Playful British-based menswear brand Simon Carter has relocated its only free-standing North American location. We spoke with its North American representative, Cedric St. Louis, to discuss why he moved his store to one of Toronto’s hottest up-and-coming retail areas.
Founded in London in 1985, the Simon Carter brand features a full range of formal and casual clothing, as well as accessories such as cufflinks, watches, jewellery and luggage. Known for its ‘wit and whimsy’, the brand features unexpected fabric combinations, splashes of colour, luxurious linings and winsome motifs. Simon Carter has only seven free-standing stores in the world, with six locations in the U.K. and one in Canada.
Many were surprised when Canada became home to the brand’s first store outside of Great Britain. Simon Carter’s initial Toronto location opened in August of 2007 at 754 Queen Street West, in Toronto’s trendy ‘West Queen West’ area.
Last month, Mr. St. Louis relocated his store to an intimate space at 1493 Dundas Street West. Measuring only 500 square feet, the new store is smaller than the former Queen Street location. The new store lacks suits and tailored goods carried at the previous store, though selections are available for weddings and other formal occasions. Mr. St. Louis explained how during his search for a new location, Dundas Street West had “something about it”, prompting him to sign a lease for a retail space under signage reading ‘Dufferin Smoke Shop’. Though the historical signage remains, the original smoke shop shuttered long ago. Locals asked the building’s landlord to keep the iconic smoke shop signage, creating a landmark while retaining some of the area’s history.
We asked Mr. St. Louis if any more Canadian Simon Carter locations are in the works. He explained how he’s carefully watching the Canadian retail market before making any decisions. He recognizes that there is considerable competition in the market, including new mono-brand entrants as well as expanding larger retailers such as Nordstrom, Holt Renfrew, Harry Rosen and Saks Fifth Avenue. Mr. St. Louis mentioned how Simon Carter has seen success with concessions within the U.K. and although he’s receptive to the idea, there are no immediate plans to open Simon Carter shops-in-stores within any North American department stores.
Upscale Seattle-based Nordstrom has revealed that it will open two new restaurant concepts in Canada. Nordstrom’s next Canadian location opens on September 18 in Vancouver, and three Toronto locations will follow in 2016 and 2017.
Nordstrom’s first two Canadian locations each feature two food concepts: eBar and Bazille. Coffee concept eBar features coffee, fruit smoothies, pastries, sandwiches and salads, while full-service restaurant Bazille features bistro cuisine, fresh salads, desserts, and a full bar. Calgary’s 140,000 square foot Nordstrom opened at Chinook Centre in September of 2014, and Ottawa’s 157,000 square foot Nordstrom opened at Rideau Centre in March of this year.
According to Nordstrom’s Canadian website, the new Vancouver flagship will feature three restaurant concepts, two of them new to Canada. Bistro Verde and Habitant will open in the new store, along with the ubiquitous eBar. Bistro Verde is a full-service restaurant and bar which features “seasonal starters, salads, entrees and desserts made with fresh local ingredients, plus specialty cocktails, wine and beer”, according to Nordstrom. Habitant is a ‘casual lounge’ where “you can enjoy a snack, glass of wine or handcrafted cocktail” and “features salads, sandwiches and sides perfect as a light meal or shareable appetizer”.
Links to all restaurants mentioned above include full menus, priced in U.S. Dollars.
Although not opening until the fall of 2016, Nordstrom’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre location will also feature three food concepts. According to City of Toronto Applications, Bazille and Habitant will join eBar in the new Yorkdale space. Curiously, a separate building application indicates Nordstrom’s Yorkdale size to be 18,820 square metres or 202,500 square feet — although officially it will measure 188,000 square feet.
Lots of affluence, not a lot of retail. The unusual situation characterizes one of Canada’s wealthiest regions, as the County of Grande Prairie creates a master-planned community to facilitate its explosive growth. The region’s prosperity makes it unique, and retailers are already clamouring to get in after the County recently hosted an economic summit to promote its various exceptional opportunities. We attended the summit to learn more about the County’s vast investment potential, as it looks to add thousands of new residents over the next several years.
We can’t think of a municipality which has gone to such lengths to attract retail investment. During the second week of June, the County of Grande Prairie’s economic summit showcased the area to potential investors, retailers, landlords, and other interested parties. We learned how a recent market gap analysis (PDF) recognized immediate retail opportunities for grocers, liquor stores, banks, coffee shops, as well as a variety of other categories. A survey determined that residents want retailers such as Ikea, Indigo Books, Shoppers Drug Mart, and Toys ‘R’ Us, and Starubucks and Tim Hortons were also high on respondents’ lists.
