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Preview: New Hudson’s Bay Queen Street Home Floor

By
Craig Patterson
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By Toronto Shopkeeper

Toronto’s flagship Hudson’s Bay ‘Queen Street’ store’s renovated seventh floor officially opens in May. Toronto Shopkeeper takes us on a tour, highlighting its attractive renovations. 

For years the seventh floor at the Hudson’s Bay Queen Street flagship was overlooked and housed only a small appliance department and stockrooms. All that has changed as the floor is being reborn with the addition of Kleinfeld Bridal and a brand new home department.


The seventh floor is meant to be a one-stop destination for housewares and help cement the retailer’s reputation as gift registry experts (they maintain the country’s largest gift registry).


The china and glassware department has begun the move from their former fifth floor location, and other home departments will move in the coming weeks. Windows have been uncovered creating a modern, open, and light-filled space.


Brides visiting the adjoining Kleinfeld Bridal boutique will be able to shop and create gift registries all on the same floor.


Whereas previously home departments were scattered throughout the large store, now they will be found together on the seventh floor (with furniture and appliances one level below).


he grand opening for Kleinfeld Bridal and the rejuvenated seventh floor is set for May.

Toronto Shopkeeper is a blog about the retail scene in the Toronto area.  You can read more from Toronto Shopkeeper here: http://torontoshopkeeper.blogspot.ca and you can also follow Toronto Shopkeeper on Twitter. 

[Link to original Toronto Shopkeeper article, published April 14th, 2014]

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Overwaitea to sell groceries online amid increased competition

By
Craig Patterson
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Image SourceImage Source

Image Source

Canada’s grocery business will see increased online competition as Vancouver-based Overwaitea Food Group introduces online grocery shopping. The company will offer both in-store pickup and home delivery of groceries purchased online. Competitors have already started testing the concept and it appears that Overwaitea is taking the competition seriously by initiating its own version.

Overwaitea Food Group is Canada’s largest western-based food chain, operating over 120 stores under the Save-On-Foods, Urban Fare, PriceSmart, Overwaitea Foods, Cooper’s, and Bulkley Valley Wholesale banners.

A dilligent reader directed us to Overwaitea’s posting of two employment positions for its new online grocery initiative. The job descriptions reveal that both in-store pickup and grocery delivery will be a part of the new initiative. 

Loblaw recently announced that it will run a test on ‘click-and-collect’ grocery sales at three of its stores in the Toronto Area. Click-and-collect will allow customers to purchase groceries online, and pick up their order in-store. Click-and-collect is generally considered to be a more profitable way for grocers to sell food online, as opposed to delivering door-to-door.

Overwaitea appears to be taking Loblaw’s concept one step further by also offering grocery delivery to its online shoppers. 

Canada’s grocery industry is already characterized by high competition and relatively low profit margins. Online shopping is a relatively new frontier for the industry. Amazon introduced online grocery shopping in Canada for ‘dry groceries’ in October of 2013. Walmart also offers selected grocery items for Canadians online. It will be interesting to watch as competition for Canada’s grocery dollar continues to expand online.

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DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse to enter Canada via Town Shoes

By
Craig Patterson
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Photo Source:  www.merchantcircle.comPhoto Source:  www.merchantcircle.com

Photo Source: www.merchantcircle.com

Discount footwear retailer DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse (DSW) has purchased 44% of Canadian footwear retailer Town Shoes, paving the way for DSW to enter Canada. Town Shoes had originally planned to open similar stores in Canada, though these plans have since changed. DSW has wanted to open in Canada for some time, and it will now have the necessary means to make it possible through its partnership with Town Shoes. 

For those unfamiliar, DSW is hugely popular in the United States, with 407 stores in that country. Its name indicates its business model – it sells designer shoes at discounted prices. Stores average at around 22,000 square feet and each store carries about 24,000 pairs of shoes. The company has hundreds of millions in cash and no debt. We’ve posted a brief video below explaining the store’s concept.

DSW paid $62 million for its 44% stake in Town Shoes, with the option to buy the rest after four years. Town Shoes is already familiar with the Canadian retail market, and it may be able to help DSW set up its retail locations as well as other operations, including logistics. Town Shoes is Canada’s largest footwear retailer, with 182 stores and $291 million in annual sales in 2013. Namesake ‘The Shoe Company‘ also operates under Town Shoes’ control. 

In the winter of 2013, sources informed us that Town Shoes/The Shoe Company had intended to open DSW-like stores in Canada. It appears that those plans may have changed, now that DSW itself will operate in Canada via Town Shoes. 

