Park Royal Continues Remarkable Transformation

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September 26, 2017

image-asset - 2021-05-25T141015.215 — Image: Park Royal

West Vancouver’s upscale Park Royal shopping centre continues to transform, after several years of expansions and renovations that have created a centre unlike any in Canada. After a complete overhaul of its south side, the focus is now on Park Royal’s north component as it continues to add new retailers, restaurants and services.

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Park Royal’s location is both convenient and spectacular. Located on busy Marine Drive near the iconic Lion’s Gate Bridge, Park Royal is near the ocean, with views to the north of mountains, trees, and mansions. West Vancouver is one of Canada’s wealthiest municipalities, and Park Royal is the region’s largest and most comprehensive shopping centre — with over 200 stores, restaurants and services. It’s the second largest shopping centre in British Columbia, with about 1.4 million square feet of retail space — only Metropolis at Metrotown is larger. Park Royal is also one of the top selling malls in the country, at approximately $650 million gross annually.

Park Royal was also Canada’s first covered shopping mall when it opened in September of 1950. The Guinness family developed the property in conjunction with department store chain Woodward’s, the centre’s original anchor. The Guinness family, which continues to be a major land owner in West Vancouver, sold Park Royal in 1986. By that time, the centre occupied sites north and south of Marine Drive, and Woodward’s had been joined by anchors Eaton’s and Hudson’s Bay.

The centre features both indoor and outdoor retail, catering both to locals as well as the broader region. ’The Village’ opened in the mall’s south-side component in late 2004, in a style reminiscent of Whistler Village. Home Depot’s first Canadian urban concept store opened in The Village, which now includes retailers such as Old Navy, Michaels and Whole Foods.

(PARK ROYAL SOUTH, LEVEL 2 FACING FOOD COURT)

Park Royal South also includes indoor and outdoor retail components. The enclosed Park Royal South saw major additions in 2015, including a relocated food court and a 100,000 square foot La Maison Simons fashion store. Park Royal South’s outdoor component expanded in 2014 to include a number of leading retailers, with names such as Kate Spade, Anthropologie, Michael Kors, Zara, J. Crew and Aritzia.

Over the past five years, Park Royal South has seen a full renovation of its interior south mall, as well as the expansion of its south mall outdoor components. Owner Larco Investments and its tenants have spent over $180 million on the centre’s redevelopment, expansion and fit-outs since 2013. Park Royal South will see several new retailers open this year — H&M will open a 23,000 square foot store, relocating from Park Royal North. RYU and MAC Cosmetics will join it, as will a 10,700 square foot Keg Steakhouse and Bar.

Food and beverage is an important component to Park Royal, generally — the centre boasts over 35 dining options including a food court, 10 patios, and six full-service restaurants.

PARK ROYAL SOUTH, WEST ENTRANCE AND LA MAISON SIMONS)

Next on the horizon is a north mall overhaul. ‘Park Royal North’, the mall’s original retail space, is in the process of seeing a renovation that will add several key retailers, while at the same time eliminating some interior mall corridors. Loblaw City Market recently opened, adding a third grocery anchor to the centre. The BC Liquor Store will soon relocate to a 25,995 square foot retail space, making it the largest liquor store in the province. Saks OFF 5TH also recently announced that it will open a 33,000 square foot store in the summer of 2017, as per the lease plan below. Fast-casual chain Chipotle will also open its first North Shore location in February, as will a new fitness centre, Steve Nash Sports Club. Park Royal North’s existing anchors Hudson’s Bay and London Drugs will remain in their current locations.

By the end of 2018, Park Royal will boast a remarkable 22 anchor tenants, including: La Maison Simons, Best Buy, Winners, Saks OFF 5th, BC Liquor Store, Sport Chek, Whole Foods, Home Depot, Hudson’s Bay, Indigo, Steve Nash Sports Club and Loblaws City Market.

Park Royal’s transformation is still ongoing, and the centre is looking for tenants to add to its already exceptional centre. Larco Investments will be at ICSC Whistler this year to speak with interested parties. For more information, contact Shanon Thornley, Senior Director, Retail Leasing; 604-923-4713, sthornley@parkroyal.ca.

Nordstrom Announces First 3 Canadian Nordstrom Rack Opening Dates

By

Craig Patterson

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September 26, 2017

Nordstrom Rack Yonge Bloor — Photo: First Gulf

UPDATE: Here’s a look inside of Nordstrom Rack’s first Canadian store, which opened to the public on March 22, 2018.