Image: County of Grande Prairie
Already, a number of retailers are showing interest in the area. Convenience store retailer 7-Eleven, for example, told us that they see multiple possibilities in the area. Exceptional opportunities exist for a grocery retailer, based both on current numbers as well as projected population growth. The Grande Prairie area is home to a number of large retailers typically not found in similar-sized cities. Costco, Best Buy, and Walmart do gangbuster sales in the area, and locals desire more ‘big city’ shopping opportunities at a variety of pricepoints, according to the survey.
The region’s economy is exceptional, and its unusually high incomes must be considered when examining potential retail opportunities. With a mixture of commerce, forestry, agriculture, and energy (exploration, services and production), the prosperous County of Grande Prairie’s average household income is estimated to be $109,000 annually. The region’s cost of living is lower than in many parts of Canada, resulting in exceptionally high discretionary incomes. The county boasts in excess of 85,000 residents, with a trade area in excess of 260,000 within a 200 kilometre radius. Remarkably, in 2013, the trade area’s retail spending was estimated to be an astounding $3.5 billion. Although the immediate trade area is less than 100,000 people, its high incomes warrant more retail than in similarly-sized communities.
Impressively, the relatively small County of Grande Prairie is fifth in the province for new housing starts. Economic Development Manager Christopher King said “These stats are showing we are growing strongly through what is expected to be a recession for Alberta. During the last recession the County of Grande Prairie saw an increase in assessment of 46.8% from Dec 2007 to December of 2013. With our diversified economy the region appears to be much more resilient to the drop in oil prices.”
County of Grande Prairie
Clairmont Heights
A proposed master-planned community provides various exceptional retail opportunities. Called Clairmont Heights, the area will feature a high-density village centre with retail and residential, surrounded by lower-density residential. All are located on a gradual-slope hillside leading towards Clairmont Lake, providing water views as well as vistas towards the City of Grande Prairie and the Rocky Mountains beyond. If plans proceed as indicated, the town centre will feature a high street for local stores, with larger retail opportunities available along busy nearby Highway 2.
The planned community could eventually include an additional 6,000 residences, housing an anticipated population increase of about 15,000 people. Surrounding the village centre will be single-detached homes, with a limited selection of estate-sized view lots at the top of Clairmont Heights. We’re told that various investment opportunities in the area are still available for those looking to develop retail, residential, restaurants and hotels.
County of Grande Prairie
The County of Grande Prairie created a website to help market its various growth opportunities. To learn more about retail and opportunities in Clairmont Heights and the County of Grande Prairie, contact Chris King, Economic Development Manager, at 780-513-3956 or by email: cking@countygp.ab.ca
Upscale New York City-based fashion brand Coach has renovated its Toronto Bloor Street flagship. Located at The Colonnade at 131 Bloor Street West, Coach neighbours some of Canada’s most exclusive retailers. Coach is looking to upgrade its image and increase profitability, as it addresses competition from several strong American brands.
The 2,900 square foot Coach store is wedged between Chanel and Mulberry and is two doors from Prada, which will substantially expand its Colonnade location in the coming months. The renovated Coach space reflects a more modern aesthetic than the previous interior, as Coach looks to regain market share potentially lost to competitors Michael Kors and Kate Spade. Coach will upgrade a number of Canadian stores, we’re told, with plans for at least one new prototype location set to be announced shortly.
Coach recently made headlines when it laid off its part-time Canadian workers, though the move was strategic. The brand is reportedly looking to build customer relationships with full-time staff as it looks to enhance the in-store retail experience.
Rumours that neighbouring Chanel would take Coach’s Colonnade space were quashed with the renovation, and sources say that Chanel continues to be interested in expanding its Bloor Street operations. Chanel currently occupies about 7,900 square feet in The Colonnade, with a ground floor of 3,120 square feet. In the United States, several new and expanded Chanel stores now surpass 10,000 square feet.
Canada could soon see substantially more Ashley Furniture HomeStores. Winnipeg-based Dufresne Group plans to open as many as 16 Ashley locations in Ontario and Alberta over the next few years. We spoke with its Canadian broker to learn more about Ashley’s real estate requirements.
