OPM Sales is hosting a 5-day premium warehouse sale event at 400 Harry Walker Pkwy South in Newmarket, just North of Toronto, from Wednesday October 10 to Sunday October 14. OPM Sales is well known for holding these warehouse sale events, where they work closely with major brands and vendors, which enables them to offer the public brand names at substantial savings.
This October Sale, they will be hosting Wolverine Worldwide who will feature their leading footwear brands such as Merrell, Hush Puppies, Sperry Top-Sider, Keds, Saucony and Wolverine at up to 60% off.
OPM Sales will also be featuring a massive coat sale, with tons of fall and winter coats up to 75% off. Coat brands will include names such as Tahari, Laundry by Shelli Segal and White Label, Buffalo David Bitton, HFX and Perry Ellis.
As well, Italian designed brand Mario Serrani women’s samples will be available for up to 60% off. This includes blazers, jackets, sweaters, blouses, pants, skirts, dresses and more.
OPM Sales is considered to be a leader in the industry, with over 60,000 square feet of premium warehouse retail space. They optimize your supply chain, clear your inventory and turn it into cash. Their support and marketing team works closely with participating vendors to help facilitate a successful sale event.
Their traffic is derived from an extensive email database collected since 2012, as well as satisfied returning customers who have positive feedback. OPM Sales’ ever-growing crowds are also made possible through their targeted print advertising as well as social media and digital marketing initiatives.
For retailers and businesses interested in vendor opportunities with OPM Sales, please contact Matthew for more information at: matthew@opmsales.com
Visit OPM Sales and experience a premium warehouse sale event for yourself.
Hours for the sale are: Wednesday, October 10 to Friday, October 12 from 10:00am to 8:00pm, and Saturday October 13 and Sunday October 14 from 10:00am to 6:00pm.
VALENTINO (CIDADE JARDIM MALL IN SÃO PAULO) PHOTO: RETAIL DESIGN BLOG
Italian luxury brand Valentino will open its first standalone Canadian store this winter at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre. It’s the latest luxury brand to open at Canada’s most productive mall, which is on track to become a global leader in brands as well as retail innovation.
Valentino will occupy about 4,700 square feet on one level in Yorkdale’s 2012 expansion. The store will be located between Bottega Veneta (which is also scheduled to open November 1) and Aritzia-owned Wilfred, across from the mall’s Holt Renfrew store which is about to see an expansion. Valentino is known for its ready-to-wear offerings for both women and men, as well as accessories, leather goods and footwear.
YORKDALE CONSTRUCTION SIGNAGE. PHOTO: CRAIG PATTERSON
Valentino is also available in Canada at several of Canada’s most prestigious retailers, some of which have entire ‘hard shop’ areas dedicated to the brand. Valentino has been growing its Canadian distribution steadily over the past three years or so. In September of 2015, Nordstrom unveiled separate shop-in-store boutiques at CF Pacific Centre in Vancouver for Valentino accessories and women’s fashions, which was followed by a dedicated Valentino men’s area, which was a first for Nordstrom. In February of 2016, Saks Fifth Avenue opened its CF Toronto Eaton Centre flagship, which also featured separate shop-in-stores for Valentino accessories and women’s ready-to-wear. In the fall of 2016, when Nordstrom opened its Yorkdale store, it also included separate Valentino shop-in-stores for accessories and women’s ready-to-wear — we spotted a $38,000 Valentino dress when we toured the Yorkdale Nordstrom store ahead of its October grand opening.
Holt Renfrew also carries a range of Valentino women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, as well as accessories and shoes. Holt’s hasn’t dedicated spaces for Valentino ‘hard shops’ in the same way as US competitors Nordstrom and Saks in Canada. A handful of other prestigious retailers carry the Valentino brand in Canada, which has been present in retail and wholesale for decades. In the 1980’s and 1990’s Valentino had several licensed boutiques in Canada. In Toronto and Montreal, fashion retailer ‘Chez Catherine’ operated Valentino boutiques at her stores at Toronto’s Hazleton Lanes and at Montreal’s Ogilvy. In Vancouver, Farideh French Imports operated two small Valentino boutiques in the downtown core — one was at 723 Burrard Street in a space now occupied by Tiffany & Co., and another was located on the third level of the Pan Pacific Hotel back when it featured a small luxury shopping area that also housed boutiques for Celine, Furs by Jacques, and multi-brand luxury accessory retailer Collections International.
