Scotch & Soda Plans Substantial Canadian Store Expansion

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April 28, 2016

Amsterdam-based fashion brand Scotch & Soda plans to open more than a dozen freestanding stores across Canada, in partnership with Montreal-based Freemark Apparel Brands. Scotch & Soda recently opened its fourth Canadian store in suburban Vancouver, at CF Richmond Centre.

The Canadian expansion follows Scotch & Soda’s initial entry into the Canadian market in 2011, when it opened three stores that summer. The brand’s first Canadian location, measuring 2,170 square feet, opened in June of that year at Calgary’s CF Chinook Centre. In August of 2011, two locations followed — a 2,485 square foot store at West Edmonton Mall, and a 2,050 square foot location at CF Toronto Eaton Centre.

New locations will be in the 1,500 square foot range, according to Freemark’s Vice President of sales and co-owner, Lawrence Routtenberg, Stores of that size are small enough to create an intimate Scotch & Soda shopping experience, yet large enough to properly display product. Mr. Routtenberg said that he’s working with brokerage Oberfeld Snowcap to open between 12 and 15 freestanding Scotch & Soda locations throughout Canada over the next several years. He went on to name some desired locations for new stores, including Saint Catherine Street and CF Carrefour Laval in Montreal, CF Rideau Centre and/or Bayshore Shopping Centre in Ottawa, Yorkdale Shopping Centre/CF Sherway Gardens/Square One in the Greater Toronto Area, Winnipeg’s CF Polo Park, Southgate Centre in Edmonton, and possible Vancouver locations on Robson Street, CF Pacific Centre and Metropolis at Metrotown.

The Scotch & Soda brand began in the 1980’s as a Dutch youth fashion brand, and was relaunched in 2001 after a hiatus. The premium fashion brand, with lines for men, women and children, operates over 150 stores globally, and is carried in over 8,000 multi-brand retailers. The brand entered Canada through Freemark Apparel Brands in 2010, wholesaling at top retailers. It is currently carried in better multi-brand fashion retailers such as La Maison Simons, Mendocino, Sporting Life, Over the Rainbow, Boys’Co, Hills of Kerrisdale, and at a handful of Hudson’s Bay‘s top doors.

Tiffany & Co. Reveals Vancouver Flagship Expansion Renderings

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Craig Patterson

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April 27, 2016

New York City-based jeweller Tiffany & Co. has released renderings of the interior and exterior overhaul of its freestanding Vancouver flagship, now under construction. The store is adding a second level by annexing space formerly occupied by a Japanese restaurant, and the entire project is expected to be completed at the end of this year.

The store’s facade will be completely re-done, including a new rounded corner entryway, a trademark Atlas figure holding a clock, and Tiffany-blue fabric awnings that will replace the building’s current glass canopies. The store’s renovated interior will feature ample marble and wood, as well as new spaces for fine jewellery and bridal pieces on the ground floor, as well as a watch salon — a Canadian first, on the store’s second level. Private shopping areas will also be expanded to cater to an increasing number of affluent shoppers in the area, dubbed Vancouver’s ‘Luxury Zone’.

Located at the northwest corner of Burrard Street and Alberni Street at 723 Burrard Street, the 4,700 square foot store opened in the fall of 2006. Tiffany & Co. entered the Vancouver market as a licensed shop-in-store within Holt Renfrew in 1994. Tiffany continues to operate a shop at Vancouver’s Holt’s as a concession, as well as a 3,157 square foot store at Oakridge Centre.

Tiffany has three free-standing stores in Toronto, two in Vancouver, and one each in Edmonton, Calgary and Montreal. Three smaller Tiffany & Co. concessions also operate within Holt Renfrew locations in Calgary, Montreal (at Ogilvy) and as mentioned, in Vancouver.

H&M to Open 2nd Largest Canadian Location

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Craig Patterson

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April 26, 2016

HM CF Carrefour Laval — CF Carrefour Laval PHOTO: WWW.YOUTUBE.COM

Swedish fast-fashion retailer H&M will open its second-largest Canadian location this fall at CF Carrefour Laval in suburban Montreal. The 39,000 square foot store will move into retail space formerly occupied by Sports Experts, which recently relocated to larger digs.

The new H&M replaces an existing 6,210 square foot location in the same mall. The massive new store will feature women’s, men’s, sport, beauty and children’s fashions, as well as H&M’s home collection in a separate department.

H&M opened a 3,200 square foot H&M Home shop-in-store at its CF Toronto Eaton Centre location in February of this year. That store location also grew to an impressive 52,500 square feet, making it the largest in Canada, and one of its largest globally. H&M first introduced its home collection to Canada through its West Edmonton Mall store in the summer of 2014.