Founded in 1945 and headquartered in Wisconsin, Ashley Furniture HomeStore has 551 U.S. locations and retails lines including bedroom, dining room, casual dining, upholstery, motion upholstery, leather, leather match, occasional tables, entertainment centres, home office, youth bedroom, recliners, curios, mattresses and accessories. Remarkably, Furniture Today named Ashley Furniture HomeStore as the number one conventional furniture store in 2015 in the United States, with sales in excess of $3.27 billion. Sales increased 5.1% between 2013 and 2014. Ashley’s Canadian stores are located in the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Alberta and Ontario, as well as in the Yukon.
The Dufresne Group is North America’s largest operator of Ashley Furniture HomeStores, with 17 Canadian locations as well as 33 in the United States. Dufresne is a private company with over 1,100 employees in Canada and over 1,400 in the United States. In Canada, Dufresne also operates 11 Dufresne Furniture & Appliance stores in Manitoba and Ontario. The company manages a buying group for over 110 independent retailers across Canada, called Dufresne Retail Solutions Group. Dufresne is one of the largest Canadian-based furniture retailers, and the 34th largest furniture retailer in the United States.
We spoke with Winnipeg-based IC&I Properties/Shindico Realty‘s John Pearson, who is representing Dufresne in its search for Canadian Ashley store real estate. Mr. Pearson explained that he’s looking for retail space in the 25,000 square foot to 28,000 square foot range, ideally in retail power centres with a home improvement and/or fashion co-tenancy. Although his focus is primarily in Southwestern Ontario, Mr. Pearson said that he’s also looking for retail space in Edmonton’s northeast, as well as in the southwest part of Calgary. Interested parties can email Mr. Pearson or call: (204)928-8229.
Antony Karabus, CEO of leading retail consultancy HRC Advisory, said: “Ashley Furniture is anticipated to be pursuing an ambitious expansion in Canada, which could see the retailer take advantage of the increased availability of retail real estate created by the closures of Target and Future Shop, among others”. Mr. Karabus noted that retail expansion shouldn’t be based on available real estate and lower occupancy costs, alone. “Given the significant market share enjoyed by large incumbents such as The Brick, Leon’s and Sears, it would seem that Ashley Furniture’s expansion would be predicated more on winning market share from the strong incumbents, with a secondary focus on meaningfully increasing the size of the market”, he said. Mr. Karabus noted the opportunity to open urban locations to address the ‘micro-sized’ condominium trend in growing areas such as Liberty Village and Concord CityPlace in downtown Toronto, as well as mid-to-higher priced condominiums in increasingly-densely populated areas such as downtown Toronto and Yorkville, as well as downtown Vancouver.
Mr. Karabus also noted that “the growth of the furniture and appliances market is typically correlated to new home starts and renovations, so the performance of the economy will be a key macro-economic indicator to the health of this key retail sector.”
Hudson’s Bay has embarked on several ambitious store renovations, reflecting the retailer’s new aesthetic standards. The Toronto flagship will act as a prototype of sorts, with recently completed interiors setting the standard for future store upgrades. We spoke with a retail expert to discuss Hudson’s Bay’s continued efforts to modernize the company’s fleet of stores, addressing unprecedented competition from a variety of retailers.
MaryAnne Morin, chief merchant officer of Hudson’s Bay Company, recently told Women’s Wear Daily that changes in the Toronto Queen Street flagship will be reflected in other units across the chain. In addition to partially renovated flagships in Vancouver, Montreal and Yorkdale (Toronto), elements of the Queen Street renovation will be reflected in “other doors where men’s is highly penetrated,” she said, with the aesthetic showcased at Queen Street serving as “the new standard”.
Hudson’s Bay locations to see renovations will include flagships in Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa and Montreal. Suburban locations including Toronto’s Scarborough Town Centre and Calgary’s Southcentre will see substantial overhauls, adding to the company’s substantially completed units at Sherway Gardens in and Yorkdale Toronto, Square One in Mississauga, and Hillcrest Mall in Richmond Hill, Ontario.
A number of landlords across the country have told us that Hudson’s Bay intends to renovate other locations over the next couple of years, including adding more licensed TopShop/Top Man shops-in-stores.
The Toronto Eaton Centre flagship continues to see renovations, as it makes room for a four-level Saks Fifth Avenue on the Hudson’s Bay building’s east side. Hudson’s Bay operations have shifted westward as cosmetics, accessories and jewellery move into space formerly occupied by women’s shoes — which has expanded and moved upstairs to the store’s second-level. Luxury womenswear department The Roomhas also moved westward on the store’s third floor, making room for Saks Fifth Avenue’s new women’s floor. ‘Beauty bar’ The Ten Spot debuted on the building’s concourse earlier this month, and a bright 100,000 square foot fifth-floor men’s store opened earlier this year.
