La Maison Simons to Expand St. Bruno Store

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July 19, 2018

Simons+St+Bruno — THE FACADE OF THE ST. BRUNO STORE WILL REMAIN ESSENTIALLY THE SAME AFTER THE EXPANSION -- THE SINGLE-STORY RETAIL SPACE HAS A DOUBLE-HEIGHT STOREFRONT. PHOTO: SIMONS

Quebec City-based large-format retailer La Maison Simons will be expanding its existing store at CF Promenades St-Bruno in suburban Montreal, to bring the store in line in terms of sizing with other newer Simons stores. The initiative was announced last year and we’ve been updated on how the expanded store will be configured.

Landlord Cadillac Fairview partnered with Simons in the project and as part of the arrangement, the landlord is investing in the expanded store, which will see the existing 65,600 square foot store expanded to nearly 90,000 square feet over two levels. Simons opened its CF Promenades St-Bruno store in 2001 and since then, Simons stores have typically grown in size. The store will be expanded in two phases — a new level will be added upstairs, with completion expected for the summer of 2020. An entire store renovation is expected to be completed by the spring of 2021.

The expansion will be made possible by relocating the mall’s 42,700 square foot Sports Experts/Atmosphere store, which is relocating into the mall’s former Target space. The store’s existing lower level will actually be downsized by about 11,000 square feet as part of the expansion, to create smaller CRUs that will lead into the overhauled Simons space. Simons will remain open during construction.

When finished, the first floor of the expanded St-Bruno Simons will feature the store’s women’s departments as well as its home furnishings department called ‘Simons Maison’. The store’s second floor will feature an expansive men’s department as well as customer service — Simons has an expansive menswear offering that in some stores occupies almost as much space as its women’s departments.

Upgrades to the new store will include new LED lighting standards in the store as well as at entrances for better energy use, and an assessment is underway to determine what other energy saving and generating possibilities exist for the expanded space. Interestingly, the store’s facade will remain basically the same after the expansion, as it was originally designed to be tall enough for two levels, despite the store only being one floor.

McKinley Burkart is designing the expanded St-Bruno store, which is the only Simons location on Montreal’s south shore. Simons currently operates three other Montreal-area stores — a downtown unit which is expanding by opening a standalone lower-level home store, as well as larger units at CF Galeries d’Anjou and CF Carrefour Laval. Simons also recently announced that a fifth location would be opening in the former Sears space at CF Fairview Pointe-Claire in suburban Montreal in the year 2021, spanning about 100,000 square feet over two levels.

CF Promenades St-Bruno spans about a million square feet of retail space and according to the latest Retail Council of Canada Shopping Centre Study, it is one of the largest and most productive malls in the region. Hudson’s Bay is the major anchor in the centre, along with Simons (former anchor Sears shuttered its Canadian operations several months ago). In 2015, landlord Cadillac Fairview completed a $50 million redevelopment of CF Promenades St. Bruno, which included interior modernizations, the revitalization of the centre court, exterior enhancements, and the transformation of its food court into ‘Le District Gourmand’.

It was recently announced that Simons, for the first time, has accepted outside investment to help fund a new high-tech 575,000 square foot, $215-million distribution centre in Quebec City that will help grow Simons’ rapidly growing e-commerce business. Online sales now account for about 20% of Simons’ business, according to Peter Simons, and having a state of the art distribution centre will be key to keeping the business operational while also allowing for enhanced growth initiatives both in-store and online — the company continues to see more and more shoppers from the United States as well.

La Maison Simons, which was founded in Quebec City by the Simons family in 1840, opened its first store outside of Quebec in October of 2012 when it unveiled an impressive 125,000 square foot store at West Edmonton Mall. The company subsequently expanded nationally and now includes 15 stores in BC, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec. Of its 15 stores, eight of them have opened since 2012 as part of an unprecedented expansion for the retailer which features a mix of reasonably-priced in-house fashion labels and brands that include some of the world’s top names such as Balmain, Marni, Vivienne Westwood, Nina Ricci, and others.

Retail a Key Component to Downtown Vancouver’s Canada Post Building Redevelopment [Exclusive Interview]

By

Craig Patterson

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July 18, 2018

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By Craig Patterson

One of the last undeveloped areas of Vancouver’s downtown peninsula will see considerable changes over the next couple of years, anchored by landlord QuadReal’s development of the massive historic building which once housed the city’s Canada Post distribution centre. Called ‘The Post’, the ‘urban lifestyle centre’ redevelopment project will see the addition of more than one million square feet of office space with Amazon as the primary anchor tenant, as well as an approximate 200,000 square foot retail component which will be a welcome addition to the area. We spoke with QuadReal Executive Vice President, Retail, Andy Clydesdale, in an exclusive interview to discuss the project’s retail future.

Built in 1958, the cavernous Canada Post building is located on a full city block in the heart of Crosstown, an area that’s becoming a significant employment and cultural centre for the city, as initially mandated in zoning. As a result, in several years the area will be surrounded by several major new commercial developments, as well as a replacement Vancouver Art Gallery, joining the Vancouver Public Library, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, and two major sports facilities. Nearby as well, 3.6 million square feet of residential growth is expected to see the addition of 5,300 residential units.

“From a leasing opportunity perspective, this project is literally at the epicentre of everything and everybody,” said Mr. Clydesdale. “From being at the junction of almost every single downtown neighbourhood in Vancouver, to being within walking distance of key sport and cultural hot spots, to being in the eye of the hurricane as it relates to future residential development, and not to mention, to being home base for employees, residents and tourists alike.”

Office space will occupy more than 1.1-million square feet in the new complex, with Seattle-based Amazon confirmed to be the primary anchor tenant. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau flew into Vancouver to make the announcement more than two months ago. Amazon will initially occupy about 35% of the complex, though it could end up taking more as negotiations progress. Mr. Clydesdale explained that The Post’s expansive office floor plates are desirable for tech firms such as Amazon, and the building will also feature amenities such as rooftop sports fields that can be used for volleyball, basketball and soccer. Office floor plates in the south tower will span about 33,000 square feet, with 36,000 square feet for floor plates in the north tower. Super-plates directly above the retail podium will span an impressive 110,000 square feet, which will be the largest in the city when completed. The first tower, expected to be finished for possession late 2022 and with a spring 2023 opening, will span about 400,000 square feet. When the project is completed, about 10,000 knowledge workers will occupy the buildings on a daily basis, creating an “innovation & incubator hub”.

Food & Beverage, including a food hall and grocery store, will be part of the mix.

The project is said to be one of the most ambitious heritage developments in Canadian history and at more than a million square feet, The Post will also become the largest single office building project in the city’s history. Mr. Clydesdale noted that the project will respect and preserve the building’s heritage and architectural features through sustainable and adaptive reuse, with a goal to re-establish the property as a signature landmark that will “deliver welcoming and beautiful gathering places”. The Post will also offer co-working spaces, technology incubators, experimental food and beverage retail, educational spaces, networking events and more will be announced as the project progresses.

