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Simons Opens 1st GTA Store [Photos]

By
Craig Patterson
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Large format Quebec City-based retailer La Maison Simons opened its first Greater Toronto Area (GTA) store this morning. Located at Mississauga’s Square One, the 106,600 square foot store will be one of at least two locations to open in the area before the year 2019. 

The store was designed by figure3, which has been involved with several of Simons’ store projects. We’ll be interviewing someone from the firm for an article next week. 

The store features the chain’s restaurant concept, called Ève Café. This is the fourth restaurant concept in a Simons store — a food concept called SoupeSoup opened at Simons in Montreal’s CF Galeries d’Anjou in August of 2013, and Ève Cafés opened in August of 2015 at Les Prominades Gatineau‘s Simons near Ottawa, and in October of 2015 within Simons’ new Park Royal location in West Vancouver.  

Simons is located in part of the retail space that was formerly occupied by Square One’s Sears location at the mall’s north end. Oxford Properties-owned Square One is seeing an overhaul which includes new retailers as well as a considerable amount of new retail space. A southwest mall expansion, which opened earlier this month, houses several upscale retailers, including a beautiful new Harry Rosen store. Later this summer, a 130,000 square foot Holt Renfrew store will join them. 

Simons’ CEO Peter Simons has confirmed with us that he’ll open a store at Yorkdale Shopping Centre store in 2019. Last year, Peter Simons also told us that he’s very interested in operating a downtown Toronto location, though his search for a large enough retail space was proving challenging. Simons currently operates 11 stores in Canada. Of those, nine are in the province of Quebec, while two are in Western Canada — a West Edmonton Mall location opened in August of 2012, and West Vancouver’s Park Royal store opened mid-October of 2015.  

Saks OFF 5TH Opens 1st Canadian Stores

By
Craig Patterson
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Image: Saks OFF 5th

Saks Fifth Avenue‘s off-price division Saks OFF 5TH opens its first three Canadian locations this morning in southern Ontario. The retailer has plans to operate up to 25 Canadian stores by the end of the decade. 

“There is great anticipation and consumer interest for our Saks OFF 5TH luxury off-price format in Canada,” said Jonathan Greller, President, HBC Off-Price. “We are thrilled to finally open the doors of our first Canadian stores next week and show customers a new experience in remarkable savings from some of the most notable names in fashion. 

The three locations that open today include: 

On Thursday, March 24, OFF 5TH’s fourth Canadian location will open at Tanger Outlets Ottawa, measuring 28,000 square feet. 

Farla Efros, President of leading retail consultancy HRC Advisory, explained how Canada is underserved by off-price retailers, and how the category is seeing considerable growth. She noted that many Canadians are familiar with OFF 5TH (and other similar retailers) from visiting the United States. She also said that given the low Canadian dollar and the economy, the timing for OFF 5TH’s Canadian entry could yield the retailer considerable success as Canadians embrace value-oriented designer shopping.  

Saks has announced a total of 11 Canadian stores, with the intention to open about 25 within Canada by the year 2021. Other confirmed Saks OFF 5TH Canadian locations include the following: 

Fall 2016: 

  • CrossIron Mills, Calgary: 30,000 square feet
  • Tsawwassen Mills, Delta BC: 32,687 square feet
  • Downtown Ottawa (Hudson’s Bay Building): 33,000 square feet

Spring 2017:

Fall 2018:

TBD:

OFF 5TH’s Canadian entry comes one month after Saks Fifth Avenue opened its first two Canadian stores, both in Toronto. The Canadian flagship, which opened February 18 and measures about 170,000 square feet, is located within the Hudson’s Bay building at CF Toronto Eaton Centre. A second 143,000 square foot Saks location opened a week later at CF Sherway Gardens. 

eTail Canada Conference: May 16-19 in Toronto

By
Retail Insider
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eTail Canada, the “one stop shop”conference for ecommerce and multi-channel best practices, networking and technology evaluation for Canadian retailers, is hosting a conference on May 16-19, 2016 at Toronto’s Hyatt Regency. Top omnichannel thought leaders will be attending and speaking at the event.

There is a 25% registration discount for subscribers (retailers only) using code EC16RI.