Nordstrom has announced the opening dates of its first three Canadian off-price Nordstrom Rack stores, as it prepares to launch a national expansion that could see as many as 15 locations over the next several years. So far, Nordstrom has revealed where six Nordstrom Rack stores will open in 2018 — its first three Canadian stores will open in the spring of 2018, with three more confirmed to be opening in the fall of 2018.

Nordstrom Rack’s first Canadian store will open on March 22, 2018, at Vaughan Mills in suburban Toronto. The 35,315 square foot store will be located across from a Nike Factory Store at the east end of the centre. Vaughan Mills is also anchored by competitors Saks OFF 5TH and Winners/HomeSense — one of Saks OFF 5TH’s first three Canadian stores opened in March of 2016 at Vaughan Mills. As well, Holt Renfrew’s off-price concept hr2 is located in the mall, though it is scheduled to permanently close on December 31 of this year.

On April 26 of 2018, Nordstrom Rack will open its second Canadian store at Deerfoot Meadows in Calgary. The 30,600 square foot store will join a number of popular retailers in the power centre, which is located about 4 km from Nordstrom’s full-line CF Chinook Centre store, which was Canada’s first when it opened in September of 2014.

On May 3 of 2018, Nordstrom Rack will open its third Canadian store in Toronto’s Bloor-Yorkville area. The 38,545 square foot two-level store will include 8,870 square feet on the ground floor occupying the corner space at Bloor Street East and Yonge Street, with an additional 29,675 square feet of space to be located upstairs. The Yonge-Bloor Nordstrom Rack will be located at the base of the One Bloor Street East mixed-use tower that includes a 76-storey condominium tower above, with a Mark McEwan grocery store confirmed to be a new tenant for 18,000 square feet of the podium shared by Nordstrom Rack (McEwan opens towards the end of 2018).

Nordstrom has also confirmed that it will be opening three Canadian locations in the fall of 2018, with dates to be revealed closer to their opening. These will include locations at The Ottawa Train Yards in Ottawa, at South Edmonton Common in Edmonton, and at Heartland Town Centre in Mississauga. All three locations will be approximately 35,000 square feet, according to Nordstrom.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 14: General view of Nordstom Rack Department Store on November 14, 2014 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Lisa Lake/Getty Images for Nordstrom Inc.)

Canada’s Nordstrom Rack stores will feature fashions, accessories and shoes with savings of between 30% and 70% off regular prices. Merchandise will be a mix of product from full-line Nordstrom stores, as well as some items specifically purchased from top brands sold at Nordstrom.

Nordstrom has said that it plans to operate between 10 and 15 Nordstrom Rack stores in Canada, addressing a market that was arguably under-served. At the same time, TJX Canada’s off-price concepts Winners and Marshalls continue to open stores at a rapid pace Canada-wide, not to mention its off-price home concept, HomeSense. The Hudson’s Bay Company’s off-price Saks OFF 5TH concept is also expanding rapidly, with plans to operate approximately 25 stores across Canada by the end of 2018.

On September 15, Nordstrom opened its sixth Canadian store at Toronto’s CF Sherway Gardens, marking the end of its planned full-line Canadian store expansion. Nordstrom opened its first Canadian store at Calgary’s CF Chinook Centre in September of 2014, followed by locations at Ottawa’s CF Rideau Centre in March of 2015, at CF Pacific Centre in Vancouver in September of 2015, and two Toronto stores in the fall of 2016 — at CF Toronto Eaton Centre, and at Yorkdale Shopping Centre.

CRAFT Beer Market Announces Expansion

By

Mario Toneguzzi

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September 26, 2017

CRAFT Beer Market Vancouver 'OLYMPIC VILLAGE' (Image: Craft Beer Market)

CRAFT Beer Market is opening its latest location in the popular Southcentre Mall in southwest Calgary in October with plans as well to open a location in downtown Toronto in November.

PJ L’Heureux, founder and president of the brand which features more than 100 beers on tap, told Retail Insider that the official opening at the Calgary shopping centre, on October 5, will be the company’s fifth location.

Since opening in 2011 in Calgary’s Beltline district, just outside the downtown core, CRAFT has expanded to locations in Edmonton, Vancouver and Ottawa.

*(SOUTHCENTRE, CALGARY. RENDERING SUPPLIED)*

“This project at Southcentre has been in the works for about three years,” says L’Heureux. “It’s a really good place for where we want to be and we were looking for something in the deep south or the central south and we never really got anywhere with both of those looking for spaces. We did have Oxford (Properties, owner of Southcentre) come to us with a project in Toronto and at the same time they said we could probably make something happen at Southcentre.”

