Luxury Yorkville Avenue Retail Space Attracts Potential Tenants

By

-

August 15, 2017

A multi-level retail space on Toronto’s Yorkville Avenue has recently come available for lease, and it is particularly unique because of its location. Yorkville Avenue, particularly between Avenue Road and Bellair Street, is becoming a significant luxury address for retailers. The retail space at 110 Yorkville Avenue is positioned at centre ice.

Immediately to the east of the 110 Yorkville Avenue property are two under-construction retail buildings that will feature flagship locations for Chanel and Jimmy Choo, as well as a soon-to-be-announced luxury brand that will be housed in a four-level retail space. To the west of 110 Yorkville is the multi-level brick building that houses luxury retailer V Hazelton, which also operates a shop-in-store location for Italian luxury brand Kiton with its own prominent Hazelton Avenue corner signage. Directly across the street, luxury footwear and accessory brand Christian Louboutin opened its two-level Canadian flagship last summer, and Virgil Abloh’s first North American location for Off-White also recently opened several doors down.

The 110 Yorkville Avenue retail space is very unique, and can be modified in a variety of configurations for fashion or food uses. The ground floor includes about 933 square feet of retail space, and the landlord will build a brand new storefront to specifications. A 1,519 square foot lower level is an extension of the building with 18 foot high ceilings with skylights at the rear. In total, 110 Yorkville Avenue features in excess of 4,000 square feet of available space for a special tenant that wishes to be seen by some of the world’s wealthiest consumers.

Yorkville is considered to be Canada’s most prestigious high-density neighbourhood, in a similar fashion as London in Mayfair, or the Upper East Side in New York City. Yorkville is also growing substantially, with thousands of new residential units planned to be coming onto the market over the next several years. Yorkville, itself, is seeing streetscape improvements that are making it look truly world class. In the case of Yorkville Avenue, the recent addition of paving stones to its street and sidewalk offers a unique character, creating an elegant street that looks unlike any other in the city.

110 Yorkville Avenue is available for immediate possession. For more information and to discuss this property, please contact Emily Masuda, Broker, Retail Services, at Cushman & Wakefield: 416-359-2398 or by email: emily.masuda@cushwake.com.

As well, for more information, visit: www.cw-cm.ca/110YorkvilleAve.

[PDF Package]

Retail Insider will be occasionally profiling interesting retail spaces. For more information, contact Craig Patterson at: craig@retail-insider.com.

Alberta Retail Numbers Surpass Pre-Recession Peak

By

Mario Toneguzzi

-

August 15, 2017

Calgary, Alberta (Image: Tourism Calgary)

The most recent retail sales numbers in Alberta indicate the province has finally surpassed the pre-recession peak reached in October 2014.

According to Statistics Canada, retail sales in Alberta grew both in April and May by 0.9 per cent and 1.6 respectively to $6.81 billion.

“The fact that retail sales in the province have increased in nine out of the last 10 months is welcome news for retailers and another sign that the recession of 2015/16 is in the rearview mirror,” says a report by ATB Financial’s Economics & Research Team.

“In per capita terms, Albertans outspent the rest of the country at retail stores by an average of $234 per month last year despite the economic downturn in the province. This gap is explained by a combination of factors – Alberta’s higher employment rate and higher average income – and highlights some of the underlying strengths of the provincial economy that remain in play even during recessionary periods.”

Michael Kehoe, an Alberta-based retail specialist with Fairfield Commercial Real Estate in Calgary, says the impact of the economic slowdown that began in late 2014/early 2015 in Alberta had a short-term impact on retail sales in the province

“Within a matter of months consumer confidence and pre-downturn spending patterns had returned to a sort of new-normal,” he says. “Consumer preferences driven by a value-oriented state-of-mind swept over the local retail and food service industry. Restaurants from fine dining to quick/fast casual adapted to changing customer preferences.

“New stores and restaurants across the value spectrum continue to open across the greater Calgary regional district. The market appears to be less dependent on the oil and gas industry as we move forward with a more diversified economy and a get-on-with-it business attitude.”

MICHAEL KEHOE, RETAIL SPECIALIST WITH FAIRFIELD COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE IN CALGARY

According to Statistics Canada, the take-home pay of employed Albertans rose 1.7 per cent in May to $1,120 per week, which was the first year-over-year increase in the province since the spring of 2015. It is also the highest level of wages among the Canadian provinces.