Being that this is Retail Insider, we were particularly curious about the retail component of The Post which will occupy about 200,000 square feet at the base of the mixed-use complex. Mr. Clydesdale explained that food and beverage will be important components to the Post, and that offerings will include a wide range of grab-and-go offerings, grocery, liquor, lifestyle retail, a brewpub, and a globally-themed restaurant.

QuadReal is in talks with select major grocery retailers, one of which will occupy about 50,000 square feet with an entrance from the Homer Street frontage. A new grocery store will serve the growing residential population in the area, as well as the increasing daytime population that includes thousands of new workers that will be nearby.

Two large restaurants are expected to occupy the West Georgia Street-facing part of the complex, which will span a total of about 20,000 square feet. Mr. Clydesdale explained that there is some flexibility in the design, and that one of the restaurants could be as large as 14,000 square feet, if a tenant desired. Both restaurants have the opportunity to feature expansive exterior patios with south-facing views.

QuadReal is also working with one of the world’s foremost food hall experts, New York City-based AvroKO, to design an approximate 20,000 square foot food hall that will be unlike anything seen in the city to date. The food hall will be a welcome addition to the area which, besides a food court at nearby CF Pacific Centre, features primarily smaller standalone restaurants and a handful of food trucks.

The LEED Gold Certified office component of ‘The Post’ will feature energy-saving measures that will be employed during operation, including waste heat recovery, passive solar shading, light shelves and a building envelope that conserves energy. The Post project will save approximately 25,000 tonnes of carbon by retaining the existing structure of the building. MCM Partnership Architects have partnered with QuadReal on the project.

The Post redevelopment project makes sense and comes at the right time — Vancouver is going through a tech boom and office space is at a premium. Between now and the year 2022, an additional 3.5 million square feet of office space is expected to be built in the downtown core, adding an additional 29,000 people on a daily basis to a downtown area that boasts a daytime population exceeding 137,500 people. The immediate area is also home to a diverse range of housing options that include condominiums, rental apartments, townhouses and even lofts, with a trade area’s household income of about $100,000 annually — above the city average. “We are building a world class development and a new iconic brand for the City of Vancouver,” said Mr. Clydesdale, who is optimistic that the project will help further transform downtown Vancouver. We’ll keep you updated as things progress with The Post, including which grocery tenant will secure the 50,000 square foot Homer Street retail space, as well as further details about the food hall and restaurants set to open in the complex.

*Renderings in this article were supplied by QuadReal.

Craig Patterson, now based in Toronto, is the founder and Editor-in-Chief Retail Insider. He’s also a retail and real estate consultant, retail tour guide and public speaker.

Follow him on Twitter @RetailInsider_, LinkedIn at Craig Patterson, or email him at: craig@retail-insider.com.

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Aldo Launches ‘Localized’ One-of-a-Kind Store Concept

By

Craig Patterson

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July 18, 2018

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Montreal-based footwear and accessory retailer Aldo has unveiled a one-of-a-kind store location on Toronto’s Queen Street West. It could be the beginning for Aldo to open uniquely localized stores in selected cities around the world, as it steps away from its traditional store format that has been replicated in thousands of locations globally.

The store has been dubbed “Aldo Alley” by the company. “Often hidden, intriguing and ever-changing, the alley way expresses a neighborhood’s vitality. Queen Street West being such a diverse cultural hub, we wanted our store to reflect the area and its community”, said Caroline Poirier, Design Director, Brand Environments at the Aldo Group. “Our ambition was to create a space where consumers could not only connect with our brand and products, but also with the artistic and architectural influences that are unique to Queen Street West.”

Located at 349 Queen Street West, the renovated “Aldo Alley” store is a nod to the nearby Graffiti Alley that is popular amongst locals and tourists for Instagram-worthy photos, not to mention graffiti throughout the area that is known for its gritty texture that has been gentrifying over the years as large national and international retailers open in the area.

At the centre of the updated Aldo store is a sculptural ‘tree’ that was painted by Italian artist Enrico Marcato specifically for the renovated space. Mr. Marcato flew to Toronto from Italy to create the piece, as well as the colourful mural that now adorns the Queen Street store front above the entrance doors. The store’s artwork is described as having “a blend of strong colours and universal symbols conveying freedom, cheerfulness and lightheartedness”.

As with most locations, the renovated Queen Street Aldo store carries ladies and men’s footwear, handbags and accessories. The store also features the company’s efficiency technology that allows for pre-ordering of shoes, as well as ‘endless shelf’ technology that allows sales associates to see what’s in stock in the store. Several video screens can be found throughout.

The store’s interior is different than that of a typical Aldo store — customized furniture and ambient lighting characterize the space, which was designed to be flexible. The modular nature of some fixtures, including shoe racks, allow for modification if desired. Playful furniture can be found in the new space as well, including informal display tables and chairs that can be moved around with ease.

Four ‘areas’ have been created in the store, according to Aldo. These include “the door step” where ladies’ and men’s footwear are displayed, the “garden” section for consumers to try-on products around the tree sculpture, the “workshop” which includes the cash counter and accessories display fixture, and the “back yard”, which is an area of the store dedicated to handbags.

The overall design is meant to localize the store’s location in Toronto, and more Aldo stores in global cities could see similarly localized treatments, according to the company. Aldo wouldn’t yet discuss what markets might see similar stores, and is first seeking feedback from its experimental Toronto location. “Art is a vessel that connects and unites people as a global community,” according to Aldo, with founder Aldo Bensadoun and his family known to be avid collectors.

BRIEF: Jacob Brand Revived, Hillcrest Mall Adds Tenants & Fills Target Space

By

Helen Siwak

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July 17, 2018

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By Helen Siwak, Retail Insider Brief Editor

Hillcrest Mall Announces New Tenants: Oxford Properties’ Hillcrest Mall property in Richmond Hill, just north of Toronto, is adding several new tenants throughout, including tenanting its former Target space in the mall’s ‘North Wing’. Not to be outdone, the mall’s ‘South Wing’ just added West Coast Kids to the mix, joining tenants such as Sporting Life, H&M, Pandora and Starbucks. This summer, Honey and Swarovski will also open in the centre.

The mall’s former Target will become home to Marshalls/HomeSense/Indigo and Old Navy, all of which are set to open this fall. The new North Wing involves reconfiguring the former Target space to include a central corridor with tall ceilings and updated lighting.

More than $90-million has been invested in Hillcrest over the past several years, including an interior refresh incorporating new flooring, lighting, ceiling treatments and an upgraded food court. Washroom renovations were completed in November of 2017. Over the past three years, Hillcrest has added more than 20 retailers which makes sense — the area is affluent and growing rapidly.

