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Finalists Announced for Retail Council of Canada’s Excellence in Retailing Awards

By
Craig Patterson
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Retail Council of Canada (RCC) has announced the finalists for Canada’s most innovative merchants at the 2016 Excellence in Retailing Awards. A total of 87 finalists from 50 retail companies are in the running for the prestigious awards, which recognize the pinnacle achievements of retail organizations in 10 retail categories covering a range of in-store, online and omni-channel operations.

“Over the past 20 years, the Excellence in Retailing Awards program has become the gold standard, recognizing the very best that retailers in Canada have to offer,” said Diane J. Brisebois, President and CEO of Retail Council of Canada. “Becoming a Finalist for these awards takes talent, teamwork and ingenuity, and is a testament to the creativity and leadership of an outstanding group of merchants. Together, these organizations have set a high standard for all retailers in Canada to emulate.”

The 2016 list of RCC Excellence in Retailing Awards finalists includes the following companies, in alphabetical order: 

  • Alcool NB Liquor
  • Bauer (Division of Performance Sports Group)
  • Best Buy Canada
  • Bulk Barn Foods Limited
  • Canada Post
  • Canadian Tire Corporation Ltd.
  • Cineplex Entertainment
  • Costco Canada
  • David’s Bridal
  • FGL Sports
  • Foodland
  • Frank & Oak
  • goeasy ltd
  • Groupe Dynamite
  • H&M
  • Holt Renfrew
  • Home Hardware Stores Limited
  • Hudson’s Bay Company
  • IKEA Canada Limited Partnership
  • Indigo
  • La Maison Simons
  • LCBO
  • Liquor Stores, NA
  • Loblaw Companies Limited
  • M&M Food Market
  • Mac’s Convenience Stores
  • Manitoba Telecom Services
  • Mark’s
  • Metro
  • Michael Hill Jeweller
  • Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation
  • PetSmart Canada
  • Reitmans
  • RONA
  • Sears Canada
  • Sephora
  • Shoes.com
  • Shoppers Drug Mart
  • Sleep Country Canada
  • Sobeys
  • Sobeys Express
  • Sport Chek
  • Staples Canada
  • Surmesur
  • TELUS Retail Limited
  • Ten Thousand Villages
  • The Beer Store
  • The Source
  • Walmart Canada

The 2016 winners will be announced at the Excellence in Retailing Awards gala on May 31st. The gala is a highlight of the STORE 2016 Conference, Canada’s largest retail industry event of the year, which runs May 31st and June 1st at the Toronto Congress Centre. For further information and to buy gala tickets: www.storeconference.ca/excellence-in-retailing-awards/gala.

The gala will also honour Louise Wendling, former Country Manager of Costco Wholesale Canada, recipient of Retail Council of Canada’s 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award; Andrew Lutfy, CEO of Groupe Dynamite, named Retail Council of Canada’s 2016 Distinguished Canadian Retailer of the Year; and Cameron Baty and Karina Birch, co-owners of Rocky Mountain Soap Company, recipients of Retail Council of Canada’s 2016 Independent Retail Ambassador of the Year.

For more information about the Excellence in Retailing Awards and STORE 2016, visit www.storeconference.ca.

Black Goat Cashmere Opens Beautiful Government Street Store [Photos]

By
Craig Patterson
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Vancouver-based Black Goat Cashmere has opened a beautiful new store in Victoria, British Columbia. It’s the retailer’s fourth Canadian store location, and is located in a restored heritage building in a popular tourist zone. 

Located at 1008 Government Street, Black Goat Cashmere occupies 1,300 square feet of space in the historical Promis Block, built in 1905 and regarded as one of the most detailed examples of Edwardian renaissance architecture in Victoria. Designed by Hooper and Watkins Architects for Oscar Promis of San Jose, California, The Promis Block features a Government Street frontage of glazed bricks, molded terracotta decorative elements, recessed upper bay windows and cast iron columns. The building features facades on both Government Street and Langley Street, allowing for a unique retail floor plate with dual frontages. The building went through a comprehensive renovation which included a full seismic upgrade, prior to last week’s store opening. 

