Square One Reaches $1 Billion Milestone

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May 19, 2017

Mississauga’s Square One shopping centre has achieved $1 billion in annual retail sales for the first time, and it’s only the second Canadian mall to reach such a milestone. The mall has recently seen renovations to its common areas as well as the addition of new retailers, not to mention a recent expansion that added a luxury wing that is anchored by a 130,000 square foot Holt Renfrew.

The 2.2 million square foot Square One is one of the largest malls in Canada, and also one of the highest selling per square foot, according to Retail Council of Canada’s Shopping Centre Study. Square One now boasts sales in excess of $1,000 per square foot annually, which isn’t surprising — the mall is also one of the country’s busiest, with over 24 million annual visitors.

“This incredible sales milestone echoes our mission to create a connected and thriving city centre that inspires our community, maximizes the infinite opportunities of our city and resonates beyond our boundaries,” says Greg Taylor, Director and General Manager, Square One. “With unprecedented redevelopment, along with the arrival of highly coveted brands to Square One, we will continue to be a passionate and genuine partner in creating and driving positive growth and development in Mississauga’s downtown core. This milestone heralds a new era for Square One as a world-class destination for fashion, lifestyle and entertainment.”

Shoppers are attracted by the vast assortment of stores in the mall, which continues to grow as the mall continues its transformation. Mr. Taylor noted that landlords Oxford Properties Group and Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo) have invested over $500 million into the centre over the past several years. Common areas have been renovated, including enhanced lighting and limestone flooring that is consistent throughout the centre. The elevated ‘Food Central’ food hall debuted in August of 2013, and a north expansion of the mall opened September of 2014. In November of 2015, Sport Chek opened a 75,000 square foot flagship in part of the mall’s former Sears space, while preparations were underway for the opening of a new major anchor tenant.

In the spring of 2016, Quebec-based fashion retailer La Maison Simons opened a beautiful figure3 designed 113,000 square foot location in the mall, which is a first for the retailer in the Greater Toronto Area, as well as for Ontario. Simons occupies much of the mall’s former Sears location, with Sport Chek occupying the rest.

In July of 2016, the mall unveiled its impressive luxury wing, featuring soaring ceilings, ample natural light, and a roster of leading retailers that include Salvatore Ferragamo, Harry Rosen, Kate Spade, Rolex and Wolford. Holt Renfrew anchors the new wing in with its 130,000 square foot store — the impressive space features soaring ceilings, ample use of marble, and a roster of luxury brands that were never before available in Mississauga (including concessions for Gucci, Tiffany & Co., Moncler, Links of London and others).

Luxury Wing at Square One Shopping Centre

TIFFANY & CO. CONCESSION AT HOLT RENFREW SQUARE ONE

Mr. Taylor explained how Mississauga is booming, and how Square One is shaping up to be the heart of the city’s expanding downtown. Mississauga’s population continues to grow rapidly — now with over 750,000 residents, the city is projected to grow to 812,000 by the year 2031. Square One’s catchment area extends beyond the city of Mississauga to include affluent communities such as Oakville and Burlington, and even some shoppers from western parts of Toronto.

Retailers continue to see success in the mall, noted Mr. Taylor, including large format retailers such as Zara and Urban Outfitters, as well as popular brands such as MUJI and Marc Cain. A number of brands not typically found in Canadian malls can be found at Square One, including Ben Sherman and Urban Decay.

Mr. Taylor indicated that there will be a number of exciting announcements to be made for the mall in the next while, as the landlord continues to invest in the centre. Aritzia’s current location is expanding to become a flagship for the brand, and Lululemon is also seeing renovations. This week, as well, The Rec Room announced that it would be opening a 44,000 square foot entertainment centre in part of the mall’s former Target space. More announcements will be made for Square One in the coming months, as the centre continues to solidify its presence as the most prominent mall in Mississauga and the surrounding area.

Canada’s first shopping centre to officially surpass the billion dollar mark was also an Oxford mall — in July of 2013, Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre announced that it was the first in Canada to achieve retail sales in excess of $1 billion. With a recent expansion and another on the way, Yorkdale could eventually see $2 billion in sales, making it one of the world’s top performers. It’s clear that Canadian shopping malls are not dead, and that those that continue to innovate will also continue to see success.