Two notable speakers are Jeremy Pee and Nicolas Gaudreau. Their speaking panels will cover everything from digital innovation across various channels to utilizing customer experiences using data. Here’s a brief summary of their presentations:

Jeremy Pee – SVP of eCommerce and Omni-Channel, Loblaw Digital, speaking about Digital Innovation At Loblaw: Covering Wins And Challenges:

Loblaw Companies Limited, Canada’s food and pharmacy leader, is working to create seamless end-to-end customer experiences across retail and digital. Over the past 3 years, it has launched three successful e-commerce businesses and continues to introduce new innovation in the Canadian landscape. These achievements are made possible by building an entrepreneurial and innovative culture within the Loblaw Digital business.

Nicolas Gaudreau – CMO, Group Dynamite, speaking at: CMO Panel Discussion: Evolving The Role To Build Cross-Channel Collaboration:

With technology shaping brands’ marketing plan, the world of the CMO has been drastically effected. There is now a need to understand and adapt to eCommerce/digital strategies so it may boost business growth. The CMOs on this panel are doing just this, and leading their brands to engage with customers in a more connective way.

If you want to see who else is speaking, . 

To see who else will be there, . 

Trudeau Airport to Expand Retail

By
Craig Patterson
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Montréal’s Pierre Trudeau International Airport is expanding its international wing, with plans to enlarge its duty free retail component. It’s the second retail expansion for the terminal in less than a year. 

Aer Rianta International North America (ARINA) runs the Loop Duty Free store at the airport, which expanded from 12,000 square feet to 13,130 square feet in September of 2015. The latest expansion will add a further 3,550 square feet of retail space to the store, adding brands such as Desigual, Lacoste, Longchamp, Pandora, Tumi and Victoria’s Secret to the mix. 

The store is ARINA’s largest location, and it also operates Canadian locations at international airports in Halifax, Ottawa and Winnipeg. 

ECCO Shoes Plans Multi-Year Canadian Expansion

By
Craig Patterson
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ECCO AT FIRST CANADIAN PLACE. (PHOTO: ECCO)

Danish shoe brand ECCO will continue to open multiple Canadian locations over the next several years. We spoke with the company’s Canadian President for details. 

ECCO was founded in Bredebro, Denmark, in 1963. It is sold in 88 countries worldwide in over 3,000 ECCO shops and shop-in-stores, at more than 14,000 sales points around the world. The brand has since expanded into accessories and small leather goods. ECCO opened its first Canadian store in 1997. 

According to ECCO Shoes Canada Inc. President, Jordan Searle, ECCO is looking to open approximately three to four Canadian stores each year over the next five years. This would eventually take its Canadian store count from 27 locations to about 40. The company is seeing exceptional growth in Canada, with sales up 9% in 2015 over the year prior. 

ECCO Advertising at First Canadian Place

Mr. Searle said that ECCO is particularly interested in opening more store locations in the B.C. Lower Mainland, Greater Toronto Area, and in Montreal and Quebec City. The company is looking for both enclosed mall and strong high-street locations, ideally in the 1,000 to 1,200 square foot range. It is also looking to open in outlet centres, ideally in the 2,000 to 2,500 square foot range. Northwest Atlantic represents ECCO in Canada. 

Mr. Searle also said that ECCO would consider opening shop-in-store concessions within department stores if opportunities presented, though nothing is currently in the works. 

ECCO has seen tremendous international sales growth as well. Net sales in 2015 increased 7.4%, reaching EUR 1.3 billion with before-tax profit of EUR 183 million. 

Home Furnishings Retailer ‘Provide’ Relocates Storefront [Photos]

By
Craig Patterson
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Vancouver-based home furnishings retailer Provide has relocated to Vancouver’s Fairview area from a previous downtown location. 

The new store, located at 1805 Fir Street, measures 1,693 square feet. That’s slightly larger than the company’s former space at 529 Beatty Street in downtown Vancouver. Provide relocated partly because East India Carpets owner Ravi Sidhoo suggested to Provide’s owners that they relocate to compliment other businesses in the area, which includes designer’s offices, cafes, and other like-minded interiors showrooms such as Brougham Interiors, Ann Sacks, Living Space, and Mr. Sidhoo’s East India Carpets. 

Provide was founded by David Keeler and Robert Quinnell in 2007. Their company quickly gained attention in the press for its highly edited collections that feature unique items from artists and designers working in ceramics, glass, wood, metal and textiles, as well as contemporary design from smaller boutique brands sourced from within Canada and around the globe. The collections are “distinctively modern, yet warm and welcoming”, according to the founders. 

All photos were taken by Tanya Goehring, and were provided by Provide. 