PHOTOS (ABOVE AND BELOW) OF THE VALENTINO IN FIRST STORE AT CIDADE JARDIM MALL IN SÃO PAULO
Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre is adding more first-to-Canada retailers than any single location in the country. Several of its most recent announcements have already been available in the centre — Valentino, as mentioned above, can also be found at Nordstrom and Holt Renfrew. Bottega Veneta, which is opening next to Valentino at Yorkdale in November, has a presence at Holt Renfrew. And Chloé, which recently opened at Yorkdale, has separate hard-shops for accessories and women’s ready-to-wear at Nordstrom at Yorkdale, not unlike those for Valentino.
More luxury brands are confirmed to be moving into Yorkdale and we’ll report on these when permitted.
A disruptive U.S.-based automated drugstore concept called Pharmabox is breaking into the Canadian market with plans to expand across the country.
Pharmabox, Inc., based in Miami, launched three years ago and now operates approximately 30 of its self-service kiosks across the U.S. and on Royal Caribbean cruise ships. The kiosks sell more than 140 items typically carried in pharmacies, such as shave gel, cough syrup, mouthwash, toothbrushes, soap, deodorant and over-the-counter pain killers, such as Tylenol and Advil, among many other items.
The company has engaged Terry Samuels, owner of retail consulting company Tersam Management in Toronto, to manage the company’s expansion into Canada and internationally. Samuels says he’s already seen broad interest from many different regions.
Image: Pharmabox
“We’re getting inquiries from all around the world—without any marketing, just from people seeing the machines, and they’ve been reaching out,” he says. “The machines are eye-catching and innovative. They’re doing very well.”
Pharmabox aims to provide convenient destinations for consumers to buy everyday items in high-traffic areas, such as shopping centres, casinos, airports, colleges, universities, fitness centres and hospitals.
“It’s applicable in many places,” Samuels says. “We all get headaches often, and you don’t always want to go looking for a headache pill.”
The machines feature touch-screen displays and accept cash, credit cards, Apple Pay and Android Pay. They also feature software that automatically notifies the company when a product is low on stock, to ensure it can be restocked quickly.
As the company expands, it’s looking for licensees to partner with. According to Samuels, the concept presents a potentially lucrative opportunity for businesses “that would like to have a grab-and-go impulse model to fulfill the immediate grab-and-go needs of the consumer in high traffic environments.”
Although Pharmabox has had success in shopping centres in the U.S. market, expanding into shopping centres in Canada could be a challenge, Samuels notes, since many malls already have large drug stores as tenants. However, he sees potential for major pharmacy chains such as Shoppers Drug Mart and Rexall to partner with Pharmabox, to establish additional convenient points of sale for their customers.
For retailers that are struggling with high rent costs, Samuels says the kiosks could allow them to reduce the size of their stores, and create a supplemental point of sale within a shopping centre.
“What that would do, ultimately, is reduce their costs in mall space,” he says. “They’ll still have the big mall space, but less—and they’d have a point of convenience machine.”
Samuels expects to eventually secure licensees for Pharmabox machines across Canada.
Kit and Ace at Mount Royal Village in Calgary (PHOTO: KIT AND ACE)
Vancouver-based ‘technical cashmere’ brand Kit and Ace has announced new ownership and a new direction, as it finally sees profitability after more than four years in operation.
CEO George Tsogas, who had led Kit and Ace since April of 2017, tells Retail Insider that he bought the company from Chip Wilson’s company Hold It All Inc. for an undisclosed sum with the deal having closed on August 31 of this year.
GEORGE TSOGAS. PHOTO SUPPLIED
Kit and Ace, which was founded in 2014 as a luxury-focused ‘technical cashmere’ brand, became profitable for the first time in July of 2018, according to Mr. Tsogas. The company expects to further grow with a focus on the ‘modern commuter’ who might travel by bike, foot or on transit in large cities. The company’s ‘Navigator Collection’, which launched in the spring of this year, is geared towards the urban commuter by providing ‘office-ready clothing options’ as Kit and Ace renews its focus towards technical apparel.
The Navigator Collection, which launched for men in April with a range of trousers, joggers, shorts, blazers and jackets, introduced women’s trousers in August of this year, with more categories on the way. The Navigator Collection features venting, secure pockets, and reflectivity for cyclists that is made from a technical fabric that is said to be water-repellant, durable, easy-care and comfortable. The new line is the first step in transitioning Kit and Ace’s product line to technical commuter wear, according to the company.
SCREEN SHOT FROM KIT AND ACE WEBSITE
In order to ensure that its products perform, Kit and Ace has introduced the ‘bike test’ into its design process to make sure clothing holds up to increased movement, outside elements, and moisture, while maintaining an office-appropriate look upon arrival. “If it works on a bike, it will work for any commute,” according to Kit and Ace.