“Originally for me I wasn’t huge on the mall. But we did some research in the States looking at some of the restaurant chains and it’s kind of the new wave of what malls are driving. They’re not just shopping anymore. They’re also entertainment driven.”

L’Heureux says there’s a reason shopping malls are still around and that’s because foot traffic is huge. For CRAFT, that will be a huge benefit.

“And the mall’s banking on us to drive traffic. So it’s a win-win,” he says.

L’Heureux says the Toronto location will open at beginning of November in the financial district at Yonge and Adelaide Streets.

“We’re super excited about it. It’s a flagship obviously. It’s right in the heart of Toronto. A big huge location for us,” he says.

CRAFT BEER MARKET TORONTO LOCATION AT 1 ADELAIDE ST. EAST, OPENING IN NOVEMBER

Another location is planned for Kelowna, B.C., as the company took over a heritage building there – the old Paramount Theatre – a block off the waterfront and it will open in the spring of 2018. It features a rooftop patio overlooking Okanagan Lake.

“We’re looking at opening one a year basically,” says L’Heureux.

Shawn Hanson, general manager at Southcentre, says the presence of CRAFT Beer Market will mean a lot for the shopping centre.

“We’re very excited to have the quality of restaurant the CRAFT is. Beyond the experience they bring, they’re going to bring another entertainment component to the shopping centre. They’re going to bring fantastic beer and great food offerings,” says Hanson.

There’s a trend happening in that segment of the food and entertainment business. Consumers are looking for different things in a mall.

“A lot of people are looking for local food and local drink and CRAFT offers both of those things,” adds Hanson.

“Food and entertainment are huge pieces of the experience component that everybody’s looking to secure. Anytime you have the opportunity to secure a great tenant whether it’s CRAFT or somebody else, they instantly give you cachet and give you a better experience at your site. Everybody’s looking to do something in that and food and beverage is absolutely huge. There’s a lot of people competing for that dollar in the city but in the south side of the city CRAFT’s going to do exceptionally well just because of who they are, what they do and how well they do it.”

L’Heureux has long been interested in beer and when he was 18 he started brewing his own beer at his parents’ house. A trip to Portland, Oregon sparked his interest in perhaps creating his own enterprise and the idea for CRAFT Beer Market was born.

*All photos are via CRAFT Beer Market.

Shoppers Drug Mart Launches New Retail Concept [Photos]

By

Mario Toneguzzi

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September 25, 2017

Shoppers Drug Mart has launched a pilot project in a standalone Leaside neighbourhood store, providing customers with a new resource to help them take charge of the way they age.

Wellwise, a first-of-its kind retail experience with specialized products and expert advice to help Canadians stay active and well, opened its first location on Saturday at 65 Wicksteed Avenue in Toronto, in 2,500 square feet of selling space.

“About a year ago we were doing our strategic business review and we were conducting a fair bit of consumer research and really what came out of that consumer research is that Canadians, our customers, were looking for a better shopping experience – a better experience within the stores,” says Scott Wilks, vice-president of Home Health Care for Shoppers Drug Mart.

“They didn’t want to age just comfortably anymore. They really talked about taking control of their aging as they go forward.”

Shoppers Drug Mart says the store will offer a range of specially-selected products and specialized services that will empower residents to make their everyday life healthier, easier and more active. That includes everything from mobility aids to sleep therapy to low-impact fitness and physiotherapy products to nutrition to supports and braces to tools and gadgets for everyday living.

Specialized services include an on-site dietician, professional fitters for compression products and supports and braces, as well as suggestions for home modifications.

The store is designed to be modern, interactive and easy to navigate.

“It’s a very vibrant neighbourhood,” says Wilks of Leaside. “It’s one where the demographics are very positive and we felt there’s a real need for our store and services in that area.”

“(The store) was really designed around the customer. It’s a very bright, vibrant-looking store as you walk in. We focused on navigation to make it easy . . . It’s really shifting the thinking from illness to wellness and keeping people active. There’s a lot of studies out there that say that if you stay active you live longer. So a lot of things in the store promote that activity.”

The pilot store, for example, will be running weekly walking classes with people using urban poles.

But the store won’t only be for older people. The active living section will have everything from yoga mats to light Pilates weights, as well as supports and braces for workers and weekend warriors.

Shoppers Drug Mart says Wellwise will also launch this fall an e-commerce site offering convenient direct-to-home deliveries. Products will be available to customers across Canada.

“It’s an important complement to the overall strategy and it will launch later in October,” says Wilks.

The e-commerce strategy fits nicely into trends in society with the explosion in retail sales through this avenue and also providing convenient shopping for an aging population.

