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Twin Roads Socks Growing Ecommerce and Physical Retail Channels

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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Image: Twin Roads

The blossoming trend in men’s fashion these days led Joe Trubiano to a unique retail concept which began about four years ago in Montreal.

“We’re in the socks business. Men’s socks. I could tell there was something happening in menswear in general. It’s starting to flourish. There is a real growth in menswear in terms of percentage versus even ladies wear only because all of the sudden menswear is becoming a little bit more creative, different. A little bit more casual. It allows men to go out and do things a little bit differently than they did in the past. And that’s why I think the sales are coming certainly in menswear,” says Trubiano, founder and president of Twin Roads.

“Certainly one of the things that is totally new and different are socks. Socks have become the way for many men to sort of express their individuality. In the past when things were a little bit more dressy – you think of office wear suit and ties – ties were then perhaps the way men used to express their different personalities. Fewer and fewer men wear ties these days. One of the things that is out there that helps make men personal, a little bit different from the next guy is the socks that he wears. There’s definitely a boom in business in men’s socks. You see it all over the place. It really is a business that’s taking off.”

Twin Roads

Twin Roads is primarily a business based through its website but Trubiano says about seven or eight boutique stores in Montreal carry its line of socks.

Previously, Trubiano used to manufacture and import ladies wear from China and Italy. He had sales representatives pushing out the product. Now, he is going to take that concept to socks as he’s finding sales reps in Canada and the U.S. who will be soliciting business through their connections in smaller stores throughout North America.

For next year, he’s considering setting up pop-up shops in malls for specific times of the year such as Father’s Day and Christmas.

“There is business to be had doing it that way. I think pop-up shops will be something that definitely will work very well for us,” says Trubiano, adding that he sees that concept expanding to other markets outside of Montreal.

Twin Roads

Twin Roads sells socks made in Italy for about $12 a pair. They’re combed cotton with a very good quality. Next year, Trubiano says the company is going one step above in quality and will also offer mercerized cotton which is a bit finer and softer. It will sell for about $18.

“You get this incredible feeling when you touch them. Wow. Never mind when you put them on,” says Trubiano.

“The idea really is to create a better sock. Anybody who ever touches our socks or just feels them their first comment is ‘wow these really feel nice, they look great’.”

And socks have even become big news these days.

Trubiano says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has become the ideal spokesman for socks. Trudeau has caused a stir since he took office for his colourful and sometimes themed socks such as Star Wars.

“The stuff he wears is pretty amazing. He’s obviously into it,” says Trubiano.

Twin Roads

Why Canada is Wary of Online Grocery Shopping

By
Retail Insider
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By Michael von Massow, Associate Professor, Food Economics, University of Guelph

Canadian grocery giant Loblaw recently announced it’s closing some stores and introducing home delivery of groceries in the Toronto market, while Walmart says it’s expanding its home delivery service.

While it may feel that the Canadian market is late to the online grocery game — there are several chains that have been offering it in the United States for years, for example — it’s really a natural evolution reflecting differences in Canada.

Online grocery shopping has received a lot of attention but remains a relatively small proportion of total grocery sales in Canada. Total online grocery expenditure is estimated at approximately $2 billion with growth predicted to climb to almost $4 billion in the next couple of years. The current activity is largely focused in and around Toronto and Vancouver.

That’s tiny given an annual retail food market of almost $100 billion, $80 billion of which is focused on traditional grocery stores.

Online grocery shopping represents a larger share of total food purchases in other markets. While the U.S. proportion is predicted to grow to 20 per cent by 2025, it currently represents approximately four per cent of total food purchases. Many European markets are somewhat higher, with Great Britain estimated at almost seven per cent.

This begs the question: Are sales in Canada low because demand is low, or because there are not many good options outside of Toronto and Vancouver?

Canadians shop differently

Canadians are much less likely to shop online than Americans. Estimates of online shopping range from 2.5 per cent to 6.5 per cent of total retail sales. By comparison, online purchases are estimated to be closer to 8.5 per cent to nine per cent in the United States. It’s unsurprising, then, that online grocery sales are lower in Canada than in the U.S.

Canadians also express a strong preference for shopping for food in stores.

Globally, 70 per cent of consumers prefer to get their groceries by visiting stores, but that number is 81 per cent for Canadians. There are lots of reasons why shoppers prefer picking up groceries in person, including cost, the ability to choose products on impulse and the issue of scheduling and waiting for delivery.

There are clear differences between the markets in the U.S. and Canada. They help explain why Canadians have been slower to embrace online grocery shopping here.

The Canadian grocery market is dominated by Loblaw, Metro and Sobeys, representing almost two thirds of the retail market. Walmart and Costco are estimated to have almost 10 per cent of the market and are gaining ground. By comparison, the U.S. market is much less concentrated.

Big-box stores have posed bigger threat

Given that Canadian consumers have expressed a strong preference for in-store shopping, the main competitive pressure is coming from bricks-and-mortar big box stores.

Some have argued that the Amazon purchase of Whole Foods was, in part, an acknowledgement that some bricks-and-mortar stores are necessary, particularly for fresh produce categories.