“West Coast Kids” opening marks the first of several exciting announcements for Hillcrest in 2018, including Honey, Swarovski, HomeSense/Marshalls, Indigo and Old Navy. Hillcrest’s transformation is solidifying its place as a top destination for all things relating to a family-oriented lifestyle integrating adventure, technology, and other everyday indulgences,” says Hillcrest general manager Ryan Da Silva.

Hillcrest was also the first Oxford mall to add beehives to its rooftop. “Spring saw Hillcrest welcome back its rooftop hives. Hillcrest’s bees are now flying around pollinating flower, fruit and vegetable gardens within a 5-kilometer radius. The Richmond Hill community is truly at the core of everything we do at Hillcrest. You’ll see this theme continue into the fall,” said Da Silva.

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Former Reitman’s President and COO joining Bentley Leathers as CEO: Last week, Walter Lamothe joined Bentley Leathers as President and Chief Executive Officer. The former President and COO of Reitmans Canada, Lamothe brings tremendous retail experience to the position. Lamothe has also held the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of Liz Claiborne Canada as well as various strategic positions at other known retailers such as Stokes and Shirmax Fashions.

Bentley is known for its affordable back-to-school options for families, team-based workplace, and campaigns with celebrities such as Celine Dion and Jessica Simpson.

Café St-Henri unveils impressive HQ in Montreal: Montreal-based Café St-Henri has opened a new headquarters, just south of Jarry Park. The unique retail space includes a coffee shop that is open to the public, as well as roastery, kitchen, offices, meeting room, and a ‘coffee lab’ that can be utilized for educational purposes.

The headquarters will allow Café St-Henri to further expand its wholesale operations, not to mention getting its products into more restaurants as well as other coffee shops.

Experiential retail is more common now than ever, and Café St-Henri’s coffee classes will take place three times per month in the new lab space — there’s even espresso classes and a tasting class, which sounds like a delicious way to get one’s caffeine. The coffee-fueled meeting room is also available for rent (with easy access to coffee).

The café space itself is very impressive, featuring high ceilings and an industrial look reflecting its location. Interiors were softened with paintings, lighting and added foliage -, concrete and exposed ceilings contrasted with random furniture and, a purple light which shines down from the café’s greenhouses.

As well, the new headquarters provides more food options than the other Café St-Henri locations in Montreal and Quebec City, and the café also features a Mavam espresso machine and a Weber EG-1 grinder, possibly the best on the market for pour-over grinds. [Address: 7335 Rue du Mile-End (in Villeray)]

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Links of London Opens at Square One with a Twist: British luxury jewellery brand Links of London opens its store at Mississauga’s Square One on Thursday morning, and between Thursday July 19 and Sunday July 22, the brand will host an activation in Square One’s Grand Rotunda that is part of the mall’s ‘luxury wing.’

The 800-square-foot boutique, which is triangular in shape, will boast a 30-foot wide glass facade. At the centre of the store is a bracelet bar, as is the case with its other Canadian locations. It is all part of a national expansion that will see Links of London open standalone stores across Canada.

Pictures are being taken of the new Square One store and next week, Retail Insider will showcase the new store with a series of photos.

The Revival of Beloved Brand Jacob: Montreal’s French-language newspaper LaPress.ca is reporting that Costco is selling a mini-collection by the defunct Canadian teen brand Jacob alongside wardrobe mainstays Calvin Klein, Buffalo, and Adidas.

Bankrupt in 2014 with 90+ stores closed, and 990 employees laid off, the story of Jacob is entering a new chapter with founder Joseph ‘Joey’ Basmaji’s daughter Christelle speaking for the brand. According to LaPresse, Christelle says that her father, who is 65 years old, “still has lots of plans” and wants to continue selling Jacob clothes wholesale. But still on a small scale and still reusing patterns that have already been successful. This facilitates purchasing and production, requires few employees and capital, she notes, stating that there are still three or four people at the head office.”

Jacob began in 1977, and Canadian tweens, teens and young women delighted in the affordable fashion and accessories offered. By 2008, popularity waivered with the influx of international brands such as Zara, H&M, Forever 21, and the years 2010-2018 were defined by a series of business maneuvers by Basmaji’s to save his company.

As Facebook was the platform used to make the sale of $19.99 sweaters and cardigans at Costco known, fans of the brand may wish to click ‘Follow’ and see what new surprises Jacob has in store for their ‘CHIC by Jacob’ mini-collections.

Indochino CEO Drew Green a Finalist for Major Award: CEO Drew Green has been named as a finalist in the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards program for the Pacific region. The awards celebrate those who drive growth, live outside the box and disrupt with purpose.

Green is among a highly respected list of finalists in Canada, all of whom were selected after a long and rigorous evaluation process conducted by an independent panel of judges. This recognition was awarded to a select group of Canadian entrepreneurs that have demonstrated integrity, perseverance and an enduring spirit of ingenuity, and are recognized innovators that lead with purpose to drive outstanding performance.

“On behalf of everyone at Indochino, our shareholders and partners, I’m humbled and honoured to be named a finalist in these distinguished awards,” said Drew Green, CEO of Indochino, “Over the past three years, we’ve worked tirelessly to transform the business into a globally recognized, profitable brand and great place to work. I couldn’t be prouder of the entire team for their collaborative work, dedication and passion, which has led to our continued growth and success.”

Retail Insider will continue reporting on the impressive progression of this Canadian success story.

Colton’s Couture Raises the Bling Bar with Re-Launch in Oakridge Centre: As announced in Retail-Insider this past April, curated luxury concept boutique Colton’s Couture is set to open its’ tony new digs in the newly renovated original location in Oakridge Center.

In 2016, Colton’s Couture tested the waters with its shopping concept in a less-than-luxury 900-square-foot location with a pop-up shop. The initial $500,000 investment paid-off and soon the location was permanent. In 2017, owner Howard Colton moved Colton’s Couture and all its’ Gucci, Dior, Louboutin, Balenciaga, and McQueen, into an available vacant spot and began renovations on the original pop-up location to bring it up to a higher standard.

Officially launching at the end of July, this location reflects Colton’s love of the Dior aesthetic which mirrors the company’s 15th-floor penthouse offices. Grey veined marble, white fixtures, and crisp white spot lighting, will set the tone for the second of four locations to be open by mid-2019.

Next on the roster is Metropolis at Metrotown to be followed by an outlet location at YVR Airport’s McArthurGlen.

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Cauldron Ice Cream Creating Deliciousness on Queen Street West: California ice cream chain Cauldron Ice Cream is opening the first (of many reportedly) Canadian location in Toronto at 502 Queen Street West this month. Now fans of its liquid nitrogen ice cream can have their OG Puffle in hand as they window shop.