The store’s interior, designed by Black Goat Cashmere, is furnished with a mix of white wash and black waxed oak cabinets. Product (including sweaters, cardigans, dresses etc.) are neatly folded to display and showcase the brand’s range of colours, styles and textures. The wooden oak floors are partially covered with hand made wool rugs custom made for Black Goat Cashmere, the walls are decorated with mirrors, frames from the retailer’s photo-shoots and an antique safe behind the cash desk that was part of the original building.

Oberfeld Snowcap acted on behalf of Black Goat Cashmere in the lease deal for the 1008 Government Street space, and Colliers International represented the landlord. 

Black Goat Cashmere’s other three store locations include a downtown Vancouver store at 925 West Georgia Street in the city’s ‘Luxury Zone’, a second Vancouver location on Vancouver’s upscale South Granville strip (the company’s first, which opened in 2011), and a Toronto store which opened in the winter of 2015 at 131 Bloor Street West in ‘The Colonnade’, between Cartier and Agent Provocateur. 

Black Goat Cashmere’s products are designed in Vancouver and manufactured in Mongolia with the highest-quality cashmere. The company is vertically integrated, and sells a variety of cashmere products for men, women and children. Some garments have accents such as mother of pearl buttons and leather trim. The Mongolian cashmere used is from long strands, which are known for durability and high quality, according to CEO Robert Remy. 

*All photos were supplied, courtesy of Black Goat Cashmere.

Jean Machine Updates Store Concept

By
Craig Patterson
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Toronto-based denim-focused multi-brand fashion retailer Jean Machine is looking to expand its target market by launching an enhanced store concept. The 40-year old retailer recently revealed its first new location with its updated environment, and more are expected to follow. 

A relocated Jean Machine store at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre is meant to attract a more mature clientele, according to the retailer’s Marketing Director, Jason Perlman. Jean Machine has traditionally focused on younger shoppers, and the new 1,550 square foot Yorkdale location provides a slightly more inviting environment for mature shoppers. An industrial feel provides a backdrop for Jean Machine’s products, and the store look could be rolled-out into other locations. Larger, more comfortable dressing rooms are an added feature, along with vintage accents throughout the store. The company works with a store designer who Mr. Perlman says is now ‘practically in-house’, having done so many of the retailer’s stores over the past number of years. 

It isn’t just updated interiors that are meant to attract more mature shoppers, however — Mr. Perlman explained how music at the new Yorkdale store isn’t quite as high-tempo as that in other locations. Music is still vibrant and an important component to the overall retail environment, he said. 

Farla Efros, President of prominent retail consultancy HRC Advisory, said that retailers need to be careful when going after different target markets — especially during these turbulent times in retail. A “slow and methodical” approach is required, and being able to “test” is key to success, she said. Jean Machine’s new Yorkdale location is near a more “mature customer base”, Ms. Efros noted, making the location and repositioning ideal. 

Family-owned Jean Machine will continue to focus its operations in Ontario, according to Mr. Perlman, where the retailer operates 35 locations. There’s potential for expansion at some point, though the owners are looking to keep operations close to home for the moment. Existing store locations will remain Jean Machine’s focus, as it modifies its strategy to broaden its customer base. E-commerce will also play an increasingly important role for the retailer, he said, as Jean Machine also focuses on enhancing omni-channel initiatives. 

*Photos were supplied by Jean Machine.

Nordstrom to Hire 1,600 For 2 Autumn Store Openings

By
Craig Patterson
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Upscale Seattle-based Nordstrom is hiring 1,600 employees for its next two Canadian store openings this fall, both in Toronto. Each store will employ about 800 people. Jobs will be posted to www.careers.nordstrom.com on Monday, May 23, and hiring will begin in late June.

Nordstrom’s 220,000 square foot CF Toronto Eaton Centre flagship location opens on Friday, September 16 of this year, while its 196,000+ square foot Yorkdale Shopping Centre store will open on Friday, October 21.