“With the world’s urban population surging, we are seeing a new segment of commuters that are riding their bikes to work and want to be office-ready but haven’t had apparel options to do so,” said Mr. Tsogas. “The commuter way of life is technical and functional, yet allows you to show up to the office looking put-together and professional, without needing to change into something new. This is what we’re bringing to our apparel.”
Chip Wilson, best known for having founded Lululemon, will remain as a mentor to Kit and Ace as the brand continues to transform under Mr. Tsogas’ leadership.
Kit and Ace launched in July of 2014 and was initially led by Chip Wilson’s wife Shannon Wilson and son J.J. Wilson, though sources confirm that Chip Wilson was quietly involved with activities such as lease negotiations for some of the company’s first retail stores.
The company expanded its base of stores quickly after its summer of 2014 launch, which began with pop-up stores in various Canadian and, soon, international centres. Longer-term leases were eventually signed as Kit and Ace grew to more than 60 stores globally and 700 employees in early 2016.
By March of 2017, Kit and Ace’s store count was reduced to 41 stores, prior to an April 2017 announcement that all but nine Canadian stores would remain open. Since then, three more stores closed and at the moment, Kit and Ace operates six locations with two of those in Vancouver, two in Toronto, and one store each in Calgary and Oakville, Ontario. The Vancouver Gastown flagship recently relocated to 151 Water Street from 165 Water Street due to a redevelopment.
SCREEN SHOT FROM KIT AND ACE WEBSITE
The other Vancouver store is in the Kitsilano area at 2235 W. 4th avenue. The Toronto stores are both street-front spaces on popular streets — a ‘Mink Mile’ store is located at 102 Bloor Street West, which also houses a coffee concept called ‘Sorry Coffee’. The other Toronto store is at 779 Queen Street West on trendy ‘West Queen West’. The Oakville location is at 171 Lakeshore Road East and the Calgary location is at Mount Royal Village, a First Capital Realty-owned property just south of the downtown core.
More Kit and Ace store locations are planned, according to Mr. Tsogas, though not nearly at the rapid rate seen in 2014 and 2015. Two pop-up locations will be used to test the market, which could become a strategy moving forward as the brand looks to new markets. This month, the company launches temporary locations at Metropolis at Metrotown in Burnaby as well as at CF Chinook Centre in Calgary, both of which will operate through to February of 2019.
‘SORRY COFFEE’ AT KIT AND ACE AT 102 BLOOR ST. W. IN TORONTO. PHOTO: KIT AND ACE
To serve the urban commuter, more in-store coffee shops could be in the works, according to Mr. Tsogas.
In order to move the brand forward, Mr. Tsogas revealed that staff will be offered an equity stake in the company as incentive. Canada will be the focus as will the United States before Kit and Ace relaunches an international store expansion. Kit and Ace’s new strategy is to be a ‘problem solver’ according to Mr. Tsogas, offering a unique product that is also practical to the modern urban dweller looking to look good while commuting in the city.
Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, made headlines in the U.K. recently for his speech at the Trades Union Congress conference in Manchester, England.
His remarks were forcefully pro-union and strongly disapproving of corporations, the profit motive and the wealthy.
He singled out Amazon for not paying their fair share of taxes in the U.K. and the gig economy as a “reincarnation of an ancient evil.”
To the archbishop, capitalism, with its pursuit of profit and inequality of outcomes, is inherently immoral.
Other religious leaders have, over the years, made similar points. In 2015, Pope Francis denounced capitalism and the pursuit of money and, in 2008, the then-archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, wrote an article for a British magazine criticizing capitalism in the wake of the financial crisis.
Such negative views of business and profit are hardly uncommon.
A recent article in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychologydocumented widespread anti-profit beliefs.
In my research with some of my graduate students, I have found that people often take a dim view of businesses, interpreting many different actions —such as a small price increase or a product recommendation — as an attempt to take advantage of consumers.
Viewed as conscious entities
But what underlies these views? Why is business and the pursuit of profit so maligned?
We think the answer lies, in part, in how people view firms and the resulting inferences they draw from the attempts of these firms to make a profit. To the first point, people seem to view companies as conscious entities — as living, breathing organisms with thoughts, feelings, intentions and motives.
What this means is that people are likely to attribute distinctly human motives to business actions that are the product of entirely different processes.
In addition to viewing companies as people, consumers often view their transactions with firms as zero-sum — like sharing a pie, where more for one person means less for the other. This means that when companies are perceived to be making a profit, that profit is viewed as coming at the expense of customers.
Distrust of profitable firms
This is where profiting becomes problematic. Because we mentally view firms as people, this is seen as a wilful act — a deliberate attempt to take advantage of customers — and it violates an important norm of interpersonal conduct, a moral norm even, that forbids benefiting at another’s expense.