CLICK ABOVE FOR INTERACTIVE MALL FLOOR PLAN.

The new Laval H&M will be located near competitor Zara, which operates a 19,300 square foot location on the east side of the mall. Nearby tenants vary in price-point, from the affordable Aldo/Aldo Accessories to the likes of upscale Harry Rosen, Maison Birks/Breitling and Caudalie.

Longo’s Continues Growth After 60 Years in Business

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Craig Patterson

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April 26, 2016

Popular Toronto-based grocery retailer Longo’s reached a milestone this month, celebrating 60 years in business. According to spokesperson Roseanne Longo, the retailer plans to continue expanding beyond the GTA as well as explore opportunities for more downtown Toronto locations.

The family-run grocery chain was founded in Toronto by brothers Tommy, Joe, and Gus Longo in 1956, with its first location at the intersection of Yonge Street and Castlefield Avenue. Eight family members worked in the 2,000 square foot store. More locations subsequently opened and in 2004, Longo’s acquired Grocery Gateway, providing it the largest online grocery retail presence in Canada. Longo’s corporate office is now in Vaughan, just north of Toronto.

The retailer owns and operates 29 stores in the Greater Toronto Area, ranging from smaller urban locations to larger suburban stores. Some of its stores are very unique — its Leaside store, which hosted the company’s 60th anniversary event last week, is in a restored circa 1919 heritage building, recently named one of the world’s 25 ‘must visit’ supermarkets by Canadian Grocer Magazine. In the fall of 2010, Longo’s opened a 48,000 square foot flagship at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Square, adjacent to busy Union Station and the Air Canada Centre sports facility. Longo’s also operates five smaller ‘market’ stores, located in densely populated areas in central Toronto. We recently profiled its stunning looking Imperial Plaza location on St. Clair Avenue, which features dramatic high ceilings and heritage accents.

Gus Longo and Toronto Councillor Norm Kelly, last week at the Leaside celebrations.

Moving forward, Ms. Longo explained that the company is growing beyond the Greater Toronto Area due to customer requests/demand. This fall, Longo’s will open a store in Ancaster, and in early 2017 it will open stores in Guelph and Ajax. The retailer will also investigate opportunities to open further smaller locations in Toronto’s central core, particularly given projections that its population will almost double from 250,000 to 475,000 residents within the next 25 years.

Ms. Longo explained how the retailer differentiates itself from competitors. Produce is a focus for Longo’s stores, making up the biggest footprint in its market locations along with a visible kitchen area to welcome visitors. Convenience and prepared foods are key, and most Longo’s locations now also feature in-store Starbucks locations. Customer service is also paramount, and is part of the family feeling that the company attempts to create for its roughly 5,000 (and growing) employees. It’s a family affair that will continue as a third generation moves into roles at the company.

Pharmacy EXPO 2016, June 14-16, 2016 in Toronto

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Retail Insider

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April 26, 2016

It’s the industry’s largest gathering, a must-attend event, and the ‘World’s Fair’ all rolled into one for those in pharmacy looking to network and gain business-building insights. The Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada hosts Pharmacy EXPO 2016, bringing together more than 400 senior retail and supplier representatives June 14-16, 2016 at the Enercare Centre in Toronto. Exhibit space is still available and registrations are continuing to build.

Who should attend? Retailers, senior executives and CEOs, pharmacy owners, operators, as well as directors, managers, and pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, manufacturers/suppliers, industry stakeholders, and even students.

Pharmacy EXPO 2016 features keynote presentations, with business experts and renowned speakers discussing innovation, focusing on six key areas of business that will drive pharmacy business growth over the coming years:

Pharmacy Innovation,
Front Store and Consumer Health,
Home Healthcare,
Global Pharmacy,
Technology, and
Cosmetics, Health and Beauty.

Pharmacy EXPO 2016 also offers both strategic and tactical business meetings. Attendees will be provided a unique opportunity to gain new insights into today’s evolving business of neighbourhood pharmacy, as well as how to set the stage for a prosperous future.

Who should exhibit? Everyone seeking to reach pharmacy industry decision-makers, the people who place the orders to put products on shelves. Exhibitors will have the opportunity to gain valuable exposure, generate qualified leads, and connect with retailer and suppliers representing a wide range of pharmacy products and services. At Pharmacy EXPO 2016, retailers and suppliers will come together to form new relationships that will drive scale, revenue, efficiencies, and bottom-line gains.

Register to attend HERE. For those looking to exhibit at this year’s Expo, please contact Kaitlin Mooney at (416) 226-9100 ext. 4010 or at: kmooney@neighbourhoodpharmacies.ca.

