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Nordstrom is the number one brand on Pinterest

By
Retail Insider
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With over 4.4 million followers, Nordstrom is the number one brand followed on Pinterest. With Nordstrom’s imminent arrival into Canada (its first Canadian store opens in Calgary this September), Canadian retailers must recognize the importance of social media.

For those unfamiliar, Pinterest is a photo sharing website. Users may create and manage theme-based image collections. Users may browse other pinboards for images and ‘repin’ them to their own pinboards, or ‘like’ photos. Its popularity continues to grow substantially, and it now boasts over 70 million users.

Digital Insights analysed Pinterest and came up with some interesting numbers. Almost 70% of Pinterest users are female, and 57% of all posts are food-related. 80% of Pinterest’s pins are ‘repins’. Only 6% of Pinterest users have connected their pages to their Facebook accounts.

Nordstrom has taken Pinterest one step further. Popular items on Pinterest are displayed in-store with a red tag (see above photo). And Pinterest is paying off. A source at Nordstrom tells us that the retailer is enjoying tremendous success with its Pinterest experiment. Pinterest shoppers tend to spend more than users referred from other social media, and Nordstrom appears to be on the forefront of this trend.

RELATED:

[Nordstrom on Pinterest]

La Maison Simons could open at Montreal’s Fairview Pointe-Claire

By
Craig Patterson
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La Maison Simons could open at Montreal's Fairview Pointe-Claire

Sources tell us that La Maison Simons could open at Montreal’s Fairview Pointe-Claire Shopping Centre. If talks are successful, it would occupy part of the 181,795 square foot Sears store that currently anchors the mall’s eastern portion. 

The 1 million square foot Fairview Pointe-Claire Shopping Centre is owned and operated by landlord Cadillac Fairview. It features almost 175 stores and is one of Montreal’s most productive malls with yearly sales per square foot of $617.

Simons is expanding across Canada and plans to open new stores in West Vancouver, Ottawa, Gatineau, Quebec and Mississauga, Ontario. It may also open a store in suburban Calgary. We’ll keep you updated on Simons’ Canadian expansion including this possible new suburban Montreal store.

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Holt Renfrew creates Twitter accounts for its individual stores

By
Retail Insider
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Holt Renfrew has created Twitter accounts for each of its 7 stores in English-speaking Canada, as well as a bilingual account for its Montreal and Quebec City stores. Individual store twitter accounts for retail chains have recently enjoyed a gain in popularity. 


Individual store twitter accounts became more common after Nordstrom‘s recent authorization of the creation of individualized Twitter accounts for its various stores. These accounts have become quite popular and Nordstrom’s Seattle flagship, for example, has over 7,000 Twitter followers. Saks Fifth Avenue joined the trend and recently launched Twitter accounts for several of its stores and even one for its new Chicago men’s store.


Holt Renfrew has further leveraged Twitter by creating an account for its restaurant division called ‘Holts Foodie‘. It continues to maintain a information on job postings at its ‘Holts Careers‘ Twitter account.


We’ve found that following these Twitter accounts provides timely information for keeping track of what’s in store. Here are links to Holt Renfrew’s accounts on Twitter:


[Holt Renfrew (Main Twitter Account)]


[Holt Renfrew Toronto: Bloor Street flagship]


[Holt Renfrew Toronto Yorkdale Shopping Centre]


[Holt Renfrew Toronto Sherway Gardens]


[Holt Renfrew Quebec (Montreal + Quebec City)]


[Holt Renfrew Ottawa]


[Holt Renfrew Edmonton]


[Holt Renfrew Calgary]


[Holt Renfrew Vancouver]




Hudson’s Bay and other larger retailers may wish to follow this trend and at least create Twitter accounts for their flagship stores. With all of the recent exciting developments in Canadian retail, individualized Twitter accounts may be an excellent way to promote in-store events, as well as a way to enrich the entire omni-channel retail experience.


[Holt Renfrew website]

Vancouver designer Nancy Lord opens in the city’s ‘Heritage District’

By
Retail Insider
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Nancy Lord Photo: Colin Arber

Vancouver-based fashion designer Nancy Lord has opened her flagship store in Vancouver’s ‘Heritage District’. The 1,800 square foot store includes 1,350 square feet of ground floor retail as well as a 450 square foot mezzanine space. The store sells ready-to-wear women’s clothing, and custom-made designs are also available.

The new store is located at 410 Howe Street and is alongside such upscale retailers as Cartier and Euoko Cosmetics. Steps away are shops such as Versace and Roche Bobois furnishings. Despite having these upscale tenants, however, the neighbourhood has struggled over the past couple of years with the departure of such stores as Chanel, Hugo Boss Woman, Escada and, most recently, Mount Cashmere.

We’ve been told that Vancouver’s ‘Heritage District’ is looking to update its image, including sidewalks and various public-space fixtures. The area will seek to regain some of the prestige lost with the exit of some of the above retailers. We’ll follow up this article when we learn of further details of the area’s rejuvenation.