It’s hardly surprising then that retailers have not made expansion to online shopping and home delivery a competitive priority. Why beef up online options when customers aren’t clamouring for it?

Nonetheless, pressure is coming from smaller players and non-traditional grocers. A strong and well-positioned regional brand, Longo’s Brothers, is prioritizing growth through its Grocery Gateway division in the Toronto area.

Longo’s has seen significant growth at the expense of the big chains, but that growth is on a relatively small customer base. Grocers are preparing themselves anyway, in the event that Amazon’s online and home delivery options are a huge success. That threat is driving traditional grocers to increase online offerings.

Online execution is hard

Executing online sales is difficult, however.

Grocery retailing is a relatively low-margin business, and there are costs associated with online shopping and home delivery, especially the “last mile” — the final leg of the delivery to the customer’s door.

The cost of delivery for the grocer is also highest in the early days, before a big customer base has been built up. That’s resulted in partnerships to facilitate delivery. Walmart, for example, uses Uber and Deliv to allow for same-day delivery for individual customers, so route planning and trucks aren’t needed.

What’s more, consumer wariness and resistance to a number of elementsunique to online grocery ordering pose challenges. There are often delivery and membership fees, which raise the cost of shopping. Consumers also have to wait for the order. Not only is delivery delayed, but it needs to be coordinated so someone is there to accept delivery.

(A WORKER FOR LOBLAW’S CLICK AND COLLECT SERVICE GATHERS A CUSTOMER’S ORDER AT ONE OF THE GROCERY CHAIN’S OUTLETS IN TORONTO IN JUNE 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/CHRIS YOUNG)

Grocery companies are making efforts to address these concerns.

Some retailers are offering pickup at stores or other central depots. Amazon and Walmart have proposed having drivers enter houses to put food in the fridge and avoid the need to have a consumer at home.

After all, there are clearly benefits for grocers who offer online shopping and home delivery.

Order sizes for groceries are likely to be bigger, and more regular, than for books, electronics or other items. Once a customer has tried an online food retailer, they may be less likely to switch. They become familiar with the interface, and an algorithm can make recommendations based on past purchases to speed up the order process, creating customer loyalty.

Increased offerings may also drive demand to some degree, but retailers don’t want to establish unprofitable channels without some assurance that demand exists and will grow.

Right now, the fact that online represents a smaller share of total food expenditures in Canada than elsewhere has more to do with consumer preferences than with an industry lagging in its offerings.

Online grocery shopping options will grow if more consumers become interested, but it’s unclear how quickly wary Canadians will embrace them.

Michael von Massow is an Associate Professor in the Food, Agriculture & Resource Economics (FARE) department at the University of Guelph in 2010 after completing his PhD. Michael’s specialty is the Structure and Performance of Food Value Chains, Economics of food demand – both restaurant and retail, Management Science/Operations, Pricing Strategy. Follow him on Twitter at @mikevonmassow.

University of Guelph – https://www.uoguelph.ca/fare/users/mvonmass

Personal blog – https://mikevonmassow.wordpress.com/

Food Waste blog – https://guelphfoodwaste.com/

Restaurant blog – https://restaurantsustainability.wordpress.com/

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Celebrity Chef Ricardo Larrivée Expands RICARDO Retail Concept and Café 

By
Craig Patterson
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Image: RICARDO

Television personality Ricardo Larrivée is expanding his business holdings with the opening of an 8,000 square foot RICARDO Boutique + Café in Laval —  the second location for the unique concept. Mr. Larrivée says that he has plans to take the RICARDO concept national with multiple locations. 

The new Laval RICARDO is located at Centropolis Laval, and it features a wide assortment including kitchen accessories, Art of the Table collections, cookbooks, magazines, gourmet and other related products. There’s also a café space with 80 seats, as well as an outdoor terrace that seats a further 30 to 40 guests. 

The RICARDO retail space is also rolling out an expanded selection of savoury gourmet products, in addition to an expanded assortment of sweets such as chocolates, caramels and marshmallows. 

RICARDO’s first location opened in Saint-Lambert, Quebec, about three years ago. The combined retail space/café was created out of space in the front of the RICARDO head office. Mr. Larrivée explained that he wanted a retail space to showcase his products, which wholesale in over 600 stores. 

Image: RICARDO

Retail spaces allow Larrivée to showcase RICARDO’s brand in its entirety, as a way to grow brand recognition while also creating a gathering place for fans and foodies. “People want an experience,” explained Larrivée.

Of the hundreds of items that are stocked, about half are RICARDO branded while the other half are international products for which RICARDO has secured the exclusive Canadian rights. “The product must be great,” explained Larrivée, noting that the shopping experience is easier for the consumer because instead of offering an expansive range of products such as a potato peeler, RICARDO offers “the best” in one or two styles. He also ensures pricing is competitive. 

RICARDO retail locations in Ottawa and Quebec City are in the works, and Larrivée says that he’d like to eventually open RICARDO Canada-wide — markets such as Vancouver are on his radar, though he noted the challenges of finding 8,000 square feet of space at a reasonable price. Markets such as Toronto and Calgary will also be targets, though he’ll wait to find the “proper space at the right price”. Ideally, any spaces should include the potential for an outdoor patio area for café seating. 