Surmesur Continues Expansion, Goes International

By
Craig Patterson
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TORONTO STORE. PHOTO: SURMESUR

Quebec City-based custom menswear retailer Surmesur will soon open its sixth Canadian location in Mississauga, and a seventh location this spring in the United States. According to the company, more American stores are planned as Surmesur expands its operations internationally.  

Founded by brothers Vincent and Frank Thériault in 2010, Surmesur manufactures and retails men’s made-to-measure clothing which includes custom suits, shirts, blazers, trousers and other garments. It combines body-scanning and manufacturing technologies with traditional methods, boasting a catalog of over 8000 fabrics with a wide assortment of collars, buttons, and sleeves. Surmesur endeavours to keep its costs down to keep prices reasonable and as a result, custom shirts are priced from $65 and suits start at $450. After measurements and fabric/button/design choices are made, suits are ready in four-to-six weeks. To keep costs down, the company chooses to operate free-standing locations as ‘destinations’ rather than locating in malls, partly due to the often high rents within Canadian shopping centres. Cost savings are passed on to customers and as a result, Surmesur’s prices are usually lower than competing made-to-measure menswear retailers.

INSIDE THE TORONTO SURMESUR STORE, LOCATED AT 108 QUEEN STREET EAST NEAR JARVIS STREET.

Surmesur will open a location in Mississauga in mid-April of this year. It will be the second GTA location for the company, following the opening of its downtown Toronto store on Queen Street East, which opened last year. The Mississauga store will be about 2,000 square feet and will be located at 255 Lakeshore Road East. 

Surmesur will then kick-off its American expansion with a unit in Chicago. The store will be located in the city’s central business district (The Loop) and will measure about 2,000 square feet. The location keeps with the company’s strategy to open boutiques close to where its clients work.

“We opened five boutiques in our first five years of operations,” said co-founder Vincent Thériault. “Our vision has always been to globalize the brand over time, so our entry into the U.S. market is the logical next step in our growth. Today, we are proud to introduce our brand to the United States. We’ll follow the same formula in several other cities in the months to come, both in Canada and the U.S.,” said Mr. Thériault. “We want to make it easy for our clients to visit us. Men, especially businessmen with limited free time, appreciate that kind of accessibility.”

Surmesur has planned its foray into the U.S. for more than a year, according to the company, taking the time to acquire the necessary capital, work out logistics, train staff, and implement procedures to ensure a smooth rollout and long-term success.

Surmesur currently operates stores in Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Laval and Toronto. Last year, its 1,200 square foot Quebec City unit, the company’s first, expanded to 2,700 square feet in order to accommodate new business. Its Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto locations are all centrally located near central business districts, capturing business from men who typically wear dressier attire. Surmesur stores are ideally in the 2,200 square foot to 3,000 square foot range, according to Mr. Thériault, featuring clean white facades and interiors. 

Prada Opens Vancouver Flagship [Photos]

By
Craig Patterson
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Italian luxury brand Prada has opened its 8,200 square foot Vancouver flagship at 1098 Alberni Street. It’s the latest luxury brand to open in the city’s burgeoning ‘Luxury Zone’. 

Prada’s facade features entrances and display windows flanked by slim strips of black Marquinia marble. The store’s ground floor features two entrances — one dedicated to women’s leather goods, and the other for women’s footwear. The flagship was designed by architect Roberto Baciocchi, who has created some of the world’s finest retail spaces. 

The store features women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, leather goods, accessories and footwear collections. It also features a Made-to-Measure department, which is the only one of its kind in Canada for Prada. Prices are up to $2,000 for shirts and $28,000 for suits, according to the Vancouver Sun.  

Prada on Thurlow Street in Vancouver.
Prada on Thurlow Street in Vancouver.

The store features departments separated by mirrored and marble portals. Walls are of green fabric. Precious leather goods and jewellery are defined by black Marquinia marble-clad walls. 

Signature black-and-white marble checkered flooring characterize much of the store. As well, the store features steel and crystal display counters and “Clover Leaf” sofas, designed by Verner Panton and reproduced exclusively for Prada. 

Video screens are located alongside the store’s imposing black marble staircase. 

The second-floor women’s ready-to-wear department features large floor-to-ceiling windows, as well as green fabric-clad walls, green velvet sofas, transparent perspex cases, skylights and display tables. 