The three-year old company seized upon the burgeoning Canadian ice-cream trend and specializes in liquid nitrogen ice cream. Cauldron offers a variety of unique flavours such as Earl Grey Lavender, Milk and Cereal, S’mores, H20 Rose, and dairy-free flavour Pineapple Express, and Pink Lemonade.

With ice cream sculpted into flowers, egg bubble waffles, and an alluring tag-line of “It’s not gonna lick itself,” Torontonians are counting down the days until the queuing begins to get their licks on.

Meinhardt Fine Foods Joins Earls and Heirloom in Bringing Gusto to Ambleside: Known for its fine quality packaged goods, fresh baking, hand-made pasta, and use of locally produced items, Mainhardt Fine Foods has opened a 4,000-square-foot ‘Bodega-style’ grocery store in North Vancouver’s 1350 Marine Drive hot spot.

Joining Earls Ambleside and Heirloom Vegetarian Restaurant, Meinhardt’s offers a shopping experience augmented with 28 indoor seats, a 20 seat patio (which will be expanding soon), blooming fresh flower market, and in-house pastry experience for dessert lovers. Included in this sugary realm are a range of the ever-popular macarons, mini-mousse cakes and custard tarts, all to be enjoyed with fresh JJ Bean coffee and seven different flavours of delicious Earnest Ice Cream.

While different in look and feel, customers will still be able to build-their-own salad, grab a hot meal, and enjoy free WiFi, and the beachy summer-feel of Ambleside—a mere stone’s throw away.

Launched in 1996, Meinhardt Fine Foods is still going strong at its original South Granville location, as well as at its second location on the high-traffic Dunsmuir and Granville corner at CF Pacific Centre. Another is on the way for a downtown site at Burrard Landing.

Visit hungry and leave sated this summer, Monday to Saturday 7 am to 9pm, and Sunday from 8 am to 8pm.

Leon’s Furniture Whumping Trump with #wewontbetrumped Hashtag Campaign: Leon’s Furniture began in a small town named Welland, Ontario, population 52K and change. The Canadian owned and operated Leon’s Furniture has grown over the decades and is now taking a kick at the rump of the US tariffs by joining the hashtag campaign – #wewontbetrumped.

Selling Canadian-made furniture brands like Defehr, Campio, Décor Rest, Dynasty, Palliser, Superstyle, and mattress giant Sealy, Leon’s is reminding us all to support companies that employ Canadians, as well as sourcing materials (lumber, steel, foam and other raw materials), from Canadian companies.

Ontario’s Luxury and Sports Cars Backs into Bankruptcy: As first reported in Insolvency Insider, Luxury and Sports Cars, a Woodbridge, Ontario-based used luxury car dealer, was placed in interim receivership on July 4 in an application by RBC Royal Bank, owed approximately $450.3-million.

One month earlier on June 4, RBC engaged msi Spergel (ICIN) as a consultant to review the company’s financial and operational performance and to evaluate RBC’s security position. When msi Spergel (ICIN) attended at the company’s premises to carry out its mandate, it discovered that substantially all of the used cars that form the company’s inventory had been removed from the premises, effectively defeating the enforcement of RBC’s rights under its security. msi Spergel (ICIN) was then appointed interim receiver.

A visit to the Luxury and Sports Cars website indicates that the site is still live with a note “Sorry, we do not currently have any featured inventory on our website. Please call 888-564-5311 for further assistance.”

Counsel is Aird & Berlis for RBC, Harrison Pensa for the interim receiver and Soble, Rickards & Associates for the company.

Helen Siwak is the publisher of EcoLuxLuv.com Magazine, a freelance content creator specializing in retail and luxury lifestyle. She is a regular content contributor to Boulevard Vancouver (English & Chinese), Retail-Insider, BLUSH Vancouver, and has lifestyle blogged for StyleDemocracy and Daily Hive. When not writing, she is attending fashion events, traveling, and advocating for animal/human rights. helensiwak@yahoo.com.

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Boys’Co to Relocate Flagship from Downtown Vancouver to Coquitlam

By

Craig Patterson

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July 17, 2018

Screen+Shot+2018-07-16+at+10.49.27+PM — CONSTRUCTION UPDATE AT COQUITLAM CENTRE. PHOTO: BOYS'CO

Upscale and trendy Vancouver-based multi-brand men’s retailer Boys’Co will be relocating its downtown store to the suburban Coquitlam Centre in August, exiting a Vancouver Robson Street location. The new store will become the largest in the company’s history.

The new Coquitlam Centre Boys’Co will span about 3,000 square feet with an impressive 50-foot frontage that will provide exceptional visibility. According to the company’s President, David Goldman, the Coquitlam Centre Boys’Co is “at centre ice” in the centre, across from the mall’s Apple store (one of the largest in BC) and adjacent to a busy Aritiza location on the mall’s upper level.

The Morguard-owned Coquitlam Centre is one of the largest malls in the Lower Mainland, spanning about 1.18-million square feet with more than 200 stores, 11+ million visitors annually and 4,500 parking spaces. Anchors include Hudson’s Bay and Walmart as well as smaller anchors such as Best Buy, Golf Town, London Drugs and a T&T Supermarket. Coquitlam Centre is one of the most productive shopping centres in the Lower Mainland in terms of sales per square foot, and the centre is seeing some exciting new retailers, including a Uniqlo store which will be opening in the centre this fall.

ROBSON STREET STORE IN 2014. PHOTO: COLIN ARBER

DAVID GOLDMAN IN FRONT OF GUILDFORD STORE

Boys’Co showcases well-established, and medium to upper end designers, catering to young and ‘fashion-inspired’ men, according to Mr. Goldman. In 1984, the store concept was conceived by Mr. Goldman, whose family has been in the men’s retail clothing business for three generations. Boys’Co’s first store was at Oakridge Centre.

The existing 2,000 square foot Robson Street flagship at 1044 Robson Street opened in 1997, which replaced an earlier location at 1080 Robson Street that opened in 1987 (that building was demolished for redevelopment). The 1044 Robson Street flagship was renovated in 2014 and we attended the ‘grand re-opening’ that October.

Boys’Co continues to operate a store at Vancouver’s Oakridge Centre, as well as a newly renovated unit at Metropolis at Metrotown in Burnaby, and at Guildford Town Centre in Surrey. The suburban retail model appears to be working for Boys’Co, as both the Metropolis and Guildford locations are said to be the top-producing units for the chain.

METROPOLIS AT METROTOWN STORE. PHOTO: BOYS’CO

INSIDE THE ROBSON STREET LOCATION. PHOTO: ADRIAN MANDY

The Boys’Co nameplate is part of the Murray Goldman Men’s Wear group, which was founded by David Goldman’s father in Vancouver in 1946. The original West Hastings Street multi-brand retailer became an important menswear destination for the city. In 1957, Murray Goldman opened the city’s first young men’s store, called ‘The Ivy Room’, which catered to the Ivy League look of the 1950’s, (think Oxford button down shirts, cardigan sweaters and skinny Levi’s), and was located next to his Hastings Street store.