“One of our key target audiences is caregivers. One in five Canadians today are caregivers for older adults. Often they’re not in the same city, the same province. So having an e-commerce option . . . you can have these products delivered straight to their homes. Your mother doesn’t have to go out on a cold, rainy night in Toronto in mid-November to get something. It just gives that comfort,” says Wilks.

Will the bricks and mortar component of the store eventually expand to other locations?

“We’re really treating this as a pilot. We’re going to make sure we get it right. So really our first step is to make sure we get the bricks and mortar done right and really get the feedback from our customers whether this is the right direction and where we’re going and then launching the e-commerce part,” says Wilks.

“We’ll take a measured to approach to how we move forward.”

*All photos were provided courtesy of Shoppers Drug Mart.

Using Video and RFID Data to Improve LP and Inventory Management

By

Retail Insider

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September 25, 2017

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Spokesperson: Net Payne, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, March Networks

Using Video and RFID Data to Improve LP and Inventory Management

Video has been used by retailers for decades now to help improve security efforts. It enables store owners, managers and security professionals to actually see what happened following an incident, and can be an invaluable resource in helping to resolve complaints, liability claims and identify shoplifters.

Video, however, has evolved with the technology to the point where more retailers are also using it to help improve operations and profitability. Intelligent video solutions that integrate recorded video with point-of-sale (POS) transaction data and business analytics are now used by many retailers for advanced loss prevention and investigation, workforce management, and operational improvement in areas including store presentation, compliance and customer service.

That’s one reason why the concept of integrating fixed radio frequency identification (RFID) data with video is gaining traction so quickly. The solution offers retail organizations an extremely effective tool for tracking high-value merchandise, investigating suspected theft and better managing inventory.

For retailers, a solution that integrates high-definition video and RFID data represents a new opportunity to improve returns on their technology investments by leveraging the video and RFID technologies they may already have in place.

Retail Insights sat down recently with Net Payne, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer with Ottawa-based March Networks, to learn more about how emerging video and RFID solutions work and the benefits they offer retail organizations.

Q: Before we speak about what this technology can do to help retailers, can you run through some of the basics of RFID technology?

A: That’s a good idea. While those working in the retail industry are likely very comfortable with the presence of RFID technology, it’s not always clear how it works.

RFID tags, which some people refer to as RFID chips, contain electronically stored data that is transmitted via radio waves whenever an RFID-tagged item passes by a fixed RFID reader. The stored data can consist of almost any information a retail organization requires, including item or serial numbers, or electronic product codes, making it extremely useful for inventory tracking and management. There are billions of RFID tags deployed globally in retail apparel alone, however estimates suggest that less than 20% of the apparel market is using the technology to date (IDTechEx Research, RFID Forecasts, Players and Opportunities 2017-2027).

It’s important to note that RFID technology is different from Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS), which many people would recognize as the bulky or hard plastic tags attached to clothes and other merchandise in retail stores. EAS tags contain no item-specific data and are designed to simply trigger an alarm if they are not removed or deactivated. While some predict that RFID technology will eventually replace EAS, another approach is to combine the two capabilities so retail organizations can access valuable item-specific data as well as maintain the alarm functionality.

RFID tags contain item-specific data and can be sown into apparel or otherwise hidden

EAS tags contain no item data. They are attached visibily to items to serve as a theft deterrant.

RFID technology is being used quite effectively in a wide range of applications. Renowned guitar maker Fender, for example, has reportedly embedded more than 30,000 RFID chips to uniquely identify its guitars. The data can be read by Fender dealers and repair shops, and if a guitar is believed to be stolen, it can also be read by police to help determine the instrument’s real owner. Casinos are embedding RFID data in gambling chips to track spending and prevent theft, and factories are using it to help measure how long it takes to build a product.

Q: We know that many retail organizations are already using RFID technology on its own quite successfully. What additional value does video bring to the table?

A: That’s a great question and one we get asked all the time.

While RFID, transaction and other data can help identify what has likely happened following an incident, only video can reveal how it happened and who was involved.

For example, a retailer will be able to discover that a missing RFID-tagged 4K television was last detected by an RFID reader mounted at a back door in one of its locations. The assumption will probably be that the item has been stolen. However an integrated video and RFID solution can provide the next level of detail, enabling the retailer to search on the electronic product code contained in the RFID tag and click on a link to view the associated video.

The recorded video may show that an employee passed the television out the back door to an unknown person. It would allow the retailer to verify that the item was, in fact, stolen and would also provide clear video evidence that could be used to identify the unknown participant, deal with the thieving employee and recover the cost of the lost item.

