Montreal-based multi-brand footwear retailer Browns Shoes will continue to expand throughout Canada over the next several years. It’s a remarkable Canadian success story, with the brand now operating stores coast-to-coast from Vancouver to Halifax. Browns is seeking management and other staff as part of its expansion which, according to a company representative, could see more than 25 stores open between now and the year 2020.
Browns Shoes already operates 55 stores in Canada, including 43 Browns stores, seven B2 by Browns stores, and five Browns Outlets. According to Vice President of Sales David Brownstein, the company will open between eight and 10 Canadian locations in 2016 in Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, and Vancouver. Mr. Brownstein declined to reveal exact locations, as a number of sites are still under negotiation.
SQUARE ONE MISSISSAUGA. PHOTO: BROWNS SHOES
Mr. Brownstein further revealed that the company will open between four and six new Canadian locations each year in the years 2017 to 2020. Browns Shoes is represented in Canada by brokerage Oberfeld Snowcap.
B2 AT PACIFIC CENTRE, VANCOUVER. PHOTO: BROWNS SHOES
Browns Shoes is a family-owned business, founded in 1940 in Montreal by Benjamin Brownstein. The company is now third-generation run. Stores feature designer brands as well as in-house brands including Mimosa, Browns Couture, The Wishbone Collection, Luca Del Forte, Intensi and B2. The B2 brand became so successful in its own right that it now boasts its own freestanding stores, which also carry various other designer brands.
We recently met with Edmonton District Manager Annik Garceau, who revealed that Browns Shoes is currently seeking to hire talented individuals for management, sales and other positions in Edmonton — both at Browns’ current locations as well as at a new store set to open next year. Ms. Garceau explained the benefits of working at Browns Shoes, including a generous compensation plan and an overall positive working environment. You may reach Ms. Garceau directly at annik.garceau@brownsshoes.com.
Update: This store opened at the end of March, 2016 —> Details and Photos.
French luxury bakery and sweets maker Ladurée will open its Canadian location early next year on the 1100 block of Vancouver’s Robson Street. The store will be operated by a local franchisee, according to sources. Ladurée confirms that the boutique will also feature a 16-seat tea room.
Founded in Paris in 1862, Ladurée is best known for its double-decker macarons, selling over 15,000 of them daily. Many Ladurée locations also sell ice cream, sorbets, jams, chocolate and candy, as well as branded accessories. Some Ladurée locations also serve afternoon tea. Ladurée was purchased by French business group Groupe Holder in 1993, expanding Ladurée from a handful of locations to dozens of boutiques in 25 countries. The company currently has three American locations, including two in Manhattan and one in Miami. Its first American location opened in August of 2011 on Madison Avenue in New York City, and last year it opened a large tea salon in New York’s Soho area.
Sources confirm that a Vancouver-based franchisee has secured the rights to Ladurée in Canada, and that the 1141 Robson Street store is expected to open in late January/early February of 2016. The retail space was formerly occupied by beauty retailer The Body Shop, and is located between footwear retailer Steve Madden and a Telus retail location.
We’ve contacted Ladurée for further details on the company’s Canadian store expansion, and we’ll update this article when we learn more.
Part of College Park will be transformed into a pop-up ‘U.K. House‘, featuring curated fashions from British brands Aquascutum, Ben Sherman, Mulberry, REISS and Simon Carter as well as displays from Clarks, Dr. Martens and Cutler & Gross. Luxury leather goods handcrafted in England from Globe-Trotter, Swaine Adeney Brigg and Ettinger will also be on display (courtesy of Toronto-based Betty Hemmings Leathergoods) including replicas of items used by Her Majesty the Queen, Sir Winston Churchill, Sir Edmund Hillary and Captain Robert Falcon Scott. Replicas of pieces used by Sean Connery as James Bond in From Russia With Love and Benedict Cumberbatch as Alan Turing in the Imitation Game will also be featured.