David Goldman started his fashion career as a teenager in the 1960’s. While in high school, he worked part-time at his father’s store, Murray Goldman Men’s Wear. After college, David Goldman moved to London, England, where he worked full time at a young men’s boutique on fashionable King’s Road. He then returned to Vancouver in 1971 to work alongside his father. David’s initial responsibilities included operating and buying for their then jean shops, called Bus Stop Stores — a predecessor to Boys’Co.

Today, Boys’Co has its third generation family member, Sam Goldman, as lead fashion buyer and directing operations. Rounding out the management team is Executive General Manager – and almost 33 year company veteran, Michael Roley.

Kimberlite Diamonds Unveils 1st North American Flagship with Impressive Event [Photos]

By

Helen Siwak

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July 16, 2018

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Light on the Land. Photo:  Kimberlite Diamonds — *Light on the Land. Photo:* *Kimberlite Diamonds*

By Helen Siwak

Over 200 distinguished VIP and media guests gathered at the Vancouver Convention Centre last week for the Kimberlite Diamond Fine Jewelry Show, coinciding with the opening of Kimberlite’s first flagship store in North America at 2828 Granville Street. On the runway was $50-million worth of signature haute masterpieces which impressively conveyed the brand’s global vision in luxury jewelry design. The evening’s celebration was the follow-up of the launch of Kimberlite’s North American flagship on Vancouver’s South Granville Street.

Hosted by Columbian-Chinese pageant queen Maria Rincon and including performances by renowned Chinese opera singers Mr. Yu Junjian, Ms. Wang Yifeng, and Ms.Yin Xiumei (who were flown in especially for the event), guests were entertained by an acrobatic duo, three distinct media walls for portrait options, and a catered selection of food and beverages.

Opening speakers included Mr. Yu Shanjun of the Chinese Commercial Consul and Mr. Dong LiuSheng, President of Kimberlite. Sitting in a position of honour in the audience, with Kimberlite’s Head of Canada Erica Chen, was Canadian-born Hong Kong-based actress Linda Chung.

Granville Street storefront (Above) by Helen Siwak. Interior photos (Below) by  rae kung (Think x Blink) — *Granville Street storefront (Above) by Helen Siwak. Interior photos (Below) by* *rae kung (Think x Blink)*

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Vancouver flagship -5.jpg

The 2,012-square-foot space on South Granville was envisioned by Vancouver design firm Cutler, and completed with assistance from Peregrine and CDC Construction. Fixtures and design cases were custom-ordered and tailored especially for the Canadian market with the marble flooring laid with the greatest of care. The use of luxurious textures and finishes in a neutral palette reflect the quality of the product while letting the diamonds glimmer without competition for attention.

Impressive design features include custom ceiling coves with indirect lighting, leather-inspired wall paneling, soft forms, and layers of glass. The overall effect is one of understated elegance. Peregrine manufactured the store’s upholstered wall panels, metal and glass showcases and consultation desk.

Established in 1995, Kimberlite Diamond is the first definitive brand to specialize in diamond jewelry in China and is recognized as the leader in China’s diamond industry with almost 700 retail locations. Kimberlite was also the first in China to follow the “quality authentication protocol” with international diamond professional organization HRD (Belgium Diamond High Council), ensuring high-quality diamonds for all Kimberlite Diamond customers.

“Because we truly value the North American market, we have presented the best of our high jewelry collection at this top-notch Fine Jewelry Show in Vancouver,” said Mr. Kellan Dong, Kimberlite Diamond’s CEO. “We hope all of our distinguished customers and media guests are able to better understand our brand’s vision, with the showcase of our ultimate collection at last night’s fine jewelry show.”

Since 2015, Kimberlite Diamond has been the only jewelry brand from China to showcase its diamond collection at Baselworld in Switzerland. After being exhibited along with the world’s most prestigious jewelry brands inside the High Jewelry Pavilion, the Kimberlite brand is now well-recognized as a rising star in the industry.

When asked why Vancouver was chosen as the North American flagship location at 2828 Granville Street, Dong explained that as a company they “recognize the potential growth of spending power in North America, especially in Vancouver. Vancouver is an iconic multicultural city where people here can well-accept different cultures and new ideas.”

Highlights of the Fine Jewelry Show:

The Moon Goddess. Photo: Kimberlite Diamonds — *The Moon Goddess. Photo:* *Kimberlite Diamonds*

“The Moon Goddess” is a 25.05-carat main moon-shaped diamond, complemented by 1877 gems creating a unique silhouette, and a total weight of 108 carats, valued at $26M.

The Melting Iceberg. Photo: Kimberlite Diamonds — *The Melting Iceberg. Photo:* *Kimberlite Diamonds*

“The Melting Iceberg,” winner of the Designer Award of China Jewelry Design and Production Skills Competition, valued at $400,000. Platinum and diamonds depicting an iceberg floating atop the Arctic Sea.

Plum Blossom. Photo: Kimberlite Diamonds — *Plum Blossom. Photo:* *Kimberlite Diamonds*

“Plum Blossom” crown and bracelet set unveiled at Baselworld 2016, valued at $300,000, from Kimberlite Diamond’s “Charm of China” collection.

Riding the Wind and Waves. Photo: Helen Siwak — *Riding the Wind and Waves. Photo:* *Helen Siwak*

“Riding the Wind and Waves” necklace and earring set from the “Sino-Song” collection, valued at $380,000. Inspired by a Song dynasty painting titled “Layers of Raging Waves.”

Zhu Wenjun with Models. Photo: Kimberlite Diamonds — *Zhu Wenjun with Models. Photo:* *Kimberlite Diamonds*

“These extraordinary pieces illustrate our unique approach to luxury jewelry design. The idea of “East Meets West” hasn’t just distinguished our brand, but has also extended our creative sphere by synthesizing traditional Chinese culture with contemporary jewelry design,” commented Ms. Zhu Wenjun, Chief Designer of Kimberlite Diamond and the proud winner of the World Gold Council and Hong Kong JMA International Jewelry Design Competition.

To further introduce Kimberlite Diamond’s unique vision to the world, the company is already looking to expand into other core North American cities such as Toronto, New York, and Los Angeles.

Additional Pieces. Photo: Kimberlite Diamonds — *Additional Pieces. Photo:* *Kimberlite Diamonds*

Helen Siwak is the publisher of EcoLuxLuv.com Magazine, a freelance content creator specializing in retail and luxury lifestyle. She is a regular content contributor to Boulevard Vancouver (English & Chinese), Retail-Insider, BLUSH Vancouver, and has lifestyle blogged for StyleDemocracy and Daily Hive. When not writing, she is attending fashion events, traveling, and advocating for animal/human rights. helensiwak@yahoo.com.