Q: How can a retail organization use an integrated video and RFID solution effectively and what are the benefits?

A: The applications for integrated video and RFID data in retail are numerous, and we find that our customers are quick to suggest additional uses once they understand the capabilities of the solution.

Loss prevention is an obvious area where the technology can really help. And with shrink costing Canadian retailers an estimated $4 billion annually, that’s an area where retailers are always looking to improve. Similar to the example I gave above, being able to track merchandise using RFID data to its last known location and then review the recorded video to see what happened next is extremely valuable for retailers. It not only makes the investigation process much faster, it also provides the organization with critical video evidence.

In some instances, a retailer might discover that the missing inventory was not stolen at all, but simply misplaced. In such cases, having the video replay available makes it easier for an owner or manager to understand why that happened and identify employees who might need more training.

Other interesting applications we’ve encountered include using a video-RFID solution to confirm that high-end merchandise is intact at the moment it is transferred to a courier company for fulfillment delivery, in case items arrive damaged. Another customer wants to use the solution to alert staff when a product is removed from a wall display – probably because it’s been purchased – so the display can be restocked before a news sales opportunity is potentially lost.

Q: What should retail organizations look for in an integrated video-RFID solution?

A: To ensure optimum flexibility and performance, retail organizations should look for solutions that can deliver the same level of reliability, management and high-quality video capture they would typically demand from their video surveillance system. The integrated solution should include easy-to-use reporting software with robust search capabilities that allow loss prevention investigators, managers and other users to run searches across a few stores or thousands of locations simultaneously. Automated alerts that enable staff to proactively respond to anomalies, such as high-value items being removed from a location without first being captured on an order, are also ideal.

Finally, it’s important for organizations to think about the technology expertise they will need to implement such a solution. Most systems integrators will have a high degree of knowledge on either the video or RFID side, so retailers should ask how the provider is going to bridge any gaps in knowledge and what kind of support they have behind them from the technology manufacturers.

March Networks is a leading provider of intelligent IP video solutions currently used by more than 300 retail organizations worldwide.

RH Restoration Hardware Prepares to Unveil Yorkdale Flagship

By

Craig Patterson

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September 25, 2017

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UPDATE: To see photos of the newly opened RH Gallery at Yorkdale, see our updated article: Inside Yorkdale’s Impressive 70,000 Square Foot RH Restoration Hardware Gallery [Photos]

RH, aka Restoration Hardware, is preparing to open one of its largest locations globally at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre. The four-level, 70,000 square foot store will open to the public on Friday, October 20 at 11:00am.

It’s the latest ‘RH Gallery’ to open for the chain — several American cities already feature the large-format, multi-level concept. Each location is architecturally stunning, and Yorkdale will no doubt live up to that standard. It’s being described as having “artistic installations of furnishings and décor in a gallery setting” with entire floors dedicated to RH Interiors, RH Modern and RH Outdoor — initially designed by Backen, Gillam & Kroeger, with Toronto-based architectural firm Quadrangle having completed the drawings, coordinated final design details, obtained city approvals, oversaw construction and ensured that the RH brand goals and design concept was faithfully executed in the final building.

The “grand-scale, classical contemporary structure” will be “filled with fresh air and natural light” with architectural and design details that will include lush garden terraces, decomposed granite courtyards, and a grand double floating staircase with a massive skylight and spectacular installation of 23 Helix crystal chandeliers suspended 62 feet overhead. A Rooftop Park & Conservatory with mature Himalayan birch trees will feature intimate vignettes showcasing the latest RH Outdoor collections, with views of the Toronto skyline.

Yorkdale’s RH will also include an interactive Design Atelier, offering the services of professional interior designers in a studio environment — not to mention a Ben Soleimani Rug Showroom as well as specialized galleries for window treatments, bed and bath linens and bath hardware.

The Yorkdale flagship will be only the second globally to feature a restaurant component in partnership with celebrated restaurateur Brendan Sodikoff, which will include a courtyard café that will offer a seasonal, ingredient-driven menu set within sheltered gardens with towering heritage olive trees, trickling fountains and glimmering chandeliers. In addition, a pantry will serve craft espresso, a curated selection of artisanal wines and craft beers, and fresh house-made doughnuts and pastries from Sodikoff’s famed Doughnut Vault in Chicago.

RH anchors Yorkdale’s newest expansion wing that extends westward towards Dufferin Street. Other confirmed tenants in the new wing include Sporting Life (also opening next month).

We’ll follow up this article with photos of the new space when it opens next month.