U.K. House will be launching the GREAT British Shopping Map of Downtown Toronto which will highlight the British boutiques in the downtown core and will encompass an augmented reality social media contest powered by Blippar, for a chance to win flights to the U.K. from British Airways. You may follow #TOshopsUK for information and pick up a map at U.K. House and select retailers. Contest entrants will visit participating stores in the downtown core (U.K. House, Ben Sherman, Clarks Edit pop-up, Cutler & Gross, Dr. Marten’s, Simon Carter London, and the CF Toronto Eaton Centre locations of REISS, Ted Baker London, Topshop, and Topman) and share their experience on Twitter. The GREAT British Shopping Map of Downtown Toronto will be available starting October 29th at U.K. House (444 Yonge Street), the 12 Days of GREAT website and participating retailers’ locations. The contest will run until November 8 with winners announced on Twitter on November 9.
The strong business ties between Canada and the U.K. will also be a focal point over the 12 days. In particular, companies interested in expanding into the U.K. are invited to a free workshop, ‘The U.K. As Your Springboard to Global Growth’. Experts will offer insight on the benefits of setting up in the UK, legal, tax, and visa matters. Registration is open and space is limited.
On October 31 and November 1, local Beatles expert Piers Hemmingsen is hosting The GREAT Beatles Walking Tour of Toronto. These free walking tours will stop at various landmarks and retrace The Beatles’ route when they played Toronto in 1964. Registration is now open and free tours take place 10:00 am – 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm each day.
This 12 day celebration also coincides with a special Magna Carta exhibit at Fort York featuring an incredibly rare edition of Magna Carta from 1300. On loan from Durham Cathedral, this historical document serves as the root of democracy and the rule of law in both the UK and Canada. Tickets are available online.
Italian luxury brand Jennifer Tattanelli plans to open as many as two Canadian locations, and the brand will use Toronto as its North American launch point. Toronto-based luxury consultancy Winston Collective is representing the Tattanelli brand’s North American store expansion, and we interviewed founder Brian Winston for this article.
Founded in Florence in 1971, the Jennifer Tattanelli brand is known for its handcrafted, soft leather goods and garments, all made in Italy. Some leather goods, particularly accessories, feature a unique weave pattern that has become a brand trademark. Hardware is used sparingly, and all materials are of the highest quality. The company manufactures and retails fashions for men and women, including bags, clothing, outerwear, footwear, jewellery and even home goods. Products are also customizable and for the last several years, the company’s popular trunk shows have generated millions in revenue and thousands of fans. As a result, the brand’s increasing popularity has led Ms. Tattanelli to commence a North American store expansion that will compliment her existing stores in Florence, Italy, London, U.K., as well as a seasonable store in Westhampton Beach, New York.
Tattanelli is working with Toronto-based luxury consultancy Winston Collective on its North American expansion. According to founder Brian Winston, Jennifer Tattanelli is looking to first open a Toronto location measuring between 1,000 and 1,200 square feet on Yorkville Avenue, between Bellair Street and Hazelton Avenue. Although other sites along Yorkville Avenue and Cumberland Street will be considered, Mr. Winston revealed that the stretch of Yorkville Avenue between Bellair and Hazelton will soon become Toronto’s luxury retail epicentre, with several top international brands about to announce new store locations.
After establishing its Toronto flagship, Mr. Winston explained that Tatanelli will consider opening a Vancouver store, ideally in the city’s ‘Luxury Zone’ in the vicinity of Burrard Street and Alberni Street. Tattanelli is looking to operate at least seven North American locations, with sights set on New York City, Beverly Hills, Palm Beach, Chicago and other top American retail destinations, according to Mr. Winston.
LULULEMON HOARDING SHOWS THE NEW STORE NEXT TO THE EXISTING LOCATION. PHOTO: DARRELL BATEMAN
The world’s top-selling Lululemon store will soon double in size, with hoarding indicating that the new location will open ‘late winter 2015’. The store is one of Canada’s most productive retail spaces.
Currently measuring 3,585 square feet, West Edmonton Mall‘s Lululemon does over $25 million in annual sales. Two adjacent retail spaces, formerly occupied by Oakley and Mexx, will merge to create the new 6,970 square foot Lululemon store. Sales at the current location are in excess of $7,000 per square foot annually. If the new location were to achieve similar sales, it could see sales in the $50 million range — higher than most suburban department stores, and one of the highest-selling stores in Alberta.