*Photos were supplied.

Mastermind Toys Announces Largest Expansion in 33 Year History

By

Craig Patterson

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May 18, 2017

Toronto-based Mastermind Toys has announced that it will open at least 11 stores in 2017, which is the most in the retailer’s 33 year history. The company is now Canada’s largest specialty toy and children’s books retailer, and it continues to seek out new markets as it sees tremendous success with its strategy of selling products that are also educational. Mastermind Toys also recently launched its new eCommerce site: www.mastermindtoys.com.

The company is booming and last month, it reached a milestone when it opened its 50th store location in Peterborough, Ontario. “It’s an exciting time for Mastermind as we celebrate the opening of our 50th Canadian store, a significant achievement for our business,” said Jon Levy, Chief Toy Merchant, CEO and Co-Founder, Mastermind Toys. “Growing our brand and increasing our store count in underserved communities is a top priority for Mastermind in 2017.”

Humphrey Kadaner, President and COO at Mastermind Toys, explained that even though the company is only announcing 11 stores this year, there could be more if sites are found and deals are done. The expansion will be particularly Atlantic Canada-heavy as well — the retailer will open a total of five stores in the Maritimes, where it currently has no stores. Mastermind currently operates in five provinces: Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

The 11 confirmed locations for 2017 (two are already open) include the following:

Lethbridge, AB (opened January 2017)
Peterborough, ON (50th store, opened April 2017)
Saint John, NB (Summer 2017)
Winnipeg, MB (Summer 2017)
Dartmouth, NS (Fall 2017)
Halifax, NS (Fall 2017)
Moncton, NB (Fall 2017)
Greater Edmonton Area, AB (St. Albert) (Fall 2017)
Ottawa, ON (Orleans) (Fall 2017)
Toronto, ON (Rosedale/Summerhill) (Fall 2017)
Fredericton, NB (Late Fall 2017)

“The demographic indicators and retail market potential in Atlantic Canada are very strong, and represent a major growth opportunity for our company,” said Mr. Levy. “We are confident consumers will embrace the Mastermind concept – a fun and engaging shopping destination offering the very best in specialty toys and children’s books, free-gift wrapping and a team of experienced in-store product experts.”

When we last interviewed Mr. Kadaner about two years ago, Mastermind Toy’s real estate strategy involved opening stores in highly educated, high income parts of the country. He explained that since then, the company has found tremendous success in various different markets and hence, Mastermind has expanded on its original goal store count — 75 was the target two years ago, and that’s now been amended to a projected 80+ locations nationwide by the year 2019. By the end of this year, Mastermind will operate at least 60 stores, with 1,100 employees and over 50,000 square feet added to its retail footprint.

Mr. Kadaner noted that in the fall of 2017, Mastermind Toys will open a location in one of the country’s wealthiest areas — Rosedale/Summerhill. Located at 1133 Yonge Street, the new store will serve adjacent neighbourhoods that also include affluent South Hill, Forest Hill and Deer Park, and it will also be steps away from the Summerhill TTC subway station.

Various other markets are expected to see Mastermind Toy stores, including Vancouver Island, the BC Interior, Northern Ontario, as well as more stores in existing markets in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The Vancouver area could also see more, though retail real estate can be challenging to secure in the expensive, densely populated region.

Mastermind Toys also just completed a revamp of its website www.mastermindtoys.com, featuring a fresh new look with bigger images, brighter colours, and simpler navigation, as well as an expanded product selection and a faster checkout. New features make it easier to search the product selection and find out about the latest store news and events. There’s also a convenient new Gift Finder tool to curate gift lists that can be saved and shared with family and friends. Customers can also buy gift cards (both physical and digital) in any denomination, redeem them, and check balances while on the site. This fall, the web initiative will be expanded further with the added capability of being able to search in-store inventory online in real time.

Mastermind Toys was founded in Toronto 1984 by brothers Andy and Jon Levy, who wanted to offer shoppers a classic toy store experience. Its first location measured only 300 square feet, selling children’s software and home computers. It carries thousands of educational toys, books, games, arts and crafts, puzzles and science kits. The Levy brothers partnered with Birch Hill Equity Partners in 2010, facilitating the company’s national expansion.