Retail Week 2017 Expands Across Canada, October 2-6

By

Retail Insider

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September 25, 2017

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Canadian university-focused annual retail industry event, Retail Week, has expanded to involve three well-known universities, with a goal to promote retail education and retail careers. This year’s Retail Week takes place between Monday, October 2 and Friday, October 6, and it’s seeking sponsors to help make it grow this year, as well for years to come.

Retail Week now includes activities at the University of Alberta School of Retailing in Edmonton, the Ted Rogers School of Retail Management at Ryerson University in Toronto, and at the David Sobey Centre for Retail Innovation at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax.

The collaboration includes a number of events, with the www.RetailWeek.ca website providing a schedule of activities at all three schools for the week.

In Edmonton at the University of Alberta School of Retailing, activities will include the following:
-A student-focused event discussing how to build a consulting company (Monday, October 2),
-A student-focused event discussing how to start a clothing brand (Tuesday, October 3),
-A career fair in the School of Business Atrium, and an executive round table dinner (Wednesday, October 4) with a networking event after a morning board meeting on Thursday, October 5, and
-A tour of several major shopping centres, courtesy of Retail Insider’s Editor-in-Chief Craig Patterson, who will be in Edmonton for part of the week.

As well, Goodwill will be operating a unique pop-up at the School of Retailing offices at 9007 HUB Mall on October 2 and October 3 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

In Toronto at the Ted Rogers School of Retail Management at Ryerson University, activities will include:
-Educational lectures (including discussions about retail real estate, and retail website coding, as well as a CREA Charrette inter-school competition) on Monday, October 2,
-A presentation by Amazon Canada for students, as well as a CREA Charette on Tuesday, October 2,
-Lectures on storytelling skills for interviews (by Ivan Wanis Ruiz), ethical leadership for retailers as well as speed networking with retail employers on Wednesday, October 4,
-Lectures re: health and wellness (Greenhouse Juice Co. and Well.ca), a discussion of TJX Canada’s off-price buying model and field trip to its head office, and a RRAA Alumni Association panel night on Thursday, October 5, and
-A lecture on how to connect with Gen Z on Instagram by the digital team at Adidas Canada.

And in Halifax at the David Sobey Centre for Retail Innovation at Saint Mary’s University, events and activities will include:
-A Human Resources panel (lectures from retail executives from several leading companies about skills needed, emerging opportunities and career paths) on Monday, October 2,
-Retail Innovation Awards on Thursday October 5, recognizing three retailers for their uniqueness, innovation and impact (5:30-8:30pm at the Loyola Conference Hall, see below), and
-Retail Tours on Friday, October 6, at the Halifax Shopping Centre, where students will meet with retailers and mall executives in the morning and in the afternoon, students will get an exposure to logistics and supply chain at the Port of Halifax.

The Retail Innovation awards on October 5 in Halifax are being presented to three companies in recognition of their retail leadership and innovation, with the award winners including:
-Regina-based jewellery company Hillberg & Berk (whose pieces have adorned the Queen) which empowers women “one sparkle at a time”,
-Upscale craft retailer Brika in Toronto, whose community of more than 400 makers has seen the company move from online to three stores, and
-Retailer The Uncommon Group, which comprises retail stores that celebrate Nova Scotian products and history, led by the business leader who walked away from Wall Street to remind Halifax to love local.

Retail Week is seeking sponsors — funds will help students learn more about retail, events, marketing and more, and sponsoring companies are publicly recognized as being valued contributors. For more information, contact Emily Deveaux, Executive Director at the University of Alberta School of Retailing, at: salsbury@ualberta.ca.

Eleventy Unveils 1st Standalone Store in North America [Photos]

By

Craig Patterson

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September 22, 2017

Eleventy+Storefront — Eleventy at Yorkville Village, August 2022 (Image: Craig Patterson)

Italian luxury brand Eleventy has opened its first store in North America at Toronto’s Yorkville Village. The 2,200 square foot space is operated in partnership with local retailer TNT The New Trend. It’s the first location in North America to feature Eleventy’s full line of men’s and women’s fashions, in a retail space that was designed by Parisotto + Formenton.

“Since the launch of Eleventy North America, Toronto has been our top performing market. This is an exciting opportunity to offer the full line to the city that has shown its appreciation for Eleventy from the very beginning,” said Geoff Schneiderman, President of Eleventy North America. “The partnership with TNT to open our first freestanding boutique is a very natural marriage between the brands,” added Mr. Schneiderman.

Canada represents an impressive 35% of Eleventy’s North American business, with much of those sales coming out of Toronto.