Sales positions are available in all areas of each store including women’s, men’s, and children’s apparel, shoes, accessories, cosmetics and designer goods. Retail experience is not required for sales positions. Hiring will also take place for various support positions in concierge, alterations, building services, housekeeping, loss prevention as well as jobs specific to the stores’ restaurants and coffee bars.

Nordstrom offers employees a competitive benefits package including a 20% retail discount (managers receive a 33% discount), dental, medical and vision options, and an RRSP matching program.

For recent Nordstrom store openings in Calgary, Ottawa and Vancouver, Nordstrom sales managers participated in an eight-week manager training program in Seattle. A similar training program is being provided for 62 recently hired Toronto department managers, who this time will be partnered with the retailer’s most experienced managers at stores across Canada and the United States for a five-week training program where they will learn about the company culture. Once salespeople have been hired, they will also participate in a training program in Toronto that will focus on product knowledge, selling skills, and how to offer Nordstrom customers a great shopping experience.

Best of luck to all interested applicants. 

Sport Chek Plans More Innovative Flagship Locations

By
Craig Patterson
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ROBSON STREET FLAGSHIP SPORT CHEK. PHOTO SUPPLIED.

Calgary-based, FGL Sports-owned Sport Chek is continuing to open innovative flagship stores in Canada, following the opening of its first location in 2014. Last week, Sport Chek opened an impressive store on Vancouver’s Robson Street and according to Vice President and head of Flagship and Special Projects, Eric Watt, several more flagships will open over the next three years. 

The Robson Street flagship is unique in the way that it’s designed, as well as how it opened, according to Mr. Watt. The three-level, 54,000 square foot store features an entrance ‘portal’ characteristic of Sport Chek’s flagships but in a modified format to suit an existing streetfront structure. The prominent Robson Street building, located at the southeast corner of Robson and Howe Streets (across from Nordstrom) was, until the summer of 2015, occupied by book retailer Chapters. Because of the design of the existing structure, the portal was inserted into the glass prism. The store’s opening week was also more ‘event driven’ than most openings according to Mr. Watt, with promotions for Fitbit and Nike last weekend, for example. 

Robson Street is Sport Chek’s fifth flagship location, along with previously opened stores at West Edmonton Mall, Metropolis at Metrotown in Burnaby BC, Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto, and at Square One in Mississauga. Mr. Watt said that Sport Chek could open another seven or so Canadian flagship locations over the next three years, with the next set to open this summer at Toronto’s CF Sherway Gardens (spanning about 75,000 square feet), next to Saks Fifth Avenue in retail space formerly occupied by Sears. 

Mr. Watt said that he’d like to see a large Sport Chek flagship somewhere in downtown Toronto, and that the company would need to find the right sized real estate for such an endeavour. Sport Chek currently operates a 15,000 square foot location at CF Toronto Eaton Centre which he said will see renovations to become a ‘hero store’ — that is, a location featuring digital technology and other innovations, but lacking the square footage of a full flagship store, which are typically in the 45,000 to 80,000 square foot range. 

Sport Chek’s flagships reflect the most digitally-savvy store execution anywhere in the world, according to the company. Flagship stores feature digital installations to improve the customer experience, and it’s paying off — the company’s first two flagships have seen double-digit annual growth. Sport Chek’s first flagship opened at West Edmonton Mall in early 2014, measuring an impressive 80,000 square feet over two floors. A second flagship opened at Ivanhoé Cambridge‘s Metropolis at Metrotown in December of 2014, spanning about 48,000 square feet.

Nespresso Reinforces Canadian Presence, Plans Expansion

By
Craig Patterson
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RENDERING OF THE YORKDALE STORE WHICH OPENED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2015, VIA NESPRESSO

Nestlé-owned Swiss coffee brand Nespresso has been expanding its Canadian brick-and-mortar operations of the past several years, and it’s not finished yet. According to Brand Manager Caroline Desvaux, Nespresso will look to expand its store base into Western Canada over the next two years, following solidifying its presence in Quebec and Ontario. Nespresso is working with brokerage Oakmont Real Estate Services for its Canadian store expansion. 

