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Celebrity Chef Ricardo Larrivée Expands RICARDO Retail Concept and Café 

By
Craig Patterson
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Image: RICARDO

Television personality Ricardo Larrivée is expanding his business holdings with the opening of an 8,000 square foot RICARDO Boutique + Café in Laval —  the second location for the unique concept. Mr. Larrivée says that he has plans to take the RICARDO concept national with multiple locations. 

The new Laval RICARDO is located at Centropolis Laval, and it features a wide assortment including kitchen accessories, Art of the Table collections, cookbooks, magazines, gourmet and other related products. There’s also a café space with 80 seats, as well as an outdoor terrace that seats a further 30 to 40 guests. 

The RICARDO retail space is also rolling out an expanded selection of savoury gourmet products, in addition to an expanded assortment of sweets such as chocolates, caramels and marshmallows. 

RICARDO’s first location opened in Saint-Lambert, Quebec, about three years ago. The combined retail space/café was created out of space in the front of the RICARDO head office. Mr. Larrivée explained that he wanted a retail space to showcase his products, which wholesale in over 600 stores. 

Image: RICARDO

Retail spaces allow Larrivée to showcase RICARDO’s brand in its entirety, as a way to grow brand recognition while also creating a gathering place for fans and foodies. “People want an experience,” explained Larrivée.

Of the hundreds of items that are stocked, about half are RICARDO branded while the other half are international products for which RICARDO has secured the exclusive Canadian rights. “The product must be great,” explained Larrivée, noting that the shopping experience is easier for the consumer because instead of offering an expansive range of products such as a potato peeler, RICARDO offers “the best” in one or two styles. He also ensures pricing is competitive. 

RICARDO retail locations in Ottawa and Quebec City are in the works, and Larrivée says that he’d like to eventually open RICARDO Canada-wide — markets such as Vancouver are on his radar, though he noted the challenges of finding 8,000 square feet of space at a reasonable price. Markets such as Toronto and Calgary will also be targets, though he’ll wait to find the “proper space at the right price”. Ideally, any spaces should include the potential for an outdoor patio area for café seating. 

Image: RICARDO

Manon Parisien of Aurora Realty Consultants is representing RICARDO as broker for the expansion, and negotiated the Laval lease deal. 

Larrivée says that he’s developed a world-class brand that is distinctly Canadian, and that the concept will be perfected further over time to keep things fresh and interesting. RICARDO also just launched a new e-commerce site that retails the entire range of RICARDO products (including its Art of the Table collections, cookbooks and magazines), which ships throughout Canada as well as internationally.

Ted Baker Sees Growth in Canada as it Expands Retail Network

By
Craig Patterson
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Popular British fashion brand Ted Baker continues to grow its presence in Canada, by opening new stores and shop-in-store concessions, while also expanding its wholesale network. 

Last week, Ted Baker opened its first store in the province of Quebec at CF Carrefour Laval, near Montreal. The 3,680 square foot retail space is located next to COS, which also opened this month in the mall’s wing that is anchored by La Maison Simons. 

Northwest Atlantic Principal/Broker Dianne Lemm acted on behalf of Ted Baker in lease negotiations with landlord Cadillac Fairview. 

No two Ted Baker stores are alike, according to Craig Smith, the company’s Digital Commerce Director who is based in London. He explained that Ted Baker is doing exceptionally well in Canada, and that the company continues to expand its distribution both with its wholesale channels, as well as boutiques and concessions. 

Ted Baker recently opened dedicated shop-in-store concessions at Hudson’s Bay stores in downtown Toronto and Vancouver and according to the company, more concessions could follow.

With the opening of the CF Carrefour Laval store, Ted Baker will operate seven full-priced stores and two outlet locations in Canada. The retailer opened its first Canadian store at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre in October of 2012, followed by its first Canadian outlet store at Toronto Premium Outlets in August of 2013. A second full-priced Ted Baker location opened in October of 2014 at CF Toronto Eaton Centre, with a Vancouver location at CF Pacific Centre following in June of 2015. In September of 2015, Ted Baker opened at Toronto’s CF Sherway Gardens and in 2016, it opened three Canadian stores — at CF Rideau Centre in Ottawa in May, at CF Chinook Centre in Calgary in September, and at the McArthurGlen Designer Outlets in Vancouver in June of 2016. 

Ted Baker also has a network of more than 30 full-priced and outlet stores in the United States, as well as concessions in most Bloomingdale’s store locations. 

Leger Study Ranks Ontario’s Top Retailers

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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2017 WOW Customer Experience retail index by Leger

Beauty retailer Lush has been named the top retailer in Ontario in the 2017 WOW Customer Experience retail index by Leger – a polling, research and strategic marketing firm.

The WOW Index assessed the customer shopping experience of 151 Ontario retailers in an online survey of more than 20,000 respondents.

“We’re very pleased to be able to win that award. It’s always nice to be recognized. This one’s especially nice because it’s the customers voting. We’re in a field of very strong retailers and it’s gratifying to come out on top of that list for sure,” says
Andy McNevin, chief operating officer of Lush, which opened its first store in 1996 in Vancouver.

“If you look at Lush and the cornerstones of the brand, innovation is a big one. Each time you come into a Lush store you should see something new. We’re generally introducing 250 or 300 new products or gifts a year and we only have 500 skews in the store. So lots of innovation.”

