Former Yankee Candle store at Oshawa Centre in Oshawa, ON. Photo: Terry PG
Yankee Candle has officially exited Canadian brick-and-mortar retail, closing its final store last week at Oshawa Centre in Oshawa, Ontario. The location remained open through the 2025 holiday season before shutting its doors last week, marking the end of the brand’s company-owned retail presence in Canada after more than 14 years.
The Oshawa store had been the last remaining Yankee Candle location in the country and its closure coincided with a broader round of store shutdowns across the United States and Canada. These closures were announced as part of a wider corporate restructuring initiative by parent company Newell Brands, which has been rationalizing its retail footprint amid changing consumer behaviour and rising operating costs.
Entering Canada With Big Ambitions
Yankee Candle entered the Canadian market in August 2011 with significant expansion ambitions. At the time, the company launched five company-owned stores in Southern Ontario, positioning Canada as a key international growth market and publicly outlining plans to eventually reach 50 locations nationwide.
During the mid-2010s, Yankee Candle expanded its footprint to roughly a dozen stores, almost entirely concentrated in suburban enclosed shopping centres across Ontario. The strategy mirrored the brand’s U.S. mall-based retail model, which had previously supported hundreds of locations south of the border.
However, the Canadian rollout never reached its originally projected scale. Following the brand’s integration into Newell Brands in 2016, growth slowed and the store network began to contract, reflecting broader challenges facing specialty retailers operating in shopping centres.
Signage on the shuttered Yankee Candle store at Oshawa Centre in Oshawa, Ontario, December 2025. Photo: Anna Siu
By the early 2020s, Yankee Candle’s Canadian store count had been steadily reduced, with closures accelerating after the pandemic as mall traffic patterns shifted and e-commerce gained further ground. By mid-2024, only one store remained in operation nationwide, the Oshawa Centre location that has now closed.
The retreat from physical retail was not isolated to Canada. Newell Brands announced in late 2025 that it would close approximately 20 Yankee Candle stores across North America as part of a global cost-reduction and productivity initiative. The Oshawa closure appears to have been included within that broader program, effectively bringing the brand’s Canadian retail chapter to a close.
This evolution shows how dramatically the economics of mall-based specialty retail have changed over the past decade, particularly for discretionary home categories that are now widely available through mass merchants and online platforms.
Shuttered Yankee Candle store at Oshawa Centre in Oshawa, Ontario, December 2025. Photo: Anna Siu
A Strategic Pivot to Wholesale Distribution
Despite exiting physical retail in Canada, Yankee Candle has not exited the market itself. Instead, the brand has shifted decisively toward a wholesale-led distribution model, significantly expanding its presence through major national retailers.
Today, Canadian consumers can purchase Yankee Candle products at chains including Canadian Tire, Walmart, and Staples Canada, as well as through Amazon.ca and various other retailers. This approach provides the brand with far broader geographic coverage than it ever achieved through company-owned stores, while avoiding the fixed costs associated with operating mall locations.
The wholesale strategy also aligns with Newell Brands’ broader focus on capital efficiency and margin discipline, leveraging established retail partners rather than maintaining a standalone store network in a highly competitive category.
Artificial Intelligence - AI in Retail. Image: TMP Direct
Artificial intelligence has moved from experimentation to everyday use, yet its most immediate impact on retail is not operational efficiency. According to the newly released Trend Report 2026 from Shikatani Lacroix Design, AI is quietly transforming how consumers search for information, products, and brands, with consequences that many retailers are not fully prepared for.
While companies continue to invest heavily in AI tools to automate tasks and reduce costs, the report suggests that the real disruption is happening earlier in the customer journey. Discovery itself is changing, and traditional assumptions about search visibility are beginning to break down. This AI retail search disruption is unfolding faster than most brands anticipated.
The report highlights a fundamental change in how people seek information. AI powered platforms are increasingly being used as the first point of inquiry, reducing reliance on traditional search engines. As consumers become more comfortable receiving synthesized answers rather than lists of links, traffic patterns are shifting away from retailer websites.
This change alters how brands compete for attention. When AI systems summarize options or recommend products directly, fewer retailers are surfaced, and the criteria for visibility become less transparent.
The report introduces the concept of generative engine optimization, a new reality where brands must adapt content for AI driven platforms rather than human search behaviour alone. This marks a departure from decades of SEO best practices built around keywords, backlinks, and page rankings.
For retailers, this shift creates uncertainty. Websites may become less visible even as content quality improves. Marketing teams accustomed to measuring success through organic search traffic are being forced to rethink how relevance is earned and measured in an AI mediated environment.
AI Adoption Is High, But Efficiency Gains Are Elusive
Despite rapid adoption, the report notes that most AI pilots are failing to deliver promised efficiencies. Companies that pursue automation as a cost cutting exercise are seeing limited success, while those using AI to support innovation and growth are achieving more meaningful outcomes.
This disconnect matters for retail search because it exposes a strategic blind spot. Many organizations are focused inward on productivity while overlooking how AI is reshaping consumer behaviour externally. As a result, brands risk optimizing internal workflows while losing relevance at the top of the funnel.