*Photos were supplied by Mastermind Toys.

Yorkdale’s CONCEPT Launches Unique 2nd Rotation

By

Craig Patterson

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May 18, 2017

Yorkdale Shopping Centre‘s unique in-mall multi-vendor rotating temporary retailer initiative, called CONCEPT, has re-launched as a fashion destination. When it debuted in April of this year, CONCEPT’s six initial tenants were all food-related. The second rotation features a mix of local fashion as well as a unique milkshake concept, and even tattoos.

Landlord Oxford Properties partnered with Toronto-based design firm figure3 on the new 3,600 square foot space, which was created with the intention of offering retailers a temporary place to showcase their wares. Retailers in CONCEPT change at regular intervals, providing brands exposure to consumers in Canada’s most productive mall.

Several of CONCEPT’s new tenants can be found on/near Toronto’s trendy Queen Street West, and their Yorkdale pop-ups will gain an expanded brand awareness to shoppers that might not otherwise frequent their street-front flagships. At the same time, Yorkdale is expanding its retail reach with brands that otherwise might not locate in ‘mainstream’ malls.

The new space is fun and worth a visit — a new paint job has the area taking on a whole new character, with new retail tenants that include Toronto-based Peace Collective, Bather, MARY YOUNG, HAYLEY ELSAESSER, HEIRKid, inkbox temporary tattoos, along with Peace Collective’s Peace Treats milkshakes and Lola’s Cloud organic gourmet cotton candy. Here’s a more in-depth description of each:

Peace Collective + Peace Treats: The Peace Collective brand is recognizable for its “Toronto vs. Everybody” clothing. The Yorkdale pop-up includes its new Blue Jays line, and every garment sold provides two healthy meals to a Canadian child in need through its Peace Foundation. Alongside its fashions is Peace Collective’s signature gourmet treat/milkshake bar called ‘Peace Treats’, which we expect will see lineups when it opens to the general public. Peace Collective’s freestanding store is on hip Ossington Street, north of Queen Street West.

Bather: The Toronto-based streetwear-inspired beachwear for men has released a range of exclusive pieces at CONCEPT. Bather works with various charities including 1% for the Planet (which aims to clean and protect the world’s oceans) and the Jays Care Foundation.

inkbox: The Toronto-based brand behind the world’s first ‘2-week tattoo’ provides the look & feel of traditional tattoos without the commitment, while using 100% organic ink. Approximately 100 of their top designs and signature freehand ink are available, and the tattoos can be applied by an inkbox expert or at home with their standard inkbox kit. A percentage of every sale goes to the Darién Initiative in Darién Gap, Panama which is home to the fruit source of the ink and ensures sustainability in harvesting the fruit while giving back to the Darién community.

HAYLEY ELSAESSER: The Toronto-based designer is recognized around the world for her colourful, pop-art inspired prints. Since launching in Australia in 2013, Ms. Elsaesser’s fashions have appeared on runways at Sydney, Melbourne, Toronto and New York fashion weeks, and have been worn by celebrities including Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry and Kat Von D. Her Yorkdale capsule features pieces from her spring/summer 2017 collection, inspired by the ‘90s version of Romeo & Juliet, as well as new unisex streetwear and accessories in her trademark vibrant prints. The company also has a freestanding store at 695 Queen Street West.

HEIRKid: The children’s brand was founded by Get Fresh Company Toronto (G.F.C) owners William Nguyen and Jebril Jalloh, who created a brand that would help fashionable parents dress their children in a similar fashion. Each garment has a fresh take on fit, feel and details with pieces designed, milled and manufactured locally. There are also some beautifully designed and high quality Canadian-made items from Get Fresh Company’s adult-sized line.

Lola’s Cloud: The organic cotton candy company uses organic cane sugar and natural extracts that are free of synthetic dyes and sucrose. They’re creating an exclusive Yorkdale flavour, featuring lemon and lavender with hints of edible gold. A Canada 150 maple flavour is also available to celebrate the sesquicentennial. Other unique cotton candy flavours include mimosa, hot peppers and dill pickle.