Image: RICARDO

Manon Parisien of Aurora Realty Consultants is representing RICARDO as broker for the expansion, and negotiated the Laval lease deal. 

Larrivée says that he’s developed a world-class brand that is distinctly Canadian, and that the concept will be perfected further over time to keep things fresh and interesting. RICARDO also just launched a new e-commerce site that retails the entire range of RICARDO products (including its Art of the Table collections, cookbooks and magazines), which ships throughout Canada as well as internationally.

Ted Baker Sees Growth in Canada as it Expands Retail Network

By
Craig Patterson
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Popular British fashion brand Ted Baker continues to grow its presence in Canada, by opening new stores and shop-in-store concessions, while also expanding its wholesale network. 

Last week, Ted Baker opened its first store in the province of Quebec at CF Carrefour Laval, near Montreal. The 3,680 square foot retail space is located next to COS, which also opened this month in the mall’s wing that is anchored by La Maison Simons. 

Northwest Atlantic Principal/Broker Dianne Lemm acted on behalf of Ted Baker in lease negotiations with landlord Cadillac Fairview. 

No two Ted Baker stores are alike, according to Craig Smith, the company’s Digital Commerce Director who is based in London. He explained that Ted Baker is doing exceptionally well in Canada, and that the company continues to expand its distribution both with its wholesale channels, as well as boutiques and concessions. 

Ted Baker recently opened dedicated shop-in-store concessions at Hudson’s Bay stores in downtown Toronto and Vancouver and according to the company, more concessions could follow.

With the opening of the CF Carrefour Laval store, Ted Baker will operate seven full-priced stores and two outlet locations in Canada. The retailer opened its first Canadian store at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre in October of 2012, followed by its first Canadian outlet store at Toronto Premium Outlets in August of 2013. A second full-priced Ted Baker location opened in October of 2014 at CF Toronto Eaton Centre, with a Vancouver location at CF Pacific Centre following in June of 2015. In September of 2015, Ted Baker opened at Toronto’s CF Sherway Gardens and in 2016, it opened three Canadian stores — at CF Rideau Centre in Ottawa in May, at CF Chinook Centre in Calgary in September, and at the McArthurGlen Designer Outlets in Vancouver in June of 2016. 

Ted Baker also has a network of more than 30 full-priced and outlet stores in the United States, as well as concessions in most Bloomingdale’s store locations. 

Leger Study Ranks Ontario’s Top Retailers

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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2017 WOW Customer Experience retail index by Leger

Beauty retailer Lush has been named the top retailer in Ontario in the 2017 WOW Customer Experience retail index by Leger – a polling, research and strategic marketing firm.

The WOW Index assessed the customer shopping experience of 151 Ontario retailers in an online survey of more than 20,000 respondents.

“We’re very pleased to be able to win that award. It’s always nice to be recognized. This one’s especially nice because it’s the customers voting. We’re in a field of very strong retailers and it’s gratifying to come out on top of that list for sure,” says
Andy McNevin, chief operating officer of Lush, which opened its first store in 1996 in Vancouver.

“If you look at Lush and the cornerstones of the brand, innovation is a big one. Each time you come into a Lush store you should see something new. We’re generally introducing 250 or 300 new products or gifts a year and we only have 500 skews in the store. So lots of innovation.”

(Click image below for full list, via Excel spreadsheet) 

2017 WOW Customer Experience retail index by Leger

“I think we provide really genuine customer service. So sort of an in-store spectacle. You get lots of sound, and energy, colour and smell just trying to create a sensory playground.”

Other keys to the brand’s success, explains McNevin, are fresh, handmade products in a sort of farmers’ market set up. Everything it sells is made in Canada, using fresh fruits and vegetables, the highest quality essential oils and 100 per cent vegetarian raw materials.

He says the company was founded on ethics and is an activist in campaigning on several issues including animal advocacy, environmental protection and humanitarian causes.

Rounding out the top 10 Ontario retailers in the WOW Index after Lush are: Penningtons, Kiehl’s, David’s Tea, Addition Elle, Bath & Body Works, Aveda, Mountain Equipment Co-op, Carter’s Oshkosh and Yves Rocher.

Christian Bourque, Executive VP and Partner at Leger, says the WOW Index was started seven years ago in Quebec and was introduced into Ontario the following year.

2017 WOW Customer Experience retail index by Leger

The weighted index has 16 variables and retailers can see how they rate and compare to their competitors in a number of retail sectors. 

“Out of the 16 variables that we measure, the one that is most important in terms of driving the model is ‘this store was designed with somebody like me in mind’,” says Bourque. “We call it the Penningtons variable. I feel it’s very important regardless of who you are. If you’re not in tune to the needs of your customers walking into the store, you’ll basically die.”

“In the case of Penningtons, they’ve brought this to a level that I think is scholarly almost.”

He says key variables in the index include store layout, ambiance and the physical store itself, customer service, product offering, price competitiveness and innovation.

Each retailer was assessed by 400 recent customers, 15 years of age or older. Data collection took place from mid-September to mid-October. Data is weighted to ensure a representative selection of recent customers for each retailer (gender, age and region).