Trust and Authenticity Become New Gatekeepers
The report also identifies rising skepticism toward AI generated content. Consumers are increasingly wary of information that feels automated or inauthentic, a phenomenon often associated with the uncanny valley effect. At the same time, low quality AI generated material is flooding digital channels, making it harder for credible brands to stand out.
For retailers, this creates a paradox. AI tools can accelerate content creation, yet over-reliance can undermine trust. Search visibility may depend on technical optimization as well as signals of authenticity, originality, and human oversight.
Anti AI Sentiment Complicates the Landscape
While AI adoption continues to grow, resistance is rising alongside it. The report documents increasing hostility toward AI across sectors, driven by fears of job displacement, creative erosion, and broader societal impact.
This sentiment affects retail search indirectly. Consumers may reject brands that appear overly automated or impersonal, especially in customer facing interactions. Retailers must therefore be deliberate about where AI is visible and where human engagement remains central.
Retail Websites Face a Visibility Challenge
One of the most consequential implications outlined in the report is the declining role of retailer owned websites in discovery. As AI answers replace traditional search results, fewer users are clicking through to brand sites at all.
This trend forces retailers to reconsider long standing digital investments. Content strategies designed to drive organic traffic may deliver diminishing returns, while off platform presence within AI ecosystems grows in importance. At the same time, the loss of direct traffic weakens data collection and customer insight.
The report says that AI retail search disruption described in the report is not a future scenario — it is already unfolding. Retailers that treat AI solely as an operational tool risk missing its most immediate impact on visibility, relevance, and trust.
Success in 2026 will depend on a more balanced approach. Brands must adapt content for AI driven discovery while maintaining authenticity and human connection. They must accept that search is no longer neutral or fully controllable, and that earning trust may matter as much as technical optimization.
AI is reshaping retail search, but not in the ways brands initially expected, according to the report. Those who recognize this shift early will be better positioned to protect visibility and relevance in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
Toronto’s Bloor-Yorkville Business Improvement Area has appointed Janet McCausland as its new Executive Director, ushering in a new chapter for one of Canada’s most prominent luxury retail and urban districts.
McCausland assumed the role on January 5, 2026, succeeding longtime Executive Director Briar de Lange, whose retirement was announced in June 2025 after nearly 25 years of leadership at the organization. De Lange’s departure marked the end of a transformative era for the BIA, coinciding with its 40th anniversary year.
McCausland brings more than 25 years of senior leadership experience across strategic planning, communications, sustainability, stakeholder engagement, and community development, with a career spanning both the non-profit and private sectors.
McCausland takes over leadership of the Bloor-Yorkville BIA following the retirement of Briar de Lange, who played a central role in shaping the district into one of Canada’s most sophisticated urban neighbourhoods.
Janet McCausland
During her tenure, de Lange oversaw major public-realm and placemaking initiatives, including the Bloor Street Transformation, the redesign of Yorkville Avenue, and a wide range of beautification projects that elevated the pedestrian experience. These included crown lighting on trees, urban campfire benches, seasonal programming, and enhancements to Village of Yorkville Park.
Under her stewardship, Bloor-Yorkville strengthened its identity as a luxury destination while maintaining a strong sense of community and collaboration among nearly 1,400 member businesses. De Lange’s leadership was also defined by organizational stability, with the BIA’s core staff collectively representing decades of institutional knowledge.
McCausland now steps into the role at a moment when the district is experiencing another period of profound change.
Extensive Leadership Experience Across Sectors
Most recently, McCausland worked as an independent advisor, supporting purpose-driven developers, charities, and early-stage companies on strategy, partnerships, and external relations. Her advisory work focused on long-term growth, alignment with community values, and sustainable organizational outcomes.
Briar de Lange, photo: Bloor-Yorkville BIA
Previously, she spent a decade with The King’s Trust Canada, where she held senior roles including Head of Programs and Head of Communications and Sustainability. In those positions, she led national initiatives, strengthened stakeholder engagement, and guided sustainability-focused communications strategies across complex organizations.
Earlier in her career, McCausland led communications and engagement initiatives for environmental organizations and co-founded a national non-profit organization. Across these roles, she developed a reputation for collaborative leadership and for aligning strategic objectives with community and urban development priorities.
As Executive Director, McCausland will oversee the organization’s strategic vision and day-to-day operations, working closely with the Board of Management, member businesses, City of Toronto partners, and local stakeholders.
Her mandate includes advancing economic vitality, enhancing the neighbourhood experience, strengthening member engagement, and reinforcing Bloor-Yorkville’s position as a globally recognized destination for luxury retail, dining, culture, and urban living.
The role also involves guiding the BIA through continued urban intensification and commercial evolution, while preserving the character and prestige that have defined the district for decades.
Urban Campfire Benches on Bloor Street. Photo: Larry Leung
Canada’s Most Concentrated Luxury Street-Front Retail District
Bloor-Yorkville features the largest single clustering of luxury brand stores of any urban street-front retail district in Canada. The area is home to an exceptional concentration of global luxury flagship stores, many of which serve as Canadian or regional showcases for international brands.
Unlike enclosed luxury shopping centres, Bloor-Yorkville’s retail environment is defined by an open, walkable streetscape that integrates high-end retail with hospitality, culture, and residential uses. This format has helped position the district as both a shopping destination and a lifestyle neighbourhood.