(Click image below for full list, via Excel spreadsheet) 

2017 WOW Customer Experience retail index by Leger

“I think we provide really genuine customer service. So sort of an in-store spectacle. You get lots of sound, and energy, colour and smell just trying to create a sensory playground.”

Other keys to the brand’s success, explains McNevin, are fresh, handmade products in a sort of farmers’ market set up. Everything it sells is made in Canada, using fresh fruits and vegetables, the highest quality essential oils and 100 per cent vegetarian raw materials.

He says the company was founded on ethics and is an activist in campaigning on several issues including animal advocacy, environmental protection and humanitarian causes.

Rounding out the top 10 Ontario retailers in the WOW Index after Lush are: Penningtons, Kiehl’s, David’s Tea, Addition Elle, Bath & Body Works, Aveda, Mountain Equipment Co-op, Carter’s Oshkosh and Yves Rocher.

Christian Bourque, Executive VP and Partner at Leger, says the WOW Index was started seven years ago in Quebec and was introduced into Ontario the following year.

2017 WOW Customer Experience retail index by Leger

The weighted index has 16 variables and retailers can see how they rate and compare to their competitors in a number of retail sectors. 

“Out of the 16 variables that we measure, the one that is most important in terms of driving the model is ‘this store was designed with somebody like me in mind’,” says Bourque. “We call it the Penningtons variable. I feel it’s very important regardless of who you are. If you’re not in tune to the needs of your customers walking into the store, you’ll basically die.”

“In the case of Penningtons, they’ve brought this to a level that I think is scholarly almost.”

He says key variables in the index include store layout, ambiance and the physical store itself, customer service, product offering, price competitiveness and innovation.

Each retailer was assessed by 400 recent customers, 15 years of age or older. Data collection took place from mid-September to mid-October. Data is weighted to ensure a representative selection of recent customers for each retailer (gender, age and region).

The Index also found that 49 per cent of customers who have a mobile phone or tablet have used a retailer’s mobile app in the past year – 21 per cent for grocery; 16 per cent for apparel; nine per cent each for music, pharmacy and footwear.

CHANEL Opens Impressive Canadian Flagship [Photos]

By
Craig Patterson
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Chanel Canadian Flagship on Yorkville Ave in Toronto

Iconic French luxury brand Chanel has opened its Canadian flagship at 98 Yorkville Avenue in Toronto. The two-level space spans about 8,550 square feet over three floors, and marks a milestone in the transformation of Yorkville Avenue into a significant luxury retail address. 

The store was busy with a constant stream of visitors over the weekend despite a rainy Saturday, and many were buying. Doormen and valet parking staff greeted shoppers to the new store, which is currently the only standalone location for Chanel in Canada. 

The flagship features two levels of retail space totaling about “600 square metres”, according to a press release. The Yorkville Avenue building includes a ground floor that is about 4,100 square feet, a second level spanning about 3,000 square feet, and there’s a non-retail basement providing Chanel an additional 1,450 square feet. Everything is housed in a commercial building featuring an historical facade. 

Architect Peter Marino conceived the flagship’s interior design. The store includes bespoke artwork and furnishings, with Chanel’s iconic colours of black, white and gold used throughout. There are “elements inspired by the Coromandel screens of Mademoiselle Chanel’s Parisian apartment,” including ample use of custom fabrics in the store’s silk/wool carpeting, in the draping of the walls, as well as on woven window panels in ivory, gold, black and champagne. The environment is very much self-contained — the woven window panels prevent shoppers in the store from seeing outside, and there are no products displayed in the store’s outward-facing windows to those passing by.

The store’s ground floor features four separate rooms, accessed from an entrance foyer that features a rock crystal and polished bronze Goossens chandelier. To the right of the foyer/gallery, the first space is dedicated to costume jewellery together with a selection of handbags; a second salon is dedicated solely to shoes, and is embellished with a brass ‘Raindrops’ wall mirror by Curtis Jere, and an engraved brass and bronze table by Michael Pohu. A third salon is devoted to a range of eyewear, small leather goods and other accessories like scarves, while the fourth salon showcases a selection of bags (including CHANEL’s Gabrielle bag Cruise novelties and the BOY CHANEL handbag), as well as Watches and Fine Jewellery. All four spaces are accessorized with French Montano ‘ribbon’ chairs in blackened bronze. 

Leading upstairs is a white stairwell adorned with a white and gold beaded 3D pearl necklace that descends about 25 feet, and is visible from both the ground and upper floors. The art piece was commissioned by Jean-Michel Othoniel, known for his longstanding collaboration with the House of Chanel. 

POLISHED BRONZE GOOSSENS CHANDELIER IN THE ENTRANCE GALLERY
GROUND FLOOR ACCESSORY ROOM
GROUND FLOOR ACCESSORY ROOM
GROUND FLOOR SHOE SALON

The store’s second floor is dedicated to Karl Lagerfeld’s Chanel ready-to-wear collection — there are two salons that were “designed to reflect the intimacy of a private home, by including delicate French artisanal objects such as lamps with beaded detailing as well as a fireplace made of limestone”. A third salon can be closed off to create a luxurious private shopping area for clients, with versatility for other uses. There are also three luxurious fitting rooms adorned with art work. 