The massive downtown Montreal Hudson’s Bay flagship will see renovations commencing in 2016, according to Hudson’s Bay president, Liz Rodbell. Some speculate that a large Saks Fifth Avenue store could also be carved out of the 655,000 square foot Bay space, though nothing is confirmed.
Downtown Vancouver’s Hudson’s Bay, which has seen substantial renovations over the past several years, will see renovations to its third and fourth levels, according to sources at the store. Currently occupied by women’s and children’s departments, renovations to these floors will see new interiors, as well as exposed windows allowing for increased natural light.
Scarborough Town Centre’s 252,600 square foot Hudson’s Bay renovations will commence in 2016, and they will be timely – the mall will eventually be home to one of three Toronto La Maison Simons stores, and sources say that the mall will see other improvements to be revealed at a later date. Scarborough Town Centre hopes to draw more local shoppers, as well as patrons from an expanded trade area extending into the Toronto region’s north and east suburbs.
The 335,000 square foot downtown Ottawa Hudson’s Bay flagship will see a complete overhaul. A fully-renovated ground floor will see an expanded cosmetics floor, a new women’s shoe department, and an expanded handbags department with updated shops-in-stores for Kate Spade and Coach. The second-level men’s store will be overhauled and new designers added, as will the third-floor women’s fashion floor. The fourth level, devoted primarily to homewares, will see natural light from ample windows once renovations are complete. Hudson’s Bay is addressing competition from retailers at adjacent Rideau Centre, which itself is seeing unprecedented changes. Nordstrom opened its 153,700 square foot Rideau Centre location in March, featuring bright, modern interiors and some brands also carried at Hudson’s Bay. Menswear retailer Harry Rosen‘s Rideau Centre unit was replaced with a 17,000 square foot store in the fall of 2014. Featuring stunning interiors, the Rideau Centre Rosen’s also features a shoe department with its own mall entrance. Quebec-based retailer La Maison Simons will open a 100,000 square foot Rideau Centre store in August of 2016 with bright, modern interiors as well as an art installation.
Hudson’s Bay’s Calgary Southcentre location will see substantial renovations and according to sources in Calgary, preparation is well underway. The 164,500 square foot Bay’s interiors were in need of an update, lagging behind updates at the company’s Chinook Centre, Market Mall and downtown Calgary locations. Southcentre will see several large new tenants over the next several years, including a 46,000 square foot Sporting Life in 2016, as well as possibly La Maison Simons’ second Calgary location.
We spoke with retail industry expert Farla Efros, President of leading retail consulting firm HRC Advisory, to gain her perspective on Hudson’s Bay’s substantial investment. Ms. Efros explained that these store overhauls were a ‘long time coming’, and how Hudson’s Bay is renovating partly to address competition. Holt Renfrew and Harry Rosen are both updating and expanding stores nationwide, and Nordstrom’s Canadian expansion could see as many as 10 stores by the year 2020. Ms. Efros noted that Nordstrom’s Canadian stores are “clean, light, and refreshing”, putting pressure on Hudson’s Bay stores, which have become dated. She also noted that there will be crossover between shoppers at Nordstrom and Hudson’s Bay, requiring the latter to modernize to avoid potentially losing market share.
Ms. Efros also described how Hudson’s Bay may have been ‘testing the waters’ with its gradual store renovations, and how things may speed up now that it has a clearer vision. Adding Saks Fifth Avenue to the mix would also require store renovations, as evidenced with the shared Saks/Bay space in downtown Toronto. Ms. Efros noted that the new concept will require very clear delineation between each banner so as to not cannibalize and confuse the customer, especially as there will be some brand overlap between Saks and Hudson’s Bay.
Edmonton-based grocer Italian Centre Shop is growing beyond its Edmonton home base. Early next month, it will open its first Calgary location, and it’s looking to a number of Canadian markets for potential expansion. We spoke with the company’s President, Teresa Spinelli, to learn more on her plans to grow the popular retailer.
Italian Centre Shop was founded by Ms. Spinelli’s father, Frank, in Edmonton in 1959. The small store initially carried Italian magazines, pop and chocolate and due to shopper requests, it expanded to become a grocery store. It became more than just a grocery store, however, as locals came to view it as a place to gather and socialize. The single, successful location eventually grew to three Edmonton stores, and the company is now a major retailer, wholesaler and distributor of specialty imports, grocery and fresh produce to stores and restaurants throughout Western Canada. Each store features a café as well as grocery, deli and bakery departments.