The Index also found that 49 per cent of customers who have a mobile phone or tablet have used a retailer’s mobile app in the past year – 21 per cent for grocery; 16 per cent for apparel; nine per cent each for music, pharmacy and footwear.

CHANEL Opens Impressive Canadian Flagship [Photos]

By
Craig Patterson
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Chanel Canadian Flagship on Yorkville Ave in Toronto

Iconic French luxury brand Chanel has opened its Canadian flagship at 98 Yorkville Avenue in Toronto. The two-level space spans about 8,550 square feet over three floors, and marks a milestone in the transformation of Yorkville Avenue into a significant luxury retail address. 

The store was busy with a constant stream of visitors over the weekend despite a rainy Saturday, and many were buying. Doormen and valet parking staff greeted shoppers to the new store, which is currently the only standalone location for Chanel in Canada. 

The flagship features two levels of retail space totaling about “600 square metres”, according to a press release. The Yorkville Avenue building includes a ground floor that is about 4,100 square feet, a second level spanning about 3,000 square feet, and there’s a non-retail basement providing Chanel an additional 1,450 square feet. Everything is housed in a commercial building featuring an historical facade. 

Architect Peter Marino conceived the flagship’s interior design. The store includes bespoke artwork and furnishings, with Chanel’s iconic colours of black, white and gold used throughout. There are “elements inspired by the Coromandel screens of Mademoiselle Chanel’s Parisian apartment,” including ample use of custom fabrics in the store’s silk/wool carpeting, in the draping of the walls, as well as on woven window panels in ivory, gold, black and champagne. The environment is very much self-contained — the woven window panels prevent shoppers in the store from seeing outside, and there are no products displayed in the store’s outward-facing windows to those passing by.

The store’s ground floor features four separate rooms, accessed from an entrance foyer that features a rock crystal and polished bronze Goossens chandelier. To the right of the foyer/gallery, the first space is dedicated to costume jewellery together with a selection of handbags; a second salon is dedicated solely to shoes, and is embellished with a brass ‘Raindrops’ wall mirror by Curtis Jere, and an engraved brass and bronze table by Michael Pohu. A third salon is devoted to a range of eyewear, small leather goods and other accessories like scarves, while the fourth salon showcases a selection of bags (including CHANEL’s Gabrielle bag Cruise novelties and the BOY CHANEL handbag), as well as Watches and Fine Jewellery. All four spaces are accessorized with French Montano ‘ribbon’ chairs in blackened bronze. 

Leading upstairs is a white stairwell adorned with a white and gold beaded 3D pearl necklace that descends about 25 feet, and is visible from both the ground and upper floors. The art piece was commissioned by Jean-Michel Othoniel, known for his longstanding collaboration with the House of Chanel. 

POLISHED BRONZE GOOSSENS CHANDELIER IN THE ENTRANCE GALLERY
GROUND FLOOR ACCESSORY ROOM
GROUND FLOOR ACCESSORY ROOM
GROUND FLOOR SHOE SALON

The store’s second floor is dedicated to Karl Lagerfeld’s Chanel ready-to-wear collection — there are two salons that were “designed to reflect the intimacy of a private home, by including delicate French artisanal objects such as lamps with beaded detailing as well as a fireplace made of limestone”. A third salon can be closed off to create a luxurious private shopping area for clients, with versatility for other uses. There are also three luxurious fitting rooms adorned with art work. 

The store currently lacks a salon carrying Chanel’s ‘High Jewellery’ collection that is found in some of Chanel’s top stores — some High Jewellery pieces are priced at over $1 million each, requiring a very special (wealthy) client. There are fewer than 50 Chanel stores globally that carry the High Jewellery collection and in North America, the only Chanel stores carrying it are in Beverly Hills, Las Vegas (The Wynn), Bal Harbour Shops, two in New York City, and in Vancouver. The 5,060 square foot Vancouver Chanel boutique, which is located on the ground floor of Holt Renfrew at CF Pacific Centre, showcased a $3 million ‘pigeon blood’ broach when the expanded boutique opened to the public in June of 2016. The Toronto Chanel flagship will be getting High Jewellery pieces twice a year (including during TIFF) to start, and the company will gauge the Toronto market to determine if Chanel High Jewellery will eventually find a permanent home in the new Yorkville Avenue flagship. 

Chanel’s most recent Toronto flagship (which shuttered in December of 2016) opened in April of 1989 in The Colonnade at 131 Bloor Street West. Strong sales saw the 3,100 square foot store eventually annex a second level, growing to more than 7,300 square feet. Prior to opening at The Colonnade, a Chanel shop-in-store operated within multi-brand luxury store Creeds at nearby Manulife Centre. 

WHITE AND GOLD BEADED 3D PEARL NECKLACE THAT DESCENDS ABOUT 25 FEET, AND IS VISIBLE FROM BOTH THE GROUND AND UPPER FLOORS. THE ART PIECE WAS COMMISSIONED BY JEAN-MICHEL OTHONIEL
SECOND FLOOR READY-TO-WEAR SALON
SECOND FLOOR READY-TO-WEAR SALON
SECOND FLOOR READY-TO-WEAR SALON

Chanel had operated a temporary ‘flagship’ concession at Holt Renfrew at 50 Bloor Street West since the December 2016 standalone flagship closure. Chanel will remain at Holt’s, though in a smaller space. 