When DSW opens in Canada, it will face increasing competition from other new retailers selling discounted footwear. Nordstrom Rack, Off 5th by Saks Fifth Avenue, and hr2 by Holt Renfrew will open stores nation-wide within the next three years. Nordstrom Rack will open up to 20 Canadian locations, Off 5th by Saks will open up to 25 locations, and hr2 is looking to open between 15 and 20 locations.

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Sobeys threatens to sue Alberta College of Pharmacists over rewards points ban

By
Craig Patterson
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Image: Sobeys

Sobeys is threatening to sue the Alberta College of Pharmacists over a reward points ban. The Alberta College of Pharmacists adopted a resolution prohibiting patients from collecting rewards points on pharmacy purchases, starting May 1st, 2014. 

According to a survey conducted in 2012 by Research Now, 73% of Albertans believe a ban such as this to be unfair. Sobeys Inc. will file a legal challenge on behalf of both Safeway and Sobeys pharmacy operations in an effort to overturn the ban. Sobeys’ has a rewards points program called Club Sobeys.

“We strongly disagree with the College’s decision,” said Sandra Aylward, Vice President, Professional and Regulatory Affairs, Sobeys Inc. “Studies show that loyalty programs build stronger bonds between patients and their pharmacies, and encourage better patient adherence to prescription medication, which is in the best interests of patient health care.”

Sobeys is encouraging pharmacy patients to contact their MLA to express concerns over the ban.

Kiton store to open in Toronto

By
Craig Patterson
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Photo: Kiton

One of the world’s most expensive menswear brands, Kiton, will soon have a Canadian store location. It will open late spring/early summer in Toronto’s upscale Yorkville area, and it will be North America’s fourth free-standing Kiton store. Known for its high-priced suits, Kiton offers off-the-rack styles that can approach $10,000, while its made-to-measure suits can sell for well over $20,000 each.

Toronto’s Kiton store will be located at the northeast corner of Hazelton Avenue and Yorkville Avenue. It will be owned and operated by adjacent menswear retailer V Hazelton, located at 5 Hazelton Avenue. Kiton will occupy a corner retail space at 114 Yorkville Avenue, that recently housed a condominium sales centre.

Kiton was founded in Naples, Italy, in 1956. In Canada, Kiton is carried at Harry Rosen in Toronto and at L’Uomo in Montreal. Kiton currently has three American store locations: in New York City, Bal Harbour, Florida and in Las Vegas. It is also carried at upscale stores including Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. There’s no word yet if any Canadian Saks stores will carry Kiton.

SIGNAGE AND HOARDING FOR NEW TORONTO KITON STORE. PHOTO BY ACT7, URBAN TORONTO, TAKEN FROM IN FRONT OF 112 YORKVILLE AVENUE.
GOOGLE STREETVIEW SCREENSHOT, SHOWING THE EXTERIOR OF KITON’S NEW TORONTO STORE LOCATION AT 114 YORKVILLE AVENUE.

As mentioned above, Kiton clothing is notoriously pricey. Men’s dress shirts are generally priced in the $600-1000 range. Trousers are generally in excess of $1,000 and blazers, $7,000. A dedicated store for such high-priced menswear speaks to Toronto’s wealth. 

Thank you Anjli Patel for notifying us Kiton’s new Toronto store. 

Montblanc to open in Downtown Montreal

By
Craig Patterson
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Montblanc (Image: hauteliving)

A Montblanc boutique will open towards the end of this month in Downtown Montreal. It will be the second Montblanc store in the Montreal area, as well as the fourth free-standing Montblanc location in Canada. It will be located on the north-east corner of Boulevard de Maisonneuve West and Rue de la Montagne.

Located at 1289 Boulevard de Maisonneuve West, the store will be about 1,100 square feet and will replace a Couche-Tard convenience store. Neighbouring retailers include the prestigious Château d’Ivoire jewellery store, Diesel, Rosenstein Paris footwear, and a Tiffany & Co. store located within the neighbouring Ritz Carlton Hotel. Montblanc will be located one block north of the new 220,000 square foot Ogilvy/Holt Renfrew store, scheduled to open in 2017. 

Both of Montreal’s Montblanc shops are franchises operated by MSD Luxury Retail. MSD Luxury was created by Michael Delouya in 2010. His family’s jewelry business, Bijouterie Joël, has partnered with Montblanc for over 30 years. 

Thank you ACT7 of Urban Toronto for providing details for this article. 

Boys’Co renovates its Robson Street flagship

By
Craig Patterson
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Boys'Co PHOTO CREDIT: COLIN ARBER

Vancouver-based Boys’Co has completed renovations on its 1044 Robson Street store. The family-owned retailer revamped the store in anticipation of the company’s birthday celebrations later this year. 

Following its renovation, the interior of the 2,000 square foot store enjoys a more modern, cleaner aesthetic. Sightlines are clearer, as displays have been lowered below eye level. The Robson Street store opened in 1997, replacing a former location at 1080 Robson Street that was demolished for a redevelopment. This former location opened in 1987, three years after its first store location at Vancouver’s Oakridge Centre. 