Over the past five years, the area has undergone unprecedented change. Luxury brands have expanded or refreshed their footprints, new flagship concepts have entered the market, and the district has continued to gain relevance within the global luxury ecosystem as Toronto’s international profile has grown.
Alongside retail expansion, Bloor-Yorkville has seen significant residential development, with new towers featuring luxury homes reshaping the skyline. These projects have introduced a growing base of affluent full-time residents to an area historically defined by visitors and destination retail.
This demographic shift has supported the continued growth of upscale restaurants, cafés, wellness providers, and professional services catering to both local residents and international visitors. The result is a mixed-use urban district where retail, dining, living, and culture intersect.
Bloor St. W. in Toronto in October, 2024. Photo: Craig Patterson
Positioning the District for Its Next Chapter
McCausland’s appointment reflects a desire for continuity paired with strategic evolution. As the district balances heritage, growth, and global competitiveness, the Bloor-Yorkville BIA faces ongoing priorities related to public-realm quality, infrastructure, mobility, and stakeholder collaboration.
With a background rooted in sustainability, communications, and partnership-driven leadership, McCausland is positioned to build on the strong foundation established under de Lange, while guiding the organization through the next phase of Bloor-Yorkville’s evolution as Canada’s most prestigious urban luxury district.
Our province has plenty of success stories from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that have grown into prosperous companies at home and abroad. This culture of innovation, supported by a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem, has made our province standout. As Harley Finkelstein, President of Shopify, once said, Montreal is the most entrepreneurial city he’s ever seen—a reflection of the energy and spirit that sets Quebec apart (Drimonis, 2023).
These local stories offer valuable insights. They highlight key trends in our retail landscape and provide lessons future companies can apply as they grow in their respective industries.
It’s inspiring to see how many Quebec businesses have scaled internationally without losing their brand essence. In a retail world dominated by e-commerce giants, these SMEs show how customer-centric strategies and agility can lead to remarkable success.
Brand Spotlights: Lessons from Quebec’s Standout SMEs
Omy Laboratoires
Omy Laboratoires is revolutionizing the cosmetics industry. Founded in 2018 to provide custom skincare solutions, the company has leveraged cutting-edge technology and science to create a business model and customer experience that is both intimate and innovative.
Personalization has become a key differentiator across retail. Customers are increasingly seeking experiences that offer products catered to their personal needs or lifestyles, and Omy Laboratoires is addressing this within a space where customers may otherwise be lost. Here, the company has blended artificial intelligence-driven recommendations with dermatologist-approved formulations to create their own space in the market. For this, the company developed their own technology, SkinIA, which leverages artificial intelligence to help customers discover and find the right products based on preferences and skin type (Espace CDPQ, 2020). By simplifying the overall shopping experience and quite literally guiding their customers along the process of finding the right products for their skin type and conditions, Omy Laboratoires removes the worries and uncertainties.
The brand has also leaned into digital marketing, using influencer campaigns (including collaborations with Geneviève Everell, a wellknown local entrepreneur) and data-driven targeting to build a qualified and loyal customer base. Their proprietary platform, North Finder, fosters influencer partnerships and further amplifies their reach (Knowles, 2025). Overall, their content highlights this clear benefit to customers of providing custom recommended products to directly address their needs.
It’s fascinating to see how personalization, when well executed, can reshape both customer experience and an entire industry. By combining AI skin analysis with custom formulations, Omy has created a more personal relationship with customers—successfully scaling this model with a recent launch in over 400 Jean Coutu and Brunet locations across Quebec, Ontario, and New Brunswick (Omy Laboratoires, 2024). This strategic retail expansion makes personalized skincare more accessible while staying true to the brand’s core values. Looking ahead, it will be interesting to see similar business models develop in other industries. Omy Laboratoires’ approach also highlights the importance of building a strong product innovation pipeline early on—a key factor that separates brands that make a splash from those that lead long-term.
BonLook store at Vaughan Mills. Image: BonLook
BonLook
BonLook’s journey from a digitally native brand founded in 2011 to a key player in eyewear retail exemplifies a successful omnichannel strategy. Early on, the company identified a growing trend: consumers wanted both convenience and the ability to try on eyewear in person. Their initial online launch attracted strong traffic, but low conversion rates revealed that shoppers preferred a tactile experience (Dopson, 2024). In response, BonLook blended a seamless e-commerce platform with strategically placed physical locations, redefining the eyewear shopping journey in Quebec and across Canada.
BonLook’s in-store experience remains focused around personalization, offering different tools for customers to find frames tailored to their facial structure and lifestyle. These include virtual try-on technology, the EyeMeasure app for accurate pupillary distance measurements, and a custom in-store iOS application that helps staff provide real-time product recommendations (BonLook, 2021). The company also seeks to make fashionable eyewear more readily accessible through their relatively affordable prescription models and direct-to-consumer business model. BonLook is continuously innovating with their monthly releases of new collections, positioning eyewear as a versatile fashion accessory rather than a standalone necessity—an approach further reinforced by their Trendsetter Rewards Program, which encourages ongoing engagement with the brand and its evolving styles (Ethos, 2024).