We have found that a wide range of actions by businesses appears to be interpreted in this light: price increases, discounts for other people, product recommendations and even advertisements.
Even when people don’t buy goods or services from a company, and therefore no profit is made, perceptions that a firm tried to profit lead to negative responses.
Even sales clerks are suspect
In one extreme example, we found that even when a salesperson recommended the cheaper of two alternatives, customers still assumed it was to benefit at their expense.
Our research has not yet investigated how firms can mitigate such reactions or whether they even can. If our results are anything to go by, some readers may think that these are legitimate reactions that should not be curtailed.
However, we would point out that a purchase is a consumer decision. No company is forcing consumers to buy their products against their will.
What’s more, businesses bear the burden of the risk in offering products for consumers’ consideration; the products that they make available to us are often a tremendous source of value in our lives; and, ultimately, the only reason companies develop and offer such products is to make a profit. Otherwise, what would be the point of going into business?
Oliver Peoples at Yorkdale (Image: Craig Patterson)
Los Angeles-based luxury eyewear retailer Oliver Peoples has opened the first of two standalone stores in Canada at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre, and a second will open soon in the heart of Vancouver’s Alberni Street ‘Luxury Zone’. The company is targeting affluent shoppers with its choice of locations.
Oliver Peoples’ frames are “anti-logo” with prices that can be well into the hundreds, which differentiates Oliver Peoples from other recent entrants that offer more in the way of value pricing. Oliver Peoples’ frames are known to be worn by celebrities and the brand has an impressive following on social media.
The company was founded in 1987 with a boutique in West Hollywood, and it is now sold in its own boutiques as well as in upscale multi-brand retailers that carry eyewear. Its designers are in Los Angeles and frames are manufactured in Italy and Japan. Oliver Peoples was acquired by eyewear conglomerate Luxottica in 2007.
The new Yorkdale store, which spans 742 square feet, is near luxury brands such as Montblanc, Piaget and Van Cleef & Arpels. The store opened to the public on Friday, September 28, in a retail space formerly occupied by Teavana.
The store’s interior is inspired by “Mid-Century California,” according to the company, with accent walls of suede sage, 1960’s ribbed walnut wood, contrasting brass detailing, and Verde Alpi marble. Stilnovo lighting fixtures illuminate the space, and Zanuso armchairs provide seating for guests.
Terrazzo marble flooring is featured throughout the store.
To mark the Yorkdale opening, the store is offering a limited edition OP-40 30th frame in tortoise acetate with ‘vibrant green lenses’ that the company says is inspired by the boutiques interior design.
The Vancouver store will open on October 12 at 1061 Alberni Street. The 687 square foot boutique is being constructed from modifying a retail space that, until recently, was occupied by Shefield & Sons Tobacconists. Oliver Peoples’ Alberni Street store is located at ‘centre ice’ on Alberni Street, bounded on both sides by Richemont-owned luxury brands. Directly to the west are locations for Van Cleef & Arpels and IWC Schaffshaussen which both opened in December 2017, and to the east Richemont has leased the former Blubird space where Montblanc and Vacheron Constantin is said to be opening in part of it, with more details to follow.
The Vancouver boutique’s interior will be similar to the Yorkdale store, according to the company — Giampiero Tagliaferri, Creative Director of Oliver Peoples, revealed that the store’s mustard coloured Zanuso style armchairs will add a pop of colour, and “represent the changing colors of fall foliage.”
To mark the opening of the Vancouver store, it will exclusively offer a limited edition OP-505 frame — it’s one of the first Oliver Peoples frames to have been released, and the customized OP-505 is featured in washed teal acetate, 18K gold metal, and mirrored goldtone lenses.
As with its first two Canadian stores, Oliver Peoples chooses premium locations for its stores and in some instances, it’s very clear that the brand is going after a wealthy shopper. In Houston, Texas, for example, the retailer has a store at the prestigious River Oaks District — one might otherwise expect the store to be at the busy nearby Houston Galleria (which also has plenty of luxury stores).
In Chicago, Oliver Peoples is located amongst luxury stores on Rush Street just south of Oak Street and the retailer has opened stores on premium streets such as Sloane Street in London, Ortega y Gasset in Madrid, Grant Avenue in San Francisco and Madison Avenue in New York City.
Premium mall locations include top names such as South Coast Plaza in Orange County, King of Prussia near Philadelphia, Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara California, and others. Oliver Peoples has more than 30 stores internationally, according to its website, and distributes in more than 60 countries worldwide.