“May’s wage report is yet another signal that shows Alberta is finding its feet after a tough couple of years.,” says ATB Financial.

Another sign of the retail recovery is in wholesale trade where Alberta recorded its seventh increase in eight months, according to StatsCan. Wholesale activity in the province reached $6.8 billion in May, growing by $289 million or 4.5 per cent from April. May’s total was the highest level since April 2015 and was the largest monthly dollar gain in Alberta since July 2013.

“May’s total wholesale number confirms that Alberta not only has a sturdy retail sector, but Alberta’s economy may be picking up a bit of steam,” added ATB Financial.

Kehoe says the greater Calgary region enjoys a quiet momentum and a feeling of prosperity knowing that it is the head office capital of Canada’s energy sector and the retail and distribution hub of Western Canada.

“Calgary’s shopping centre and retail store network is an ever-evolving component of the City’s infrastructure,” explains Kehoe. “It delivers goods and services to citizens and visitors across the region with new retail development driven by modest population growth and consumer demand.”

Alexanian Debuts New Signature by Shelley Alexanian Store Concept, Modernizing Flooring Retail [Photos]

By

Megan Harman

-

August 15, 2017

The family behind one of Ontario’s oldest carpet retailers has launched a new store that takes a more contemporary approach to the flooring retail business.

The Signature by Shelley Alexanian flagship store recently opened in the Castlefield Design District of Toronto, near Eglinton Ave. W. and Dufferin St. The store is an extension of the Alexanian carpet, flooring and window coverings chain, which dates back to 1925 and operates 19 stores throughout Ontario.

“It’s a departure from our traditional stores,” says Shelley Alexanian. “It’s a complete departure from anything in the flooring industry.”

The store aims to make floor shopping a vibrant and enjoyable experience for shoppers. Approximately 12,000 square feet in size, the store was designed to look like an oversized boutique, with products on display against a clean, white background.

Whereas the vast array of options in a flooring retailer can be overwhelming, Alexanian sought to create a space that was easy for shoppers to navigate. “I wanted something that wasn’t cluttered, that was visually very comfortable,” she says.

The store boasts four different types of lighting, so that customers can see how products would look under the lights in their own homes.

iPads are available in the store, which customers can use to access an app that provides pricing and other details about the products in store.

Customers are also offered espresso and cappuccinos, and a play area is available to keep kids occupied while their parents are shopping.

“It can be sort of mundane to go into a traditional flooring store,” Alexanian says. “I wanted to raise the bar, and create an innovative, fun and dynamic environment.”

The Signature store aims to be a one-stop shop for flooring, with a wide range of products such as hardwood, tiles, laminate, vinyl, marble, carpet, area rugs and more. It also carries a range of window coverings and California shutters. The store offers professional installation of all products available.

The merchandise differs from the selection available in the other Alexanian stores, with Signature boasting more contemporary styles and bolder colours and designs.

Castlefield was the perfect location for the new store, Alexanian says, since the area has become a destination for home design.

“For someone redoing their home, they would be inclined to come to this area if they wanted really progressive, contemporary, and more current design options,” she says.

The prices of the products in store range considerably, Alexanian adds, to appeal to a broad spectrum of customers.

The store aims to cater to both designers and consumers. For the designer community, the Signature store hosts regular workshops where designers can learn more about the various products and materials.

Alexanian says she might consider opening more Signature stores in the future.

Editor’s Note: Don Gregor of Aurora Realty Consultants acts as broker for Alexanian, and negotiated the Signature by Shelley Alexanian lease deal.

Honestly, Are Your Awesome Promotional Email Campaigns Being Unfairly Blocked by the Opposition?

By

Retail Insider

-

August 14, 2017

By Eric Nykamp CEO of Raange, Inc., Guest Columnist

Let’s Talk About Your Business! Email Me @: Contact_Me@raange.com; Text Me @: (514) 613-3324 with Keyword ‘Blocked’

Did you ever wonder how your job relates to football? Let me shed some learning on the doubters..

They say the longest yard in football is the very last one separating you from the end zone.