Looking into the future of retail, I see this as a great example of how a brand can disrupt a traditional industry with a well-crafted and affordable customer-first approach. Their shift to an omnichannel model demonstrates deep consumer insight. By cutting out intermediaries, BonLook has made fashion-forward eyewear more affordable while staying attuned to modern shopping habits.
Matt & Nat store, image: Matt & Nat
Matt & Nat
Matt & Nat’s success in the fashion industry is a testament to the power of minimalism and ethical production. Founded in 1995 on core principles of sustainability, the brand quickly became known for its vegan leather products, appealing to style-conscious yet environmentally aware consumers.
At a time when ‘sustainable fashion’ carried little mainstream weight, Matt & Nat’s foresight and ethical leadership gave it a head start. Their blend of values and design created a unique offering, helping the brand grow into a major player in this space.
A key driver of their growth has been strategic sourcing and distribution. Their production was expanded around the world, which allowed the business to scale while at the same time maintaining the importance of product quality. In addition, the brand has continued to balance affordability and luxury, appealing to a large audience without having to compromise on aesthetics or sustainability. Notably, Matt & Nat incorporates sustainable practices by crafting all interior linings of their bags from 100% recycled plastic bottles, recycling approximately 21 bottles per bag. They also utilize materials such as biodegradable alternatives to traditional plastics, and have introduced collections featuring PVB, a material made from 100% recycled windshield glass resin (Matt & Nat, 2025).
Despite rising competition, Matt & Nat has stayed true to its founding philosophy while evolving its product lines. New materials like cork, recycled nylon, and biodegradable PU reflect their ongoing commitment to innovation. Their ability to merge sustainability with smart business decisions proves that profitability and ethics can go hand in hand.
I see the company as a great success story of a brand staying true to their values. Long before sustainability was a trend, they led with purpose. Their smart sourcing, expansion to 12 standalone stores across North America (2016–2019), and strong branding have helped them thrive in a competitive market (Patterson, 2019). As the demand for sustainable alternatives grows, Matt & Nat shows how mission-driven leadership creates long-term success.
Lessons from Past SME Challenges
While Quebec is home to many successful companies that began as small businesses, it’s also important to consider why others haven’t flourished. Across sectors, local businesses have often struggled to grow due to operational constraints, shifting consumer behaviour, and intense competition.
One common pitfall is overexpansion—growing too quickly, stretching resources, and losing customer focus. Controlled, strategic growth is essential.
Another challenge is the failure to adapt. Whether from competitors or consumers, companies must have their ear to the ground and be ready to respond, and perhaps adapt, when it is truly needed and makes sense. Over the past decade we have seen this with companies being resistant to the digital transformation revolution and have therefore found themselves losing relevance with the rise of online shopping.
Perhaps the most critical obstacle is financial mismanagement. Rapid scaling without the proper guardrails leads to increased operational costs, supply chain complexities and cash flow problems.
Quebec’s SME landscape is both inspiring and complex. Many of our province’s SMEs showcase both the risks and rewards that exist in entrepreneurship. The key takeaway? Together, these successes and struggles highlight that sustainable growth is not about speed but rather requires strategic decision-making, adaptability and financial discipline to navigate an ever-changing business landscape.
Common Success Strategies
As a hopeful future leader in retail, these success stories highlight essential strategies for scaling businesses sustainably. One of the most important is a clear brand identity. Being founded on strong core values and staying true to these will resonate with consumers who are increasingly more knowledgeable and can recognize true authenticity.
Adaptability is also critical. While many entrepreneurs may believe their strategies are future-proof, successful businesses do not resist change; they embrace it. When truly needed and strategically sound, the ability to pivot and adapt to change is a defining trait of long-term success.
A strong customer-centric approach is another common thread. Brands that build early relationships and actively listen to customer feedback foster long-term loyalty. Success comes from refining offerings, meeting evolving needs, and earning trust through engagement.
Equally important is maintaining a robust product innovation pipeline. While many great brands start with a hit product, true longevity comes from the ability to consistently launch relevant, high-performing products over time. This has been a defining strength of companies like the L’Oréal Group, whose continued market leadership is driven by ongoing product development rooted in science, trends, and consumer feedback. For SMEs, investing in innovation from the outset can be the difference between a fleeting moment of success and becoming a category leader.
The future of retail for SMEs is both challenging and full of opportunity. With digital-first consumers reshaping expectations, traditional models alone won’t suffice. Instead, those that embrace personalization, omnichannel experience and sustainability will be best positioned to thrive. While technology—from AI to seamless e-commerce—continues to evolve, long-term success will still rest on authenticity and strategic growth. Quebec’s SMEs have proven their resilience, and those that stay agile, customer-focused, and purpose-driven will shape the next era of retail.
William Bernasconi
About the Author:
William Bernasconi is a marketing and digital strategy professional with a strong background in customer relationship management (CRM) and retail innovation. He was formerly responsible for the CRM marketing at Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP), a position in which he combined his academic knowledge with practical experience. He specializes in data-driven consumer engagement, digital retailing models, and emerging industry trends, and focuses on enhancing customer experiences through strategic marketing and technology.
Today, he is a Business Analyst at the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) within the Amplify Program, where he contributes to the development of innovative tech solutions, many with direct applications in the retail and consumer space. He is also pursuing a Master’s degree in Retail Management at McGill University’s Bensadoun School of Retail Business.