MARY YOUNG: The lifestyle lingerie and loungewear brand is ethically produced in Montreal, Quebec with garments designed to embrace the natural woman’s shape. The company is donating $3 dollars from every item sold at CONCEPT to Raw Beauty Talks, a non-profit society promoting the mental and physical health of girls and young women by increasing their self-confidence and cultivating positive body image.

Yorkdale Shopping Centre recently ranked as Canada’s most productive shopping centre in Retail Council of Canada’s first annual Canadian Shopping Centre Study. Yorkdale saw average annual sales of just over $1,650 per square foot for reporting retailers, excluding anchors. Luxury retailers play a key role in the mall’s productivity, with a significant percentage of the mall’s sales being at those stores.

Yorkdale continues to expand and add new retailers. In October of 2016, the mall unveiled its 300,000 square foot Nordstrom anchored expansion wing, which includes over 20 new retailers in a dramatic space boasting natural light and soaring ceiling heights. This year, Yorkdale will open a new westward expansion wing that will be anchored by RH (Restoration Hardware) and Sporting Life, and there will be a number of other exciting first-to-market retailers/concepts that will be announced for Yorkdale in the coming weeks.

APM Monaco to Open 1st Canadian Store

By

Craig Patterson

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May 17, 2017

Upscale Monaco-based jeweller APM Monaco will open its first Canadian boutique this summer, in Toronto. More locations are expected to follow, with Vancouver being on the brand’s radar as it reportedly seeks out more Canadian retail space.

Construction signage went up last week for the new APM Monaco Toronto store, which will be located at 89 Bloor Street West, across from Harry Rosen and Holt Renfrew Men. The narrow 1,700 square foot 89 Bloor retail space, which was most recently occupied by Roots Kids, sat vacant for a time between 2011 and 2013. Jordan Karp and Ryan Morein of Paracom Realty represented APM Monaco (for the Bloor deal as well as for its national rollout), and CBRE Downtown Toronto’s Arlin Markowitz, Alex Edmison and Jackson Turner acted on behalf of the landlord in a sublease deal involving Roots.

APM Monaco was founded in 1982 by Ariane Prette as a jewellery brand specializing in creating traditional gold, diamond and precious stone pieces for other jewellers. In 2011, the Prette family launched the new APM line (standing for Ariane Prette Monaco) that is made from 925 silver, 18-karat plated yellow and pink gold and cultured pearls from freshwater lakes, among other materials. Its products are handmade with their own manufacturer, to ensure consistency. Prices for pieces reportedly average about US $130, ranging between US $60 up to several thousand dollars for premium designs in gold.

Designs are “influenced by Monaco and the South of France,” according to the company, “with a touch of Monegasque flair”. Creative director Kika Prette (daughter-in- law of Ariane Prette) introduces a new collection each week, and produces 12 look books a year.

The company has over 130 stores worldwide, with 75 of those being in Asia (China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Macau) and Australia. The remainder are in Europe (France x 16, UK x 3 and one each in Monaco, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany and Italy), and it recently launched its US expansion with a location at Miami’s Brickell City Center. APM reportedly plans to open about 40 stores this year, with other north American locations that will include:

. Seattle: The Shops at The Bravern (July)
. Las Vegas: The Shoppes at The Palazzo (July)
. New York: 155 Spring St. (July)
. Toronto: 89 Bloor St. W. (July)
. Los Angeles: Beverly Center (October)
. Holonlulu: International Market Place (October)
. Boston: Copley Place (October/November)
. San Francisco – tbd
. Vancouver – tbd

Women’s Wear Daily recently reported that APM Monaco is looking for more store locations in North America, and that Vancouver is on its radar. Given that about 3/4 of APM Monaco’s stores are in Asia, brand recognition would make Vancouver a logical choice, given its current resident population and tourist patterns. APM Monaco also appears to seek out premium addresses for its stores — finding a location around Vancouver’s Alberni Street ‘Luxury Zone’ could end up being a challenge, given lack of available space and intense interest from various other brands looking to set up shop in the area.