You’ve spent many grueling hours training and preparing yourself for this opportunity – also armed with an amazing touchdown dance – but there are 11 menacing players on the opposing team who don’t want you to succeed; their sole goal is to block you from the end zone.

To succeed it comes down to teamwork, data, insights and calling the right play.

Football and marketing have quite a bit in common. Take email campaigns for example, your team works together to test and execute the perfect email campaign, but there are dark forces at work trying to block you from the end zone: the customer.

Don’t let the opposition block your email from your customer.

Spam filters, message categorization, fake email addresses and bad subject lines, this is the opposition that you need to prepare for to get through to your customer.

The menacing opposition explains the dismal industry statistics:

● 10% (in Canada) of emails are automatically doomed to the spam folder;

● Sub 15% open rates in Retail; and,

● An Avg CTR of 7%.

Meaning if you send 100,000 emails (assuming all go to real email addresses), assume 10,000 are automatically lost to the spam filter. Only 15,000 emails will be opened – on a good day – and less than 1,050 people will have clicked through to view your email at the end of the day. Some people are happy to get these results!

Ouch. Let’s call a timeout to regroup.

What if we can call a different play, wherein we use an audible (football 101: switch to a better play) that has a 95% open rate, with no spam filter. Suddenly, 95,000 emails would be opened, paired with the same CTR and you have more than 6,600 people view your email. That’s nearly a 660% increase in readers. I’ll let you finish the revenue projections…

Teamwork will help your email campaign get through the blockers

Email campaigns alone might not help you achieve your goal. That’s why it’s important to employ a team approach to targeting your customers. Try sending your digital campaigns by using a business SMS service, and we guarantee you’ll hit the end zone with almost 700% more accuracy.

Eric Nykamp is CEO of Raange, Inc., Founder at Mamoth-Group, TAARGA, RAANGE and Mamoth-Labs! Internet Strategist, Entrepreneur, Inventor, Investor, Husband, Father, Insomniac.

My goal is to elevate traditional brick & mortar retailers to quickly and easily transition to the latest marketing concepts and communication channels, to rebuild trusted dialogue with past, present, and future customers.

*Partner content. To work with Retail Insider, email: craig@retail-insider.com

Decathlon Announces 1st Canadian Location

By

Craig Patterson

-

August 14, 2017

Value-priced large format French sporting goods retail chain Decathlon has announced that it will expand into North America in the spring of 2018 with a location in suburban Montreal. Decathlon could disrupt the Canadian retail industry if it expands nationally, potentially threatening homegrown retail chains including FGL Sports, SAIL, Sportium, MEC, and even retailers such as Canadian Tire.

Founded in France in 1976, Decathlon Group has more than 1,100 stores in 28 countries, with more than 78,000 employees and revenue of about C$15 billion. It designs, manufactures and distributes a wide range of sports-related equipment and accessories, with over 20 in-house brands dedicated to different sports, and each with its own design team. The company has yet to enter the United States, though it opened a store last year in Mexico.

Decathlon’s first Canadian store will open in the spring of 2018 at Mail Champlain in Brossard, just outside of Montreal. The company made the announcement in french on its newly launched Canadian website, which notes that the company’s Canadian headquarters are at 1 Place Ville Marie, in downtown Montreal.

Mail Champlain could be the first of multiple locations for Decathlon, though the chain will be cautious with its expansion, according to a November 2016 report in La Presse (in French). Oberfeld Snowcap represents Decathlon as brokerage in Canada (Contact: Sylvain Charron) and according to Oberfeld Snowcap’s website, Decathlon is seeking retail spaces in the 35,000 square foot to 45,000 square foot range in commercial centres that may also include power centres as well as freestanding locations.

Decathlon will compete with a wide range of retailers in Canada, given that it carries well-priced sporting goods as well as some related apparel categories. FGL Sports (operating under multiple banners including Sport Chek, Atmosphere and Sports Experts), Sportium, MEC and SAIL could be most affected, and retailers such as Canadian Tire and Walmart, which also carry value-priced sport-related product, could also take a hit if Decathlon takes off in this country. Competition will certainly be present at Mail Champlain, which currently features a combined Sports Experts/Atmosphere space in the mall, spanning about 30,000 square feet. According to Oberfeld Snowcap’s website, Decathlon’s Canadian expansion plans are currently focused within the province of Quebec though given its penetration in other countries, that could be expanded to other regions at some point.