Eleventy at Yorkville Village (Women’s Fashions)

Eleventy at Yorkville Village (Men’s Fashions)

Eleventy was founded in 2007 by Marco Baldassari and Paolo Zuntini, and it’s particularly known for its upscale casual fashion design with a soft sartorial style. In an interview, Mr. Baldassari explained that he was a big fan of Toronto, referring to it as being “vibrant” and “cosmopolitan”. He also said that the country could see more Eleventy partner boutiques similar to that with TNT The New Trend in Toronto.

Eleventy has a network of 20 mono-brand boutiques in Europe and Asia, and is sold in over 500 speciality and department stores worldwide. The line is relatively new to North America — Eleventy USA launched in 2016, and it’s carried in upscale retailers such as Holt Renfrew, Nordstrom, Hudson’s Bay and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Mr. Schneiderman explained how the brand’s quality is on par with some of the world’s top luxury brands, but at prices that are 1/3 to 1/2 that of pricier competitors. Eleventy strives to provide “the best possible quality at the best possible price,” he said. Collections are made in Italy, including fashions, footwear and accessories.

LEFT-TO-RIGHT: MARCO BALDASSARI, AIDEN ASSARAF, GEOFF SCHNEIDERMAN ARIE ASSARAF, AND EARL ROTMAN.

On the evening of September 18, Eleventy held an opening party with notable guests that included Toronto Blue Jays star pitcher Marcus Stroman, Eleventy’s CEO and Co-Founder of Eleventy Marco Baldassari, President of Eleventy North America Geoff Schneiderman and Chairman of Eleventy North America Earl Rotman.

Toronto’s Yorkville Village is nearing the completion of a substantial multi-million dollar overhaul that includes new interiors, new retailers, and a variety of services catering to affluent shoppers in the area. We’ll be profiling several of them in the coming weeks as construction is completed on what is shaping up to become one of the most unique shopping centres in Canada.

(A PEEK AT ‘TNT CONCEPT’, OPENING SOON ADJACENT TO ELEVENTY. PHOTO: CRAIG PATTERSON)

Pop-Ups are the Experiential Marketing the Retail Industry Needs

By

Retail Insider

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September 22, 2017

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By Linda Farha, Founder and Chief Connector, pop-up go

With humble beginnings as an unconventional marketing tactic, the pop-up trend has quickly grown into a legitimate and successful business strategy for both brands and landlords.

As a short-term commitment, pop-ups provide the flexibility needed for brand development and experimentation on both sides of the industry.

For landlords, pop-ups present an opportunity to test diverse tenants, increase the visibility of their space and generate short-term revenue. Hosting a successful pop-up allows landlords to demonstrate the value of their property to potential long-term retail tenants.

For retailers, pop-ups are an effective way to build consumer relationships and test new markets before committing to a permanent location. These activations are no longer simply geared towards point-of-sales goals, they are intended to provide an unforgettable experience, and a forum to interact with consumers in an unconventional way. According to EventTrack, the largest experiential research report, 98 per cent of consumers feel more inclined to purchase after attending an experiential activation.

The Wonderbra pop-up boutique in Montréal last week, and in Toronto on Saturday, September 23 (25 Charlotte Street), offered visitors complimentary hair products, gift bags and expert help with on-site bra fittings. A strategic choice considering 80 per cent of people who attend an experiential activation said live demonstrations and free samples play a significant part in defining their purchasing decision. By cultivating an interactive and personal service not typically available to consumers, Wonderbra is adding a new dimension to their brand.

Against the backdrop of a competitive advertising landscape, marketers are turning to pop-ups to generate organic word-of-mouth promotion, through press coverage and the power of social media. A staggering 77 per cent of marketers are using experiential marketing as a vital part of their brand’s advertising strategy.

While pop-ups continue to play an important role in building brand value, they are also reviving ‘brick and mortar’ in a world where ecommerce is hitting its stride.

Originally an ecommerce brand, Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop tested multiple markets with a pop-up shop inside select Nordstrom locations across North America. This fall, the lifestyle brand opened Goop Lab, its first permanent retail space in Los Angeles. From ecommerce to brick and mortar, Goop’s pop-ups provided valuable insight for large-scale business decisions.

As 2018 is predicted to be the year of the pop-up, landlords can expect to have more requests for short-term tenancy, providing new ways to boost the exposure of their spaces. Retailers will continue to capitalize on this trend and are finding new and innovative ways to leverage the relationship building potential of pop-ups.

Linda Farha is the Founder and Chief Connector of pop-up go, a trusted online space connector for landlords and space seekers across North America. The platform allows users to list and discover spaces making it easy to find the perfect tenant to fill your space or location to host your pop-up.