Canadian Retail News From Around The Web: May 17, 2017

The Rec Room to Open in Former Target Space at Square One

By

Craig Patterson

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May 17, 2017

Cineplex-owned “eats & entertainment destination” The Rec Room has announced that it will open a 44,000 square foot two-level location at Mississauga’s Square One, in part of the mall’s retail space that was formerly occupied by Target. It’s addressing the trend of adding attractions to retail centres, and will be a welcome addition to burgeoning downtown Mississauga.

The Rec Room brings together multiple dining environments, amusement gaming, technology and live entertainment experiences in an auditorium-style space, all under one roof. Cineplex plans to open between 10-15 new Rec Room locations, each between 40,000 and 60,000 square feet, customized to the individual community. About half of the space is dedicated to dining and live entertainment, and half for amusement games and feature attractions.

The Rec Room at Square One will include:

Three10: an upscale casual restaurant, playfully named after Canada’s three territories and 10 provinces, featuring wood-fired pizza and Canadian-inspired cuisine,
The Shed: A quick service destination that includes a poutinerie with elevated toppings like porchetta, smoked brisket, lobster and wild mushrooms. It will also feature a custom donut bar, called ‘The Pumps’,
A bar area with large HD screens — Cineplex says there will also be multiple bars throughout the space serving draught wines and over 20 draught beers, including several local craft beers,
The Yard: A large attractions area with over 100 amusement games. Credits earned are tracked on RFID wristbands and can be redeemed at The Trophy Case redemption store for a wide variety of prizes, and top earners will be profiled on The Rec Room’s legendary leaderboard,
Feature attractions including virtual reality and race car simulators, as well as bowling lanes, air hockey, pool and ping pong,
Multiple performance spaces, including a state-of-the-art auditorium, and
Multiple private dining rooms.

“We are a passionate and genuine partner in creating and driving positive growth and development at Square One and in the Mississauga downtown core, which is why we are so pleased to be partnering with Cineplex on this exciting new venture that I know our guests will love,” said Greg Taylor, Director and General Manager at Square One. The Rec Room will occupy a portion of Square One’s former 164,000 square foot Target space, as per renderings in this article. Mr. Taylor described how downtown Mississauga is booming, and how Square One is at the heart of the burgeoning city. The Rec Room will also see traffic from nearby Sheridan College, not to mention thousands of new residential units that will be added to the immediate area in the coming years.

The Rec Room is also in line with landlord Oxford Properties’ initiative to roughly double the square footage of the food and beverage offerings in its centres. The Rec Room takes that to a whole new level, with an entertainment focus reminiscent of that offered at West Edmonton Mall.

Canada’s top shopping centres are now in the ‘entertainment industry’, adding non-retail amenities to attract and keep shoppers on site. It’s a trend discussed in Retail Council of Canada’s Shopping Centre Study which was released earlier this year. Square One ranked as one of Canada’s most productive malls in the study, with annual sales per square foot surpassing the $1,000 benchmark.

The Rec Room opened its very first location at Edmonton’s South Edmonton Common in the fall of 2016. It has announced that it will open future locations in downtown Toronto at Roundhouse Park, at West Edmonton Mall, at Deerfoot City in Calgary, and at CF Masonville Place in London. Yesterday, as well, Cineplex announced that it would open its first Rec Room in the BC Lower Mainland, at The Amazing Brentwood in Burnaby, east of Vancouver.

MUJI Announces Summer Metrotown Opening [Rendering/Floor Plan]

By

Craig Patterson

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May 16, 2017

Minimalist Japanese retailer MUJI has announced that its Metropolis at Metrotown location in Burnaby, east of Vancouver, will open this summer. It will become the largest MUJI location in Canada, though that will be only temporary — MUJI will also open a Robson Street store in Vancouver this year, which will become one of its largest stores globally.

The 7,770 square foot Metrotown MUJI will be on the mall’s ground level, down the hall from anchor Hudson’s Bay. Three separate retail spaces will be joined together to create the new store, which will be sandwiched between Change of Scandinavia and Wm. Anderson Agencies, and across the hall from Sephora and Disney as per the floor plan below. Japanese retailer UNIQLO will open up the hall this fall in a 20,630 square foot retail space.