His interest in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is deeply personal and stems from his experience working with a few startups in Montreal, where he witnessed firsthand the resilience, creativity, and drive that define these businesses. Being immersed in the energy and ambition of local entrepreneurs sparked a lasting passion for the SME ecosystem, one that continues to shape his perspective on innovation and growth. It is this connection, and a belief in the importance of supporting and spotlighting SMEs, that inspired him to write this article.
The Retail Council of Quebec presents the 2nd edition of the Next Gen Retail Perspective, a series of 4 articles, each written by a student from McGill University’s Bensadoun School of Retail Management (BSRM).
This series offers an opportunity to explore the ideas and perspectives of young professionals who are shaping the retail world of tomorrow. This article originally appeared on the CQCD website as part of a series.
The fashion industry is evolving quickly, and businesses across footwear, apparel and accessories are preparing for shifts in consumer behaviour, category demand and product expectations. AFA United in Style 2026, taking place February 8 to 10 at the Toronto Congress Centre, brings the entire national industry together to understand what is coming next. The show provides buyers, wholesalers and suppliers with early access to new collections that will shape future seasons, while also delivering insight into emerging trends that are influencing production and retail strategies. Companies that attend are positioning themselves ahead of the curve at a moment when change is constant.
AFA United in Style has become the only national event that unites these categories in one location. The result is an efficient buying and networking environment where product lines, market evolution and business priorities can be evaluated in real time. The ability to compare offerings and meet with multiple suppliers in a single venue continues to be a major advantage for retailers who want to make informed decisions under tight timelines. The event also gives brands an opportunity to present their collections to qualified buyers who are actively preparing for upcoming assortment planning.
The 2026 edition of AFA United in Style builds on a long tradition of helping Canadian businesses anticipate what is ahead. Attendees will see new ideas, reconnect with industry partners and gain clarity on how the market is moving. The event has been designed to support companies that want to lead with confidence, and it provides one of the most effective ways to prepare for the next buying cycle. For professionals who understand that agility and foresight are essential, AFA United in Style 2026 is a must-attend gathering.
The event takes place at the Toronto Congress Centre, 650 Dixon Road, from February 8-10, 2026.
Retail Insider is working with AFA on a promotional campaign ahead of the event. To work with Retail Insider, contact Craig Patterson at craig@retail-insider.com
Retail Insider is streamlining its Canadian retail news from around the web to include a handful of top news stories that can be viewed quickly during the day. Here are the top stories from the past 24 hours.
Finding the right engagement ring takes time. You want something that fits your partner, your budget, and your values. Some people prefer working with a designer from scratch. Others want to pick from existing collections.
A few care deeply about where their diamonds come from. The brands on this list cover all of these preferences, and each one has built a reputation worth examining.
1. GOODSTONE: The Most Recommended Engagement Ring Brand
GOODSTONE takes a different approach to engagement rings. Every piece is bespoke and handcrafted by generational artisans in Los Angeles. The brand uses the most durable alloys of gold and platinum, and each ring is made to order rather than pulled from existing inventory.
The custom design process follows three steps.
First, you choose a setting that fits your story.
Second, you select a diamond with guidance from experts who walk you through the 4 Cs.
Third, artisans craft the ring to your specifications.
You work with real people from start to finish.
Consultations happen via phone or in person at their Austin, Texas showroom. Both formats give you direct access to a designer. You see sketches, review details, and make adjustments until the design feels right. There is no limit on revisions and no pressure to buy. A $500 deposit starts the design work and applies to the final total.
Most custom rings start at $2,500, and GOODSTONE provides exact quotes based on your design with flexible payment options. Free lifetime repairs come with every purchase. Complimentary resizing is available if needed, though eternity bands cannot be altered. You can also request a free ring sizer before production begins.
2. Tiffany & Co.
Tiffany & Co. introduced the Tiffany Setting in 1886, and that design defined what most people picture when they think of an engagement ring. The brand remains a reference point for the category.
Tiffany is the only jeweler offering a triple excellent cut on all round brilliant engagement diamonds. This is the highest grade in the industry. The brand also traces 100% of its rough diamonds to known mines and sources, making it a leader in diamond traceability.
The Tiffany Ring Studio allows you to design a ring with a Diamond Expert. Pricing sits at the premium end, which matches the brand’s positioning. Craftsmanship is meticulous, and the artisans treat each diamond as a separate project.
3. Cartier
Cartier brings French luxury to the engagement ring market. The Set For You service allows you to choose your diamond, select a setting style, and pick your gold type. The process takes about three weeks.
The Solitaire 1895 references the year the first solitaire ring appeared in Cartier’s archives. A center stone held by four prongs creates a design where simplicity meets precision. The Maison positions its bridal collection as a way to create something that reflects a specific relationship.
Pricing is at the high end, consistent with Cartier’s place in the luxury market.
4. Brilliant Earth
Brilliant Earth has built its business around ethical sourcing. The brand offers engagement rings with what it calls Beyond Conflict Free diamonds. It uses ethically and sustainably sourced natural diamonds, recycled diamonds, and lab-grown diamonds.