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Beauty Brand ‘VDL’ to Launch in Canada with Standalone Flagship

By

Craig Patterson

-

July 16, 2018

VDL+Queen — STOREFRONT AT 829 QUEEN ST. WEST ON SATURDAY, JULY 14. PHOTO: ACT7/URBAN TORONTO

Korean beauty company VDL will open its first North American store this summer on Toronto’s trendy ‘West Queen West’. This month, the company is also launching wholesale distribution for 200 of its products in several ‘The Face Shop’ and ‘Nature Collection’ locations in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.

VDL’s expensive product offerings include makeup (face, lip, eyes, cheeks), nail, skin care (including masks and men’s offerings), cleansing, body & hair and related beauty ‘tools’ such as foundation brushes. The line, which stands for “Violet Dream Luminous”, was founded in 2012 and it has stores in Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, Philippines, China, Hong Kong, as well as wholesale distribution in various global markets.

Prices for VDL products are considered to be ‘moderate’ — they’re generally lower than luxury brands found in department stores, but higher than some value-priced drugstore brands, as well as brands like Deciem that are competing on both quality and price.

VDL will open this month at 829 Queen Street West, in a retail space that previously housed a pop-up location for US eyewear retailer Illesteva. The ‘West Queen West’ area was named by Vogue Magazine in 2014 as being the world’s ‘second coolest neighborhood’.

As part of VDL’s launch into Canada, the brand is also now being carried at the following ‘The Face Shop’ and ‘Nature Collection’ locations:

Ontario:

Alberta:

Manitoba

CF Polo Park

British Columbia:

Quebec: Several Nature Collections stores are said to carry VDL (including at CF Galeries d’Anjou) but we weren’t provided a full list by press time.

The stretch of ‘West Queen West’ is becoming something of a beauty destination in Toronto, with several retailers having recently opened in the area. Toronto-based beauty brand Deciem, which is seeing explosive growth internationally, opened its very first standalone store at 881 Queen Street West in the summer of 2016. LVMH-owned Bite Beauty has operated at 678 Queen Street West since the fall of 2016, and two new brands have recently opened nearby — L’Occitane en Provence opened at 692 Queen Street West in the spring, and Toronto-based skincare brand Consonant recently unveiled its flagship store a few doors down from VDL at 819 Queen Street West.

VDL was expected to open its Queen Street West store at the end of June, though a visit last week showed that it was still under construction. We’ll update this article with more information once the Queen Street store opens to the public.

Canada’s Largest Retail Power Centre, South Edmonton Common, Set to Expand

By

Mario Toneguzzi

-

July 15, 2018

South+Edmonton+Common+streetside+2 — STREETSIDE AT SOUTH EDMONTON COMMON

South Edmonton Common, one of the largest open-air retail developments in North America, will get bigger in the fall with the opening of a Nordstrom Rack location.

The retail power centre, spread over 320 acres and containing more than 2.3 million square feet of dining, shopping and entertainment space, has developed a reputation of being the place where many retailers establish their first locations when they come to Edmonton.

Harold Pacheco, marketing manager for Cameron Development Management Inc., which operates the power centre, said one of the things that it prides itself about is being “a place of firsts.”

“So the flagship Canadian Tire store, also the biggest Canadian Tire store in Canada, is located there,” said Pacheco, of the 140,000-square-foot store over two floors which opened in 2015.

He said the Nordstrom Rack, which opens in October, will be the first location in Edmonton and the only confirmed one.

It will be 35,000 square feet and is Nordstrom’s off-price retailer offering on-trend clothing, shoes and other accessories. The power centre said Nordstrom Rack will be offering 30 to 70 per cent off regular prices and the store is designed to provide the ultimate treasure hunt to style-savvy customers.

When Nordstrom first announced in August 2016 that it would be entering the Edmonton market at South Edmonton Common, its Canadian president Karen McKibbin said: “We want to be in compelling locations with a great retail mix, and we feel our new store at South Edmonton Common helps us to achieve that goal. We look forward to introducing ourselves to customers in Edmonton and bringing them great brands at great prices.”

Nordstrom Rack is also opening a store in Mississauga at the Heartland Town Centre in September and one in Ottawa at The Ottawa Train Yards in October.

Nordstrom Rack South Edmonton Common (Rendering: Provided)

The South Edmonton Common power centre’s first tenant was Home Depot in 1998. Today, there are 169 retailers on the site. Major stores include Walmart, Lowe’s, IKEA, Saks OFF 5TH, Superstore, and Cineplex’s Rec Room.

It’s located at the gateway to the south entrance into Edmonton and situated at one of the city’s highest traffic locations, bordering the city’s eight-lane ring road, Anthony Henday Drive – making it easily accessible to shoppers from all of Edmonton’s suburban areas.

“It’s one of the places where you can only find these stores in. So there’s something for everyone and in some cases as with Nordstrom Rack it’s the only one of that in the city,” said Pacheco. “There’s the only IKEA in the city there. For awhile it was the only Rec Room.”

Over the years, South Edmonton Common has been a leader when it comes to power centre developments across North America. It has often been where many retailers have first introduced their brand to the Edmonton market.

“The centre’s almost fully built out. We’re really excited because this format didn’t exist in Edmonton before this sort of open-air big box centre a bit outside of the city. A place of firsts for standalone retailers,” said Pacheco.

The centre is promoting walkability and sustainability. It will be putting in electric vehicle chargers in there shortly. It is also looking at improving transportation in the area.

“We’re really updating it for modern consumers,” added Pacheco.

“We may look at having a public space in there – an event space.”

How Canadian Merchants Can Enhance their Shopify Store and Increase Sales in LaTam

By

Craig Patterson

-

July 15, 2018

By Nicholas Ghitti, head of Inside Sales at EBANX

With a population exceeding 650 million people, Latin America is a key partner in terms of commercial relations for many nations worldwide. With a potential market of this size, it comes as no surprise that the region is growing in the eyes of international sellers looking to expand globally.

It is no different for Canada. In fact, the region is among the most important ones for the country: Mexico, the second largest Latin American economy, is in the top 5 countries to which Canada exported the most in 2016, figuring not so far behind Japan, according to World Bank’s data. The value of bilateral trade between Canada and Brazil, the largest economy in the region, amounted to $6.4 billion Canadian dollars in 2017.

For Canadian online retailers looking to start selling or increase sales to Latin America, this is great news, showing that commercial relations are healthy. It is a matter of improving the online store having Latin American consumers in mind.

And having Latin American consumers in mind means building a sales strategy tailor made to reach them, considering all of their specificities. For users of the Shopify platform, which is often among the most used ones worldwide, there are a few apps and hacks that can improve user experience based on these specificities, and ultimately impact sales rate of the online store.

But, before jumping into Latin America’s specificities and the things you need to do in your Shopify store in order to increase sales in the region, let’s really understand the size of your opportunity there.