The store currently lacks a salon carrying Chanel’s ‘High Jewellery’ collection that is found in some of Chanel’s top stores — some High Jewellery pieces are priced at over $1 million each, requiring a very special (wealthy) client. There are fewer than 50 Chanel stores globally that carry the High Jewellery collection and in North America, the only Chanel stores carrying it are in Beverly Hills, Las Vegas (The Wynn), Bal Harbour Shops, two in New York City, and in Vancouver. The 5,060 square foot Vancouver Chanel boutique, which is located on the ground floor of Holt Renfrew at CF Pacific Centre, showcased a $3 million ‘pigeon blood’ broach when the expanded boutique opened to the public in June of 2016. The Toronto Chanel flagship will be getting High Jewellery pieces twice a year (including during TIFF) to start, and the company will gauge the Toronto market to determine if Chanel High Jewellery will eventually find a permanent home in the new Yorkville Avenue flagship. 

Chanel’s most recent Toronto flagship (which shuttered in December of 2016) opened in April of 1989 in The Colonnade at 131 Bloor Street West. Strong sales saw the 3,100 square foot store eventually annex a second level, growing to more than 7,300 square feet. Prior to opening at The Colonnade, a Chanel shop-in-store operated within multi-brand luxury store Creeds at nearby Manulife Centre. 

WHITE AND GOLD BEADED 3D PEARL NECKLACE THAT DESCENDS ABOUT 25 FEET, AND IS VISIBLE FROM BOTH THE GROUND AND UPPER FLOORS. THE ART PIECE WAS COMMISSIONED BY JEAN-MICHEL OTHONIEL
SECOND FLOOR READY-TO-WEAR SALON
SECOND FLOOR READY-TO-WEAR SALON
SECOND FLOOR READY-TO-WEAR SALON

Chanel had operated a temporary ‘flagship’ concession at Holt Renfrew at 50 Bloor Street West since the December 2016 standalone flagship closure. Chanel will remain at Holt’s, though in a smaller space. 

Retail Insider first broke the story on Chanel relocating off of the Mink Mile in November of 2015, when it was revealed that brokers Stan Vyriotes and David Wedemire of DWSV Remax Ultimate Realty Inc. had acted on behalf of Chanel in a deal with landlord First Capital Realty to open the new flagship. Mr. Vyriotes and Mr. Wedemire have since been busy negotiating deals for other retailers on the street — upscale streetwear retailer CNTRBND opened a new location at 135 Yorkville Avenue several months ago, and luxury brands Jimmy Choo and Brunello Cucinelli will open beside Chanel in an under-construction retail complex towards the end of 2018. Yorkville Avenue has found its place as a luxury address in Canada, and Chanel marks a milestone in the street’s remarkable transformation. 

Toronto is currently the only city in Canada to boast a freestanding Chanel store. The brand closed its 5,000 square foot freestanding Vancouver store in the summer of 2010, moving ready-to-wear to an expanded Chanel concession on the second level at Holt Renfrew in CF Pacific Centre. That concession expanded and moved to the ground floor in the summer of 2016, as described above, when Chanel deemed it appropriate to again expand its presence in Vancouver. Chanel first entered the Vancouver market in 1991 with a 1,300 square foot unit at 103-755 Burrard Street (now occupied by Coach), prior to moving to the now-shuttered 5,000 square foot 900 West Hastings Street location, which was most recently tenanted by defunct shoe retailer Ingledew’s. 

SECOND FLOOR DRESSING ROOM
CHANEL+Yorkville+Boutique

Chanel also operates shop-in-store concessions at Holt Renfrew in Calgary, Toronto (50 Bloor Street West), Toronto (Yorkdale Shopping Centre), and in Montreal. The Yorkdale concession, which was already more than 3,000 square feet, recently annexed an additional 600 square feet of space with the expansion that will be revealed shortly. As well, in Montreal, Holt Renfrew just announced that Chanel will be moving into the new 250,000 square foot ‘Holt Renfrew Ogilvy’ store in 2020, which is being created by merging the city’s Holt Renfrew and Ogilvy stores, resulting in Holt Renfrew closing its smaller Montreal store on Sherbrooke Street West. 

Chanel provided all of the photos of the interior of the store for this article, and Craig Patterson took photos of the exterior of the store on the afternoon of November 19, 2017. See below for more photos of Toronto’s new Chanel flagship. 

*****

(ENTRANCE FOYER/GALLERY)
GROUND FLOOR ACCESSORY ROOM
GROUND FLOOR SHOE SALON
(GROUND FLOOR ACCESSORIES SALON, INCLUDING SUNGLASSES)
LOOKING TOWARDS THE STAIRWAY ON THE GROUND FLOOR
GROUND FLOOR ACCESSORIES
GROUND FLOOR ACCESSORIES
GROUND FLOOR ACCESSORIES, STAIRWAY LEADING UPSTAIRS
ANOTHER LOOK AT THE IMPRESSIVE STAIRWAY SCULPTURE

SEE Eyewear Commences Canadian Boutique Expansion

By
Craig Patterson
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(TORONTO STORE. PHOTO: CRAIG PATTERSON)

Edgy and popular SEE Eyewear has officially launched its Canadian expansion with its first standalone store, located in Toronto. SEE has set its sights on potentially more Canadian boutiques, as it carefully expands its operations by opening locations where it sees synergies. 