Retail Insider first broke the story on Chanel relocating off of the Mink Mile in November of 2015, when it was revealed that brokers Stan Vyriotes and David Wedemire of DWSV Remax Ultimate Realty Inc. had acted on behalf of Chanel in a deal with landlord First Capital Realty to open the new flagship. Mr. Vyriotes and Mr. Wedemire have since been busy negotiating deals for other retailers on the street — upscale streetwear retailer CNTRBND opened a new location at 135 Yorkville Avenue several months ago, and luxury brands Jimmy Choo and Brunello Cucinelli will open beside Chanel in an under-construction retail complex towards the end of 2018. Yorkville Avenue has found its place as a luxury address in Canada, and Chanel marks a milestone in the street’s remarkable transformation. 

Toronto is currently the only city in Canada to boast a freestanding Chanel store. The brand closed its 5,000 square foot freestanding Vancouver store in the summer of 2010, moving ready-to-wear to an expanded Chanel concession on the second level at Holt Renfrew in CF Pacific Centre. That concession expanded and moved to the ground floor in the summer of 2016, as described above, when Chanel deemed it appropriate to again expand its presence in Vancouver. Chanel first entered the Vancouver market in 1991 with a 1,300 square foot unit at 103-755 Burrard Street (now occupied by Coach), prior to moving to the now-shuttered 5,000 square foot 900 West Hastings Street location, which was most recently tenanted by defunct shoe retailer Ingledew’s. 

SECOND FLOOR DRESSING ROOM
CHANEL+Yorkville+Boutique

Chanel also operates shop-in-store concessions at Holt Renfrew in Calgary, Toronto (50 Bloor Street West), Toronto (Yorkdale Shopping Centre), and in Montreal. The Yorkdale concession, which was already more than 3,000 square feet, recently annexed an additional 600 square feet of space with the expansion that will be revealed shortly. As well, in Montreal, Holt Renfrew just announced that Chanel will be moving into the new 250,000 square foot ‘Holt Renfrew Ogilvy’ store in 2020, which is being created by merging the city’s Holt Renfrew and Ogilvy stores, resulting in Holt Renfrew closing its smaller Montreal store on Sherbrooke Street West. 

Chanel provided all of the photos of the interior of the store for this article, and Craig Patterson took photos of the exterior of the store on the afternoon of November 19, 2017. See below for more photos of Toronto’s new Chanel flagship. 

*****

(ENTRANCE FOYER/GALLERY)
GROUND FLOOR ACCESSORY ROOM
GROUND FLOOR SHOE SALON
(GROUND FLOOR ACCESSORIES SALON, INCLUDING SUNGLASSES)
LOOKING TOWARDS THE STAIRWAY ON THE GROUND FLOOR
GROUND FLOOR ACCESSORIES
GROUND FLOOR ACCESSORIES
GROUND FLOOR ACCESSORIES, STAIRWAY LEADING UPSTAIRS
ANOTHER LOOK AT THE IMPRESSIVE STAIRWAY SCULPTURE

SEE Eyewear Commences Canadian Boutique Expansion

By
Craig Patterson
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(TORONTO STORE. PHOTO: CRAIG PATTERSON)

Edgy and popular SEE Eyewear has officially launched its Canadian expansion with its first standalone store, located in Toronto. SEE has set its sights on potentially more Canadian boutiques, as it carefully expands its operations by opening locations where it sees synergies. 

SEE, which stands for ‘Selected Eyewear Elements’, was founded in 1997 by optical pioneer Richard Golden, with an aim to provide consumers with affordably priced, fashion-forward eyewear. The company’s prices encourage shoppers to create a ‘wardrobe’ of glasses, with a wide variety of styles available. In the Toronto stores, SEE’s collection ranges from $199 to $599 for eyeglasses and include single vision plastic or polycarbonate lenses, and all sunglasses are priced at a reasonable $149 per pair. 

(RICHARD GOLDEN – FOUNDER, CEO OF SEE EYEWEAR)

According to Mr. Golden, SEE is considered to be the first optical retailer to have created its own brand, and prices are kept reasonable by selling in-house designs directly to consumers. SEE has an in-house design team, and it also works with artisans from 17 countries worldwide (mostly from Europe) to constantly produce new styles. SEE produces a limited number of each frame, sometimes only two per colour for each city or store. “It really is the closest thing to custom eyewear made just for you,” said Mr. Golden. “It is ideal for people who want a unique look that no one else will have and we think that will really resonate with the Toronto clientele.” 

SEE Eyewear’s first Canadian store opened this fall at 153 Cumberland Street in Toronto’s Yorkville area. The 812 square foot boutique was created by carving out space from adjacent fashion retailer Nicholas. CBRE Downtown Toronto’s Arlin Markowitz and Alex Edmison acted on behalf of both the landlord and tenant in the Cumberland Street lease deal. 