GALERÍAS PACÍFICO SHOPPING CENTRE IN BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA. PHOTO: DE PASERIO

Why should I think about starting or increasing sales to LaTam?

Commercial opportunities in general are great in Latin America. When it comes to ecommerce specifically, the region’s landscape offers equally excellent opportunities. High levels of internet penetration are helping ecommerce to grow at a remarkable pace. Take Brazil as an example: it is one of the top 10 ecommerce markets in the world while being the fourth country with more internet users.

Retail ecommerce sales in Latin America as a whole are expected to reach $84.75 billion U.S. dollars by 2019. Two of the three fastest-growing ecommerce markets in the globe are Latin American countries: Colombia and Argentina.

When we consider cross-border ecommerce market in Latin America, the environment is also great. In Brazil, 22.4 million people purchased online from foreign websites in 2017, as reported by WebShoppers, a research conducted annually by Ebit on Brazilian online consumers’ behavior. In Mexico, 67% of online consumers bought from international websites in the same year, according to Mexican Internet Association’s report.

Undoubtedly, 2018 is an ideal time for Canadian online retailers to look closely at the Latin American ecommerce market. Not only to simply enjoy a market share of this total amount, but also because a trade war is raging between the country and the United States, which is currently Canada’s most important export partner.

As an aspiring online retailer or an already established one, you need to stay ahead of the competition and make your online store more convenient for the LaTam market.

Things to consider when selling in Latin America

As said, Latin America has its own specificities. The fact that it is comprised of over 40 countries gives an idea of how diverse it is. With the exception of Brazil, which speaks Portuguese, the majority of countries speak Spanish. Currencies also differ. So, a multi-language website, that displays prices in local currency is a must. Payment methods are another particularity.

Whether you are targeting Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, or any other country in Latin America, you must understand all these differences and put together the best sales strategy.

Here are some significant things that you need to know and that you can do to enhance your Shopify online store in order to increase sales in Latin America, considering all its specificities:

Offer a multi-language website to navigate in

Having a multi-language online store will unlock new opportunities to your ecommerce business while helping you build trust in the Latin American market. A multilingual website allows you to provide an enhanced user experience for customers in the region, talking to them in the languages they are comfortable with. A multi-language ecommerce website will also help you improve your visibility and attract more customers.

Sometimes, adding full multilingual support adds immense complexity to your regular online store. This is why Shopify has developed language apps and themes that can make the process easier and smoother.

Here are some of the best multilingual apps available for Shopify:

Langify App
Panda Language Translate
EBANX Shopify App – Mixtore
LangShop App
Multi Lingo App
Weglot Translate

Each app has its own features, charges, and specialties. So, choose the most suitable one for your ecommerce store and reach the Latin American ecommerce market with ease.

Display multi-currency prices

User experience is highly valuable in ecommerce stores. One single click can drive potential customers away. Product prices shown in a currency other than your customer’s means that they will have to calculate how much the amount represents in their local currency. The whole process can scare visitors off, since they won’t be able to instantly determine if a purchase fits into their budget or not – estimates don’t always come easily since exchange rates can fluctuate a lot. This uncertainty will eventually increase cart abandonment rate.

If you are planning to target Latin America, you really need to display prices in local currencies: in Real (BRL) in Brazil, Mexican Peso (MXN) in Mexico, Argentinian Peso (ARS) in Argentina, Colombian Peso (COP) in Colombia, and so on.

Shopify allows you to display your products in different currencies with the help of multi-currency converter apps. Here are some of the best ones:

BEST Currency Converter
Auto Currency Switcher
Coin
Currency Converter Plus

Before you choose any app, it is recommended to do some research and choose the best one according to your needs and specifications.

Provide payment options with which people are used to

When it comes to selling efficiently in Latin America, you need to consider local payment methods as well. Even when buying online, Latin Americans often like to pay with offline payment methods, such as cash vouchers, which are very popular in the region. When you consider that 49 percent of the Latin American adult population is unbanked, and has no access to financial products such as a credit card whatsoever, it is possible to understand the immense importance of cash payment options in the region.

Brazilians, for instance, use a voucher payment method called Boleto Bancário to pay from utility bills such as water and electricity to online purchases, either by going to an authorized place to pay it with cash, or by using internet banking. People from all around Mexico know, trust and use the OXXO voucher, which allows them to pay for online purchases at a convenience store, using cash.

Domestic credit and debit cards, that cannot process foreign currencies, are also used by many Latin Americans.

However, shopping transactions outside the region can make payment processing more complicated. Authorization rates decline with various bank requirements and processes with direct credit and debit card payments. Using international payment gateways can resolve this problem.

Latin Americans also pay through international payment gateways for online shopping and other digital transactions. International payment processors enable Canadian merchants to accept preferred payment methods without maintaining a relationship with financial institutions. They support e-commerce retail brands to boost sales by eliminating payment barriers for international shopping transactions.

With international payment gateways, Shopify store owners can scale quickly as they can accept local payment methods, collect taxes, and comply with domestic transaction laws. This seamless payment processing entices new customers and increases your store’s referral rate with the help of your existing customers.

By implementing multiple payment methods to your Shopify store, you will be able to reach all customers, including the ones that do not have an international credit card and the ones that simply prefer to pay with local payment methods. This will boost your online store’s conversion rates while winning consumers’ trust.

Mixtore powered by EBANX is a solution that allows Shopify online stores to offer Latin American local payment methods, making sale rates rise. Merchants that added the Mixtore local payment gateway in Brazil, for instance, experienced a sales growth of up to 3,000 percent in the country, by offering payment options such as Boleto Bancário for their Brazilian customers.

Shopify provides other third-party payment gateway integrations. Before you start selling in LaTam, discover the most suitable ones for your targeted audience.

Other Shopify hacks that will improve your conversions

Undoubtedly, Shopify is one of the best ecommerce platforms which allow to display multiple languages, currencies, and offer multiple local payments. It can help you put together a professionally-developed global online store. But, there are other hacks that can also help you establish your online store as a winner in the LaTam ecommerce market.

Here are some of the highly-recommended Shopify apps which must be considered by every Canadian merchant:

● Plug in SEO

Several approaches can help you drive traffic to your online store, but one of the best and long-term strategies by far is SEO (Search Engine Optimization). A well-planned SEO strategy can help your ecommerce website to be on top of the results of search engines such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo.

Plug in SEO is a widely-preferred Shopify app which works like a practical assistant, providing verdicts about what you can do to optimize your website for search engines. You can download and try this app for free for 14 days.

● Outfy

Outfy will help you promote your products to over 14 social media platforms from a single place. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest are some of these social media. It also allows you to schedule your posts in advance and get all the insights about the traffic and conversions, increasing your productivity.

● Tidio Live Chat

When you are dealing with multiple countries, you need to be available 24/7 to answer customer queries. Tidio Live Chat works like a window in your ecommerce page, providing a channel to communicate fast with your customers. You can also connect it to your mobile phone to quickly respond to your online buyers from anywhere and anytime.