In celebration of its 50th anniversary, Montreal-based winter footwear company Anfibio Boot Co. announced the opening of its first-ever concept store, a new branding, and a new Fall/Winter collection.
“We recently decided to further promote and enhance our brand by selling directly to consumers,” explains Pina Passarelli, President of Anfibio. “Having the opportunity to connect directly to consumers through our own selling platform is very exciting.”
Anfibio Boot Co. prides itself for bringing heritage craftsmanship and authentic style to customers in Quebec and across Canada for the past half-century. Everything is made in their Montreal shoe factory, with no plans to change. While up to this point, this established brand has only had wholesale operations; they recently made the decision to enter the competitive retail market. The opening of their first concept store will happen in November in the Villeray district of Montreal.
Handcrafted in Canada. Manufacturing process is shown below.
“The opening of our first store will, in a way, serve as a new marketing strategy for the brand,” adds Ms. Passarelli. “When working with retailers, the feedback is always a year out. [This] will give us the opportunity to receive direct contact with our clientele, which will provide us with immediate feedback.”
They look forward to having this opportunity to see customers’ reactions firsthand. Overall, getting a pulse on what works and what doesn’t, in addition to getting closer to their clients and increasing brand awareness will be invaluable to the continued success of the company.
In addition to the exciting news of the concept store opening, Anfibio will also be launching new products and collections.
Anfibio’s latest collection honours the brand’s 50th anniversary with a revamped design direction that blends artistry with fashion. Traditional handmade practices and continental craftsmanship are at the heart of each chic and contemporary style – from combat, equestrian and biker silhouettes for her to sneaker-inspired looks for him. But timeless classics, including a sleek knee-high boot and a retro Chelsea style, pay homage to Anfibio’s origins.
Every piece of the “tribute” collection is made from waterproof customized hides treated with only the best premium-grade oils and dyes.
“We employ 50 people and most of them have been with us for decades. Montreal and Anfibio’s people are part of the brand’s DNA and we are very proud of that,” says Ms. Passarelli. “Anfibio is a family business, and all the raw materials are high-quality; for us there is no compromise about that. Our final product may be at a higher price point, but it’s durable, it’s quality and above all, it’s local.”
Calgary is a city built on the success of the oilpatch.
When the oilpatch is booming, the city feels the impact in a positive way in many different areas including the retail industry. But when the oilpatch is struggling, that ripple effect is a painful one for retailers as less discretionary spending takes place.
The CORE shopping centre, which spans three city blocks in the heart of Calgary’s downtown, knows the ups and downs of the oilpatch very well over the years and is closely tied into that economic cycle.
THE CORE – PHOTO: CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD
‘THE CORE” IS THREE CITY BLOCKS (PURPLE, YELLOW, AND ORANGE) TIED TOGETHER BY A BRIDGE (BLUE). PHOTO: CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD
When oil prices collapsed in the latter half of 2014, it led to two recession years in Calgary in 2015 and 2016. And as always happens historically, thousands of jobs were shed by corporate Calgary with its head offices concentrated in the core. However, the economy began its slow rebound to recovery in 2017.
“We’re actually coming out of a fantastic 2018 heading into hopefully another strong year. In 2018, we are up in almost everything. In traffic, in sales, in gift card sales. So we’re really excited,” said Allison Onyett, marketing director for The CORE which is managed by Cushman & Wakefield Asset Services.
As of the end of August, The CORE was sitting at a 6.4 per cent increase in traffic year-to-date with some months being up as much as 20 per cent over last year. Gift card sales were 68 per cent higher this year year-to-date than last year. Weekend traffic increased in 2017 by 8.8 per cent and the shopping centre is maintaining that increase this year.
PHOTO: CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD
“It is positive. However the numbers are still not those pre-recession numbers. We’re up over previous years. We’re still struggling to get to that pre-recession time. We were definitely affected by the layoffs in downtown Calgary. The downtown workers is traffic that is constantly passing through and as soon as you lay people off in the downtown core that is having fewer people walking through our centre every day,” said Onyett.
“So we’ve had to work really hard to come up with a marketing strategy that is event based, weekend based and engaging to further drive that traffic in from the suburbs that wouldn’t be here just because they’re working here but actually are coming to The CORE as a destination.”
The CORE has about 560,000 square feet of retail space.
“We are sitting at about a 20 per cent vacancy with permanent tenants. We’re actually almost fully leased coming into the fall here with a mix of both permanent and temporary tenants,” explained Onyett. “Some of them will come in just for the holiday season or some will be here for even a year or two. That’s still considered temporary. We’re actually running out of space to put some of these stores.
