MINDSET Brain Gym Opens Inaugural Location and Embarks on Aggressive Growth Strategy

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July 24, 2018

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A new type of gym has opened its doors in Toronto – one that exercises your brain rather than your body. The new concept, called MINDSET Brain Gym, provides meditation classes for busy urban dwellers. And with meditation rapidly growing in popularity, MINDSET is poised to expand quickly to other cities.

MINDSET offers a variety of drop-in meditation classes in an environment that’s designed to serve as a relaxing oasis in the city. MINDSET also offers a carefully curated selection of meditation-related items available for purchase.

Sean Finnell, co-founder of MINDSET Brain Gym, says he came up with the idea for the concept a couple of years ago, when he personally discovered meditation.

“I felt like my attention was constantly being pulled in a thousand different directions, and when searching for a way to strengthen my own concentration and focus, I discovered the power of a regular mindfulness meditation practice,” Finnell says. “Meditation is the single best exercise you can use to improve your mental performance and overall well-being, and I wanted to create a space that made the practice accessible, attractive, and convenient for everyone – particularly those that don’t already regularly meditate.”

MINDSET offers numerous types of classes, including ones focused on fostering performance, resilience, recharging and sleep, as well as a beginner class called Meditation 101. Each class includes 30 minutes of teaching and guided meditation, followed by an optional 15 minutes of discussion and reflection. The classes have capacity for up to 21 students per class.

For individuals who prefer private meditation, MINDSET also provides a zero-gravity “Stillness Pod,” featuring guided meditation through audio recordings.

The studio also offers brainwave-sensing technology, so that students can see how much their minds have wandered during sessions and track their progress over time. “That will appeal to the skeptical and highly-rational individuals that I believe have the most to gain from a regular meditation practice,” Finnell says.

The inaugural studio, located at 62 Cumberland Street in Toronto’s upscale Yorkville neighbourhood, is 2,600 square feet in size. Yorkville was an ideal location, Finnell says, given its proximity to both residential dwellings and office towers. A key target market for MINDSET is the corporate “Bay Street” crowd who, Finnell admits, have thus far been largely resistant to mindfulness and meditation. He says that segment of the population – along with athletes and individuals in other types of high-pressure roles – could benefit considerably from improvements in concentration, decision-making, stress levels and the ability to perform under pressure, which can result from practicing meditation.

The studio features cozy living spaces where customers can spend time before and after classes, as well as a “Brain Bar” with complimentary kombucha and green tea.

“Of our 2,600-square-foot studio, about 60% is dedicated to these living and lounge areas that really make our clients feel right at home the moment they walk in and help foster a community of like-minded individuals,” Finnell says.

The classroom, meanwhile, aims to immerse students in an even higher level of relaxation. It features custom ergonomic seating designed to enable optimal meditation positions.

“Every element has been curated for an optimal, multi-sensory meditation experience – from our light wall that bathes you in calming waves of blue to the surround sound rainfall soundscape and our custom blend of diffused essential oils,” Finnell says. “It’s a truly one-of-a-kind space.”

MINDSET’s retail offerings include a meditation journal, a carefully curated book selection and meditation accessories. In the coming months, the company will also be rolling out its own collection of apparel, essential oils and tea blends.

Finnell anticipates very strong demand for the meditation classes and services offered by MINDSET.

“We’re living in this increasingly stressed out and over-stimulated society where everything is competing for a piece of your attention, and people are more conscious than ever about their own mental well-being and health,” he says. “We’re at a point where I think everyone is at least peripherally aware of the scientific benefits of meditation, so we’re planning to ride this wave of curiosity and provide a space that will get a lot of skeptical individuals taking a second look at the practice and start to see some serious benefits from it.”

MINDSET’s second Toronto location is already in the works, with plans to open in late 2018 or early 2019, and more studios in major U.S. cities are likely to follow. Regions under consideration include Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, the Bay Area and New York, according to Finnell.

“Many of these markets already have seen dedicated meditation studios pop up over the past couple of years,” he says, “but we’re bringing our unique performance-oriented spin with us and really aiming to grow the overall market of individuals making meditation and mental fitness a part of their overall healthy lifestyles.”

Finnell hopes to have 10 locations up and running in 2020. “We’ve built this business from the ground up to be highly scalable – from our curriculum and training to our technological integration – and I believe we can realistically achieve that target,” he says.

Editor’s note: MINDSET Brain Gym is represented by Graham Smith of Cushman & Wakefield.