Ms. Desvaux explained Nespresso’s three store concepts: flagship ’boutique-bars’ (selling food, coffee drinks as well as coffee makers/pods), mall-based boutiques (selling coffee makers/pods), and partner shop-in-stores. Nespresso currently operates two large boutique-bars — its first opened on Montreal’s Rue Crescent in 2009, and a spectacular 14,000 square foot Toronto location (designed by Italian firm Goring & Straja) followed in the fall of 2013 in a former theatre on Yorkville’s Cumberland Street.

Nespresso operates five freestanding mall stores — at Yorkdale Shopping Centre and CF Sherway Gardens in Toronto, at CF Rideau Centre in downtown Ottawa, at CF Carrefour Laval in suburban Montreal, and at Place Ste-Foy in suburban Quebec City (which opened April 22 of this year, according to Maxime Frechette). Nespresso also operates eight shop-in-store locations at partner retailer Hudson’s Bay, selling pods and coffee machines in downtown Vancouver, Edmonton (Southgate Centre), Calgary (CF Chinook Centre), Toronto (Queen Street flagship at CF Toronto Eaton Centre, Yorkdale), downtown Montreal and at suburban Quebec City’s Laurier Quebec. 

Nespresso technically has a fourth store concept — it operates a series of pop-up shops and at the moment, has them at Metropolis at Metrotown in Burnaby BC, CF Fairview Mall in Toronto, and at CF Galeries d’Anjou in Montreal. 

NESPRESSO’S 14,122 SQUARE FOOT TORONTO CUMBERLAND STREET ‘BOUTIQUE-BAR’ IS ARGUABLY ONE OF THE MOST ATTRACTIVE RETAIL SPACES IN CANADA. PHOTO: NESPRESSO

Physical store locations provide the full Nespresso ‘brand experience’ according to Ms. Desvaux and because of this, they are critical to the brand’s Canadian expansion. Nespresso stores provide a connection to consumers that keeps them coming back, as well as offering pod recycling to be environmentally friendly. 

Moving forward, Nespresso is looking to enhance its presence in Western Canada according to Ms. Desvaux, following its reinforced Quebec and Ontario operations. An expansion won’t happen right away, she said, though the company expects to operate stores there either in late 2017 or early 2018.

Vancouver will be a key market, she noted, though it will depend on real estate opportunity whether or not BC’s largest city sees a large boutique-bar like in Montreal and Toronto, or a smaller mall-based boutique. Calgary will be next on the list after Vancouver, likely seeing a mall store not unlike those at Yorkdale or CF Carrefour Laval. 

According to Oakmont Real Estate Services, Nespresso is seeking retail space in the 2,000 to 3,000 square foot range, in malls and on high streets. Oakmont’s Ben Labrecque (1-514-917-5015) and Jim Murdoch (1-514-831-2001) are the broker contacts for the brand in Canada. 

Prada Opens 1st Canadian Saks Concession

By
Craig Patterson
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Italian luxury brand Prada has opened its first location within a Canadian Saks Fifth Avenue store. The ground floor accessories boutique at Saks Queen Street/CF Toronto Eaton Centre could be the first of several for Saks, as the retailer further expands operations into Canada. 

Toronto’s 170,000 square foot Saks flagship opened on February 18 of this year, though ground floor concessions for Prada and Dior were both latecomers. Dior still has yet to open and when it does, it will be one of two Dior concessions within the downtown Saks — this fall, Dior will also open a ready-to-wear women’s boutique on Saks’ third floor. 

Prada currently doesn’t have a concession within Saks at CF Sherway Gardens in suburban Toronto, Saks’ only other full-priced Canadian store. Prada could eventually open within other Canadian Saks stores, as the retailer expands operations outside of Toronto. Sources say that Saks is expected to soon announce a store location in a major Canadian city that will open in February of 2018, measuring in excess of 100,000 square feet. 

Prada is in the process of significantly expanding its Canadian operations. The Toronto Bloor Street flagship is adding a second level, growing the store from 5,889 square feet to 13,640 square feet, making it the largest in Canada. Prada opened a large two-level flagship in downtown Vancouver in March of this year. 