For those unfamiliar, Boys’Co is a trendy, upscale multi-brand menswear retailer with four store locations. Three of those fall under the Boys’Co brand and they are located at Vancouver’s Oakridge Centre, Robson Street, and Burnaby’s Metropolis at Metrotown. Metropolis also houses the company’s only IVY ROOM store, which features ‘ivy league’ looks from upscale designers.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF BOYS’CO

The family-owned company was founded in 1946 and the Boys’Co division was founded in 1984. 30-year birthday celebrations will take place in October of this year. We’ll be publishing a lengthy feature article on the company closer to that date. 

Suitsupply to open 2nd Canadian location in Montreal

By
Craig Patterson
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Image SourceImage Source

Image Source

Dutch men’s suit retailer Suitsupply will open its second Canadian store location in Montreal. According to Suitsupply’s website, the Montreal store is expected to open in the fall or winter of 2014. It follows the retailer’s successful opening of its first Canadian store in Toronto.

For those unfamiliar, Suitsupply is a vertically integrated men’s suit retailer that was started in 2000 in Amsterdam. It has received many awards and was voted #1 men’s suit retailer by the Wall Street Journal. Prices start at under $500 and both quality and style are considered to be exceptional.

We’re unsure of the location of Montreal’s new Suitsupply, though its website’s map seems to indicate that it may open in Old Montreal. In February of this year, its Toronto store opened at 9-11 Hazelton Avenue in Toronto’s upscale Yorkville area. The 4,800 square foot Toronto store spans two floors. 

Suitsupply has 10 American store locations and it expects to open three more shortly. 

A source with the company informs us that Suitsupply intends to eventually open stores in Calgary and Vancouver. 

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Ottawa’s 2nd Victoria’s Secret opens today at Rideau Centre

By
Craig Patterson
-
exc-534735a1e4b095a3fb09e5fe


Photo: Rideau CentrePhoto: Rideau Centre

Photo: Rideau Centre

Victoria’s Secret opened its second Ottawa-area store today at Rideau Centre. Two stores technically opened: a 9,600 square foot Victoria’s Secret store on the mall’s third level, and a 4,000 square foot Pink by Victoria’s Secret store on the mall’s second level. 

Victoria’s Secret is the latest retailer to open in Downtown Ottawa’s Rideau Centre. The mall is seeing major upgrades that will include a 157,000 square foot Nordstrom store, a 105,000 square foot La Maison Simons store, and a new 18,000 square foot Harry Rosen store. Nordstrom and Harry Rosen will both open in the spring of 2015, and Simons will open a year later.  


Victoria’s Secret’s first Ottawa location opened in October of 2013 at the Bayshore Shopping Centre. At about 13,400 square feet, the Bayshore space is about the same size as the combined Victoria’s Secret stores at the Rideau Centre . 

NEXT ARTICLE: Suitsupply To Open 2nd Canadian Location In Montreal

PREVIOUS ARTICLE: Quebec’s Largest Mall To Undergo $150-Million Expansion

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Quebec’s largest mall to undergo $150-million expansion

By
Craig Patterson
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exc-53460690e4b04ee07c9d84ab


Méga Parc at Les Galeries de la Capitale. Photo credit: Oxford Properties.Méga Parc at Les Galeries de la Capitale. Photo credit: Oxford Properties.

Méga Parc at Les Galeries de la Capitale. Photo credit: Oxford Properties.

Quebec’s largest mall, Les Galeries de la Capitale, is expected to add about 150,000 square feet of retail space at a cost of about $150 million. An 11-screen Cineplex theatre will also be added, and construction could begin at the end of 2014.

Located in suburban Quebec City, Les Galeries de la Capitale has almost 1.5 million square feet of retail space and boasts over 280 stores. Its anchor stores include Hudson’s Bay, Sears, La Maison Simons and Target. The mall hosts about 11 million visitors per year, and enjoys annual sales of about $237 million, according to landlord Oxford Properties. It has the only IMAX theatre in the region, which is also the largest IMAX screen in Canada. The mall is also home to North America’s second-largest indoor amusement park, called Méga Parc. A roller coaster, ferris wheel and skating rink are among the 20 attractions at Méga Parc. 

La Press reports that negotiations are still underway for the proposed 150,000 square foot mall expansion. The expansion would be on the south side of the mall. Rumour has it that Victoria’s Secret could open a store within the mall expansion. If so, it would be Victoria’s Secret’s second location in the province of Quebec, following the 2012 opening of an 11,000 square foot Victoria’s Secret at Le Carrefour Laval in suburban Montreal. 

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