2018 Could Break Records for Number of International Retailers Entering Canada

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Craig Patterson

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July 23, 2018

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By Craig Patterson

Last year was a record breaker in terms of the number of international retailers that entered Canada by opening stores, and 2018 could see even more as we look towards the next six months. There’s no ‘retail apocalypse’ in Canada as is being claimed by some in the United States, though the dynamics are changing and some markets are more challenging than others. Homegrown retailers and those already doing business in Canada will feel the effects of ever-increasing competition for limited consumer dollars.

In 2017, we tallied more than 50 international retailers that entered Canada by opening stores, which was an unexpected find considering that we had expected a slowdown from years prior. We’ve been tracking retailers in the country over the past several years and in 2016, we thought we’d seen a lot when we mapped out 21 new international retailers and in 2015, when we counted 28 of them. Our tally doesn’t generally include restaurant concepts, for the most part, so we wouldn’t count concepts such as Chik Fil A, which is said to be launching its Canadian expansion through southern Ontario.

Since January of this year, we’ve reported on more than 30 retail concepts that have either already opened stores in Canada, or will be entering the country some time this year. Although we do our best to keep on top of what’s happening, some retailers have surprised us by quietly entering the market either on their own or in some cases through a host such as at an airport. The range of new openings range from value-priced Nordstrom Rack to luxury stores such as Chloé and Bottega Veneta. Some brands enter Canada with just one location to start — Atelier Cologne is an example — while others, such as Laline, have revealed an entry with seven locations set to open in Ontario this year.

Our list also doesn’t include some brands that are said to be seeking out space in Canada — Furla and Ray Ban come to mind, with both brands looking to enter the Canadian market by opening retail stores. Others, such as Alfred Dunhill are said to be eyeing the market while others, such as Sweden’s Lindex, are seeking local partners prior to initiating any Canadian expansion plans.

SOIA & KYO will open its first store this fall at Square One in Mississauga.

Furthermore, Canada is seeing several first-ever retail concepts come into the market. Some of these are homegrown and interestingly, several are international. Canadian brands opening stores include the likes of SOIA & KYO, which will open its first standalone store at Mississauga’s Square One this fall, not to mention accessory retailer Suzi Roher which is opening on Toronto’s Queen Street West this week, and Edmonton’s EMMYDEVEAU brand which entrepreneur Emily Salsbury-Derveaux is looking to take national. An example of an international brand opening its first-ever store in Canada is DSW Shoes-owned sneaker concept GRAIL, which opened recently on Vancouver’s tony South-Granville strip.

Mike Kehoe, Calgary-based founder/broker at Fairfield Commercial Real Estate, says that he’s hearing that 2018 could set records in Canada in terms of the number of new entrants coming into the country. Mr. Kehoe is an Ambassador with ICSC and says that this is a point of discussion amongst those involved with the organization, including at the recently held ReCon conference in Las Vegas.

While brokers have traditionally been the ones to work with new brands coming into Canada, a couple of major shopping centre landlords are now also going directly to international brands to entice them to enter the Canadian market. Several of the recent deals for first-to-market retailers at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre, for example, were negotiated by Oxford Properties directly with the retailer.

Yorkdale, in fact, remains the single most significant entry point for international retailers looking to get a foothold in Canada, as it has been for the past several years. A recent CBRE report noted that of the 40 retailers it had identified as having entered the Toronto market with first-to-Canada locations, 14 of them were via Yorkdale. So far in 2018, Retail Insider has identified eight international retailers, all considered to be luxury brands, which have either already opened their first Canadian stores in the centre, or will before the end of this year in the mall.

One interesting trend we’re noticing, as well, is the continued popularity of some urban street-front locations for international retailers that are opening their first stores. Toronto’s Queen Street West has been the entry point for several first-to-Canada stores this year. Vancouver’s Alberni Street ‘Luxury Zone’ also remains an important address for brands looking to make the leap into Canada.

At the end of 2018, we’ll do another tally to see if this year was another record breaker. As well, we’ll create a list of these retailers, as we have for the past several years, as we continue to track international movements within the Canadian retail industry.

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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Mobil Nears Completion of Rebranding 200 Loblaw Gas Stations

By

Mario Toneguzzi

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July 23, 2018

By the end of this year, more than 200 former Loblaw gas stations will be re-branded to the iconic Mobil brand.