Metrotown will be the first of two confirmed Lower Mainland stores for MUJI — a 10,000 square foot Robson Street flagship will also open later this year. The Robson Street store, which will replace The Gap at 1125 Robson Street, will become one of MUJI’s biggest locations. In North America, MUJI’s largest store spans 11,650 square feet on Fifth Avenue in New York City, and a 10,000 square foot Boston location opened in January of this year. MUJI’s largest store in the world, located in Tokyo, spans an impressive 38,000 square feet over three levels.

Both Vancouver lease deals were coordinated/negotiated by Martin Moriarty and Mario Negris of CBRE Vancouver, as well as Arlin Markowitz from CBRE Toronto.

As of now, MUJI operates three Canadian stores, all of which are located in the Greater Toronto Area. MUJI’s first Canadian store opened in November of 2014 at ‘The Atrium’ at 20 Dundas Street West in downtown Toronto, spanning 4,400 square feet on one level. MUJI’s second Canadian store opened in November of 2015 at the Square One shopping centre in Mississauga, spanning 5,225 square feet. In October of this year, MUJI opened a 6,375 square foot unit in Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre.

MUJI has big plans for Canada. In an interview with Retail Insider last year, Canadian President Toru Akita revealed that the company plans to operate between 15 and 20 stores in Canada by the year 2020. In the same interview, Mr. Akita also said that MUJI is considering opening an additional one to three stores in the Greater Toronto Area within the next year, which means that Toronto could house between four and six MUJI stores by 2018.

MUJI operates 14 American stores, with more to follow as it expands in the US. Of the locations currently open, seven are in the New York City area, three are in the San Francisco Bay area, one is in Boston, and three are in southern California.

Known for being innovative and its products being affordable and unbranded, MUJI carries various household items, furniture, appliances, stationery and apparel. With hundreds of stores worldwide (over 400 in Japan and about 400 internationally), it saves money by spending little to nothing on market research and advertising. MUJI is short for Mujirushi Ryohin, or no-brand superior items, and was founded in 1980 as the private-label brand of a major supermarket chain.

Park Royal Announces Cineplex VIP Cinema

By

Craig Patterson

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May 15, 2017

image-asset-2021-07-07T224359.012 — (RENDERING OF THE NEW PARK ROYAL CINEPLEX VIP CINEMAS. IMAGE SUPPLIED)

West Vancouver’s Park Royal Shopping Centre has announced that in late 2018, Cineplex will open a VIP Cinema on-site. Canada’s top malls are increasingly adding non-retail attractions to attract consumers.

The 44,000 square foot Cineplex will be located at Park Royal South as per the image below, and it will include 11 screens featuring a variety of movie-going experiences including UltraAVX™, D-BOX Motion Seats and VIP Cinemas in addition to the traditional Cineplex cinema experience.

Cineplex’s VIP Cinemas feature luxurious reclining seats, and are for adults only because they’re licensed to sell alcohol. Guests can order from a wide selection of wines, spirits and premium craft beers, as well as food such as popcorn, fresh salads, burgers, artisanal cheese plates, charcuterie boards and flatbreads. Items are available in the lounge, or can be delivered right to one’s theatre seat.

IMAGE: MUSSON CATTELL MACKEY PARTNERSHIP

UltraAVX features a massive wall-to-wall screen, ultra-high definition digital projection and a powerful Dolby Atmos surround sound system. Cineplex’s D-BOX seats move in concert with what’s playing on the movie screen. Guests can customize their experience by controlling the intensity of the movement produced by their seat, using controls in the seat’s armrest.

“Cineplex compliments our best-in-class shopping and dining experiences and will be an attraction to those living at or close to Park Royal. The addition of Cineplex Cinemas Park Royal and VIP marks another major milestone in Park Royal’s commitment to enhancing the offerings in West Vancouver and the North Shore,” said Rick Amantea, Vice President of Community Partnerships and Development at Park Royal.

A significant piece of authentic Squamish Nation public art will be installed in the mall near the theatre entrance, according to Chris Lewis, Spokesperson, Squamish Chiefs and Council. Park Royal South is technically located on Squamish Nation land.