*Thank you Carl Boutet for notifying us of this announcement.

*Top photo: Edward Hands via Wikipedia.

Birks Divests US Operations in Unique Wholesale Agreement

By

Craig Patterson

-

August 14, 2017

Canadian jewelry retailer Birks is selling its U.S.-based subsidiary Mayor’s Jewelers to Aurum Holdings Ltd. of the U.K. for about US$104.6 million.

Proceeds from the transaction will be used by Birks to continue its strategic growth initiatives, specifically to invest in its Canadian flagship stores and new store concepts, as well as in its high-growth brand wholesaling activities and e-commerce, as part of the company’s omni-channel plan.

Jean-Christophe Bédos, president and chief executive officer of Birks Group, told Retail-Insider the transaction is an important part of its vision to establish itself as a global luxury jewelry brand.

“The Canadian market is a growing market,” said Bédos.

He said the company will use capital to grow its business on the e-commerce side as well as invest in store re-development.

(BIRKS AT TORONTO’S YORKDALE SHOPPING CENTRE: THE REPLACEMENT STORE OPENED IN OCTOBER OF 2016, AND IS BEING USED AS A PROTOTYPE FOR FUTURE BIRKS LOCATIONS. PHOTO: BIRKS. DETAILS RE: PROTOTYPE STORE: HTTP://WWW.RETAIL-INSIDER.COM/RETAIL-INSIDER/2016/10/BIRKS-YORKDALE

*(IMPRESSIVE DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER BIRKS FLAGSHIP. PHOTO: VANCOUVER HERITAGE FOUNDATION)*

Also, flagship stores in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal will go through some changes to enhance customer experience. That will include areas for events and exhibitions, coffee bars and libraries, which will have bookshelves with books about watches and jewelry.

“So people can come and spend good time. They don’t have to buy. They just have to hang around in the store. It will be very lifestyle,” said Bédos.

The renovated Montreal flagship at 1240 Phillips Square will be unveiled in June of next year, including converting part of the 58,450 square foot building into a luxury boutique hotel and a high-end restaurant. The Toronto Manulife Centre store transformation will debut in the fall of 2018, followed by modifications to Vancouver’s 698 West Hastings Street flagship.

“We are going to renovate our stores,” he said. “For us, the future is in the combination between bricks and mortar, web experience and what we call the wholesale strategy because we are expanding Birks’ jewelry collections via a network of independent jewelry retailers.”

(BIRKS AT TORONTO’S MANULIFE CENTRE WILL BE COMPLETELY REDONE. THE ONE-LEVEL RETAIL SPACE WITH STREETFRONT BOUTIQUES FOR BREITLING AND VAN CLEEF & ARPELS, WILL BE DIRECTLY BELOW A NEW EATALY. BIRKS WILL TEMPORARILY MOVE INTO ANOTHER RETAIL SPACE AT MANULIFE CENTRE WHILE THE EXISTING SPACE IS OVERHAULED. RENDERING: MANULIFE/B+H ARCHITECTS)

Birks operates 26 stores under the Birks brand in most major metropolitan markets in Canada and two retail locations in Calgary and Vancouver under the Brinkhaus nameplate. It was founded in 1879. Mayors was founded in 1910 and operates 16 stores in Florida and Georgia under the Mayors brand and one store under the Rolex brand name. Birks will continue operating Mayors until the deal closes this fall.

Aurum is the largest fine watch and jewelry retailer in the U.K

As part of the transaction, Birks entered into a five-year distribution agreement with Aurum to sell Birks jewelry in the U.K. in 14 locations at its Mappin & Webb and Goldsmiths stores, including on their e-commerce sites. The Birks collections will continue to be sold in the United States through Mayors’ stores in Florida and Georgia.

“We believe that monetizing the value of Mayors gives us the ability to execute our strategic vision of investing in the Birks brand together with the retailing of internationally-renowned jewelry and timepiece brands in Canada, thus transforming Birks into a global, omni-channel business,” said Bédos.
“This transaction with Aurum also opens the doors to the U.K. market for our jewelry collections.”