The Renewable Collection uses diamonds created from 100% renewable wind and solar energy. All gold and silver in Brilliant Earth jewelry is more than 95% recycled. These details matter to buyers who want transparency about materials.
Comprehensive customization options are available, and all engagement rings include a free lifetime manufacturer’s warranty. Pricing falls in the mid-range, making it accessible compared to legacy luxury houses.
5. Blue Nile
Blue Nile started in 1999 and pioneered online engagement ring shopping. The brand’s Creative Studio lets you design a fully custom ring by choosing diamond shape, setting style, precious metal, ring shank, and additional details.
Experts are available 24/7 to help with custom designs. Free secure shipping applies to all US orders, and orders over $500 qualify for overnight delivery. Blue Nile also offers price matching, complimentary resizing, and complimentary cleaning.
The pricing sits in the mid-range, and the online model means lower overhead costs pass through to buyers.
6. James Allen
James Allen changed how people shop for diamonds online. The brand’s 360-degree Diamond Display Technology shows diamonds in HD with up to 40x magnification. You can see cut, color, clarity, and sparkle in ways that static images cannot capture.
This matters because two diamonds with identical GIA certifications can look quite different in person. James Allen’s viewing technology addresses that gap. The brand presents each of its 150,000+ conflict-free diamonds in magnified 360-degree HD.
Non-commissioned certified gemologists are available 24/7 via live chat, phone, and email. Real-Time Live Inspection software connects you with on-call diamond experts who can examine specific stones with you. Lifetime warranties cover repairs and adjustments.
7. Van Cleef & Arpels
Van Cleef & Arpels brings high jewelry heritage to bridal collections. The Maison’s first piece mentioned in sales records was a diamond-set heart from 1906. That connection to love stories has continued for over a century.
Your Poetic Setting is a special service where you create your own engagement ring. Solitaires come in platinum, white gold, or rose gold settings. Diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires adorn 17 timeless aesthetics.
Van Cleef & Arpels sits at the top of the luxury market. The brand emphasizes its High Jewelry savoir-faire and careful stone selection. Buyers here are looking for exceptional craftsmanship and exclusivity.
8. Catbird
Catbird has operated from Brooklyn since 2004. The brand uses over 95% recycled gold and recycled diamonds in its jewelry. All engagement rings are made to order in their Brooklyn studio.
The engagement ring collection began in 2014 with the birth of their Swans, 11 originally designed rings made with ethically-sourced materials and fair pricing. Today, the collection includes recycled diamonds, lab-grown diamonds, recycled 14k gold, and ethical stones.
Catbird’s trained jewelers handmake each piece, and the brand offers a lifetime guarantee. The company holds CFDA membership, Made in New York certification, and No Dirty Gold membership. These credentials support its sustainability claims.
Pricing is mid-range, and the focus is on quality and ethics rather than luxury branding.
Quick Comparison
Brand
Custom Options
Starting Price
Key Feature
GOODSTONE
Full bespoke design
$2,500
Handcrafted in LA, lifetime repairs
Tiffany & Co.
Tiffany Ring Studio
Premium
Triple excellent cut diamonds
Cartier
Set For You service
Premium
French luxury, 3-week turnaround
Brilliant Earth
Comprehensive customization
Mid-range
Beyond Conflict Free diamonds
Blue Nile
Creative Studio builder
Mid-range
24/7 expert support
James Allen
Build your own
Mid-range
360° HD diamond viewing
Van Cleef & Arpels
Your Poetic Setting
High luxury
High jewelry heritage
Catbird
Made to order
Mid-range
Brooklyn-made, recycled materials
Making Your Choice
Each brand on this list serves a different type of buyer. The right brand depends on what matters most to you.
Some people want to see their ring take shape through sketches and revisions with a designer.
Others prefer selecting from established collections with immediate availability.
Some need to know their diamond came from a traceable source.
Others want maximum sparkle within a specific budget.
Visit showrooms when possible. Schedule virtual consultations. Ask questions about sourcing, customization limits, timelines, and warranties. The brands that make this list have earned their reputations, but reputation alone should not drive your decision.
Your partner will wear this ring for decades. Take the time to find the right fit.
Consumers these days have more options than ever when searching for products that meet their needs. From independent sellers to large-scale online retailers, competition continues to intensify across nearly every category. As a result, businesses face two pressing challenges: standing out in crowded markets and ensuring products are easily discoverable by the right audiences.
Fortunately, advances in technology have introduced a growing set of tools designed to help retailers overcome these hurdles, improve visibility, and drive stronger conversion rates.
Consider Partnering With An Expert
Among the many resources available, working with an Amazon agency has become a common strategy for businesses seeking to improve product discoverability in highly competitive online marketplaces. These agencies specialize in optimizing merchandising, search placement, and performance metrics to increase visibility and revenue. While their expertise is often associated with a single platform, the tools and methodologies they use—data analysis, optimization, and customer-centric positioning—can be applied broadly across the eCommerce ecosystem.
Leveraging Advanced SEO Tools
Search engine optimization remains one of the most effective drivers of product discoverability, but the tools supporting SEO have evolved significantly. Advanced SEO platforms help businesses identify high-intent keywords, optimize product pages, monitor competitors, and track performance over time.