Mackage Targets New Markets with Canadian Expansion

By

Craig Patterson

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April 25, 2016

Upscale Montreal-based fashion brand Mackage will open two Toronto stores this year and according to its broker, will look to open in new markets. Its first and only Canadian store opened last year near Montreal.

In August of this year, Mackage will open its second freestanding Canadian location on the third level of CF Toronto Eaton Centre, in a 1,840 square foot space between retailers AllSaints and Kate Spade. Following in October of this year will be a Mackage location at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre, in the mall’s new wing that will be anchored by a 196,000 square foot Nordstrom as well as Japanese retailer Uniqlo. According to representative broker Jeff Berkowitz of Aurora Realty Consultants, Mackage will set its sights on Vancouver as it continues its Canadian store expansion.

Mackage’s first freestanding Canadian store opened in October of 2015 at CF Carrefour Laval, north of Montreal. The 2,133 square foot store was designed by Burdifilek and features interiors reminiscent of a ski chalet with wood beamed ceilings and wood floors.

Founded in Montreal in 1999 by Eran Elfassy and Elisa Dahan, Mackage is known for its detailed, tailored outerwear in leather, down and wool for men and women. It also boasts a successful accessories business, including a line of handbags featuring a signature arrow embellishment. The company is part of fashion conglomerate APP Group, which also includes upscale clothing brand SOIA & KYO. In Canada, Mackage sells its products in a number of retailers including Holt Renfrew, Harry Rosen, Aritzia, La Maison Simons and Mendocino, among others. It is also available in the United States at upscale retailers including Bloomingdale’s, Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus.

Renderings above originally appeared in an article on this topic by Style Democracy.

Aritzia Reveals 2016 Expansion Plans

By

Craig Patterson

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April 25, 2016

Vancouver-based women’s fashion retailer Aritzia is continuing with its Canadian expansion for 2016, which includes new stores, relocations, and expanded existing locations. Last week we also discussed the retailers’s plans to spin off its in-house Babaton brand into its own freestanding stores.

Aritzia will open seven new stores in 2016. Of those, four will be in the United States, and three in Canada. In Canada, Aritizia’s new stores will include locations at Tsawwassen Mills south of Vancouver, a location in suburban Toronto, and the new Babaton store at CF Toronto Eaton Centre. New U.S. locations include Boston’s Prudential Center (opened last month), Roosevelt Field on Long Island NY, Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek CA, and at a popular Los Angeles shopping centre.

Aritzia is relocating four of its current stores to larger locations in 2016, including its Metropolis at Metrotown location in Burnaby BC, Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto, and another store in Alberta. As well, two existing Aritzia stores will expand, including a store in New York City’s Soho as well as its Robson Street flagship in Vancouver, which recently grew to an impressive 13,000 square feet, all on one level.

Aritzia is represented in Canada by Dianne Lemm, Principal/Broker at Northwest Atlantic.

Larger Aritzia locations better display expanded product lines and are a reflection of increased sales, according to Chief Marketing Officer Oliver Walsh. The brand continues to see success and it will continue to open new locations and grow existing stores into 2017 and beyond. Stores are designed in-house and each location is unique, according to Mr. Walsh.

Aritzia was founded in 1984 as a shop-in-store at Vancouver retailer Hill’s of Kerrisdale, and will have 61 Canadian locations by the end of the year. Aritzia’s target market is women aged 14 to 30. Much of the clothing sold in its stores are its own exclusive brands, including Auxiliary, Babaton, 1-01 Babaton, Community, Wilfred, Le Fou by Wilfred, Wilfred Free, TNA, Golden by TNA, Parklife, and Talula. Stores also carry clothing from brands such as Mackage, J Brand, Citizens of Humanity, A Gold E, Frame, Levi’s, Rag & Bone, Adidas, One Teaspoon, and Herschel.

Inside MEC’s Newest Store Location [Photos]

By

Craig Patterson

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April 21, 2016

Canadian outdoor consumer cooperative MEC has opened its newest location in Kelowna, British Columbia. The store features bright interiors and unique features such as a massive wood overhead canopy, and carries a wide assortment of product categories.

The 20,000 square foot store is centrally located at Orchard Plaza (Unit 100-1876 Cooper Road) and features products for climbing, biking, running, camping, fitness, yoga, paddlesports and snowsports. The store also features a full-service bike and ski shop, a bike fitting station, equipment rentals, a community room as well as gear, clothing and footwear for all manner of outdoor activities.

The Kelowna store is the 18th for MEC, which is headquartered out of Vancouver. High industrial-style ceilings and light characterize the airy space. All of the store’s wood and metal fixtures (with a focus on sustainable/natural materials) were manufactured by Vancouver-based Peregrine, including tables, benches featuring powder coated metal, a Canadian maple plywood canoe rack, and the massive overhead ceiling canopy that welcomes shoppers into the store.