Located on the second level of the mall’s ‘Phase II’, Lululemon enjoys substantial foot traffic. Across the hall is a busy Apple Store and two doors down, Vancouver-based Kit and Ace will soon open a permanent, 2,900 square foot store in the mall’s former Smart Set space. Kit and Ace was founded by Lululemon founder Chip Wilson’s wife, Shannon, and son, JJ.
Last week, Quebec City-based large-format fashion retailer La Maison Simons opened its 11th location at West Vancouver’s Park Royal South. The 100,000 square foot store features artwork throughout, with exterior design by LEMAYMICHAUD and interiors by Designstead.
Simons Park Royal is the retailer’s second store outside of the province of Quebec. West Edmonton Mall was the first when it opened in October of 2012.
Simons will continue its Canadian store expansion outside of Quebec. In March of 2016, it will open a 113,000 square foot Mississauga Square One location and in August of 2016, a 100,000 square foot store at Ottawa’s CF Rideau Centre. In 2017, Simons will open a 92,000 square foot location at The CORE in downtown Calgary, as well as a second Edmonton location, measuring about 100,000 square feet, at Londonderry Mall. In 2018 it will open a store at Toronto’s Scarborough Town Centre and in 2019 at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre. CEO Peter Simons says that the retailer could eventually open locations in Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, and the Maritimes.
This article features photos provided by La Maison Simons, via Vancouver-based lifestyle and events blog Modern Mix Vancouver. Peter Simons told Modern Mix, during a media preview, that the West Vancouver store integrates fashion, art and architecture. Other photos are credited from various sources.
West Vancouver-based author/artist Douglas Coupland designed ‘The Bow Tie’ sculpture that hangs from the ceiling in the store’s central atrium (photos above).
The 50+ blue flower ceramic sculpture in womenswear, designed by West Vancouver-based Bobbie Burgers, is called ‘Innocence Disobedience’ (photos above).
Ping pong balls adorn a creative ceiling installation in the women’s Miiyu lingerie department (photos above).
Sandblasted granite design by artist Jody Broomfield at the store’s south entrance (photo above).
A 50-seat in-store café called Éve (photos above) features French-Canadian inspired food, as well as views of Lions Gate Bridge and Ambleside park from its second-level location. The café also features an exhibit of 15 pieces of art from students of Vancouver-based youth-focused Arts Umbrella. Simons has a three-year commitment to the Arts Umbrella Art Lending Program, according to Modern Mix.
Upscale Seattle-based retailer Nordstrom has revealed the opening dates for its first two Toronto stores, both scheduled to open in the fall of 2016. A third Toronto location will open the following year. Nordstrom recently revealed these dates on its ‘Future Store Openings‘ website.
Nordstrom’s CF Toronto Eaton Centre flagship, measuring 213,000 square feet, will open on Friday, September 16, 2016, according to Nordstrom. As with its other Canadian store openings, a charity gala is expected be held two days prior — likely the evening of Wednesday, September 14. As with the Vancouver opening, Nordstrom may also host a designer runway presentation that same evening. Nordstrom will locate in part of CF Toronto Eaton Centre’s former Sears space, along with several smaller retailers as well as a 28,000 square foot Uniqlo and a significantly expanded H&M store.
Nordstrom’s 191,000 square foot Yorkdale Shopping Centre location is scheduled to open on October 21, 2016. The store will anchor a new wing within the mall, featuring smaller retailers as well as a 24,000 square foot Uniqlo store. Sources say that the new wing will feature several first-to-Canada retailers, with announcements expected to be made closer to the wing’s official opening date.
Nordstrom’s third Toronto location, measuring 138,000 square feet at Toronto’s CF Sherway Gardens, was scheduled to open on Friday, March 31, 2017, according to sources. That opening may now be delayed until the summer of 2017. The Sherway store will be Nordstrom’s smallest Canadian location, joining Canada’s first suburban Saks Fifth Avenue location. Saks will be only slightly smaller than Nordstrom, measuring 132,256 square feet.
With Holt Renfrew‘s expansion and Saks Fifth Avenue’s arrival in February, Canadian cities could soon boast a higher concentration of luxury department stores per capita than most American cities. We spoke with a luxury retail expert to determine if Canada will, as a result, become oversaturated with luxury department stores.