Modern SEO tools provide actionable insights into how consumers search, what terms are gaining traction, and where opportunities exist to improve ranking. By aligning product content with real search behavior, businesses can increase organic visibility while attracting shoppers who are more likely to convert.
Utilizing AI and Machine Learning
Artificial intelligence and machine learning are increasingly embedded in digital retail operations. These technologies analyze large volumes of customer and product data to identify patterns that humans might overlook. AI-driven recommendation engines, for example, surface products based on browsing behavior, purchase history, and similar customer profiles.
Machine learning models can also anticipate demand shifts and adjust product visibility dynamically. This enables retailers to promote the right products at the right time, improving both customer experience and sales efficiency. As these tools mature, they are becoming more accessible to businesses of all sizes.
Investing in Data Analytics Tools
Data analytics plays a critical role in improving discoverability by turning raw information into strategic insight. Analytics tools help businesses understand how customers interact with product listings, where drop-offs occur, and which channels drive the highest engagement.
These insights allow retailers to refine pricing strategies, optimize product placement, and allocate marketing spend more effectively. From a financial perspective, data-driven decision-making improves return on investment while reducing wasted resources.
Exploring Augmented Reality for Engagement
Augmented reality is emerging as a powerful tool for enhancing online shopping experiences. By allowing customers to visualize products in real-world settings—such as previewing furniture in a living space or trying on apparel virtually—AR increases engagement and buyer confidence.
Higher engagement often leads to longer session times and improved conversion rates, which can indirectly boost product visibility. As AR technology becomes more widely adopted, it is likely to play a growing role in discoverability strategies across retail sectors.
Employing Social Media Management and Advertising Tools
Social media remains a key driver of product discovery, particularly in the early stages of the buying journey. Management and advertising tools help businesses schedule content, target specific audiences, and measure campaign performance across multiple platforms.
By combining organic content with targeted promotions, retailers can extend product reach, build brand familiarity, and drive traffic to product listings. These tools also provide valuable feedback on which messages and formats resonate most with consumers.
Final Thoughts
The digital retail landscape shows no signs of slowing down, and competition will only continue to intensify. Emerging tools—from advanced SEO platforms to AI-driven analytics and immersive technologies—offer businesses new ways to improve product discoverability and remain competitive.
By investing in the right tools and applying data-informed strategies, retailers can enhance visibility, strengthen customer engagement, and support sustainable growth in an increasingly complex marketplace.
Calgary’s housing landscape is evolving, and homeowners are increasingly looking for ways to maximize space, add functional living areas, and increase property value. One of the most popular solutions in recent years has been garage suites. These versatile structures provide additional living or rental space while complementing the main home, making them an excellent investment for Calgary homeowners. Venkor Group has become a trusted name for designing and building high-qualitygarage suites calgary residents can rely on.
A garage suite is more than just a converted garage—it is a carefully planned, fully functional living space. From insulation and heating to plumbing and electrical systems, a properly built garage suite can serve as a comfortable rental unit, home office, guest suite, or private space for family members. Venkor Group approaches each project with the same attention to detail as a traditional home build, ensuring that every garage suite meets both municipal requirements and the homeowner’s expectations.
Building in Calgary comes with its own unique set of challenges. Extreme weather, seasonal temperature swings, and city bylaws require precise planning and construction. Venkor Group has extensive experience navigating these challenges, ensuring that foundations, structural systems, insulation, and roofing are all designed to handle Calgary’s climate. By managing every aspect of the build—from design and permitting to construction and final inspections—Venkor Group provides homeowners with a seamless, stress-free experience.
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Functionality is at the heart of Venkor Group’s approach. Each garage suite is carefully designed to accommodate modern lifestyle needs, from open-concept living areas to dedicated storage spaces. Optional features such as heated flooring, high-efficiency windows, and smart home systems can also be incorporated to enhance usability and comfort. By combining practical design with professional construction, Venkor Group delivers suites that homeowners and tenants alike can enjoy for years.
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Whether you are looking to create a rental unit, a home office, or extra living space for family and guests, a garage suite is one of the smartest investments for a Calgary property. With Venkor Group’s expertise in design, permitting, and construction, homeowners can transform their garages into modern, functional, and high-value living spaces.
For Calgary homeowners considering a garage suite, choosing a reliable, experienced builder is essential. Venkor Group combines local knowledge, professional project management, and quality craftsmanship to deliver garage suites that stand the test of time and enhance the value and functionality of any property.
Canada’s retail landscape shifted meaningfully over the past year, and the forces that shaped 2025 are increasingly defining what lies ahead in 2026. At the centre of this transformation is a deeply divided consumer economy, one where spending behaviour is no longer moving in unison across income groups.
The past year revealed a clear split between households that continue to spend with relative confidence and those that have been forced to pull back sharply. That divergence has reshaped performance across categories, formats, and price points. Retailers serving affluent consumers have remained comparatively resilient, while value-oriented banners have absorbed growing traffic from households under pressure.
This two-tiered environment has increasingly dictated which retailers are expanding, which are holding ground, and which are struggling to maintain relevance.