● Oberlo

Oberlo allows you to add dropshipped products to your online store and ship them directly to your buyers. The app is specially designed for startups who work with importation and dropshipping. So, you can easily deal with Latin America and improve your ecommerce business without sourcing the products. Oberlo also makes it easy to track your orders while automating order management.

Wrapping it all up, a multi-language website coupled with multi-currency prices and multiple payment gateways, great chat support and other exciting features can help enhance your Shopify online store. Hopefully, all those tips mentioned above will contribute to your global sales strategy and increase sales in Latin America.

Nicholas Ghitti is a sales and payments specialist with deep knowledge and proven track record on the Latin American market. He already developed and managed inside sales strategies for great Latin American tech companies, besides being a mentor for startups at InovAtiva Brasil. Ghitti is the head of Inside Sales at EBANX, a global fintech headquartered in Brazil that helps international merchants to increase online sales to the Latin American ecommerce market, by offering end-to-end Latin American local payment solutions. EBANX also provides marketing consultancy to its merchants and a 24/7 local customer support team, ready to answer all questions of its merchants’ clients – in their own language. Differentiations like these elevate EBANX to a complete market entry solution.

Canadian Retailers Prepare for Monday’s Amazon Prime Day

By

Craig Patterson

-

July 12, 2018

attachment-5b47be562b6a2852130fc0a9 — exc-5b47be562b6a2852130fc0a9

The phenomena known as Amazon Prime Day starts next Monday, with the promise to drive considerable sales to participating small and medium-sized retailers. Some will see such high sales numbers that the 36-hour Prime Day is being compared to the Christmas rush that is typically seen in November and December and for some retailers, Prime Day’s sales surpass those of the traditional winter Holiday Season.

Prime Day 2018 starts on Monday, July 16 at 12 pm PT/3 p.m. ET, and customers can shop the deals from businesses selling on Amazon at amazon.ca/primeday.

“Prime Day helps small and medium businesses reach more than 100 million paid Prime members around the world, and provides an opportunity for the smallest of businesses to sell right alongside the biggest household brands,” said Nicholas Denissen, VP Marketplace Business, Amazon. “In fact, Prime members ordered more than 40 million items from small and medium-sized businesses during Prime Day 2017, generating record-breaking success for those entrepreneurs.”

The idea behind Prime is for Amazon to provide unlimited fast, free shipping to its members who pay an annual premium for the privilege. In Toronto and Vancouver, Prime members can get free same-day delivery. In six other Canadian cities, Amazon Prime entices with free two-day shipping. Globally, more than 100-million people globally are Amazon Prime members, who are able to use the platform to purchase products as well as entertainment. In Canada, that includes unlimited access to award-winning movies and TV episodes with Prime Video, access to over one-million songs on Prime Music, unlimited photo storage with Prime Photos, Twitch Prime, and early access to select Lightning Deals, among other benefits.

Last year on Amazon Prime Day 2017, thousands of small and medium-sized businesses saw more than $50,000 in sales. It’s a remarkable feat, considering that retail sales numbers in mid-July are typically unremarkable for most retailers.

Canadian retailers are embracing Prime Day as well, as Amazon continues to gain market share as it attracts more Canadian shoppers. Canada is a rapidly growing market for Amazon Prime subscribers, especially as the annual Prime membership fee in Canada remained the same ($79) while at the same time it was raised in the United States over the spring.

“We take part in Prime Day every year, and every year proves to be more successful than the last. Prime Day has not only been our highest grossing sales day, but it has also resulted in a strong repeat customer base by exposing our high-quality Canadian products to customers who were not aware of our brand,” said Baber Khimani, head of Blackstone Naturals from Mississauga. Mr. Khimani’s company retails natural skin care and aromatherapy products and is offering up to 40% off selected Argan, Moroccan and Beard Oils from its own brand.

Mr. Kimani’s comments are reflective of a potential shift in online retail from the typically busier pre-winter holiday season, where many retailers make the bulk of their sales. Other retailers share similar stories.

“Prime Day is an incredible opportunity for us to reach new customers that are interested in our products. The sales increase we see on Prime Day tops any other sale our business participates in. It’s our favourite day of the year!” said James Edwards, President of Spektrum Glasses in Vancouver. Again, it would appear that Amazon Prime Day has become an incredibly important part of this independent retailer’s business where in years past, July would generally have been an average month. Spektrum Glasses creates computer glasses that reflect blue light away from the lens and relieve long-term eye strain caused by excessive electronic device use — probably something many of us might consider investing in and during Prime Day, the company is offering up to 32% off selected computer glasses.

Retailers Canada-wide are optimistic that Amazon Prime Day will be a huge success — even those who are still relatively new to the game. “Prime Day is an amazing day! Last year we sold more than 10 times what we do on an average day in less than three hours. I remember refreshing my phone last year and seeing the number skyrocketing, it was so exciting! This is our second Prime Day and we will be offering more products to our customers this year,” said Tao Guo, head of Little Bot Inc. from Toronto. The retailer, known for its fun and trendy baby items made from safe non-toxic products, is offering up to 32% off during Prime Day.

One of the goals of Prime Day, as well, is to obtain new customers that might otherwise not have bought from the company in the past. “Prime Day is a celebration of Amazon offering amazing deals to customers and driving strong sales for small businesses. As a small business, it’s an incredible opportunity to easily reach tens of thousands of new customers. We highly recommend participating in Prime Day,” said Kevin Pasco, co-Founder and CMO at Nested Naturals from Vancouver. Known for its natural supplements, Nested Naturals is offering up to 23% off selected vegan capsules and sleep aid tablets from their own brand.

The team from Nested Naturals pose for a photo at the corner of West Hastings Street and Hornby Street in Downtown Vancouver

Increased sales and new customers are expected by Montreal-based GoWood, with company representative Tania Brassard saying, “The visibility and success we have on Prime Day is incomparable. Not only do we get a massive boost of sales, but also huge exposure to new clients. We’re sure this year won’t be any different.” Her company is known for its wood sunglasses and wood phone cases, made from bamboo and/or wood materials that are recycled or planted for production. During Amazon Prime Day, GoWood is offering up to 20% off selected wood glasses and phone cases.

It will be interesting to see the results of 2018’s Amazon Prime Day in Canada, as retailers are increasingly relying on the brief event to drive sales to their online stores. The Canadian retail industry is seeing considerable disruption from all directions, with online retail continuing to see considerable gains when compared to brick-and-mortar retail growth. Nevertheless, more than 90% of all retail sales are done in physical stores but as platforms such as Amazon continue to make inroads and create consumer habits, online will continue to see an increasing share in Canadian consumer dollars.

Retail InsiderCanada's Most-Read Online Retail Industry Publication.

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