As Canadian brands and retailers become increasingly international, their products are being purchased by those who speak different languages. Besides potential confusion and mistranslation, individual country-by-country labelling standards are costing those in the industry who do business internationally, according to David Ceausu, President of leading Canadian based global apparel labelling company, Accent Labels. 
 
Mr. Ceausu noted that if a label reads differently in one country versus another, moving that product to another region could become complicated. Removing the label and replacing it with another takes time and money, not to mention that it could damage the product. Mr. Ceausu explained how international labelling standards and  utilizing symbols instead of words, could eliminate confusion and costs associated with multi-lingual labelling. A hybrid solution could also be acceptable, he said, utilizing localized labelling standards with an international label with easy-to-understand symbols. 

For example, if a Canadian company wanted to sell its wares internationally and a particular style didn’t sell in one country, moving it to another would require replacing labels and tags marked in the local language. Standardized labelling would allow the company to more easily move merchandise internationally, without the inconvenience of relabelling. This applies more to brick-and-mortar retailing,though standardization would also benefit e-commerce, according to Mr. Ceausu,to create consistency. 
 
Furthermore, Mr. Ceausu noted that standardized labelling could potentially eliminate confusion surrounding certain fabrics and other quality indicators. Although Canada’s Textile Labelling Act and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission may be of benefit to Canadians and Americans, countries such as India currently lack similar standardizing regulations. Standardized international labelling would provide consumers with insight into the fabric and care instructions, without the need for translation or for multiple/replacement tagging.

A recent study noted considerable differences among labelling standards, providing suggestions on how to streamline labelling standards for better international product movement. The study provided several potential solutions to try to create some uniformity, including ample use of percentages where appropriate, ASTM and ISO care symbols when possible, and even multiple tags for different country groups. The same study determined that ease of understanding and uniformity would be optimal and where possible, uniform labelling standards should be encouraged.  

Vancouver-based lawyer Ritchie Po noted that there could even be legal implications if mistranslation leads to false advertising or worse, someone is injured as a result of mislabelling. At the very least, mistranslation can lead to embarrassing situations — for example, translating ‘Made in Turkey’ into French could become humorous, if the translation results in the country being identified as a bird (dinde) as opposed to using its correct translation (Turquie). In the world of product labelling, however, humour and professionalism are often mutually exclusive.

As Canadian companies continue to move products internationally, at least partially standardized labelling would be of benefit. Mr. Ceausu explained that his company, Accent Labels, will adhere to any new industry practices that may involve new consistency standards.

Prada‘s only freestanding Canadian location is expanding, and updates on its landlord’s leasing site shows a two-level retail space more than twice the size of Prada’s existing store. 

Located at The Colonnade at 131 Bloor Street West, Prada will take 7,751 square feet of additional space, according to Morguard‘s website. Prada’s current ground-floor store is 5,889 square feet, according to plans, and the new store will measure 13,640 square feet. 

Prada will occupy second-floor space in part of the former Japan Foundation as well as hallway space formerly leading to Chanel. The 7,400 square foot Chanel store will vacate The Colonnade for an 8,700 square foot location on Yorkville Avenue in early 2017. 

Prada will also open its second freestanding Canadian store in Vancouver next year within The Carlyle retail complex at the southeast corner of Alberni Street and Thurlow Street. Sources say that the Vancouver store will span approximately 8,200 square feet over two floors, in the same complex as De Beers, Tory Burch and a soon-to-open Moncler store. 

Prada also currently operates several concessions within luxury retailer Holt Renfrew. Sources say that Prada may open an expanded ground-floor concession with a streetfront entrance at Holt Renfrew’s Bloor Street flagship, featuring accessories, footwear and ready-to-wear. The Prada concession within Holt Renfrew’s Vancouver store is expected to expand as the store grows and renovates, and sources at Holt Renfrew say that Prada may also open substantial locations within Holt’s Mississauga Square One location when it opens in the spring of 2016, as well as at an expanded Ogilvy/Holt’s in Montreal in 2017. 

Leading landlord Cadillac Fairview is seeing increased sales by adding restaurants and upgraded food components and as a result of these and other property upgrades, its malls are among Canada’s most productive. Finley McEwen, Senior Vice President of Development at Cadillac Fairview, explained how the landlord’s decade-long efforts are paying off and how Cadillac Fairview plans to continue upgrading its dining options to attract and keep shoppers in its malls. 

Several of Cadillac Fairview’s malls made it into Retail Insider’s 2014 list of Canada’s 20 most productive malls, and the same is expected for our 2015 list which will launch next month. This may come as no surprise, as the landlord has been upgrading and expanding its properties as well as adding new tenants. We spoke with Mr. McEwen specifically about Cadillac Fairview’s efforts to enhance its food options, which range from traditional and enhanced food court offerings to full-service, freestanding restaurants.

Mr. McEwen explained how, over the past decade, Cadillac Fairview has been upgrading its food offerings. While some dining areas feature traditional disposable utensils, several of the company’s recent renovations have included upgraded dining halls featuring porcelain dish-ware and full scullery service. Reusable utensils are better for the environment, explained Mr. McEwen, with waste reduction being a goal for Cadillac Fairview. Although scullery service and bussing can be costly and takes extra space, customers generally react positively to the enhanced dining experience.

Cadillac Fairview is also adding full-service restaurants to its properties which will serve not only to bring in shoppers, but to act as destinations unto themselves. We specifically discussed new restaurant offerings at CF Sherway Gardens, which recently revealed an impressive 210,000 square foot expansion. The Keg Steakhouse recently opened in the expansion, and a JOEY Restaurant will open in February of 2016. Cactus Club will open at the centre in 2017, and many are also eagerly anticipating the February 2016 opening of the 5,500 square foot Oliver & Bonacini restaurant within the mall’s newest anchor, Saks Fifth Avenue.

Early next month in Sherway’s new ‘Gourmet Fare’ food court, Bar Freddo Caffe will open a licensed premises serving artisanal Italian cuisine, gelato, and various alcoholic spirits. Mr. McEwen explained how a small, unique, independent tenant such as Bar Freddo is a welcome addition, mixing in with national and international chain tenants. 

Antony Karabus, CEO of leading retail consultancy HRC Advisory, recently commented on how food enhances the mall shopping experience, and how landlords are able to charge higher retail rents as mall improvements lead to more shoppers. Furthermore “These landlords are also spending heavily to add new food experiences, upgrade restrooms and common areas, to create a more luxurious experience to attract the kind of customers that will spend heavily at their tenants,” he said. 

Mr. McEwen revealed that Cadillac Fairview will continue upgrading its properties as well as its food experiences, in an effort to gain shoppers and enhance centre productivity. We expect Cadillac Fairview to dominate next month’s top Canadian mall productivity list, alongside landlords Oxford Properties and Ivanhoé Cambridge.