Consumer Confidence Remains Fragile
That polarization shows little sign of easing. Consumer sentiment remains fragile, particularly among middle- and lower-income households that bore the brunt of inflation, rising interest rates, and higher housing costs. Many Canadians entered 2025 with limited financial buffers, and over the course of the year, those buffers continued to erode.
A growing share of households are now either out of savings or actively drawing them down. At the same time, reliance on buy now, pay later options linked to credit cards has increased, quietly layering new debt onto already strained balance sheets. While this has supported short-term spending, it also raises longer-term risks for discretionary retail categories.
Tariffs and Job Anxiety Add New Pressure
Looking into 2026, trade-related uncertainty is already weighing on consumer behaviour. Even before the full impact of tariffs materializes, the mere threat of disruption has begun to affect confidence, particularly in sectors tied to manufacturing and industrial supply chains.
Job anxiety tends to influence spending well before employment losses become visible. When consumers are uncertain about future income, they delay purchases, reduce discretionary spending, and prioritize essentials. That behavioural shift is already evident in categories ranging from apparel to home furnishings.
Tariffs also risk reintroducing inflationary pressure through complex global supply chains. Many Canadian retailers source goods or components through the United States, and when those inputs are affected by tariffs elsewhere in the world, costs inevitably work their way back into the Canadian market.
Photo: Amazon
Same-Day Delivery Resets Consumer Expectations
Convenience has emerged as one of the most powerful forces reshaping retail behaviour. Rapid delivery has fundamentally altered expectations, reducing the friction between desire and fulfillment to near zero.
In several major Canadian markets, consumers can now receive multiple deliveries in a single day. That level of immediacy significantly weakens one of the traditional advantages of physical retail, especially for routine or replenishment purchases. When convenience reaches that threshold, the question for consumers is no longer when to shop, but whether a store visit is necessary at all.
Massive investment in logistics infrastructure over the past decade has entrenched this shift, raising the bar for all retailers competing on convenience.
Physical Stores Still Matter, but the Role Is Changing
Despite the growth of e-commerce, Canada remains a store-first retail market. The vast majority of retail sales still occur in physical locations, underscoring the continued relevance of stores within the ecosystem.
However, their role is evolving. Stores increasingly succeed where they offer tangible advantages such as product trial, immediate access, knowledgeable staff, or experiences that cannot be replicated online. At the same time, even higher-income consumers, while still spending, have become more selective. Trading down in certain categories, particularly groceries, has become more common, even among households that remain financially secure.
Select segments, including luxury jewelry, have continued to perform well, reinforcing how uneven demand has become across the retail spectrum.
New luxury wing at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre. Photo: Craig Patterson
Luxury Retail Emerges as a Bright Spot in 2026
While many retail segments remain under pressure, 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for luxury retail in Canada, driven by major new developments in Vancouver and Toronto. These projects signal continued confidence in high-income consumer demand and destination-based shopping.
A central milestone will be the opening of Vancouver Oakridge Park, formerly Oakridge Centre. The redeveloped mixed-use project features a significant luxury retail component anchored by leading global brands, positioning it as one of the most important high-end retail openings in Canadian history and a new benchmark for the market.
Toronto’s luxury ecosystem is also expanding. Yorkdale Shopping Centre is adding additional luxury retailers, while the Bloor-Yorkville district continues to attract new high-end brands. Together, these expansions underscore how luxury retail is emerging as one of the clearest areas of growth within Canada’s increasingly polarized retail environment.
AI Begins to Influence Shopping Decisions
Another notable shift in 2025 was the early influence of artificial intelligence on how consumers discover and evaluate products. AI-powered tools are beginning to function as digital shopping assistants, capable of searching across platforms, comparing prices, and surfacing recommendations with minimal effort from the user.
These tools increasingly handle the research phase of shopping, compressing what was once a multi-step process into a single interaction. Beyond discovery, AI is also playing a growing role behind the scenes, helping retailers forecast demand, optimize inventory, and respond more dynamically to consumer behaviour.
While still early, this shift has meaningful implications for how brands are found, how products are compared, and how loyalty is built.
Former Hudson’s Bay store at Sunridge Mall in Calgary. Photo: Quy La via Google Maps
Mall Owners Face Structural Challenges
On the real estate side, structural challenges continue to intensify. Replacing traditional anchor tenants has become increasingly difficult, forcing mall owners to rethink how large-format space is used. The loss of Hudson’s Bay means millions of square feet of real estate must be backfilled or repurposed.
In response, some centres are subdividing former anchor footprints or introducing non-traditional tenants such as service providers, recreational uses, or automotive-related concepts. While top-tier, marquee centres continue to attract demand and investment, many suburban secondary and tertiary malls are struggling to backfill space and sustain traffic.
The gap between prime retail real estate and everything else continues to widen.
What Comes Next for Canadian Retail
As 2026 unfolds, Canadian retail is entering another year defined by divergence. Income polarization, convenience expectations, employment confidence, and emerging technology will increasingly determine where consumers spend and how retailers compete.
Retailers that align with polarized consumer needs, rethink the purpose of physical space, and adapt to new discovery behaviours will be better positioned to navigate the uneven terrain ahead. For others, the K-shaped economy will continue to expose vulnerabilities, reinforcing that the next phase of Canadian retail will reward clarity, adaptability, and execution.