[Nancy Lord website]

Could La Maison Simons join Nordstrom at the Toronto Eaton Centre?

By
Retail Insider
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Photo by Julia Pelish Photography

Although Nordstrom has leased 213,000 square feet of Sears’ Toronto Eaton Centre store, there is still about 140,000 square feet of retail space available within the Sears space. La Maison Simons‘ CEO Peter Simons has made it no secret that he’d like to open a store at the Toronto Eaton Centre, and there may still be room for his store.

La Maison Simons is seeking store space in the 100,000 – 120,000 square foot range. Given that there is about 140,000 square feet of retail space still available, Simons could possibly secure retail space alongside the new Nordstrom store. 

An insider tells us that Nordstrom is expected to occupy most of the three levels directly below Sears’ four levels of office space, leaving about 140,000 square feet of retail below grade (the mall’s second level, technically) and possibly on the ground floor (the mall’s third level, technically). Peter Simons has said that he’d prefer a prominent street-level entrance for a Toronto Eaton Centre store, so it remains to be seen how a possible deal could play out. 

At 816,000 square feet, the Toronto Eaton Centre Sears store was the largest Sears in the entire company. Of that space, the top four floors (approximately 460,000 square feet) will continue to be occupied by Sears Canada as its corporate offices. Sources confirm that Sears’ rent was only $1/sq ft/year for the space. Given the substantially higher cost for office space in Downtown Toronto, Sears Canada will continue to get a deal by continuing to occupy this space.

We’ll keep you updated on the possibility that La Maison Simons could join Nordstrom at the Toronto Eaton Centre.

Opening of Sherway Gardens Nordstrom delayed until spring 2017

By
Retail Insider
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Nordstrom Sherway Gardens Rendering

The opening of Nordstrom at Toronto’s Sherway Gardens has been delayed until the spring of 2017. It was originally scheduled to open in the fall of 2016. Some may be disappointed with the delay, especially since the Sherway Gardens Nordstrom was the first Nordstrom to be announced for the Toronto area when the company made the original Canadian store announcement in July, 2012.

Nordstrom spokesperson Brooke White says that the Sherway store’s delay is due to the considerable construction activity required to build Toronto’s two other Nordstrom stores. Nordstrom’s Yorkdale and Toronto Eaton Centre stores are both now scheduled to open in the fall of 2016. Nordstrom announced the opening of its 188,000 square foot Yorkdale store in April of 2013, which will be built as part of a mall expansion. This week Nordstrom also announced that it would build a 213,000 square foot flagship store at the Toronto Eaton Centre, replacing part of a current Sears store.

Nordstrom Sherway Exterior Rendering

Nordstrom’s Sherway Gardens store will be a newly-built 138,000 square foot space which will replace retailer Sporting Life at the south end of the mall. Sporting Life will relocate to a newly built store in a northward mall expansion, possibly alongside an expanded Holt Renfrew store.

Images above are renderings of Nordstrom’s Sherway Gardens store, courtesy of Nordstrom Canada’s Media Kit. 

[Sherway Gardens website]

[Nordstrom website]

Sears Canada is ready to sell its 27 Quebec store leases

By
Retail Insider
-
Photo: Sears

Sears Canada is reportedly interested in selling its 27 store leases in the province of Quebec. Sources say that these stores could be sold if Sears receives advantageous offers from landlords, similar to deals made in English Canada. Although Nordstrom entered the Canadian market through Sears lease purchases, we don’t believe Nordstrom will take any of the Quebec leases.

Company spokesperson Vincent Power says that Sears will consider selling leases back to mall landlords if the lease sale prices are in excess of the estimated profitability of a Sears store over 20 years. Sources tell us that talks are already under way for several of these Sears stores, and that La Maison Simons could be close to securing one of the Sears store locations.

Since April 2012, Sears Canada has sold back 11 of its store leases to mall landlords for a total of about $762 million. The sale of the first four Sears stores paved the way for Nordstrom’s entry into the Canadian market. Sears has since sold back more leases paving the way for even more Nordstrom stores, as well as a La Maison Simons store in suburban Toronto.

A source familiar with the company tells us that Nordstrom currently has no plans to expand by opening stores in the Province of Quebec, at least for now. Nordstrom turned down our request to interview its Canadian President, Karen McKibbin, on this subject.

Industry sources say that talks are already in place between landlords and Sears Canada to sell off more store leases. We’ll keep you updated as Sears Canada continues to liquidate its assets.

RELATED: 

[Article Source]

[Sears Canada website]

Nordstrom reveals its new Calgary store manager for its September 19th store opening

By
Retail Insider
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Photo: Shelia Wooldridge

Nordstrom has revealed the identity of its first Canadian store manager: Shelia Wooldridge. Ms. Woodridge joined Nordstrom in 1996, working as a salesperson at its Dallas Galleria store. She has since held a variety of management and regional positions in the store’s women’s apparel division. 

Nordstrom will open its first Canadian store at Calgary’s Chinook Centre on September 19th, 2014. We’ll follow up this article with a description of what’s in store for Calgary. 