On July 2, Italian Centre Shop’s first Calgary store will open to the public. Located in the city’s southeast suburbs, the 18,000 square foot store could be the first of two Calgary locations, according to Ms. Spinelli. Italian Centre stores are generally in the 12,000 square foot to 18,000 square foot range and Ms. Spinelli says that the company has its sights on a number of places, provided that the “right opportunities” become available. Ms. Spinelli mentioned that longer-term, she is considering opening locations Alberta cities such as Red Deer and Grande Prairie, as well as in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Further into the future, Ms. Spinelli indicated that a national expansion is a possibility for the retailer, though because it doesn’t franchise, growth will be limited and dictated by opportunity.
Last fall, rumour had it that Italian Centre Shop would replace the downtown Edmonton Sobeys grocery store, which had closed its location at 104 Street and Jasper Avenue. Ms. Spinelli said that although her company examined the retail space, the “the numbers didn’t work” and she decided against opening there. The 18,900 square foot retail space continues to be available for sublease.
British organic natural health and beauty products retailer Neal’s Yard Remedies plans to open stores across Canada over the next several years. Its first North American location opened in Canada last year, and a second store has just been announced. We spoke with Lisa Costello, CEO of Neal’s Yard Remedies Canada, to learn more.
Founded in 1981 in Covent Garden, London, Neal’s Yard Remedies has more than 80 stores in 21 countries across five continents. It has grown to become a global leader in ethical, organic beauty and health, and its award-winning products are manufactured by hand in England using sustainably sourced, certified organic ingredients.
Neal’s Yard Remedies’ first North American location opened in June of 2014 in Calgary. The 1,000 square foot free-standing store is located in the city’s Mission district, on 4 Avenue SW. Neal’s just announced a second Calgary location, set to open in November, at Southcentre in the city’s southern suburbs. Neal’s plans to open about 10 Canadian locations over the next five years through its Calgary based Canadian ‘development agent’, headed by Ms. Costello.
Ms. Costello explained her company’s strategy for a cross-Canada expansion, as well as how some locations may differ. Neal’s will consider retail spaces both within busy shopping centres, as well as streetfront locations similar to its first Calgary store. The chain’s streetfront stores will typically include treatment rooms, allowing for a blend of ‘inner health’ and ‘outer beauty’. The current Calgary location, for example, includes an acupuncturist providing facial treatments. Shopping mall locations, however, will lack treatment rooms, though they may be roughly the same square footage as Neal’s streetfront stores. Its Southcentre location, for example, will measure almost 1,000 square feet and will focus primarily on the brand’s products.
Although no immediate plans were revealed, Ms. Costello said that Neal’s Yard Remedies may look to open in a variety of Canadian cities, provided that the ‘right’ retail locations become available. She mentioned that a third Calgary store could be a possibility, and that markets such as Toronto and Vancouver could prove to be prime markets for future Neal’s locations.
Ms . Costello also mentioned that there could be a possibility that Neal’s Yard Remedies could partner with a larger retailer by opening shop-in-store concessions. Although no plans are in place, Ms. Costello noted that concessions within department stores are a trend internationally, including in Great Britain where Neal’s Yard Remedies was founded.
Vancouver-based denim brand Dish Jeans is using multiple pop-up locations to build awareness for its brand, as well as its new men’s technical denim brand. We spoke with Co-Founder/President of parent company Pimlico Performance Apparel Ltd.’s Gary Lenett to learn more, and we consulted with a retail expert to gain insight into the benefits of pop-ups.
Dish Jeans recently expanded to include a new “function meets fashion” men’s denim line, called DU-ER. Recognizing the new ‘athleisure’ demographic, Mr. Lenett developed two proprietary fabrics for the line. The fabric, L2X (leisure to extreme) and N2X (nature to extreme), combine COOLMAX® fabric and TENCEL® to offer moisture management, temperature control, and anti-bacterial properties. Mr. Lenett also innovated the design to include lined pockets that protect males against cell-phone radiation and dark/reflective branding that can be spotted by night drivers, as the denim is fit for bike commuting. The lightweight jean has five times the stretch of regular denim for males, allowing it to be worn by a wide demographic of active people.
Both the women’s Dish Jeans line and the new DU-ER men’s line wholesale in a number of top retailers. To heighten brand awareness and to enhance its wholesale accounts, Mr. Lenett explained how his company is seeking temporary pop-up retail space between about 1,000 square feet and 2,000 square feet. Each location will remain open for about four weeks, hosting a variety of events for shoppers. The company’s first pop-up recently opened in Vancouver’s Railtown area, adjacent to the company’s design studio.