The second-floor men’s section features ‘masculine’ materials and finishes such as ebony floorboards and walls, metal and crystal display units and ostrich leather sofas. Display counters with saffiano leather detailing in bright hues complement the furnishings. A private area is dedicated to Made-to-Measure service (as mentioned above). 

Prada is the latest brand to open in Vancouver’s ‘Luxury Zone’, which is located on and around Alberni Street between the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver and the Shangri-La Hotel. Prada’s space is located at The Carlyle, a complex of retail stores that includes brands such as Moncler, De Beers and Tory Burch. Across the street at 745 Thurlow Street is luxury brands Brunello Cucinelli, Versace and Strellson. At the Shangri-La Hotel itself, Rolex will open a 2,500 square foot location this summer next to Burberry and a block north on West Georgia Street, luxury men’s brand Stefano Ricci will also open this summer. Other brands in the immediate area include the likes of Escada, Tiffany & Co. (which is expanding), Montblanc, Hermes, Wolford, Jaeger Le-Coultre, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Gucci, St. John, Omega and others. 

Prominent Saint Catherine Street Retail Buildings being Acquired

By
Craig Patterson
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1325 AND 1327-1333 SAINT CATHERINE STREET WEST. PHOTO: GOOGLE STREET VIEW.

New York City-based Thor Equities is acquiring three prominent retail buildings on Montreal’s Saint Catherine Street West. These include properties at 1325, 1327-1333, and 1391-1397 Saint Catherine Street West, totalling 56,800 square feet of retail space. 

The 1327-1333 Saint Catherine Street West property features 11,860 square feet of retail and 18,550 square feet of office space on six levels, at the corner of Rue Crescent. The adjacent 1325 Saint Catherine Street address features a 2,600-square-foot retail property located next door to an Apple Store, as well as the prominent Ogilvy department store. 

The 1391-1397 Saint Catherine Street West building, located on the corner of Bishop Street, has approximately 23,800 square feet of retail and residential space over four levels, including 6,900 square feet of retail on the ground and lower levels.

“Saint Catherine Street is a premier shopping corridor that is primed for further growth, as evidenced by the recently opened Aritzia flagship store, planned Holt Renfrew-Ogilvy luxury superstore, and the launch of new high-end hotel and condominium developments,” said Joseph Sitt, CEO of Thor Equities. 

In 2015, Thor Equities acquired its first property in Montreal at 777 Saint Catherine Street West.  The historical building includes 20,000 square feet of prime retail space currently occupied by Banana Republic.

1391-1397 SAINT CATHERINE STREET WEST. PHOTO: GOOGLE STREET VIEW.

The City of Montreal plans to invest millions of dollars to enhance Saint Catherine Street with new pedestrian malls, free Wi-Fi and heated sidewalks, which will likely lead to more deals and increased retail sales in the area. 

Aesop Continues Rapid Expansion With More Canadian Locations

By
Craig Patterson
-
IMAGE: GOOGLE STREET VIEW

Upscale Australian skin care brand Aesop will open its second freestanding Toronto location this spring in Toronto’s Rosedale commercial area. Aesop also opened concession within Saks Fifth Avenue‘s CF Toronto Eaton Centre and CF Sherway Gardens locations last month. 

The Rosedale Aesop will be located at 1116 Yonge Street, replacing a restaurant. Hilary Kellar-Parsons of Avison Young acted on behalf of Aesop in negotiations with the landlord. 

The new store will be designed by Toronto-based architecture firm superkül, which also designed Aesop’s Queen Street West unit which opened last year.

When the Rosedale store opens, Canada will boast five freestanding and two concession Aesop locations. It’s impressive, considering that the brand’s first Canadian locations opened in July of 2015. Aesop’s first stores included a 615 square foot location at 19 Water Street in Vancouver’s Gastown area, and a 990 square foot location at 880 Queen Street West in Toronto. A Montreal location followed in the fall, at 4968 Sherbrooke Street West in Westmount and last month a second Montreal Aesop location opened on St. Viateur Street in Montreal’s ‘Mile End’. 

Aesop was founded in 1987 in Melbourne by hairdresser Dennis Paphitis. Product packaging is simple, and its quality is considered to be exceptional. It sources plant-based and laboratory-made ingredients, and uses only those with a proven record of safety and efficacy. It operates free-standing ‘signature stores’ as well as wholesale operations in a variety of retailers, high-end department stores such as Holt Renfrew and Barneys New York. Canadian stocklists include a handful of smaller independents.

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