MEC is in the process of expanding its Canadian store base, both by building new stores as well as replacing existing locations. Yesterday, we reported that MEC would open a replacement store in London, Ontario, and the company is in the process of opening new stores in Laval Quebec, Toronto, and a second location in Edmonton.

The Kelowna store is holding its public grand opening event on Saturday, April 23, featuring a ‘bike battle’, DJs, prizes and snacks.

All photos are by Robb Thompson Photography, and were supplied by MEC.

m0851 Partners with Brokerage for Canadian Expansion

By

Craig Patterson

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April 20, 2016

Upscale Montreal-based fashion brand m0851 (the “m” is lowercase) plans to open more Canadian stores, and it has retained the services of brokerage Oakmont Real Estate Services.

The m0851 brand was founded in 1987 by Frédéric Mamarbachi, and its name represents the first initial of his surname, as well as his birth month and year. The company designs and manufactures leather bags, accessories, jackets and outerwear. It started out manufacturing leather belts under the nameplate ‘Rugby North America’ and in 2003, changed its name to better reflect a refined, urban brand identity. Its head office is in Montreal’s trendy Mile End neighbourhood. Its products are designed and manufactured in Montreal, and its store interiors are also designed in-house.

The company now operates 23 stores globally, with 11 of those in Canada. Its Canadian stores are located in Montreal (4 stores including one in Laval), Quebec City, Ottawa, Toronto (2 stores), Vancouver (2 stores) and one in Calgary. International cities featuring m0851 include New York City, Santa Monica CA, Boston, Madrid Spain, Tokyo (2 stores), Nagoya, Osaka, Hong Kong (3 stores) and Beijing. M0851 also distributes their collections through a select network of retailers in 35 countries, and has an e-commerce site.

According to Oakmont, m0851 is looking to open a further five locations in Quebec, three in Ontario, one in Alberta and two in British Columbia. It is seeking retail space in open-air sites, enclosed shopping centres and high streets, between 1,000 square feet and 2,500 square feet in size. For more information, contact Ben Labrecque at: Ben@oakmontrealestateservices.com or 514-917-5015.

MEC Secures Former Future Shop Location for New Store

By

Craig Patterson

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April 20, 2016

Vancouver-based large format outdoor consumer cooperative retailer MEC has secured a former Future Shop location in London, Ontario for its next new store, replacing an existing MEC location. The Future Shop nameplate was shuttered by parent company Best Buy in March of 2015.

MEC will double the size of its London operations when it relocates to 1051 Wellington Road, in a 24,000 square foot space that has sat vacant for over a year. According to MEC, the new store will “have a broader and deeper assortment of quality products for budding and experienced backcountry and urban adventurers alike”.

The new store is less than a kilometer away from its present address at 1230 Wellington Road. That store location is currently the second-smallest in Canada and offers a limited range of products. Construction will begin on the new store in early May, in anticipation of completion and opening this fall. Until then, MEC will continue to operate from its present location.

The completely refurbished building will include a distinctive floating canopy to mark the store’s entrance, and wood-infused interiors to define the store and display merchandise. As part of MEC’s green building program, the store will operate on renewable energy.

APRIL 2015 GOOGLE STREET VIEW. CLICK PHOTO FOR INTERACTIVE VERSION.

According to MEC, the new store will provide a wide variety of apparel and gear for activities such as running, hiking, climbing and camping. Cycling will occupy the largest area in the retail space, and seasonal activities like paddling and snow sports will also feature prominently. There will also be a full-service bike repair and ski-tech shop as well as an equipment rental program for boats, skis and camping gear. A community meeting room will be available for use by local outdoor clubs and environmental organizations.

Formerly known as ‘Mountain Equipment Co-op, MEC boast over 4 million Canadian members and 18 storefronts. The company donates 1% of revenues ($3.4 million donated in 2015) to Canadian non-profit organizations that help conserve ecologically and recreationally important areas.

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

Scotch & Soda Plans Substantial Canadian Store Expansion

Tiffany & Co. Reveals Vancouver Flagship Expansion Renderings

H&M to Open 2nd Largest Canadian Location

Longo’s Continues Growth After 60 Years in Business

Pharmacy EXPO 2016, June 14-16, 2016 in Toronto

Mackage Targets New Markets with Canadian Expansion

Aritzia Reveals 2016 Expansion Plans

Inside MEC’s Newest Store Location [Photos]

m0851 Partners with Brokerage for Canadian Expansion

MEC Secures Former Future Shop Location for New Store

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