SEE, which stands for ‘Selected Eyewear Elements’, was founded in 1997 by optical pioneer Richard Golden, with an aim to provide consumers with affordably priced, fashion-forward eyewear. The company’s prices encourage shoppers to create a ‘wardrobe’ of glasses, with a wide variety of styles available. In the Toronto stores, SEE’s collection ranges from $199 to $599 for eyeglasses and include single vision plastic or polycarbonate lenses, and all sunglasses are priced at a reasonable $149 per pair. 

(RICHARD GOLDEN – FOUNDER, CEO OF SEE EYEWEAR)

According to Mr. Golden, SEE is considered to be the first optical retailer to have created its own brand, and prices are kept reasonable by selling in-house designs directly to consumers. SEE has an in-house design team, and it also works with artisans from 17 countries worldwide (mostly from Europe) to constantly produce new styles. SEE produces a limited number of each frame, sometimes only two per colour for each city or store. “It really is the closest thing to custom eyewear made just for you,” said Mr. Golden. “It is ideal for people who want a unique look that no one else will have and we think that will really resonate with the Toronto clientele.” 

SEE Eyewear’s first Canadian store opened this fall at 153 Cumberland Street in Toronto’s Yorkville area. The 812 square foot boutique was created by carving out space from adjacent fashion retailer Nicholas. CBRE Downtown Toronto’s Arlin Markowitz and Alex Edmison acted on behalf of both the landlord and tenant in the Cumberland Street lease deal. 

Photo: SEE Eyewear

The Toronto boutique is SEE’s 41st boutique location — SEE has 40 stores in the United States in various major centres. It took years to find the right space for SEE’s first Canadian store, according to Mr. Golden. “I was looking for a location like Soho in New York City,” explained Mr. Golden, and he knew that Toronto’s Yorkville, which features a range of retailers in a unique village-like setting, was the right place to open the store. 

“Toronto has been on my ‘must have’ list for years, we just needed to find a location that meets our stringent store selection criteria,” said Mr. Golden. “We love settings with a great cross section of style savvy pedestrians and good co-tenancy in the area. Yorkville has a vibrant neighborhood vibe that we love. It is the most ideal area SEE could ever choose for its flagship Canadian store. After numerous trips to view potential sites for SEE, the second I saw the Cumberland location I said yes on the spot. We look forward to adding more locations throughout the city as well as other great Canadian towns from which many of their residents are longtime SEE lovers in our locations outside of Canada. We are incredibly excited to have finally found our home in Yorkville.” 

Toronto’s Queen Street West could be the next target for SEE Eyewear, according to Mr. Golden. And while he prefers urban street-front locations, he said that a third Toronto store could end up locating in one of the GTA’s major malls, which are world-class. 

“I can’t remember the last time I was this excited about opening a new SEE store,” said Mr. Golden.  “My love of Canada—and Toronto in particular—began in my youth at Camp Tamakwa in Algonquin Park with the lifelong friends I made there who hailed from the city. I’ve spent a considerable amount of time visiting them over the years, and developing new friendships with other Toronto natives.” 

Mr. Golden explained that SEE is opening stores carefully, with only a handful opening every year. As such, its Canadian expansion will be careful, and will be dependent on finding the right real estate. He said that he ideally wants spaces with storefronts that can be branded and customized, as with the facade of the new Cumberland Street store in Toronto. 

Targeted Canadian cities for SEE include Montreal and Vancouver, which could both see more than one location open, depending on if the right space can be acquired. Other cities could follow as the brand gains traction among Canadian consumers. In an increasingly crowded eyewear market in Canada, SEE stands out for its bold designs, unique business model, limited product run, and overall high quality with its frames being made in the same factories as some of the world’s most popular and priciest glasses brands. 

**Photos were provided by SEE Eyewear

Last Chance to Register for RCC Bricks and Mortar Forum, Tuesday November 21 in Toronto

By
Retail Insider
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There’s still time to register for the Tuesday, November 21, Retail Council of Canada Bricks and Mortar Forum. It’s part of the Leaders in Retail Breakfast Series, and it’s the only session all year that’s open to all retail, media, and industry partners. 

The morning kicks off with a breakfast and networking, followed by three sessions. The first session discusses Canadian shopping centres, referencing the soon-to-be-released 2017 Retail Council of Canada Canadian Shopping Centre Study. The conversation will revolve around what Canada’s top malls are doing to remain relevant, and Kevin Graff, President of Graff Retail, will host the panel. Panelists will include Chris Tarrant Vice President, Store Development & Design at
Starbucks Coffee Canada, Alex Jones, Vice President, Real Estate at Roots Canada, as well as Retail Insider’s Craig Patterson, who will also be speaking about the study’s results. 

The second discussion will revolve around how retailers can leverage their digital influence for bricks & mortar purchases. Chris Chan, Brand Lead, Fashion & Apparel at Google Canada will be joined by Marc Laurent-Atthalin, Performance Media Manager for Reitmans Canada Ltd. to review an example of how cutting edge location based technologies are enabling retailers to measure the impact of online investments to store traffic and sales, and how retailers can make digital spending decisions to increase store traffic. 