Prada currently operates concessions within five Holt Renfrew locations (Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto Bloor Street, Toronto Yorkdale, Montreal). Last year, sources said that Prada would open an expanded ground-floor concession with a streetfront entrance at Holt Renfrew’s Bloor Street flagship, featuring accessories, footwear and ready-to-wear. It’s unclear if that’s still the case. The Prada concessions within Holt Renfrew’s Vancouver store will expand as the store grows and renovates, and sources at Holt Renfrew say that Prada will open in an expanded Ogilvy/Holt’s in Montreal in 2017. 

Groupe Dynamite CEO, Andrew Lutfy, named Distinguished Canadian Retailer of the Year by Retail Council of Canada

By
Craig Patterson
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Retail Council of Canada (RCC) has announced that Andrew Lutfy, CEO of Groupe Dynamite Inc., will be the recipient of the 2016 Distinguished Canadian Retailer of the Year Award. He will be presented the award at this year’s Excellence in Retailing Awards Gala on May 31, as part of RCC’s RCC STORE Conference being held on May 31 and June 1 of this year in Toronto.

“RCC is thrilled to recognize Andrew Lutfy for his passion, his leadership, and his ability to embrace change in today’s retail landscape,” said Diane J. Brisebois, President & CEO, Retail Council of Canada. “Under his vision and direction the Groupe Dynamite brands, Garage and Dynamite, have grown from a handful of stores to close to 400 locations in Canada, the US and the Middle East,” added Ms. Brisebois. “Mr. Lutfy’s knowledge of the market and willingness to innovate have empowered the Groupe Dynamite team worldwide to understand their core customer and deliver exceptional service both in-store and online.”

Andrew Lutfy joined Groupe Dynamite in 1982 at the age of 18 as a stock clerk. He took an active management role which covered most functional areas of the business and quickly became an equal, ownership interest in the company; in 2002, he became the sole owner. In 2007, Andrew was presented with the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the year award which honours entrepreneurs who have shown outstanding skills and who have excelled in a wide spectrum of activities such as business expansion, risk taking, innovation and personal commitment towards their company and community.

Mr. Lutfy has been heavily involved in community service since the age of 18 when he co-founded the Montreal Youth Foundation. Since 1997, Mr. Lutfy has raised money for the Cedar’s Cancer Foundation; in 2014 he was recognized with great honour for his generous donation benefiting the new state of the art cancer centre. Today, through its “Make a Difference” program, Groupe Dynamite and its employees actively support a variety of local, national and international charitable initiatives such as the Cure Foundation, the Starlight Foundation, Centraide/United Way, and other local charities. To date, over $2 million has been raised for these organizations.

The Distinguished Retailer of the Year Award, sponsored by MasterCard, recognizes a retail leader who has led his/her company to outstanding business success and who has consistently demonstrated a commitment to the communities they operate within. The recipient is seen as a role model because of his/her exceptional leadership within the corporation, in the retail industry in Canada and in the community at large, through personal and/or corporate philanthropic activities. Groupe Dynamite joins a long line of passionate merchants across Canada receiving the award, including Leon’s, Harry Rosen, Canadian Tire Corporation and Aritzia.

The Distinguished Retailer of the Year Award will be presented to Mr. Lutfy at the Excellence in Retailing Awards Gala on May 31, 2016. The Gala, part of STORE Conference 2016, will take place at the Toronto Congress Centre from 6:15 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. ET on May 31. For further information and to purchase tickets: STOREConference.ca. 

Frank & Oak Reveals Innovative Brand Overhaul

By
Craig Patterson
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Montreal-based omni-channel men’s apparel brand Frank & Oak has announced that it has modified its name and logo, launched a new app with same day delivery, and has launched a new store concept that will be rolled-out nationwide. 

Frank & Oak is dropping the “&” in its name, replacing it with “+” for the new name ‘Frank + Oak’. The logo has been amended to reflect this and as well, the words ‘Frank’ and ‘Oak’ are staggered to represent a “step up” — highlighting the brand’s support for people who dare to take creative and entrepreneurial risks, according to a company press release. 