In July 2017, Brookfield Business Partners purchased 213 retail gas stations across Canada from Loblaw Companies Limited for about $540 million.

The acquisition included associated convenience kiosks adjacent to Loblaw-owned grocery stores across the country.

Yan Cote, retail fuels manager for Imperial Oil, said an agreement with Brookfield to rebrand those stations to Mobil marked the introduction of the fuel retail brand into Canada.

“About a year ago in August of 2017, we branded the initial four locations. We applied the Mobil brand treatment and began selling the Synergy fuel which is a fuel that has our proprietary additive in it that helps improve fuel economy and performance,” said Cote.

“Since that time we’ve been re-branding the sites and we expect to have all of them done by the end of this year.”

He said the stores are in every province with the exception of Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island. There are more in Western Canada but the footprint is national.

“They’re located where you would typically find large Loblaw locations that can accommodate a fuel site – where Loblaw historically found it attractive to put a fuel offer in,” said Cote. “Loblaw had started putting them in in the 1980s.

“To be clear, the sites are owned by Brookfield . . . and the initial value we’re bringing to it is we’re bringing the value of the Mobil brand. The Mobil brand is a brand that stands for kind of innovation, product quality, technology leadership. It’s very visible in motor racing. And there’s 10,000 Mobil branded stations globally. We’re excited to bring that brand to Canada.”

He said Mobil branded stations are alluring and more appealing to customers to draw them to the places of business.

Cote said Mobil has been in Canada for awhile on the lubricant side of the business and has a strong presence in that area.

But from the retail fuel perspective, this is the entry of the brand into the market.

“The brand will be made available to dealers. We do have intentions of seeing the brand grow both on Loblaw property and off Loblaw property,” said Cote. “That’s part of the reason we introduced the brand. It enables Imperial to grow. And we see the Esso and the Mobil brands as being highly complementary. We would expect to see substantial growth both on and off Loblaw property over time.”

The brand has instant global recognition for a number of reasons including its affiliation with Formula One auto racing. It also has relationships with car manufacturers such as Porsche.

“In the minds of consumers some of the things we hear are it’s perceived as a global brand. It’s perceived as a brand that stands for technology leadership. And for us to enter the market in this way it kind of bolsters that view of Imperial being innovative in the way it goes to market. Those are some of the things that consumers have told us about that brand,” added Cote.

Study Ranks Canada’s Most Trusted Retailers, and One Dominates

By

Craig Patterson

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July 23, 2018

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Market research firm BrandSpark International recently surveyed more than 5,000 Canadian consumers and asked them which retailers they trusted the most in major retail categories in e-commerce and brick & mortar. Some traditional retailers made the list as expected, but it was Amazon’s dominance in the study’s e-commerce categories that might have some retailers concerned.

“The BrandSpark Most Trusted Awards program gives shoppers a chance to understand which retailers are trusted by other Canadians. This allows everyone to make better purchase decisions because being trusted is the greatest indicator of which retailers are delivering the most value and best experience to consumers,” said Robert Levy, President of BrandSpark International. “These endorsements are especially useful for shoppers who don’t regularly shop the category – particularly in e-commerce where many shoppers are still learning where the most trusted places are to shop online.”

BrandSpark surveyed more than 5,000 respondents online to determine what retailers were most trustworthy, using “top of mind” unaided responses. Results were ranked based on the greatest volume of mentions — and if the difference between retailers nationally was less than three percent, ties were declared, says BrandSpark

Ikea, The Home Depot, and Shell secured top rankings in Home Furniture, Major Home Appliances, and Gas Station categories — BrandSpark says that changes in the retail landscape have altered consumer trust in this sector.

The study ranked e-commerce retailers utilizing its methodology, and there were some interesting findings. About 41% of Canadian respondents said that they plan to do more shopping online this year (only 5% said they’d do less). Hot on the heels of last week’s Amazon Prime Day, which saw record-breaking sales numbers for the 36-hour period, BrandSpark noted that “In November 2016, 11% of the Canadian population had an Amazon Prime membership. As of last month, that number had risen to 1 in 4 Canadians, even before the bulk of Amazon’s 2018 Prime Day communication. In comparison, over 50% of households in the United States hold a Prime membership, which may be a sign of where things are heading for Amazon in Canada.”

According to the BrandSpark research, the three main reasons consumers shop online are lower prices, convenience and selection. Amazon won 13 of 26 e-commerce categories in the study, as ranked in the chart below.