The third session, titled “Why Now? Bricks & Mortar Expansion in the Retail ‘Apocalypse’” will discuss the fact that physical retail is still very much alive and well, with a discussion with innovative retailers that are opening new stores across Canada, and why they have confidence in bricks & mortar retail. Roundtable participants will include  Rodolphe Barrere, Co-Founder & CEO of POTLOC, Kevin Graff, President of Graff Retail, Chris Doulos, Vice President of Real Estate at Cineplex Entertainment, and Philip Zappacosta, Chief Operating Officer of Toronto-based Philip Group, which includes retail locations for Belstaff, Nanni and philip menswear in Toronto’s upscale Yorkville area. 

There’s room to sponsor both events, even together — the Retail Council of Canada Shopping Centre Study is used as a tool for many in the industry, and the Forum will be well attended. For sponsorship information, contact Mary Markou at: mmarkou@retailcouncil.org. 

To attend the Bricks & Mortar Forum, REGISTER HERE

Brief: Sugarfina Opens 1st Store, Former Sears Canada Suppliers Open Outlet, Hermes Opening Watch Boutique

By
Craig Patterson
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exc-5a0e1ee753450a5bbc970f6c

Sugarfina Opens 1st Standalone Canadian Boutique

Los Angeles-based luxury ‘grownup’ candy retailer Sugarfina has opened its first freestanding Canadian retail location, at Metropolis at Metrotown east of Vancouver. There are plans for more as the brand expands with the help of a newly announced $35 million growth equity financing from private equity firm Great Hill Partners. 

Tony Flanz of Think Retail represented Sugarfina in its deal with Metropolis at Metrotown’s landlord Ivanhoé Cambridge.

Sugarfina confirms that the company intends on operating standalone stores in Vancouver as well as in the Toronto market, with as many as 10 locations in Canada in the coming years. 

According to Think Retail’s website, Sugarfina is seeking retail space in major malls, ideally in the 600 square foot to 1,000 square foot range.

Sugarfina stores feature premium items made from high-quality ingredients, sourced directly from artisan candy makers around the globe. Products include gourmet chocolates, caramels, gummies, malt balls, licorice and other delicious confections. Champagne-infused gummies and maple bourbon caramels have been popular, with celebrity endorsements helping grow brand awareness. The Sugarfina concept has grown rapidly, now boasting 29 boutiques in the United States with three of those being located in Nordstrom stores. 

district m CEO JF Cote honoured with Significant Award

The CEO of innovative Montreal-based advertising company district m, won this year’s EY Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year 2017, Quebec — he was honoured at a black tie gala in Montreal on November 9. 

Mr. Cote was rewarded for his outstanding vision, leadership and achievement in building one of North America’s leading programmatic companies, successfully building a strong company while retaining the innovative culture of a startup.

District m’s mypixel advertising platform was recently featured on Retail Insider. For those who are interested, we have a PDF Q&A Interview with Mr. Cote about the award. 

Former Sears Suppliers Come Together to Open Mega Liquidation Centre in Markham to Sell Direct to Public

In the wake of the Sears Canada bankruptcy, more than 25 Canadian companies have come together to open a 150,000-square-foot, two-story mega liquidation outlet in Markham where a Sears store once stood, and sell their orphaned Sears inventory direct to the public at deeply discounted prices.

With the opening, dozens of local jobs are being created – including the hiring of former Sears employees, with many more positions still to be filled.

Bobby’s Liquidation Outlet is located at 2900 Steeles Avenue, The Shops on Steeles and 404 (Steeles Avenue at Highway 404), and on November 20 there will be an 11:00 a.m. news conference and ribbon cutting. R.S.V.P.:Gail Bergman or Elizabeth Glassen – Gail Bergman PR: info@gailbergmanpr.com. As well, Bobby’s Liquidation Outlet will be donating a portion of profits to organizations assisting people with developmental disabilities.

Corbo Studio Hosts Opening for New Toronto Location

Upscale Toronto-based women’s multi-brand retailer Corbo Studio has re-opened at 118 Cumberland Street (having recently vacated a retail space closer to Avenue Road) in a bright new location facing Village of Yorkville Park. Owner Teresa Mazzei has ‘passed the torch’ of ownership to daughter Michelle Lisa, who has created a friendly and inviting space. 

Michelle brings a fresh approach and renewed vision to the boutique, all while sharing her mother’s philosophy. Artfully curated to include foundational pieces from labels such as by Malene Birger, Filippa K, and Vince., Corbo mixes high-street and high fashion for “the perfectly constructed and edgy balance.” 

Italian Kitchen Relocates Off Alberni Street

The Italian Kitchen restaurant has relocated off of Vancouver’s ‘Luxury Zone’ Alberni Street into a new space at 860 Burrard Street. CBRE Vancouver’s Martin Moriarty and Mario Negris negotiated the deal. 

Restaurants are finding it challenging to operate on Alberni Street, as rents have skyrocketed with the introduction of new luxury retailers — several have opened in the past year, and more will be opening soon. Glowbal Group owner Emad Yacoub said that his rent had doubled as his lease came up for renewal, hence why he moved. We’ll be doing a feature on Alberni Street here on Retail Insider within the next several days. 

Interestingly, the 860 Burrard Street building was once temporarily a home to a luxury brand — in the mid 1990’s, Sonia Rykiel operated at that address for a relatively short time, after vacating a space at 199 Water Street in the city’s Gastown area. 