Park Royal will be Cineplex’s fourth VIP Cinema in the BC Lower Mainland. Other VIP locations are in Abbotsford, Coquitlam, and at the new Marine Gateway complex in Vancouver.

Cineplex currently operates 25 VIP theatres in Canada, and there’s a shopping centre connection — Canada’s first Cineplex VIP Cinema opened at CF Shops at Don Mills in Toronto in August of 2014. Adding theatres and other attractions to malls is a trend being seen among leading centres, as malls increasingly reposition as entertainment centres (with a focus on shopping, of course).

Canada’s top shopping centres are now in the ‘entertainment industry’, adding non-retail amenities to attract and keep shoppers on site. It’s a trend discussed in a Retail Council of Canada shopping centre study released earlier this year.

West Vancouver’s Park Royal, is unlike any shopping centre in Canada, featuring both indoor and outdoor components. The centre is in the process of an expansion and renovation which has seen the addition of many new stores, including La Maison Simons (opened October 2015) and this summer, off-price Saks OFF 5TH will open in ‘Park Royal North’. Opening later this month, as well, is a Tesla dealership, which will be located in Park Royal South.

MINISO Launches Aggressive 500 Store Canadian Expansion

By

Craig Patterson

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May 15, 2017

image-asset - 2021-02-25T171759.128 — Photo: Miniso

Chinese variety retailer MINISO, which positions itself as a ‘Japanese lifestyle brand’, has big plans for Canada. The company opened its first Canadian store in Vancouver last month, and it could eventually operate as many as 500 stores in Canada, according to a representative.

MINISO is a value-priced retailer that might be classified as a variety store, specializing in household and consumer goods that include cosmetics, stationery, toys and kitchenware. It was co-founded in 2013 by Japanese designer Junya Miyake and Chinese entrepreneur Ye Guo Fu, and is headquartered in Guangzhou, China. MINISO’s signage and branding appears similar to that of fast-fashion Japanese chain UNIQLO, which opened its first Canadian store last fall.

In fact, MINISO says on its own website that it considers itself to be a competitor to UNIQLO, as well as Japanese retailer MUJI, which is also expanding into Canada with multiple store locations. Competition could become fierce — MINISO launches new products every seven days.

*(SCREEN CAPTURE FROM MINISO’S CORPORATE WEBSITE)*

MINISO launched its North American expansion last month with individual stores in Pasadena, California, and in Vancouver, Canada. The Vancouver store is located at 1256 West Broadway in the city’s Fairview area, and more Lower Mainland locations are confirmed as MINISO begins its Canadian expansion.

According to Jack Liang, Market Development Manager for MINISO (Canada) Store Inc., MINISO will open between 30 and 50 stores in Canada over the next 12 months, with the potential to operate as many as 500 Canadian stores in the coming years.

Next week, MINISO will open its second Canadian store at Tsawwassen Mills, south of Vancouver, and in July two locations are confirmed — one at West Vancouver’s Park Royal, and another at 550 Granville Street, across from Holt Renfrew. Mr. Liang says that there are nine stores under negotiation right now, as MINISO looks to blitz the Canadian market with stores utilizing a franchise model.

After an initial Canadian expansion in the Vancouver region, MINISO will target major cities including Toronto and Montreal, said Mr. Liang. He noted that several Toronto locations are already in the works. MINISO plans to open dozens of stores annually in Canada over the next several years.

If things go as planned, MINISO could significantly disrupt a segment of Canadian retailing, particularly those in the value-priced variety retail space. Homegrown chain Dollarama, which says it plans to eventually operate 1,700 stores in Canada, could see some market share go to MINISO if the new entrant gains traction. Depending on the extent of MINISO’s product assortment in its Canadian stores, even larger chains such as Canadian Tire could see competition in certain product categories. Japanese retailer MUJI, which is also expanding across Canada, carries many of the same product categories as MINISO and is therefore also a competitor.

*Photos via MINISO’s corporate website.

Lightspeed Partners with Lender to Help Independent Canadian Retailers Grow

By

Retail Insider

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May 15, 2017

Montreal-based cloud-based point-of-sale platform Lightspeed has partnered with small business online lender OnDeck Canada, for an initiative that will allow Lightspeed users to secure OnDeck loans.