In the e-commerce category, several specialized retailers also ranked highly in the study. Those retailers include Best Buy, Sephora, PetSmart, and The Home Depot, all of which are examples of traditional brick & mortar stores that have successfully built an omni-channel presence. “If other retailers want to catch up with Amazon in their category, they need to stay top-of-mind as their customers move online, and deliver the online browsing experience, selection, value, and service required to be shoppers’ go-to destination in the category,” said Mr. Levy.

BrandSpark notes that following the demise of Sears Canada, The Home Depot has been successful by going from the third Most Trusted Major Appliance Retailer to the number one within this category. As well, Ikea jumped from third place in the Furniture category to now being tied with two long-standing Canadian brands — The Brick and Leon’s. BrandSpark says that Ikea’s growth in trust-ranking can be attributed to the retailer’s “ability to stay ahead of emerging style trends while maintaining reasonable prices, two things that savvy millennial shoppers seek out in a brand”.

In the Gas Station category, Shell moved up the ranking to tie with last year’s winner, Petro-Canada. BrandSpark notes that Shell is a foreign company based in the Netherlands and has managed to gain a share in a category that has been dominated by well-established Canadian brands. About half of the most trusted general retailers in Canada are Canadian companies, according to BrandSpark, which is down about 10% from last year. This is indicative of the growing strength of international brick & mortar retail brands in Canada, which is only expected to increase as Canada sees a record number of international retailers enter the country by opening both physical as well as online stores.

Below is this year’s category rankings for brick & mortar retailers:

“Canadians say their trust in a brand is greatly increased by personal experience, responsiveness, transparency, fair pricing, and the endorsements of other consumers,” said Mr. Levy. When it comes to serious issues, the BrandSpark Canadian Shopper Study shows that it is important that a brand respond quickly. About 73% of consumers surveyed said a speedy response greatly increased their trust in a brand. Transparency is also important — according to the study, 56% of respondents agree that brands that provide detailed information about their product or service earn trust, with 49% of respondents saying trust is built when they see unfiltered customer reviews on a brand’s website.

Online reviews are more important than ever — a majority of respondents said that they now seek reviews to support their purchase decisions, and they read both positive and negative reviews to get a more complete picture. Furthermore, without this information, many respondents said that they would not complete a transaction. About 85% of respondents stated that their trust in a brand increases if the brand has won awards based on the feedback of consumers and furthermore, pricing also influences trust, with consistent and competitive pricing said to be more likely to be perceived as “fair and honest”.

BrandSpark also conducts research for its ‘Most Trusted awards’ in over 150 consumer product categories and services. All of the winners can be found at www.BrandSparkMostTrusted.com.

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La Maison Simons Announces 1st Strategic Acquisition

By

Craig Patterson

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July 21, 2018

Quebec City-based large-format fashion retailer La Maison Simons has made its first strategic acquisition in its 178-year history. Last week the company bought Rituels, a Quebec City-based company specializing in traditional shaving and grooming products and accessories for men. It’s part of a trend where large retailers are buying brands to create synergies while also broadening assortment and obtaining exclusives.

Rituals was founded in Quebec City in 2011, and operates a storefront in the city’s Petit Champlain quarter as well as e-commerce site Rituels.ca. Over the next few months, Rituel’s line of shampoos, soaps, shave oils and shaving creams distributed by Rituels will be phased in both at Simons stores as well as on Simons’ expansive e-commerce site.

“Our companies target similar market segments, but from two different but perfectly complementary angles. It is therefore a natural association and one I’m really pleased to be entering into today,” said Peter Simons, CEO of La Maison Simons.

“This partnership will provide the Rituels brand with access to a new and previously inaccessible customer base and enable it to grow more rapidly than ever before,” said the founding president of Rituels.ca Michael Carpentier, who will continue to manage the brand as a member of the Simons team.

In January of this year, Mr. Carpentier wrote a blog post suggesting that Simons integrate growing e-retailers into its digital development strategy. Peter Simons saw the post and it got the ball rolling and in the end, the partnership was struck. “Michael will use his leadership and e-commerce expertise at Simons, specifically for converting our former distribution centre into an accelerator for creators and small and medium-sized businesses,” said Peter Simons.

Simons is in a period of significant change — the company recently announced that for the first time, it 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 its rapidly growing e-commerce business. Online sales now account for about 20% of Simons’ business, 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.