Photo: SEE Eyewear

The Toronto boutique is SEE’s 41st boutique location — SEE has 40 stores in the United States in various major centres. It took years to find the right space for SEE’s first Canadian store, according to Mr. Golden. “I was looking for a location like Soho in New York City,” explained Mr. Golden, and he knew that Toronto’s Yorkville, which features a range of retailers in a unique village-like setting, was the right place to open the store. 

“Toronto has been on my ‘must have’ list for years, we just needed to find a location that meets our stringent store selection criteria,” said Mr. Golden. “We love settings with a great cross section of style savvy pedestrians and good co-tenancy in the area. Yorkville has a vibrant neighborhood vibe that we love. It is the most ideal area SEE could ever choose for its flagship Canadian store. After numerous trips to view potential sites for SEE, the second I saw the Cumberland location I said yes on the spot. We look forward to adding more locations throughout the city as well as other great Canadian towns from which many of their residents are longtime SEE lovers in our locations outside of Canada. We are incredibly excited to have finally found our home in Yorkville.” 

Toronto’s Queen Street West could be the next target for SEE Eyewear, according to Mr. Golden. And while he prefers urban street-front locations, he said that a third Toronto store could end up locating in one of the GTA’s major malls, which are world-class. 

“I can’t remember the last time I was this excited about opening a new SEE store,” said Mr. Golden.  “My love of Canada—and Toronto in particular—began in my youth at Camp Tamakwa in Algonquin Park with the lifelong friends I made there who hailed from the city. I’ve spent a considerable amount of time visiting them over the years, and developing new friendships with other Toronto natives.” 

Mr. Golden explained that SEE is opening stores carefully, with only a handful opening every year. As such, its Canadian expansion will be careful, and will be dependent on finding the right real estate. He said that he ideally wants spaces with storefronts that can be branded and customized, as with the facade of the new Cumberland Street store in Toronto. 

Targeted Canadian cities for SEE include Montreal and Vancouver, which could both see more than one location open, depending on if the right space can be acquired. Other cities could follow as the brand gains traction among Canadian consumers. In an increasingly crowded eyewear market in Canada, SEE stands out for its bold designs, unique business model, limited product run, and overall high quality with its frames being made in the same factories as some of the world’s most popular and priciest glasses brands. 

**Photos were provided by SEE Eyewear

Last Chance to Register for RCC Bricks and Mortar Forum, Tuesday November 21 in Toronto

By
Retail Insider
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There’s still time to register for the Tuesday, November 21, Retail Council of Canada Bricks and Mortar Forum. It’s part of the Leaders in Retail Breakfast Series, and it’s the only session all year that’s open to all retail, media, and industry partners. 

The morning kicks off with a breakfast and networking, followed by three sessions. The first session discusses Canadian shopping centres, referencing the soon-to-be-released 2017 Retail Council of Canada Canadian Shopping Centre Study. The conversation will revolve around what Canada’s top malls are doing to remain relevant, and Kevin Graff, President of Graff Retail, will host the panel. Panelists will include Chris Tarrant Vice President, Store Development & Design at
Starbucks Coffee Canada, Alex Jones, Vice President, Real Estate at Roots Canada, as well as Retail Insider’s Craig Patterson, who will also be speaking about the study’s results. 

The second discussion will revolve around how retailers can leverage their digital influence for bricks & mortar purchases. Chris Chan, Brand Lead, Fashion & Apparel at Google Canada will be joined by Marc Laurent-Atthalin, Performance Media Manager for Reitmans Canada Ltd. to review an example of how cutting edge location based technologies are enabling retailers to measure the impact of online investments to store traffic and sales, and how retailers can make digital spending decisions to increase store traffic. 

The third session, titled “Why Now? Bricks & Mortar Expansion in the Retail ‘Apocalypse’” will discuss the fact that physical retail is still very much alive and well, with a discussion with innovative retailers that are opening new stores across Canada, and why they have confidence in bricks & mortar retail. Roundtable participants will include  Rodolphe Barrere, Co-Founder & CEO of POTLOC, Kevin Graff, President of Graff Retail, Chris Doulos, Vice President of Real Estate at Cineplex Entertainment, and Philip Zappacosta, Chief Operating Officer of Toronto-based Philip Group, which includes retail locations for Belstaff, Nanni and philip menswear in Toronto’s upscale Yorkville area. 

There’s room to sponsor both events, even together — the Retail Council of Canada Shopping Centre Study is used as a tool for many in the industry, and the Forum will be well attended. For sponsorship information, contact Mary Markou at: mmarkou@retailcouncil.org. 

To attend the Bricks & Mortar Forum, REGISTER HERE

Brief: Sugarfina Opens 1st Store, Former Sears Canada Suppliers Open Outlet, Hermes Opening Watch Boutique

By
Craig Patterson
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exc-5a0e1ee753450a5bbc970f6c

Sugarfina Opens 1st Standalone Canadian Boutique

Los Angeles-based luxury ‘grownup’ candy retailer Sugarfina has opened its first freestanding Canadian retail location, at Metropolis at Metrotown east of Vancouver. There are plans for more as the brand expands with the help of a newly announced $35 million growth equity financing from private equity firm Great Hill Partners. 

Tony Flanz of Think Retail represented Sugarfina in its deal with Metropolis at Metrotown’s landlord Ivanhoé Cambridge.