The new offering will be available to Lightspeed customers both in Canada as well as in the United States, providing up to US $500,000 term loans and US $100,000 lines of credit.

Independent Canadian businesses, particularly those involved in retail, restaurant, and eCommerce, can now acquire OnDeck financing to support their investment in the Lightspeed point of sale solution.

OnDeck loans will also enable Lightspeed clients to take advantage of growth opportunities such as buying inventory, purchasing equipment, and boosting their customer experience. OnDeck has delivered more than US $6 billion dollars in capital to over 60,000 businesses across the United States, Canada, and Australia, and boasts advanced lending technology.

JP Chauvet, President of Lightspeed, said: “Lightspeed is laser focused on improving the competitiveness of independent businesses across North America, and for us this partnership makes perfect sense. In part, it gives us the opportunity to help our clients access our Omnichannel solution which can help improve their customer experience exponentially.”

Gary Fearnall, Country Manager for OnDeck Canada, said: “We are very pleased to be partnering with Lightspeed, an innovative technology company that is enabling businesses to improve their customer experience on all channels. Since 2014, OnDeck Canada has been focused on providing the right operating capital solutions to allow for investments in critical initiatives such as technology and hiring, and this partnership will continue to strengthen our connection to the retail and hospitality industries.”

Lightspeed offers users a powerful cloud-based point of sale system. It’s designed for retailers to sell anywhere – in-store, online or both, with the help of Lightspeed’s omnichannel platform. Lightspeed powers more than 40,000 retailers and manages $15 billion in transactions across 100 countries, said founder and CEO, Dax Dasilva.

The company was founded in 2005 by Mr. Dasilva, beginning with four employees working out of a Montreal apartment. It now boasts over 500 staff in eight offices around the world. Lightspeed has quickly expanded its offering with a POS for restaurants, an eCommerce platform and an omnichannel selling solution, helping businesses streamline their operations and improve customer service by bringing together inventory, customer management, sales and analytics into a single platform.

Partner content. To work with Retail Insider, contact Craig Patterson at craig@retail-insider.com

New Era to Close Queen Street Flagship

By

Craig Patterson

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May 12, 2017

Popular Buffalo NY-based hat and accessory retailer New Era is planning to close its Toronto flagship on August 1 of this year. As a result, the 202 Queen Street West retail space will be available for a new tenant.

New Era has occupied the 3,000 square foot retail space since August of 2007, and the retailer says that it plans to exit the Toronto market. The New Era Cap Company was founded in Buffalo in 1920 and is known for its various hat (including baseball hat) styles as well as apparel and accessories. The company has stores in Buffalo, New York City, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Berlin, Birmingham UK, London UK, Paris, Stratford UK and Tokyo.

The retailer’s closure presents an opportunity for a new retailer to secure space on one of Canada’s most high-profile retail streets. The three-level 202 Queen Street West building, located on the popular stretch between University Avenue and Spadina Avenue, sees thousands of pedestrians pass by daily, as well as plenty of cyclists, automobiles and busy streetcars. The busy Osgoode TTC Subway station is a short distance to the east — subway passengers headed westward along the street will walk past 202 Queen.

The entire 202 Queen Street West building spans four levels — the ground floor, second floor and third floor each measure 1,549 square feet, and the basement adds a further 800 square feet of space. The site measures 20.16 x 102 feet, and net rent is $22,000/month with an additional $71,764.49 (2016) annually for property taxes and $5,419.44 (2016) for building insurance. There is parking at the rear of the building that is protected by gates. The property has customization potential and recent improvements include a new roof, six new skylights that brighten up a space already full of natural light, as well as a slate façade on the third level.

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The third floor can be used for commercial purposes or even for residential (it has a kitchen and washroom), and the basement provides exceptional storage space.

Queen Street West is one of Canada’s most popular shopping areas. The area boasts high pedestrian traffic, and over the past decade a number of major international brands have set up shop nearby.

For more information and to contact the owner of 202 Queen Street West, you may contact Joseph Gatto, Sales Representative at Chestnut Park Realty, at: ggatto@chestnutpark.com or 416-723-6081.

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