RELATED: 

Photo: Nordstrom

[Nordstrom Canada website]

Mountain Equipment Coop expected to open 2nd Toronto store

By
Retail Insider
-
Mountain Equipment Coop (MEC) is one step closer to opening a 44,000 square foot store at 784 Sheppard Street East in suburban Toronto. North York Community Council* has supported a rezoning application that will go to vote at Toronto City Council on February 19th. If built, this will be Toronto’s second MEC store. For those unfamiliar, MEC is a Vancouver-based consumers’ cooperative which carries outdoor recreation gear and clothing and sells merchandise exclusively to its members. A lifetime membership costs $5, and the company has over 3.5 million members. It is considered to be Canada’s largest supplier of outdoor equipment. It was founded in 1971 and has 17 stores in 16 Canadian cities.

The two-level MEC store would be part of a mixed-use development that would also feature 50 units of stacked townhouses behind the new store, on the north portion of the 0.786 hectare site. 

Parking would be provided underground through two separate garages that are connected by a common access ramp. The store garage would hold 125 car stalls; another 93 would be available for residents of the townhomes. Vehicle access to the site would be provided from Sheppard Avenue. Thirty-six bike parking stalls are also proposed for the store.

If approved, construction of MEC’s North York store and the townhouses will begin in March. The store is expected to open in the spring of 2015. It would be MEC’s second store in the Greater Toronto Area, complementing the retailer’s downtown location on King Street West.

“We are extremely pleased to have received the support of North York Municipal Council,” said MEC CFO Sandy Treagus. “MEC firmly believes that our proposal aligns with the city’s planning objectives for the site, and we are optimistic that Toronto City Council will also see its merit and approve the rezoning.”


Of MEC’s more than 3.5 million members across Canada, over 620,000 reside in the Greater Toronto Aarea, notes Sandy Treagus. “Ontarians are among the most active in this country, and more than 100,000 MEC members actually reside in the North York
area. We are looking forward to supporting these members – and anyone interested in joining MEC – to help them gear up for any manner of recreation in the city, nearby parks or adventures further afield.” 

* Thank you, Skeezix, for noting our previous error of referring to ‘North York Community Council’ as ‘North York Municipal Council’. 

Sears Canada lays off over 1600 employees & outsources tech jobs to IBM

By
Retail Insider
-
Photo: Sears Canada

Sears Canada has laid off over 1,600 employees, representing more than 7% of its entire workforce. Included in these layoffs are 283 warehouse jobs across Canada as well as 1,345 associate jobs at three customer call Centres in Montreal, Belleville Ont. and Toronto. Call centre jobs will be eliminated over the next nine months, and will be outsourced to IBM. 

Sears spokesperson Dan Madge says Sears warehouses affected by the most immediate layoffs are in Calgary, Montreal, Belleville and Vaughan (both in Ontario) and in a Vancouver suburb. 

The following is their press release: 

TORONTO, Jan. 15, 2014 /CNW/ – Sears Canada Inc. (TSX: SCC) announced today that the Company has entered into an agreement with third party vendor IBM to externally reassign the work currently performed at three internal Sears Customer Contact Centres.  The move to a third party will enable Sears to realize significant capability upgrades which will result in better processes, controls and tracking and an overall improvement in the customer experience. The transfer of responsibility, designed to be seamless to customers, will take place over the next nine months and affect 1,345 associates.

“The changes we are making to our Customer Contact Centres will allow us to streamline the support structure of our organization while enhancing the overall customer experience,” said Doug Campbell, President and Chief Executive Officer, Sears Canada Inc. “Our partner will bring tools and technologies that will allow us to operate more effectively without the ongoing investment in and maintenance of legacy proprietary systems. This will provide our customers with the benefits of up-to-date technology and enable us to focus on our core retail business, the area where we believe we have the greatest opportunity to maximize the value of the Company.

“For those who are leaving Sears, career transition support will be provided to assist in preparing for and obtaining their next role outside of Sears.

The Company is also initiating a reorganization and simplification of its logistics organization intended to drive optimal performance by leveraging tools and technology that will streamline business processes, which will result in an additional staff reduction of 283 associates effective immediately.

“These types of decisions are not made without considerable thought and deliberation,” added Mr. Campbell.  “We are planning for the future of Sears Canada and taking steps now that will allow us to continue serving customers as a viable national retailer coast to coast in stores and through our Direct channel now and in the future.  In this case, we firmly believe that these changes are necessary and will allow us to better serve our customers.  I thank those leaving Sears for their contribution to the Company and wish them all the best in the future.

“Sears Canada is a multi-channel retailer with a network that includes 181 corporate stores, 241 Hometown stores, over 1,400 catalogue and online merchandise pick-up locations, 101 Sears Travel offices and a nationwide repair and service network. The Company also publishes Canada’s most extensive general merchandise catalogue and offers shopping online at www.sears.ca.

Although the Company believes that the forward-looking information presented with respect to the outsourcing initiative is reasonable, such forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information.  The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof.  The Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

[Source: Press release]

[Sears Canada website]

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