PHOTO: CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD
ATRIUM SPANNING THREE CITY BLOCKS. PHOTO: CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD
Michael Kehoe, an Alberta-based retail specialist with Fairfield Commercial Real Estate in Calgary, said The CORE shopping centre with its anchor department stores is one of the largest enclosed shopping centres of any city centre, of a market with under two million people, in North America and attracts millions of visitors every year.
“Holt Renfrew and La Maison Simons anchor The CORE and provide a powerful draw to the project and the surrounding retail centres such as Bankers Hall and Scotia Centre. Downtown Calgary with close to 30 per cent office vacancy has affected the customer footfall, retail sales and vacancy levels at The CORE. Recent proactive landlord leasing strategies leading to retiring less productive retail tenants in favour of more current and up-to-date retailers is paying off with higher sales productivity and encouraging increases,” said Kehoe.
“The 2017 opening of La Maison Simons at The CORE has been a solid attraction and addition with their success especially on the weekends which is encouraging. As the office sector goes so goes The CORE and tenant retention and attraction challenges will continue.”
PHOTO: CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD
PHOTO: SIMONS
Onyett said the most significant addition to The CORE is Simons which opened in March 2017.
“We’re definitely feeling what we call the Simons effect. We’re seeing an increase of traffic. We did a survey in the mall and 31 per cent of our shoppers indicated that they were here specifically to go to Simons,” added Onyett.
The mall along pedestrian-friendly Stephen Avenue begins at Simons at its east end and continues to the west end with Holt Renfrew.
“What’s nice about us and it’s truly Canadian of us is that we’re anchored by two Canadian retailers. Simons on one end and Holt Renfrew on the other,” she said.
PAJAR YORKDALE SHOPPING CENTRE (PHOTO: CRAIG PATTERSON)
Popular Montreal-based fashion brand Pajar, known particularly for its boots and outerwear, has opened its first two standalone stores. The company is expanding its distribution by testing a direct-to-consumer model.
One store is located at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre in a 1,340 square foot retail space next to luxury watch brand Breitling. Pajar replaced a Nine West location which closed several months ago with the chain’s other Canadian units, and will remain open for several months time to test out the market.
The other store is at the Premium Outlets Montreal in Mirabel, which is considered to be one of Canada’s top outlet malls in terms of brand matrix. That store, as well, is a temporary lease, and permanent locations could be next for the brand if consumers are receptive to the new retail model.
YORKDALE SHOPPING CENTRE LOCATION. PHOTO: CRAIG PATTERSON
Both stores feature Pajar’s ’DNA’ according to Michel Golbert, including various Canadian heritage/lifestyle/brand images, as well as special seating and even an upside-down toboggan in each store. The history of the company is recognized in the stores with images of the founding Golbert family in the 1920’s-40’s selling shoes in Paris where they lived prior to moving to Canada. To this day, Pajar remains an international business with distribution in more than 40 countries, and the company produces nearly a million pairs of boots annually.
Pajar is expanding into direct-to-consumer retail stores in an effort to further gain brand awareness while showcasing Pajar’s expansive line of products which are also wholesaled in retailers nationally. Its standalone stores feature some product exclusives in a curated environment that will “reflect the brand’s DNA” according to Michel Golbert, Vice President of Pajar and grandson of the company’s founder.
Brokerage Jones Lang LaSalle (or JLL, formerly ‘Northwest Atlantic’) represents Pajar.
YORKDALE SHOPPING CENTRE LOCATION. PHOTO: CRAIG PATTERSON
Pajar, which is still family-owned, is known particularly for its high-quality footwear and outerwear. The company was founded in Montreal in 1963 by Paul Golbert. and as the story has it, Mr. Golbert found the inspiration for the company’s name by using the first letters of his name, his son’s name and his wife’s name, (PAul, JAcques, and Rachel), respectively.
Pajar has expansive distribution in upscale retailers across the country such as Harry Rosen, Holt Renfrew, Nordstrom, Browns Shoes and David’s Footwear, and the new stores should expand Pajar’s brand awareness in order to gain market share across all sales channels.
The company’s history includes some innovation — for example, it created its popular Zig-Zag’ boot which is an ‘apres-ski’ item featuring a centre-zip and sheepskin lining. That invention helped Pajar become the official provider for the Canadian Alpine Ski Team in 1989.
MONTREAL LOCATION. PHOTO: PAJAR
The ‘Pajar Canada Heritage Premium Collection’ is manufactured in the same factory that Paul Golbert opened in Montreal’s ‘Plateau’ area when he first became a producer of Canadian footwear in 1973. Boots are lined with 100% genuine sheepskin, and are guaranteed to keep feet warm in temperatures as low as -40°C, according to the company.