For the purpose of this study, North American luxury department stores included Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Barneys New York and Holt Renfrew. Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom were excluded due to their broader focus.
City
Metro Population (2014 est.)
Luxury Department Stores
Number of Luxury Department Stores
Toronto
6.056 million
Holt Renfrew (Bloor Street, Yorkdale, Sherway, Square One), Saks Fifth Avenue (Eaton Centre, Sherway, possible 3rd Saks location TBD)
up to 7
Montreal
4.027 million
Ogilvy/Holt’s, up to 2 Saks Fifth Avenue locations
up to 3
Vancouver
2.470 million
Holt Renfrew (Pacific Centre, suburban mall), up to 2 Saks Fifth Avenue locations
up to 4
Calgary
1.407 million
Holt Renfrew (The CORE), possible Saks Fifth Avenue (Chinook Centre)
up to 2
After Saks Fifth Avenue opens its first two Toronto stores (in February of 2016) and Holt Renfrew opens its Mississauga Square One location next spring, the Toronto area will boast seven luxury department stores in a region with a population of just over 6 million. Vancouver, with a metro population of about 2.5 million, could eventually see as many as four luxury department stores — Saks Fifth Avenue could open as many as two locations in the area, and Holt Renfrew is said to be speaking with landlords about possibly opening a suburban Vancouver-area location. Montreal (metro population 4 million) could see as many as two Saks locations as well, adding to an already expanding Ogilvy/Holt’s — giving Montreal up to three luxury department stores. And Calgary, with a metro population in excess of 1.4 million, could see two luxury department stores if Saks Fifth Avenue joins Holt Renfrew in Alberta’s largest city.
City
Metro Population (2014 est.)
Luxury Department Stores
Number of Luxury Department Stores
Chicago
9.555 million
Neiman Marcus (Michigan Avenue, Northbrook, Oakbrook), Saks Fifth Avenue (Michigan Avenue), Barneys New York (Oak Street)
5
Dallas-Ft. Worth
6.954 million
Neiman Marcus (Downtown Dallas, Northpark, Plano, Ft. Worth)
4
Houston
6.49 million
Neiman Marcus (Houston Galleria), Saks Fifth Avenue (Houston Galleria)
2
Philadelphia
6.051 million
Neiman Marcus (King of Prussia), Saks Fifth Avenue (Bala Cynwyd), Small Barneys New York, downtown
Neiman Marcus (Bal Harbour, Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Coral Gables), Saks Fifth Avenue (Bal Harbour, Boca Raton, Dadeland, Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens)
10
Atlanta
5.614 million
Neiman Marcus (Lenox Square), Saks Fifth Avenue (Phipps Plaza)
2
Boston
4.732 million
Neiman Marcus (Copley Place, Natick Mall), Saks Fifth Avenue (Prudential Centre), Barneys New York (Copley Place)
4
San Francisco/Oakland
4.594 million
Neiman Marcus (Union Square, Palo Alto, Walnut Creek), Saks Fifth Avenue (Union Square), Barneys New York (Union Square)
5
Phoenix
4.489 million
Neiman Marcus (Scottsdale Fashion Square), Saks Fifth Avenue (Biltmore Fashion Park), Barneys New York (Scottsdale Fashion Square)
3
Detroit
4.297 million
Neiman Marcus (Somerset Collection), Saks Fifth Avenue (Somerset Collection)
2
Seattle
3.671 million
Neiman Marcus (Bellevue), Barneys (small, downtown Seattle)
1.5
San Diego
3.263 million
Neiman Marcus (Fashion Valley)
1
St. Louis
2.806 million
Neiman Marcus (Plaza Frontenac), Saks Fifth Avenue (Plaza Frontenac)
2
Denver
2.754 million
Neiman Marcs (Cherry Creek)
1
Charlotte NC
2.38 million
Neiman Marcus (SouthPark Centre)
1
Las Vegas
2.069 million
Neiman Marcus (Fashion Valley), Saks Fifth Avenue (Fashion Valley), Barneys New York (Palazzo)
3
For comparison, we analysed American metropolitan areas housing Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Barneys New York stores. Remarkably, most large U.S. regions have fewer luxury department stores, per capita, than the Canadian cities listed above. Miami is an outlier, featuring an unusually high number of Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue locations. Boston and San Francisco also rank highly per capita, though only Miami surpasses Vancouver’s potential density of luxury department stores versus population. A number of U.S. cities larger than Calgary feature only one location for either Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, while Minneapolis (3.495 million), Baltimore (2.786 million), Pittsburg (2.356 million), Portland OR (2.348 million), Sacramento (2.244 million), Nashville (1.793 million), Providence RI (1.609 million) and Milwaukee (1.572 million) have no luxury department stores within their metropolitan regions.