(THE 58,450 SQUARE FOOT MONTREAL FLAGSHIP IN 1895. BIRKS CONTINUES TO OCCUPY THIS BUILDING, THOUGH ITS CURRENT STORE WILL BE REDUCED IN SIZE TO 7,500 SQUARE FEET IN ORDER TO FACILITATE AN ON-SITE LUXURY BOUTIQUE HOTEL AND RESTAURANT. IMAGE: BIBLIOTHÈQUE ET ARCHIVES NATIONALES DU QUÉBEC / 52327/2082991)

Aurum was established in 2007 and has 130 collective stores. The retail portfolio comprises of brands including Watches of Switzerland, Goldsmiths, Mappin & Webb, Watchshop, The Watch Hut and The Watch Lab.

“We have admired Mayors for some time and see a great deal of similarities with how we operate our business in the U.K. Mayors has built a fantastic reputation in Florida and Atlanta, Georgia over many decades,” said Brian Duffy, president of Aurum

Birks will also expand the offerings of some of the exclusive brands carried in its Canadian stores, including Van Cleef & Arpels, Chaumet and Messika.

*Editor’s note: Birks is represented in Canada by Jeff Berkowitz of brokerage Aurora Realty Consultants.

Canada Goose Announces Standalone Calgary Flagship

By

Craig Patterson

-

August 11, 2017

Popular fashion brand Canada Goose will open three new stores this fall including the brand’s second location in the country at CF Chinook Centre in Calgary.

The company will also open stores in Boston and Tokyo.

“I’m so excited to open our doors and welcome our first customers here in Calgary, a city that’s no stranger to unpredictable weather. This store will be the best place for people to find the perfect Canada Goose product in an environment that tells our story, unfiltered,” said Dani Reiss, president and chief executive officer of Canada Goose, in a written statement to Retail Insider. He was not available for further comment.

The company said the Calgary store will be located in one of the city’s most prominent neighbourhoods and is home to some of the world’s best consumer and luxury brands.

While unconfirmed, sources say that Canada Goose will move into the 3,984 square foot retail space recently vacated by American women’s fashion retailer BCBG.

Canada Goose, one of the world’s leading makers of performance luxury apparel, was established in a small warehouse in Toronto in 1957.

The company today employs more than 2,000 people worldwide.

Canada Goose opens its doors in the city it calls home (CNW Group/Canada Goose)

In fall 2016, Canada Goose opened the company’s first two flagship stores in Toronto, at Yorkdale Shopping Centre (4,500 square feet) and in New York City’s Soho area. Previously announced additional stores in London, U.K. (Regent Street), and Chicago (800 N. Michigan Avenue) will also open in fall 2017.

On Thursday, Canada Goose announced its fiscal 2018 first quarter results for the period ended June 30, 2017 Total revenue increased $12.5 million to $28.2 million driven by growth in direct-to-consumer channel and accelerated timing of wholesale shipments; gross margin expanded to 46.9 per cent from 29.7 per cent in the prior year; net loss was $12.1 million, or $0.11 loss per share, and adjusted net loss was $13.2 million, or $0.13 loss per share.

In a news release announcing the new store openings in the fall, Reiss said the company is excited to extend its footprint in North America “where we know our brand’s proud Canadian heritage and unparalleled product innovation and design resonates with locals and tourists alike.”

“Having a flagship store in Tokyo is particularly exciting as Japan continues to be one of our strongest growing markets and we can now better answer the call of our Asian customers by giving them an opportunity to engage with our brand, unfiltered,” said Reiss.

Operated by the company’s distribution partner, the new Canada Goose 3,100-square-foot flagship store in Tokyo will be located in the Sendagaya neighborhood, recognized as one of the high-end fashion centres of Japan. In Boston, the Canada Goose store will be located in the Prudential Center, one of New England’s top shopping destinations, boasting more than 75 specialty stores.

Adidas Unveils 1st Canadian Originals ‘Neighbourhood Concept’ Store Renovation

By

Craig Patterson

-

August 11, 2017

German fashion and athletic brand adidas has unveiled its renovated adidas Originals store in Toronto, and renovations are now underway on its Vancouver and Montreal ‘Neighbourhood Concept’ locations, as well. Included are elements of ‘localization’, with each store being unique.