The retailer has launched a new app featuring immersive video, available for download at Canadian and U.S. App Stores for iPhone and iPads. The app offers ‘guided shopping’ via Frank + Oak’s stylist team (as well as bots), making recommendations through live chat. User’s personal tastes (based on prior purchases, profile and location) will provide ‘micro-personalization’ and suggestions of featured products. 

Frank + Oak is also offering two-hour delivery on an assortment of core apparel and grooming items, beginning with Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. There will be a $3 charge for ‘Elevate’ members, though that fee is waived on orders of two or more items. Non-members pay $6 for the same service. The app home screen features a personalized selection of pieces available for same-day delivery on weekdays between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm, and the service will expand to all other Canadian and U.S. Frank + Oak retail markets by September of 2016. 

Frank + Oak is also launching a new flagship store format, “transforming the store into a channel for service” according to the company press release. Each flagship will be about 3,000 square feet and will feature four ‘zones’ — a private personal styling zone, a grooming zone, a browsing zone and a lounge zone offering third-party coffee and treats. Customers will also be able to make in-store appointments with trained personal stylists or barbers either on the app or on Frank + Oak’s website. Montreal will be the first city to see the updated retail concept (at Frank + Oak’s CF Carrefour Laval location), with other locations set to open in the coming months, either by converting existing stores or opening entirely new locations. 

Oberfeld Snowcap represents Frank + Oak as brokerage for its Canadian stores. 

Frank + Oak co-founder Ethan Song will be speaking at Retail Council of Canada’s STORE Conference 2016, being held on May 31 and June 1 in Toronto. Mr. Song will be part of a ‘fireside chat’ from 2:50 pm to 3:30 pm on May 31. For more information, visit: www.storeconference.ca/agenda. 

Below are photos of the CF Carrefour Laval store, supplied by Frank + Oak.

Esprit Re-Enters Canada, Plans National Expansion

By
Craig Patterson
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WEST EDMONTON MALL STORE. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Fashion brand Esprit has re-entered the North American market, having just opened its first location on the continent in Edmonton. The brand has partnered with Montreal-based Freemark Apparel Brands to coordinate expanding Esprit’s Canadian operations. 

The 2,000 square foot West Edmonton Mall store, featuring womenswear only, is strategically located between Samsung Experience Store and Oakley on the mall’s second level. Two doors down is Lululemon‘s highest selling store worldwide, boasting higher annual revenue than some large department stores. This month, Esprit also opened its second Canadian location at Ivanhoé Cambridge‘s Metropolis at Metrotown in Burnaby, BC, measuring about 2,500 square feet and featuring both men’s and women’s collections. Both stores feature casual west coast-inspired interiors with natural wood finishings, designed in Germany where Esprit’s corporate office is located. 

Esprit was founded in California in 1968, and retails clothing for men, women and children. Collections range from casual to dressy. The brand exited North America in 2012 and last year, partnered with Freemark Apparel Brands to re-enter the market. Freemark’s Vice President of sales and co-owner, Lawrence Routtenberg, said that Esprit’s previous store locations were often quite large and this time around, stores will generally be in the 1,500 to 2,500 square foot range to create more of an intimate boutique feel. 

WEST EDMONTON MALL STORE. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
CLICK FOR INTERACTIVE WEST EDMONTON MALL MAP.

Mr. Routtenberg revealed that long-term, Esprit will look to carefully open freestanding Canadian stores, while being respectful to the brand’s roughly 250 Canadian wholesale specialty accounts. Ultimately, he said that Canada could see about 30 or so Esprit stores, though exact numbers would be contingent on opportunity and the economy. Esprit wants only the ‘best’ locations for its stores and as a result, top malls will be targeted. For example, this fall, Esprit is confirmed to be opening its third Canadian store at Mississauga’s Square One Shopping Centre. Urban street front locations may also be considered, in such locations at Saint Catherine Street in Montreal, Robson Street in Vancouver and Queen Street West in Toronto. Eventually, outlet stores could be added to the mix, he said. 

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