The New York City and Los Angeles regions were deemed outliers and excluded from this study, due to their vast populations and sprawl.
To gain insight into our findings, we consulted with luxury retail expert Farla Efros, President of leading retail consultancy HRC Advisory. She thinks there will be fallout as retailers fight for market share, with upscale independent retailers first to be hurt due to their small scale. She explained how Americans generally have more discretionary income than Canadians, including higher incomes and lower taxes and as a result, Canada could become oversaturated as Saks Fifth Avenue expands into Holt Renfrew’s domain. Ms. Efros noted that Canada’s population is growing slowly and that our employment rate is volatile, though the low Canadian dollar is keeping Canadians shopping locally in the shorter-term. Increased tourism may help, though China’s economic challenges could ultimately affect the way Mainlanders travel and shop abroad. Ultimately, it will come down to who serves the customer best and who carries the most desirable brands, likely signalling label wars between Holt’s and Saks in Canada in the coming years.
American women’s fashion brand Ellen Tracy has struck a deal with Hudson’s Bay Company to open shop-in-stores at selected Hudson’s Bay locations. The 500 to 750 square foot shops are set to open in the spring of 2016, as the Ellen Tracy brand rolls-out its new shop concept internationally.
Several Hudson’s Bay Company-owned Lord & Taylor locations in the U.S. will also see Ellen Tracy shops-in-stores. Ellen Tracy’s parent company Sequential Brands Group has initiated the expansion which also includes shops within U.K. department store chain House of Fraser. Frasers will carry Ellen Tracy exclusively in the U.K. for one year, according to Women’s Wear Daily.
Ellen Tracy was founded in New York City in 1949, and was sold to Liz Claiborne Group in 2002. The brand has struggled in recent years and in 2010, Macy’s became the exclusive U.S. sportswear retailer for Ellen Tracy. Sequential Brands Group bought the Ellen Tracy brand in 2013 and the fashion brand has expanded to include collections for footwear, outerwear, legwear, hosiery, belts, eyewear, fragrance, handbags, jewelry and home. Sequential Brands Group Inc. owns, promotes, markets, and licenses a portfolio of consumer brands that presently include Jessica Simpson, William Rast, JOE’S Jeans, Linens ‘n Things, and others.
Italian luxury brand Gucci has revamped its Canadian website to reflect recent changes in the company. The updated site features rich images, editorial content and ‘storytelling’, in an attempt to strengthen consumers’ connection to the label, according to Women’s Wear Daily.
A comparison of prices between the Canadian and American versions of Gucci’s site shows that although absolute numbers are higher on the Canadian site, prices are generally lower when considering currency differences.
Gucci’s new CEO, Marco Bizzarri, explained the importance of a brand’s website to Women’s Wear Daily, including how websites are increasingly the first point of contact between a consumer and a brand, regardless if the consumer buys from the site. Consistency and focus are therefore key, he said, explaining how consumers research the web prior to making purchases.
Gucci’s Canadian website launched over the weekend under Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele. Mr. Bizzarri explained the importance of a creative director in providing uniqueness to the brand, in an age where many brands are becoming too market-driven.
The new website is optimized to fit all screen sizes, with vertical scrolling, larger photos and intuitive navigation. Pages are dedicated to runway collections, signature items and special accessory projects, detailed photo mosaics, videos and “Wear With” looks. Remarkably, salespeople can search the site and stores anywhere in the world to look for products that are not locally available.
After its Canadian and U.S. website launches, Gucci will revamp its European, Australian and Asian e-commerce sites. Mr. Bizzrri said that this will happen next year. Gucci’s existing e-commerce site is enabled in 28 countries and available in eight languages, boasting more than 100 million unique visitors worldwide, annually.