The pop-up trend is “as much as an event as a store” according to Mr. Lenett. Besides its Vancouver pop-up and a number of planned U.S. locations, Mr. Lenett says that Dish Jeans may roll-out pop-ups in markets including Calgary, Toronto and Montreal. The brand will announce these closer to their opening dates.
We spoke with retail expert Farla Efros, President of leading retail consultancy HRC Advisory, to discuss the pop-up trend. Ms. Efros explained that pop-up shops are “here to stay” and that pop-ups can bridge the gap between online and offline, as brands look to build awareness, drive loyalty, and convert shoppers into buyers. She noted that the shorter commitment and lower-cost of pop-ups make them attractive to some retailers, especially as pop-ups require little lead time. By the nature of their “limited engagement” format, pop-ups can generate brand excitement, encourage planned purchases, and create an overall buzz that may not otherwise be achieved.
Ms. Efros further explained that pop-ups can be leveraged as brand development ‘labs’, testing new products in new markets, while reaching new customers. For pure-play retailers, the number one goal of a pop-up is to create a direct connection with the customer, she said. When done successfully, these customers will continue shopping with the brand either online, or with its local wholesalers, if applicable.
Toronto-based footwear designer Ron White continues to grow his retail and wholesale operations. He just opened a fifth free-standing store location, and he recently launched a new bridal footwear line. We interviewed Mr. White to learn more about his booming business, which had earned him the nickname of Canada’s ‘Shoe-Ru‘.
Ron White founded his footwear business in 1993, when he opened a comfort-focused multi-brand store in Toronto called The Foot Shoppe. It grew to several locations and in 2006, Mr. White rebranded the stores to his own name, targeting a younger, more fashion-forward shopper. Soon after, Mr. White decided to create his own namesake footwear brand, merging style with comfort to create “All Day Heels®”, utilizing cutting-edge comfort technology. His private-label women’s collection quickly became the store’s top seller, precipitating a wholesale expansion for the popular brand.
Last month, Ron White opened his fifth free-standing store in Toronto’s Leaside area, at 1553 Bayview Avenue. Located in the heart of the ‘Bayview Strip’, the new store features about 1,200 square feet of retail space on its ground-level, as well as roughly 800 square feet of storage and operations in the basement. The shopping street features extra-wide sidewalks, pleasant patios and a plethora of loyal locals. Mr. White says that the store is doing exceptional sales after only being open for a month, and there’s a reason why — the area’s patrons are typically upper-middle class and mature, which mirrors the brand’s primary target market. Mr. White explained how the Leaside shopping strip is frequented by those living in areas such as Rosedale, Moore Park, and other adjacent affluent areas. These shoppers come to Leaside seeking a casual, relaxed shopping area away from the formalities of Yorkville and the hustle and bustle of a large shopping mall. Mr. White described how in a ‘popular mall’, roughly 25% of shoppers may be within his brand’s target market while in Leaside, it’s in excess of 95%.
Ron White operates a total of five brick-and-mortar store locations, all in Toronto. Besides the new Leaside location, Ron White stores are located at Manulife Centre in Yorkville, Sherway Gardens, Bayview Village, as well as on Lakeshore Road East in affluent Oakville. Mr. White said that there are no immediate plans for more free-standing stores, thought that could change in the future.
Ron White’s wholesale business is booming, and Mr. White tells us that the company continues to see double-digit growth. It wholesales through a number of Canadian retail partners, with his main line, simply called Ron White, selling at upscale retailers including Holt Renfrew, Ogilvy in Montreal and O’Connor’s in Calgary. His lower-priced line, WHITE Ron White, is carried at selected Hudson’s Bay and Town Shoes locations. His priciest line, Ron White Signature, is carried in his free-standing stores as well as online. Remarkably, Mr. White says that his brand’s sales in the United States now surpass sales in Canada, and the brand is projected to see explosive growth over the next several years as it looks to partner with retailers overseas.
Ron White’s newest footwear line was designed specifically for brides. The five-style collection launched in March, and it is carried exclusively at Kleinfeld Bridal on the seventh floor of Hudson’s Bay at the Toronto Eaton Centre. Mr. White explained that his comfort technology allows the stylish bride to keep her footwear on for the entirety of her ‘special day’, rather than have to remove shoes due to discomfort.