Sugarfina confirms that the company intends on operating standalone stores in Vancouver as well as in the Toronto market, with as many as 10 locations in Canada in the coming years. 

According to Think Retail’s website, Sugarfina is seeking retail space in major malls, ideally in the 600 square foot to 1,000 square foot range.

Sugarfina stores feature premium items made from high-quality ingredients, sourced directly from artisan candy makers around the globe. Products include gourmet chocolates, caramels, gummies, malt balls, licorice and other delicious confections. Champagne-infused gummies and maple bourbon caramels have been popular, with celebrity endorsements helping grow brand awareness. The Sugarfina concept has grown rapidly, now boasting 29 boutiques in the United States with three of those being located in Nordstrom stores. 

district m CEO JF Cote honoured with Significant Award

The CEO of innovative Montreal-based advertising company district m, won this year’s EY Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year 2017, Quebec — he was honoured at a black tie gala in Montreal on November 9. 

Mr. Cote was rewarded for his outstanding vision, leadership and achievement in building one of North America’s leading programmatic companies, successfully building a strong company while retaining the innovative culture of a startup.

District m’s mypixel advertising platform was recently featured on Retail Insider. For those who are interested, we have a PDF Q&A Interview with Mr. Cote about the award. 

Former Sears Suppliers Come Together to Open Mega Liquidation Centre in Markham to Sell Direct to Public

In the wake of the Sears Canada bankruptcy, more than 25 Canadian companies have come together to open a 150,000-square-foot, two-story mega liquidation outlet in Markham where a Sears store once stood, and sell their orphaned Sears inventory direct to the public at deeply discounted prices.

With the opening, dozens of local jobs are being created – including the hiring of former Sears employees, with many more positions still to be filled.

Bobby’s Liquidation Outlet is located at 2900 Steeles Avenue, The Shops on Steeles and 404 (Steeles Avenue at Highway 404), and on November 20 there will be an 11:00 a.m. news conference and ribbon cutting. R.S.V.P.:Gail Bergman or Elizabeth Glassen – Gail Bergman PR: info@gailbergmanpr.com. As well, Bobby’s Liquidation Outlet will be donating a portion of profits to organizations assisting people with developmental disabilities.

Corbo Studio Hosts Opening for New Toronto Location

Upscale Toronto-based women’s multi-brand retailer Corbo Studio has re-opened at 118 Cumberland Street (having recently vacated a retail space closer to Avenue Road) in a bright new location facing Village of Yorkville Park. Owner Teresa Mazzei has ‘passed the torch’ of ownership to daughter Michelle Lisa, who has created a friendly and inviting space. 

Michelle brings a fresh approach and renewed vision to the boutique, all while sharing her mother’s philosophy. Artfully curated to include foundational pieces from labels such as by Malene Birger, Filippa K, and Vince., Corbo mixes high-street and high fashion for “the perfectly constructed and edgy balance.” 

Italian Kitchen Relocates Off Alberni Street

The Italian Kitchen restaurant has relocated off of Vancouver’s ‘Luxury Zone’ Alberni Street into a new space at 860 Burrard Street. CBRE Vancouver’s Martin Moriarty and Mario Negris negotiated the deal. 

Restaurants are finding it challenging to operate on Alberni Street, as rents have skyrocketed with the introduction of new luxury retailers — several have opened in the past year, and more will be opening soon. Glowbal Group owner Emad Yacoub said that his rent had doubled as his lease came up for renewal, hence why he moved. We’ll be doing a feature on Alberni Street here on Retail Insider within the next several days. 

Interestingly, the 860 Burrard Street building was once temporarily a home to a luxury brand — in the mid 1990’s, Sonia Rykiel operated at that address for a relatively short time, after vacating a space at 199 Water Street in the city’s Gastown area. 

Glen Korstrom from Business in Vancouver also just wrote a more extensive article on Italian Kitchen’s relocation. 

Sobeys Launches Holiday Commercial

Grocery chain Sobeys has launched a new holiday commercial, ‘Secret Shopper’, which aired this week. This commercial is the first national holiday brand spot Sobeys has done in the past few years. Last year, they remade their classic ‘Star of Christmas’ commercial in Atlantic Canada and it was a great success.

This year’s ‘Create a Little Holiday Magic’ campaign shifts the marketing focus from product to a larger, more emotional brand narrative. In addition, they partnered with Spotify for the first time to create a special holiday playlist.

INDOCHINO Hosting Black Friday events

Save up to 70% during INDOCHINO’s Black Friday Event — all suits, shirts & accessories with suits starting at $429 (reg. price $999). Use code BLKFRI. For Cyber Monday, New items will be added with sales up to 70% off in its showrooms and online with code CYBMON. The event takes place at all 18 INDOCHINO showrooms, as well as online. 

Hermes to Open Vancouver Watch Boutique

According to construction signage, French luxury brand Hermes is opening a watch boutique inside of Holt Renfrew in Vancouver. The space is located where Links of London recently had a boutique — Links has vacated Holt’s for a freestanding retail space in CF Pacific Centre. 

Hermes watches will be located near the soon-to-open Bulgari boutique on Holt’s ground floor. 