The Toronto store, which opens to the public at 11:00am Friday morning, is located at 389 Queen Street West, in the heart of one of the city’s trendiest shopping areas. Renovations of the existing location commenced several months ago. The store features adidas Original fashion apparel as well as some designer collaborations and limited edition pieces.

Adidas operates ‘Neighbourhood Concept’ locations around the globe. Each of these stores is similar in design, but also feature their own unique local elements that embody the neighbourhood they are located in. For the Queen West location, adidas Canada partnered with Toronto-based illustrator, Gyimah Gariba, who created bespoke art installations for the new store. As well, designers Sean Brown, Amrit Kumar and Mriga Kapadiya of NORBLACK/NORWHITE and artist Mango Peeler collaborated on a collection of customized t-shirts that will be available as an exclusive gift with purchase when the store opens.

The Toronto Queen Street store’s ground level features a retail space open to the public. Upstairs is a unique ‘activation space’ that plays “an important role in connecting and celebrating Toronto’s creative culture that embodies the adidas Originals brand ethos and the ‘Neighbourhood Concept’ mandate,” according to the company.

Renovations are now underway on adidas Originals’ Montreal (1258 Ste-Catherine St. West) and Vancouver (848 Granville Street). In an interview with Retail Insider several months ago, John Summers, Vice President of ‘direct to consumer’ for Adidas Canada, explained how the Toronto Queen Street location reflects a “trend savvy” aesthetic as per the area’s demographics, while the Vancouver Granville Street store will cater to a similarly ‘hip’ demographic. The Montreal fashion store will see an “elevated execution” to address the high-fashion shopper on Ste-Catherine Street West, Mr. Summers explained. Both stores will open later this year.

Links of London Continues Canadian Standalone Boutique Expansion [Photos]

By

Craig Patterson

-

August 10, 2017

Links of London at Yorkdale Shopping Centre (Image: NKPR)

UK-based luxury jewellery brand Links of London has opened its third freestanding Toronto store. According to Leela Petrakis, North American President at parent company Folli Follie Group, more will follow as the brand continues to see success in the Canadian market.

Links of London opened its first two Canadian boutiques in the summer of 2016, both in Toronto. The 860 square foot CF Toronto Eaton Centre location opened first, followed by a 1,200 square foot store at CF Sherway Gardens (featuring a small in-store tea salon). With three freestanding Toronto boutiques, New York City is the only place in North America with more Links of London locations.

Last week, Links of London opened a boutique at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre, marking its third for Toronto. The 615 square foot boutique is located in the mall’s expanding luxury wing, next to the mall’s future location for Ladurée and across from French luxury brand Saint Laurent.

“Our Toronto Eaton Centre and Sherway locations are doing fantastic,” explained Ms. Petrakis, and the Yorkdale store is expected to be a strong performer. Ms. Petrakis explained that Links has been seeking space at Yorkdale for about three years, and that its current location is ideal.

Links of London at Yorkdale Shopping Centre (Image: NKPR)

“There is a different customer in each mall, and we see room for even more stores in Toronto,” she explained. “I love Toronto. It is big, diverse, and every neighbourhood has its own experience. The city is in constant change, with people coming from various parts of the world. Retail is thriving in Toronto, and there is an incredible energy in its various malls,” she said.

The Yorkdale boutique has a design aesthetic that is more ‘sleek’ than Links’ first two Toronto stores. And despite its jewel-box size, the store has a family-friendly functionality. “There is room for strollers at the Yorkdale store and there is also seating in the back”, explained Ms. Petrakis. Rather than product being in wall displays, much of it is in ‘bars’, including a bracelet bar, where consumers can view product from above in a user-friendly environment. It was important that customers be able to see into the store and with that, Links has ensured that its facade provides visibility to what is contained within.

Product customization is a unique feature to the new Yorkdale boutique — an engraving corner allows customers to personalize pieces. The customization area is located towards the front part of the store, allowing passers-by to easily view its presence.

Freestanding stores allow Links of London to showcase its expanded offerings, while also providing an intimate one-on-one experience between customers and floor staff. Links also has a VIP program, with promotions held throughout the year, she explained.

Looking to the future, Ms. Petrakis said that she expects more freestanding Links of London locations to open in Canada. “We are definitely looking at the West Coast,” she said.

