across the board. That conviction gave rise to OPSCENTER, Opterus’ flagship product. By 2010, Opterus entered the market as a onestop shop, solving operational-specific execution challenges, task management, communications, social collaboration, and empowering frontline associates. The company opted for an independent, methodical growth strategy, steering clear of the typical venture capital path and influence of private equity. Supported by a sole angel investor, the company grew organically, focusing on sustainable development to build a trusted brand centered on customer needs. “We have the runway and freedom to grow on our own terms. Our angel investor gives us full leeway to do what we believe is right for our customers at any given time, and that allows us to grow organically,” says Gary Stonell, SVP sales and operations. “We invest more of our resources into nurturing and maintaining our clients, and that’s why they stay.” Today, the results speak for themselves. A true measure of Opterus’ success is the fact that its very first client, Designer Brands Canada, has stayed with the company for 15 years.