Hermes will also be unveiling the facade of its new 12,000 square foot Toronto flagship next week, and we’ll be profiling the store when it opens later this month — and something big will be happening in Vancouver, stay tuned for more details. 

Hogtown Smoke to Open 2nd Restaurant and Speakeasy in Toronto

Brokerage RKF has announced that it has arranged a 5,571-square-foot lease with southern-style BBQ and wood-fired grill Hogtown Smoke for its second location in Toronto, at 55 Colborne Street in the St. Lawrence Market district. Hogtown Smoke will open later this month.

RKF’s Steven Alikakos and Alexandra Fieder represented the landlord, Allied Properties REIT, in the transaction.

Hogtown Smoke will feature a 2,722-square-foot restaurant on the ground floor and a 2,849-square-foot bourbon speakeasy, “The Joint,” on the lower level at 55 Colborne Street. Located a few blocks from the world-renowned, 200-year-old St. Lawrence Market complex and the architecturally stunning Brookfield Place, Hogtown Smoke is ideally situated in the heart of Olde Town. The area is known for its historic architecture, exciting theatre, quaint shops, charming restaurants and many outdoor festivals. 

“With the addition of Hogtown Smoke, Colborne Street will become one of the most active bar and restaurant strips in the area,” said Alikakos.

Chanel Opens Toronto Flagship

“Wow” was the first word that came out of our mouth when we entered and toured the new 8,550 square foot Toronto Chanel flagship yesterday, ahead of its public opening on Friday morning. On Monday we’ll publish a lengthy article with photos and a description of the new space, which marks a milestone for Yorkville Avenue, which is becoming one of Canada’s top luxury retail addresses. We’ll also be featuring Yorkville Avenue in an article in December, as part of our new street tour/update series. 

Retail Insider will now be regularly including these briefs as part of our expanding reporting mandate. For more information, contact Editor-in-Chief Craig Patterson at: craig@retail-insider.com. 

Inside Hunter Boots’ 1st North American Flagship [Photos]

By
Craig Patterson
-
Hunter Boots at Yorkdale Shopping Centre (Hunter Boots)

UK-based fashion brand Hunter, known for its rubber wellington boots, has opened its first standalone North American location — and only its third globally. More locations could follow in Canada, according to Hunter CEO Vincent Wauters. 

The 2,800 square foot store is located in the Nordstrom-anchored expansion wing at Yorkdale Shopping Centre, in a retail space located between Samsung and a recently opened Roots flagship. 

The Toronto store was designed by Hunter’s in-house interior design team, led by Creative Director Alasdhair Willis, husband of fashion designer Stella McCartney. The store’s design is described as follows: “It reveals the sky and exposes the space to the elements, with the store’s internal envelope acting as a protective canvas to the external landscape lining the perimeter of the space. Visitors ‘look out’ from the contemporary barn architecture onto a backdrop of the Scottish Highlands – the birthplace of the Hunter brand.” Additionally, Hunter confirms that “in-store weather elements will be changed seasonally.”

Hunter Boots at Yorkdale Shopping Centre (Hunter Boots)
Hunter Boots at Yorkdale Shopping Centre (Hunter Boots)

The store’s flooring is fashioned from strips of rubber from the Original green boot, and the store also features mid floor tables that will double as seating, using natural oak and Douglas fir. 

Hunter’s 30-foot wide Yorkdale storefront is “reminiscent of a contemporary greenhouse giving the sense that the sky is surrounding customers upon entry where they are immediately immersed into the brand world of Hunter.” 

CEO Vincent Wauters explained that Hunter is seeking out store locations in a selection of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities, where locals and tourists can converge to experience the Hunter brand in its entirety. Having a retail store allows Hunter to showcase its brand in a way that isn’t possible in a multi-brand retailer. 

Given the rainy climate on Canada’s West Coast, Vancouver could eventually see a Hunter Boots flagship store, explained Mr. Wauters. Nothing is confirmed at this time, however, and the company will expand methodically into markets that make sense for the brand. 

Hunter Boots at Yorkdale Shopping Centre (Hunter Boots)
Hunter Boots at Yorkdale Shopping Centre (Hunter Boots)
Hunter Boots at Yorkdale Shopping Centre (Hunter Boots)

Hunter’s first freestanding retail store opened on Regent Street in London in the fall of 2014, measuring about 5,300 square feet. A second location opened in the spring of 2016 in Tokyo’s Ginza district, spanning about 3,100 square feet. In Taiwan, Hunter also has a partner store in Taipei. The interior design of the Yorkdale store is somewhat lighter and brighter than the London and Tokyo stores, explained Mr. Wauters. 

Hunter Boot Ltd. was originally established as North British Rubber Company in 1856 and it is headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland with offices in London, New York and Düsseldorf, Germany. In the past, the company was also involved in the manufacturing of rubber tires, conveyor belts, combs, golf balls, hot water bottles and rubber flooring. Being a heritage brand, Hunter holds several Royal Warrants by Appointment as suppliers of waterproof footwear. One of Hunter’s most recognizable products is its ‘Green Welly’ boot, which is now manufactured in China and is favoured by the hunting set. 

*Photos are courtesy of Hunter. 

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