Glen Korstrom from Business in Vancouver also just wrote a more extensive article on Italian Kitchen’s relocation. 

Sobeys Launches Holiday Commercial

Grocery chain Sobeys has launched a new holiday commercial, ‘Secret Shopper’, which aired this week. This commercial is the first national holiday brand spot Sobeys has done in the past few years. Last year, they remade their classic ‘Star of Christmas’ commercial in Atlantic Canada and it was a great success.

This year’s ‘Create a Little Holiday Magic’ campaign shifts the marketing focus from product to a larger, more emotional brand narrative. In addition, they partnered with Spotify for the first time to create a special holiday playlist.

INDOCHINO Hosting Black Friday events

Save up to 70% during INDOCHINO’s Black Friday Event — all suits, shirts & accessories with suits starting at $429 (reg. price $999). Use code BLKFRI. For Cyber Monday, New items will be added with sales up to 70% off in its showrooms and online with code CYBMON. The event takes place at all 18 INDOCHINO showrooms, as well as online. 

Hermes to Open Vancouver Watch Boutique

According to construction signage, French luxury brand Hermes is opening a watch boutique inside of Holt Renfrew in Vancouver. The space is located where Links of London recently had a boutique — Links has vacated Holt’s for a freestanding retail space in CF Pacific Centre. 

Hermes watches will be located near the soon-to-open Bulgari boutique on Holt’s ground floor. 

Hermes will also be unveiling the facade of its new 12,000 square foot Toronto flagship next week, and we’ll be profiling the store when it opens later this month — and something big will be happening in Vancouver, stay tuned for more details. 

Hogtown Smoke to Open 2nd Restaurant and Speakeasy in Toronto

Brokerage RKF has announced that it has arranged a 5,571-square-foot lease with southern-style BBQ and wood-fired grill Hogtown Smoke for its second location in Toronto, at 55 Colborne Street in the St. Lawrence Market district. Hogtown Smoke will open later this month.

RKF’s Steven Alikakos and Alexandra Fieder represented the landlord, Allied Properties REIT, in the transaction.

Hogtown Smoke will feature a 2,722-square-foot restaurant on the ground floor and a 2,849-square-foot bourbon speakeasy, “The Joint,” on the lower level at 55 Colborne Street. Located a few blocks from the world-renowned, 200-year-old St. Lawrence Market complex and the architecturally stunning Brookfield Place, Hogtown Smoke is ideally situated in the heart of Olde Town. The area is known for its historic architecture, exciting theatre, quaint shops, charming restaurants and many outdoor festivals. 

“With the addition of Hogtown Smoke, Colborne Street will become one of the most active bar and restaurant strips in the area,” said Alikakos.

Chanel Opens Toronto Flagship

“Wow” was the first word that came out of our mouth when we entered and toured the new 8,550 square foot Toronto Chanel flagship yesterday, ahead of its public opening on Friday morning. On Monday we’ll publish a lengthy article with photos and a description of the new space, which marks a milestone for Yorkville Avenue, which is becoming one of Canada’s top luxury retail addresses. We’ll also be featuring Yorkville Avenue in an article in December, as part of our new street tour/update series. 

Retail Insider will now be regularly including these briefs as part of our expanding reporting mandate. For more information, contact Editor-in-Chief Craig Patterson at: craig@retail-insider.com. 

Inside Hunter Boots’ 1st North American Flagship [Photos]

By
Craig Patterson
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Hunter Boots at Yorkdale Shopping Centre (Hunter Boots)

UK-based fashion brand Hunter, known for its rubber wellington boots, has opened its first standalone North American location — and only its third globally. More locations could follow in Canada, according to Hunter CEO Vincent Wauters. 

The 2,800 square foot store is located in the Nordstrom-anchored expansion wing at Yorkdale Shopping Centre, in a retail space located between Samsung and a recently opened Roots flagship. 

The Toronto store was designed by Hunter’s in-house interior design team, led by Creative Director Alasdhair Willis, husband of fashion designer Stella McCartney. The store’s design is described as follows: “It reveals the sky and exposes the space to the elements, with the store’s internal envelope acting as a protective canvas to the external landscape lining the perimeter of the space. Visitors ‘look out’ from the contemporary barn architecture onto a backdrop of the Scottish Highlands – the birthplace of the Hunter brand.” Additionally, Hunter confirms that “in-store weather elements will be changed seasonally.”

Hunter Boots at Yorkdale Shopping Centre (Hunter Boots)
Hunter Boots at Yorkdale Shopping Centre (Hunter Boots)

The store’s flooring is fashioned from strips of rubber from the Original green boot, and the store also features mid floor tables that will double as seating, using natural oak and Douglas fir. 

Hunter’s 30-foot wide Yorkdale storefront is “reminiscent of a contemporary greenhouse giving the sense that the sky is surrounding customers upon entry where they are immediately immersed into the brand world of Hunter.” 

CEO Vincent Wauters explained that Hunter is seeking out store locations in a selection of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities, where locals and tourists can converge to experience the Hunter brand in its entirety. Having a retail store allows Hunter to showcase its brand in a way that isn’t possible in a multi-brand retailer. 

