Canadian footwear brand Shumaker (pronounced ‘shoe maker’) will expand its base of freestanding stores after seeing success with its first locations. Shumaker has already opened eight locations in just eight months, with more to follow as it seeks space in busy shopping centres. 

The Shumaker brand is known for its contemporary, casual footwear for both men and women, and began in 1948 as a footwear manufacturer and distributor. The company, headquartered in Mississauga, has grown over the years and now boasts wholesale distribution at over 1,600 points of sale across Canada. Prices are considered to be moderate by footwear standards, and can be viewed on Shumaker’s e-commerce site. 

After seeing considerable wholesale success, Shumaker set out to open its own branded freestanding stores. Working with an in-house design team, the company created a store prototype featuring primarily white interiors with strong red accents, as well as contemporary fixtures and eye-catching facades. Images in this article, supplied by Shumaker, show the store design without footwear in order to provide design context. 

Shumaker’s first location opened in August of 2015 at Lansdowne Place in Peterborough, Ontario. Since then, about one store has opened per month, according to Shumaker’s Director of Operations, Ishan Singh. The retailer has opened seven freestanding stores in Southern Ontario, including locations in Barrie (RioCan Georgian Mall), Bellville (Quinte Mall), Hamilton (CF Lime Ridge), Ottawa (two stores: Carlingwood Shopping Centre and Place d’Orleans) as well as two Toronto area stores (Erin Mills Town Centre in Mississauga and CF Markville in Markham). 

The brand’s physical stores aim to impress and provide top-notch customer service, according to Mr. Singh. Shumaker’s website explains that its product is “quality-centred, value-driven and original” and that “Shumaker is built on the same family values that are found in homes across the country”, going on to say: “Resting on principles of respect, Shumaker provides unmatched customer service and a personalized shopping experience in a distinguished setting”. 

Moving forward, Mr. Singh explained that Shumaker will look to continue its growth momentum into the fall of 2016 and beyond, as it continues to seek out retail spaces for new store locations in Ontario. Shumaker stores are ideally in the 1,400 square foot to 1,800 square foot range and although shopping centre locations are a priority, Mr. Singh said that urban street front stores could be a possibility as well. 

An innovative new concept has launched in several Canadian shopping centres, and it’s driving traffic to malls by being an attraction to kids. Named Zazazoo, the plush animal ride rental company is looking to expand Canada-wide through franchising, after launching its first location near Ottawa in November of 2015. 

Founded by Melanie Lafreniere, Zazazoo rents out large stuffed animals that can be ridden throughout enclosed shopping malls. She explained how the concept is already driving traffic to shopping centres as a new attraction. She came up with the idea after recognizing that some children might not be keen on visiting the local mall, which in turn may limit parent’s shopping capabilities. 

Ms. Lafreniere says that she’d ideally like to be operating in 12 Canadian shopping centres by the end of 2016. Zazazoo launched at Les Promenades Gatineau last November and has since expanded to four locations, including Carlingwood Mall and St. Laurent Centre in Ottawa, and at Galeries de Sources in suburban Montreal. More locations are scheduled to open in the next few months, including at Ottawa’s popular Bayshore Shopping Centre. 

It’s not just children who ride Zazazoo’s stuffed animals, however. Some adults are enjoying the attraction as well and according to Ms. Lafreniere, one only has to be ‘young at heart’. She explained how Zazazoo brings smiles to people’s faces, young and old, adding a new element of positivity and fun to existing Canadian shopping centres — living up to its slogan ‘Made for Kids, Enjoyed by All’. 

*All photos by Zazazoo.

Upscale Toronto-based multi-brand menswear retailer philip is relocating its operations to a strategically located new space at Toronto’s Yorkville Village shopping centre, formerly Hazelton Lanes. The retailer has seen success through personalized client relations, resulting in its exceptional customer loyalty.

Brother and sister team Philip Zappacosta and Leandra Zappacosta, opened ‘philip’ (spelled with a lowercase ‘p’) at Hazelton Lanes three years ago, in a retail space on the mall’s lower level across from Whole Foods. As of this month, the retailer has relocated to a luxurious new space located upstairs between retailers TNT and Andrews. The ‘philip’ store is an intimate size in order to create a sense of home for its clientele, featuring a modern façade and custom built interiors. The store’s millwork is imported Italian exotic woods and artisan Italian marble flooring, accented with high polished chrome and bevelled glass, all built to facilitate a customized experience for their customers.  

The ‘philip’ retail store boasts an exceptionally loyal customer base. The Zappacostas say that their team of staff is an extension of their family, with the store featuring age-old traditions including tailoring and collection curation that was started by their grandfather, Fernando Zappacosta, who had tailor shops in Toronto’s Little Italy on College Street in the 1960’s. Tailoring and fit are therefore of utmost importance to retailer ‘philp’ as well, ensuring clients look their best when wearing their purchases. “Clothing is carefully curated to characterize the appropriate expression of ones own image” explains Philip Zappacosta, “And that’s why we are the best and we are the only ones that do what we do.”

Being an unparalleled independent retailer, the members of the philip organization are able to individually get to know their clients building wardrobes based on habits, attitudes and taste standards. It’s the personalized, bonding relationships that are key, according to the Zappacostas. This includes properly stylizing a man with designer brands and their own offering in order to create the total look that is suitable for their clients – be it a more conservative suit or bolder fashions for a night out. Private at-home and in-office appointments are also available for busy clients.

Brands carried in-store include John Varvatos Collection, Armani Collezioni, Zegna, Paul & Shark, Corneliani, Eton of Sweden, Nanni Milano Belts and in-house brand philip – featuring both ready-to-wear and made-to-measure offerings. The founders’ father and mother, Tony and Bernadette Zappacosta, operated a chain of stores in all of the major Cadillac Fairview malls across Canada under the ‘Fenzi‘ nameplate in the 1980’s. In the 1990’s, they brought the Nanni Belt line to Canada, working with the Toronto Blue Jays to promote the stores during their 1991 and 1992 back-to-back World Series Championships. The stores were promoted by Roberto Alomar, all-star, second baseman, hall-of-famer for Toronto Blue Jays. 

Philip and Leandra noted that it’s actually the high-end, luxury brands that do the highest sales in their store, reflecting the demographic of shoppers in the affluent Yorkville area. The team is looking to continue to curate and cultivate its brand mix as the Yorkville neighbourhood evolves, with the area attracting the likes of Christian Louboutin and Chanel boutiques on adjacent Yorkville Avenue. 

Philip and Leandra Zappacosta also explained how they have low staff turnover in their store, which is a reflection of treating employees well and making them feel like family. Being that the store is an extension of them in many ways, Mr. Zappacosta explained the importance of hard work and ethics, both in client and staff relations. Mr. Zappacosta praised staff at his store well, crediting their exceptional efforts for his store’s success. He also credited landlord First Capital Realty for being visionary in their redevelopment of the neighbourhood.

Although ‘philip’ is an intimate one-location retailer, the Zappacosta’s explained that at some point, more ‘philip’ store locations could open in Canada. That will happen only when the right circumstances arise, however, as any growth will be organic. 

All photos in this article are via Daniel Silver Photography.