Cadillac Fairview Strikes Groundbreaking Partnership with Canadian Olympic Committee [Photos]

By

Mario Toneguzzi

-

September 21, 2017

Cadillac Fairview Strikes Groundbreaking Partnership with Canadian Olympic Committee (PHOTO: BETTINA BOGAR)

Cadillac Fairview and the Canadian Olympic Committee have entered into an 11-year partnership which is aimed at growing and supporting the Olympic Movement in Canada.

With the partnership, Cadillac Fairview, one of the largest owners, operators and developers of best-in-class retail, office and mixed-use properties in North America, has been named as the Official Home of Team Canada.

As part of the agreement, the Olympic Committee will now be headquartered at CF’s 250 Yonge Street office tower, part of CF Toronto Eaton Centre‘s office portfolio. The Committee will make its home on the 30th floor post Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018.

ACROBATICS AT THE ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEK AT CF TORONTO EATON CENTRE. (PHOTO: BETTINA BOGAR)

Jason Anderson, senior vice-president of marketing for Cadillac Fairview, says this is the first time that a company in the commercial real estate industry has done a deal like this.

“This is completely consistent with our strategy over a period of years which is to focus on the best shopping centres and office buildings in Canada and make sure they stay that way through regular investment. We spent over $4 billion in the last four years to do that,” says Anderson.

“But there’s also a recognition that we need to bring those buildings to life with vibrant, meaningful experiences. And that stands for both our shopping centres and our office buildings. What we saw here was the opportunity to recognize that great experiences can often be made better with great partners.”

He says Cadillac Fairview and Canadian Olympic Committee teams are now working together to identify ways and experiences to light up and spread the Olympic experience in shopping centres and office buildings.

“The fact this hasn’t been done in our industry before actually made it much more appealing to us as we think about how to differentiate versus our competitors and we saw being the Home of Team Canada as a great way to do just that,” says Anderson.

Jumping into our new partnership with @CadFairview today @CFtoeatonCentre 🇨🇦❤️ pic.twitter.com/ibxSaWUZP4

— kristyna petrollini (@kristyna3) September 20, 2017

“What we really recognize is that at the end of the day consumers have choice. Those choices aren’t going to hurt all malls but they will hurt the ones that don’t keep up with the pace of change. And that’s what we really see a commitment to vibrant, exciting experiences is really about. It’s about staying relevant and exciting and vibrant in the eyes of our shoppers and continuing our success despite the great pace of change in our industry.”

The Canadian Olympic Committee currently is in another location in downtown Toronto as well as a location in downtown Montreal. The Toronto office move to its new location is planned by July 1, 2018.

LOBBY AT 250 YONGE STREET. (PHOTO: CADILLAC FAIRVIEW)

Chris Overholt, CEO of the Canadian Olympic Committee, says Team Canada now has an official home where Olympians, fans and partners can come together to promote the values of the Olympic Movement. He says Cadillac Fairview is one of the Committee’s blue-chip partners.

“We worked over a couple of years to identify the right partner and the right circumstance for us and it became very clear as we got into it that Cadillac Fairview was going to be the partner we were looking for,” says Overholt. “It became very clear to both of us that there was a real opportunity here to create something special.”

Overholt says its new Toronto office is arguably the pre-eminent business building in the city if not the country.

“The opportunity more for our athletes and Canadians is the intersect of experience that all of Cadillac Fairview’s retail properties will provide. We talk a lot about the importance of our brand and central to our brand of course is our athletes. They are the living, breathing expression of the Canadian Olympic team,” says Overholt.

AT CF TORONTO EATON CENTRE. (PHOTO: BETTINA BOGAR)

“So we’ll be working closely with Jason (Anderson) and his team to create experiences and opportunities for our athletes to meet and engage with Canadians. That’s just going to bring the whole thing to life in a way that we had never frankly imagined . . . We have a real experience here to connect our athletes with Canadians that we’re very excited about coast to coast to coast.”

John Sullivan, President and CEO of Cadillac Fairview, says the company has a long history of transforming and supporting the communities it operates in, developing meaningful relationships that extend beyond bricks and mortar.

“We believe in the power of great teams and following months of planning, we are excited to officially join forces with the COC and look forward to building a program that will bring the Olympic spirit and sense of optimism to Canadians and visitors coast-to-coast in the communities we serve,” he says.

The Cadillac Fairview portfolio, owned by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, includes investments in retail, mixed-use and industrial real estate in Brazil, Colombia and Mexico. It is valued at more than $28 billion. The Canadian portfolio includes over 38 million square feet of leasable space at 67 properties in Canada.

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