Given the rainy climate on Canada’s West Coast, Vancouver could eventually see a Hunter Boots flagship store, explained Mr. Wauters. Nothing is confirmed at this time, however, and the company will expand methodically into markets that make sense for the brand. 

Hunter Boots at Yorkdale Shopping Centre (Hunter Boots)
Hunter Boots at Yorkdale Shopping Centre (Hunter Boots)
Hunter Boots at Yorkdale Shopping Centre (Hunter Boots)

Hunter’s first freestanding retail store opened on Regent Street in London in the fall of 2014, measuring about 5,300 square feet. A second location opened in the spring of 2016 in Tokyo’s Ginza district, spanning about 3,100 square feet. In Taiwan, Hunter also has a partner store in Taipei. The interior design of the Yorkdale store is somewhat lighter and brighter than the London and Tokyo stores, explained Mr. Wauters. 

Hunter Boot Ltd. was originally established as North British Rubber Company in 1856 and it is headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland with offices in London, New York and Düsseldorf, Germany. In the past, the company was also involved in the manufacturing of rubber tires, conveyor belts, combs, golf balls, hot water bottles and rubber flooring. Being a heritage brand, Hunter holds several Royal Warrants by Appointment as suppliers of waterproof footwear. One of Hunter’s most recognizable products is its ‘Green Welly’ boot, which is now manufactured in China and is favoured by the hunting set. 

*Photos are courtesy of Hunter. 

Holt Renfrew Delays Montreal Ogilvy Merger

By
Craig Patterson
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In November of 2013, Holt Renfrew announced that in 2017 it would be merging its Montreal operations with Ogilvy — a partnership which would result in Ogilvy expanding while the nearby Sherbrooke Street Holt Renfrew store would close. Holt Renfrew has now announced that the expanded flagship will open in 2020, and has revealed some of what will be contained within what will become the company’s largest store. 

Holt Renfrew’s 84,000 square foot store at 1300 Sherbrooke St. W. will close in 2020 when Holt’s merges with Ogilvy, two blocks south

‘Holt Renfrew Ogilvy’ will become the name of the new 250,000 square foot luxury retail superstore — the largest of its kind in Canada, by far. An expansion is currently underway at the 1307 Sainte-Catherine Street West Ogilvy flagship in anticipation of the opening, will include an adjacent Four Seasons Hotel and private residences on the site of the former Hotel de la Montagne. The new Four Seasons Hotel will include 163 hotel rooms priced from $600 per night, as well as 18 of the city’s most expensive condominium apartments, priced between $4 million and $20 million, averaging about $1,500 per square foot. 

Holt Renfrew has revealed some of what will be in store for the new Hot Renfrew Ogilvy, and luxury will be key. Personal shopping will be an important component to the store, with the addition of ‘The Apartment’ private shopping suite, as well as extensive personal shopping services. There will be a concierge, valet parking, and a Holt’s Café — services will be “tailored to the Montreal market,” according to Holt’s. 

The current Ogilvy building will see a reconfiguration of its departments as part of the expansion. The store’s beauty hall will be moved into the basement into a 23,000 square foot space — Holt’s recently did this with its Vancouver flagship, and sources say that the Toronto Bloor Street Holt’s will also see its beauty department relocated downstairs, as Holt’s devotes ample space on the ground floor of its downtown flagships to leased departments for the world’s most popular and expensive luxury brands. 

The Holt Renfrew Ogilvy ground floor will be anchored by several significant luxury brand boutiques, including Chanel and Louis Vuitton. Chanel will relocate from Holt Renfrew’s current store at 1300 Sherbrooke Street West, and Louis Vuitton has been an existing tenant inside of Ogilvy for more than two decades. 

Other ground floor luxury concession boutiques will include Christian Dior (in a 2,000 square foot boutique), Fendi (700 square feet), Hermès (3,000 square feet, or about three times the size of its current Holt’s space), Prada (2,300 square feet) and jeweller Tiffany & Co., spanning about 2,500 square feet.  

Women’s shoe floor at Holt Renfrew in Vancouver.

Interestingly, Tiffany & Co. also currently operates a boutique at the base of the Ritz Carlton Hotel across the street from Holt Renfrew on Sherbrooke Street West — in a space that is only about 2,000 square feet, which means that the Ogilvy shop-in-store will be larger than Tiffany’s existing freestanding unit. 

In total, about 20,000 square feet of Holt Renfrew Ogilvy’s ground floor will be devoted to luxury handbags and small leather goods. While impressive in size, it might be noted that the Vancouver Holt’s flagship’s accessory department spans in excess of 30,000 square feet — sales at Vancouver’s Holt’s are considerably higher than in Holt’s Montreal store, buoyed by Asian shoppers who are spending a fortune on luxury brands on Canada’s West Coast. 

Holt Renfrew Ogilvy’s women’s footwear salon will span about 8,000 square feet, which is about the same size as its recently unveiled Vancouver footwear hall. The Vancouver space includes an 500 square foot Ladurée café.