The Pajar Sport collection includes urban performance and casual street wear that is manufactured in Pajar’s global facilities in Italy, Portugal, and Asia. The collection combines seam-sealed premium waterproof leather and textile uppers comfort rated to -30 C. The Oslo Apres Ski Collection, handcrafted in Italy, features genuine fur uppers including Fox, Rabbit, and Goat fur along with the hydro-repellent leathers, and seam-sealed construction.
Other Pajar collections include outerwear such as foldable rain boots, a wide variety of winter coats for men and women, socks, belts, bags, and hiking boots.
Michel Golbert said that once the Pajar retail concept is perfected, permanent Pajar stores may be rolled-out across the country. It’s part of an effort to grow the brand, which already has considerable distribution and awareness both domestically as well as internationally.
Several other well-known Canadian outerwear brands have expanded their operations beyond wholesale distribution by opening stores. Montreal-based Mackage began an expansion in late 2015 that now includes stores in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and New York City, with a Calgary store at CF Chinook Centre in the works for this fall. Canada Goose opened its first standalone store in the world at Yorkdale in the fall of 2016, with plans to operate more than 20 stores globally by the year 2020. Last year Montreal-based Moose Knuckles also opened its first concept store at Yorkdale and most recently at Premium Outlets Montreal — the company confirms that more are on the way as negotiations continue. Most recently, Montreal-based boot brand Anfibio has confirmed that it will be opening its first ever store in November of this year, and we’ll be reporting on this further in Retail Insider this week.
Louis Vuitton Marks 35 Years in Canada with Standalone Store Expansion [Feature]
Paris-based luxury brand Louis Vuitton is marking 35 years of retail in Canada with a unique activation at Toronto’s Union Station, as the brand expands its operations into 2019 with new standalone stores in three Canadian cities. The brand currently operates two standalone stores in Canada and by the end of next year, that number will be five.
An exhibition called ‘Time Capsule’ launched this month on the north side of Toronto’s newly renovated Union Station facing Front Street, in a temporary structure made of brushed aluminum. Pieces in the exhibit highlight Louis Vuitton’s history from its inception in 1854 until the present — that includes displays from Vuitton’s archives ranging from its first trunks as well as more contemporary collections in six installation rooms. An ‘Artisans Room’ at the entrance to the building features live demonstrations with a master craftsperson from Paris hand-making various pieces. The ‘Keys to the Code Room’ showcases earlier collections.
Toronto is the 11th city in the world to see the exhibit, which has been in cities including Hong Kong, Bangkok, Berlin, Singapore, Dubai, Shanghai, Melbourne, Madrid, Osaka and Los Angeles. We’ve included some video and photos — the exhibit is free and worth a visit if you’re in downtown Toronto with hours of 9:00am-9:00pm Monday-Friday and 11:00am-9:00pm Saturdays and Sundays until September 30.
On the retail concourse of Union Station, as well, Louis Vuitton has opened a temporary 350 square foot boutique showcasing an assortment of books, stationery, notebooks and fragrances. The boutique is in the ‘Front Street Promenade’ between the Danish Pastry House and the Greenhouse Juice Company.
Louis Vuitton opened its first Canadian store at 110 Bloor Street West in Toronto in 1983, spanning about 2,000 square feet. A second location opened as a concession at Holt Renfrew in downtown Vancouver in 1987 and in 1989, another concession opened inside of the Ogilvy department store in downtown Montreal. Louis Vuitton’s second standalone store in Canada opened in 1996 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver and in late 2010, it was expanded to 10,000 square feet, making it the first ‘Maison’ in Canada and Vuitton’s 12th globally at the time (to mark the occasion, the company spent $1.5-million on a party that included a trip on a 70-year old steam engine train).
In Toronto the spring of 2012, Louis Vuitton vacated a 6,000 square foot flagship store at 111 Bloor Street West for an 18,000 square foot ‘Maison’ flagship location at 150 Bloor Street West where it continues to operate to this day. Louis Vuitton also operates concessions at Holt Renfrew stores in Vancouver (which was vastly expanded in 2016), Calgary, Edmonton, and at two Holt Renfrew stores in Toronto (50 Bloor Street West and Yorkdale Shopping Centre). In Toronto, as well, Louis Vuitton operates a 1,200 square foot concession inside of Saks Fifth Avenue at CF Toronto Eaton Centre (it opened in February of 2016, facing the southwest corner of Queen Street West and Yonge Street) as well as a 3,200 square foot concession at Ogilvy in Montreal.
150 Bloor Street (Toronto) Location
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Hotel Vancouver LocationHotel Vancouver Location
Louis Vuitton also operated a 3,000 square foot store for a number of years at the Cascade Plaza shopping centre in Banff, Alberta, and that store closed in May of 2011.