There are plenty of examples of retailers acquiring other brands to expand their operations — one of the biggest examples in recent memory was Amazon acquiring Whole Foods. Closer to home and on a smaller scale, another example of a family-owned business expanding its business through strategic acquisition is Harry Rosen, which now has a stake in David’s Footwear, which is being positioned at the priciest footwear chain in the country with plans for about 20-stores. Expanding into footwear, particularly women’s footwear, was a compelling move for Rosen’s — in a recent interview with CEO Larry Rosen, he revealed that his company could look to acquire a high-end women’s fashion retailer in Canada, even one operating just one store, in order to expand it nationally in order to capture market share in both men’s and women’s categories.

It will be interesting to watch La Maison Simons’ progression over the next several years. The company has grown more in the past five years than at any time in its history at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars. Simons opened its first store outside of the province of Quebec at West Edmonton Mall in 2012, and the retailer now boasts 15 large-format stores in British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec and Ontario (almost doubling its store count in a relatively short time). Simons also recently expanded its footwear offerings for the first time by opening dedicated men’s and women’s shoe departments in some of its stores, signalling a shift at a time when there is unprecedented competition in Canada’s retail industry. Simons is bullish on environmental initiatives and is investing in making its stores eco-friendly, and the company also invests heavily into artwork that can be found in each of its stores. Being privately owned allows for such things, according to Mr. Simons, though one questions if outside investment and expansion will change that at some point.

Upscale Aussie Furniture Retailer ‘King Living’ to Enter Canada with 1st Store

By

Craig Patterson

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July 20, 2018

King Living Showroom — Australian furniture retailer King Living

Upscale Australian furniture retailer King Living will open its first Canadian store in Vancouver’s tony ’South Granville’ shopping district this year. The two-level store will join other pricey retailers in the area, known to serve Vancouver’s affluent West Side. It’s the latest international brand to enter the Canadian market by opening retail stores.

King Living was founded in 1977 in Sydney, Australia, and is known for its high-quality and well-designed contemporary leather and fabric sofas as well as dining furniture, bedroom, storage and outdoor furniture. King Living sofas are known to feature steel frames and ‘comfort seat suspension’. The company got started making foam furniture and soon after, it introduced removable covers that would allow sofas to be easily refreshed with a new look. In 1987 King Living released the Postureflex® Seating System, which is similar to the suspension used in luxury European cars such as Porsche and Rolls Royce.

The company has won multiple awards — in 2016, for example, it won the Sydney Hills Business Award, and in 2005 it was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show by famous designer Nate Berkus.

INSIDE THE SINGAPORE SHOWROOM. PHOTO: KING LIVING

King Living’s prices aren’t cheap — many items are in the thousands of dollars, positioning King Living as a premium furniture retailer not unlike some found in Vancouver’s rapidly gentrifying Gastown area.

The company currently operates 18 stores globally, with 15 of those being in Australia as well as single locations in Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore. Canada will become the brand’s fourth international market in terms of operating standalone stores.

In Vancouver, King Living leased the entire building at 3057 Granville Street, which is at the northwest corner of Granville Street and W 15 Avenue. The building formerly housed another furniture retailer. According to marketing materials, 3057 Granville Street spans 10,610 square feet, with 5,392 square feet on the ground floor as well as 5,218 square feet in its basement. CBRE Vancouver listed the property with Mario Negris and Martin Moriarty acting on behalf of the landlord in the deal with King Living.

King Living’s location will place it within close proximity to some of Vancouver’s wealthiest neighbourhoods, where home prices can exceed $20-million. The wealthy Shaughnessy neighbourhood is a block south of the new King Living store, with Dunbar, Kerrisdale, and Point Grey being a bit further away. The entire West Side of Vancouver is now considered to be a prestigious residential address, with the benchmark price for a detached home exceeding a whopping $3.4-million.

Other area retailers cater to affluent locals, with nearby store locations for brands such as Max Mara, Le Creuset, and Boboli, and this fall luxury children’s brand Bonpoint will debut its first store in Canada nearby on West 14th Avenue.

International retailers continue to descend on Canada by opening stores at a rapid pace. In 2017, more than 50 brands entered Canada by opening physical retail stores, which was then a record. Next week we’ll provide a half-year summary which indicates that 2018 could even surpass 2017’s numbers, which further puts pressure on homegrown retailers as well as other international entrants.

La Maison Simons to Expand St. Bruno Store

By

Craig Patterson

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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.