Links of London also operates a network of shop-in-store concessions at several Holt Renfrew stores across Canada. Ms. Petrakis described how the Mississauga Square One concession, which opened in the summer of 2016, has done so well that it recently expanded to more than double its original size. Links also operates concessions at Holt Renfrew stores in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto Bloor Street, and in Montreal at Ogilvy, which operates under Holt’s parent company Selfridges Group.

Links of London currently operates five freestanding U.S. locations, with four stores in New York City and a brand new store at Forum Shops in Las Vegas. Links of London also operates shop-in-shops at select Bloomingdale’s on both coasts in the United States. 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 all of the new Yorkdale boutique, courtesy of Links of London, via NKPR. See below for more photos.

Escents Announces Store Expansion

By

Craig Patterson

-

August 10, 2017

Escents at Toronto's Holt Renfrew Centre (Image: Craig Patterson)

Escents, the Canadian beauty and wellness retailer, is celebrating the opening of its twenty-third national location, a stand-alone boutique in Saskatoon’s Midtown Plaza, the first for that city.

Founded by Jacqui MacNeill in 1992, the company started with a small location in North Vancouver’s Lonsdale Quay, a prime tourist destination. The move proved to be a savvy one, as the brand’s organic growth is attributed to its niche product. Boasting a comprehensive aromatherapy and beauty line including bath bombs, essential oils, soaps and shampoos, Escents is an originator of the plant-based wellness movement that has since been parlayed into a national retailer. MacNeill is the Escents CEO, and remains connected with her customers through her eponymous blog. The brand’s most recent widespread expansion occurred in 2015, which saw Escents double their national presence in a single year.

Escents recently entered into a retail partnership model to cultivate entrepreneurs who wish to run their own business. Locations are hand-picked by the brand, and partners and brokers work closely with the head office to ensure there is market reach without oversaturation. Partners are responsible for building, opening, and running the store on a daily basis. The Midtown Plaza Saskatoon location, for instance, is being opened in partnership with the Regina location’s retail partner, in collaboration with corporate entities to ensure that the location will best serve their market. Of the brand’s 22 domestic locations, four are currently in the partnership model.

Conversely, Escents operates under a franchise model in Taiwan, where they have 30 locations throughout the country, including several in the venerable Mitsukoshi department store. The brand has performed strongly in Asia, with four Japanese locations including Tokyo and Osaka. Escents has been in partnership with Air Canada and Eva Air for several years, as they are the provider of in-flight beauty products for the carrier.

Escents is now focusing on the greater Toronto area, with a location opening at Richmond Hill’s Hillcrest Mall in August of 2017. The plan is to expand to as many as ten stores between now and 2020. The Hillcrest location is a natural choice, as the neighbourhood is home to a large portion of the GTA’s Asian population who are already familiar with the brand from its presence in Asia.

In addition to the GTA expansion, Escents will also focus on wholesale merchandising. The brand provides training and product knowledge to build increased brand identity for markets in which they have less penetration or retail presence. The brand has also recently launched a new baby line, focusing on child-friendly 100%-natural infant products such as shampoo, lotion and wash. This signifies a move for the brand from a pure retail model to a blended one.

With 52 locations in Canada, Taiwan and Japan, and an increasing presence in the wholesale market, Escents Aromatherapy will be expanding into the national retail consciousness for years to come.

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

Luxury Yorkville Avenue Retail Space Attracts Potential Tenants

Alberta Retail Numbers Surpass Pre-Recession Peak

Alexanian Debuts New Signature by Shelley Alexanian Store Concept, Modernizing Flooring Retail [Photos]

Honestly, Are Your Awesome Promotional Email Campaigns Being Unfairly Blocked by the Opposition?

Don’t let the opposition block your email from your customer.

Teamwork will help your email campaign get through the blockers

Decathlon Announces 1st Canadian Location

Birks Divests US Operations in Unique Wholesale Agreement

Canada Goose Announces Standalone Calgary Flagship

Adidas Unveils 1st Canadian Originals ‘Neighbourhood Concept’ Store Renovation

Links of London Continues Canadian Standalone Boutique Expansion [Photos]

Escents Announces Store Expansion

About

Contact

Media

Follow