Canada is said to be a strong market for Louis Vuitton, which is seeing high sales from Asian and other demographics particularly in the Vancouver and Toronto markets. A source at the Hotel Vancouver ‘Maison’ said that in some instances, a good client will book a private visit to the store where over the course of a couple of hours, they will spend a six-figure sum. Such sales makes Vancouver one of Louis Vuitton’s top markets globally.
Last fall, Louis Vuitton opened a men’s shop-in-store at Holt Renfrew in Vancouver, which remains one of only a handful in the world to date. That Vancouver concession marked the beginning of a significant expansion for the brand in Canada that will continue well into 2019.
Yorkdale (Toronto) Location
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Yorkdale (Toronto) Location
Union Station (Time Capsule) Boutique
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In November of this year, Louis Vuitton will unveil a standalone store at CF Chinook Centre in Calgary, spanning more than 4,500 square feet on one level. The store is located on the mall’s ground-level across from the mall entrance of Saks Fifth Avenue, which opened its 115,000 square foot CF Chinook Centre store in February of this year. Landlord Cadillac Fairview continues to position the Calgary mall as more upscale — Montreal-based Mackage is also a confirmed tenant in the mall which houses standalone locations for brands such as Tiffany & Co., Burberry and Canada Goose. At the same time, the Louis Vuitton store at Holt Renfrew in downtown Calgary is said to be closing for the CF Chinook replacement store and some other concessions in Calgary’s Holt’s are said to be concerned as luxury shoppers will soon, more than ever, be drawn to the suburban CF Chinook Centre as it adds more luxury retailers.
Towards the end of this year, as well, Louis Vuitton will unveil a substantially expanded concession at Holt Renfrew at 50 Bloor Street West in Toronto. The boutique will span much of the east side of the ground floor facing towards the central escalator atrium, as Holt Renfrew ads and expands several large shop-in-stores on the same level including Saint Laurent, Dior and, in a couple of months, a new ‘World of Fendi’ concession that will occupy the northwest corner of the ground floor, as well as a new Bottega Veneta. Part of the Holt Renfrew’s Bloor Street beauty hall will be moved into the basement in lieu of luxury boutiques, as the store is fully renovated over the next couple of years.
Louis Vuitton will also be expanding its presence at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre — the brand is said to do phenomenally well with its current Holt Renfrew-based concession, and a standalone flagship will be joining the concession, according to Louis Vuitton. More details will be released at a later date with the brand marking the beginning of a new ‘luxury run’ in the mall in a corridor that currently houses Sephora, Disney and Zara.
Ogilvy (Montreal) Location
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Holt Renfrew (Edmonton) Location
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Holt Renfrew (Edmonton) Location
Holt Renfrew (Calgary) Location
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In Edmonton, Louis Vuitton says that it plans to open a standalone store at West Edmonton Mall in 2019, which will be approximately the same size as the CF Chinook Centre store in Calgary (which is scheduled to open on November 1, according to Vuitton). The West Edmonton Mall store would replace an existing concession at Holt Renfrew in downtown Edmonton and with that loss, the future of Edmonton’s Holt Renfrew is more uncertain than ever. The Manulife Place store has occupied more than 30,000 square feet in the podium of an office complex since the early 1980’s, after vacating a 12,000 square foot standalone location at 10336 Jasper Avenue which had been operational for decades.
Louis Vuitton’s Montreal concession at Ogilvy will also see changes as Ogilvy is merged with Holt Renfrew — when completed by the end of the decade, the new ‘Holt Renfrew Ogilvy’ will span nearly 250,000 square feet over six levels and will become the largest luxury department store in the country. Montreal has never had a standalone Louis Vuitton store, nor has its existing Holt Renfrew store at 1300 Sherbrooke Street West had Louis Vuitton as a tenant — the Sherbrooke Street Holt Renfrew will close upon the completion of the new Holt Renfrew Ogilvy store at 1307 Ste-Catherine Street West.
Louis Vuitton is a division of luxury conglomerate Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (‘LVMH Group’), which includes several leading luxury brands under its corporate umbrella. Louis Vuitton was founded by a man of the same name in 1854, and now boasts a network of nearly 500 stores globally. The company saw revenue somewhere between $9.28-billion and $11.6-billion (US dollars estimates) in 2017, placing it as either the top or second luxury brand in the world in terms of annual sales — Chanel saw sales of nearly $10-billion US dollars last year, according to the company. Italian luxury brand Gucci, which is seeing explosive growth, is expected to surpass both of them by the end of this year after seeing about $7.1-billion US dollars in revenue in 2017.