The expanded Montreal Holt Renfrew Ogilvy will be Holt Renfrew’s largest store, by far. The Vancouver flagship at CF Pacific Centre in Vancouver, which is one of the most productive department stores on the continent, has almost 188,000 square feet of space over four levels. The Toronto 50 Bloor Street West flagship is a bit smaller, with about 182,400 square feet over four levels, as well as a double-mezzanine with a restaurant, shoes/apparel, salon and storage — the store recently lost about 3,800 square feet of ground level space when it vacated part of adjacent 60 Bloor Street West. Holt’s also operates a 16,500 square foot standalone men’s store at 100 Bloor Street West which, remarkably, contains the entire men’s offerings for Holt Renfrew in the downtown core — contrasting with Harry Rosen’s more than 50,000 square feet of space directly across the street. 

Montreal’s Holt Renfrew Ogilvy will have some competition when it opens. Last year, Saks Fifth Avenue announced that it would open a 200,000 square foot flagship at the back end of Hudson’s Bay’s 650,000 square foot store on Sainte Catherine Street West, though sources in the company are no longer providing a definitive timeline as to its anticipated opening date, which was supposed to be several months from now. La Maison Simons, which carries some luxury brands in its downtown Montreal store, is set to see a renovation over the next couple of years. And menswear retailer Harry Rosen, which is still the undisputed king of luxury menswear in Canada, operates a recently renovated flagship store at downtown Montreal’s Les Cours Mont Royal. There are also several independent multi-brand retailers that carry luxury brands — though sources say that luxury sales are considerably less in Montreal than they are in cities such as Toronto and Vancouver, making one question if the market will become oversaturated with the expanded Holt Renfrew Ogilvy, as well as the possibility of Saks Fifth Avenue moving downtown in a big way. 

The Montreal Holt Renfrew Ogilvy project will cost in excess of $100 million when all is said and done, with developer Carbonleo being involved with the development. The store is being designed by interior designer Jeffrey Hutchison & Associates, with support from Montreal-based Lemay. Interiors will be “bright and modern, with a palette that layers luxurious textures of stone, glass, metal and fabric,” that “will create an opulent shopping environment”. The ‘Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences’ expansion facade is being designed by Gensler, which will maintain heritage elements as well as refurbish the historic fifth-floor Tudor Hall music/meeting space inside of Ogilvy. 

Mario Grauso, President of Holt Renfrew, said: “This is a dynamic city with a rich history, and a renowned fashion legacy that we are honoured to be a part of. Inspired by the best of both Holt Renfrew and Ogilvy, we have designed this store to offer our customers the very best luxury products and an unparalleled shopping experience in what promises to be one of the most beautiful stores in the world.” 

Links of London Announces Canada-Wide Standalone Boutique Expansion in 2018

By
Craig Patterson
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Links of London (Image: Mauricio Calero)

UK-based luxury jewellery brand Links of London has announced plans to open more standalone stores nationally in 2018, perhaps a signal that Links of London is parting ways with Holt Renfrew. 

“This expansion is not only a symbol of our brand’s vitality in the Canadian market, but also a testament to the power of storytelling and personalization to create memorable and engaging experiences for customers,” said Leela Petrakis, President of FF Group North America, the parent company of Links of London. “We are incredibly proud and excited to invite customers across the country to discover an unparalleled retail environment, which highlights our British heritage, sartorial elegance and exceptional bespoke service.” 
 
To kick-off the expansion, Links of London will unveil a ‘Holiday Shoppe’ at Vancouver’s CF Pacific Centre on November 15, in an 800 square foot space located between Browns Shoes and the mall’s Zegna boutique. The retail space will then become Vancouver’s first permanent standalone Links of London store, and likely not its last, according to Ms. Petrakis. 

Links of London opened its first two standalone Canadian stores in the summer of 2016 in Toronto — an 860 square foot CF Toronto Eaton Centre boutique launched in June, followed by a 1,200 square foot location at CF Sherway Gardens about a month later. A 615 square foot Yorkdale boutique, Toronto’s third, opened in the summer of 2017. The Yorkdale boutique has seen tremendous success, as it has provided Links of London access to a wider customer audience outside of Holt Renfrew, with its new placement and larger presence in the mall. The fourth Greater Toronto store will open in the first half of 2018, and the location will be revealed by the company later this month. 
 
Location scouting is now under way in major cities across Canada for more Links of London stores while at the same time, the company continues to invest in its online business, reporting high double-digit growth last year. Targeted cities include Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa, as well as potentially more stores for both Toronto and Vancouver.

Links of London (Image: Mauricio Calero)

Links of London’s new standalone boutiques will feature interactive touch-points that will be incorporated into each design. For instance, an “Engraving & Customization Bar”, which was first unveiled at Yorkdale, will invite customers to participate in the design process by customizing a bespoke piece of jewellery. On-site engraving services will allow customers to add personalized messages on the spot, further heightening the Made-To-Order experience.  

Freestanding retail concepts allow Links of London to showcase its expanded offerings, while also providing an intimate one-on-one experience between customers and jewellery stylists. Links also has a VIP program, with promotions held throughout the year. 
 
Links of London currently operates five freestanding U.S. locations, with four stores in New York City and a store at Forum Shops in Las Vegas. The brand also has a successful partnership with Bloomingdale’s, operating concession shops at select locations across the country. The Links of London brand was founded in 1990 and has grown to become a global luxury brand. In July of 2006, the company was sold to Greek conglomerate Folli Follie SA. The name ‘Links’ originated from the brand’s first product — the iconic salmon cufflinks, which became the springboard for its unique jewellery, timepieces and gifts for both genders. 

*Photos are by Mauricio Calero. 

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