The accommodation services subsector reached a record-high operating revenue of $35.9 billion in 2024, representing a 2.9% increase from 2023. This marks the first year since 2019 that the subsector experienced single-digit growth, signalling a return to more typical market conditions following the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent Statistics Canada report.
Ontario (30.2%) accounted for the largest share of operating revenue among the provinces and territories in 2024, followed by British Columbia (22.2%), Quebec (17.0%) and Alberta (16.7%), said the federal agency.
“Operating expenses rose by 3.3% to $29.5 billion in 2024. The largest contributor to these expenses was salaries, wages, commissions and benefits, which represented 27.3% of total expenses. This share increased from 25.5% in 2021 but remained lower than that recorded in 2019 (29.2%),” it said.
“The profit margin was 18.0% in 2024, down slightly from 18.3% in 2023 but noticeably higher than the pre-pandemic level of 14.2% in 2019. Recent record-high profit margins likely reflect sustained price pressures and the pandemic-induced exit of less resilient establishments, resulting in the continued operation of only the more profitable businesses.”
The subsector includes two industry groupings: hotels, motor hotels and motels—which include private short-term rentals—and other accommodation industries.
Photo: Statistics Canada
Statistics Canada said operating revenue for hotels, motor hotels and motels increased by 4.1% to reach $30.0 billion in 2024. The majority of sales revenue came from room or unit accommodation for travellers (75.8%), followed by meals and non-alcoholic beverages (9.0%).
Individuals accounted for the largest share of sales, at 47.3%. This proportion has been trending downward, as the return of international tourists boosted sales to customers outside Canada from 6.8% in 2021 to 16.6% in 2024, it said.
The federal agency said operating expenses rose by 5.0% to $24.2 billion in 2024, resulting in a profit margin of 19.1%, down from 19.8% in 2023.
Salaries, wages, com missions and benefits represented 27.4% of total expenses in 2024.
Statistics Canada said operating revenue for other accommodation industries declined by 2.5% to $6.0 billion in 2024, driven by the rooming and boarding houses industry, which includes workforce lodging.
Alberta (28.8%) accounted for the largest share of revenue, followed by Ontario (25.5%), British Columbia (16.7%) and Quebec (16.2%). Alberta’s leading position is driven by workforce lodging firms that accommodate employees at remote sites, a common practice in resource extraction operations, such as those in northern Alberta.
Operating expenses fell by 3.7% to $5.2 billion in 2024, with salaries, wages, commissions and benefits representing 26.9% of total expenses. The profit margin was 12.5% in 2024, it noted.
“Recent political tensions between Canada and the United States could influence the performance of the accommodation services subsector in 2025. While the full extent of these impacts remains uncertain, recent data on international travel to and from Canada indicate a 0.4% decrease in foreign visitors and a 16.0% decline in Canadians returning from abroad during the first eight months of 2025,” said Statistics Canada.
The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) is inviting interested parties to apply to participate in a new CSA initiative to facilitate access to consolidated real-time market data (RTMD) by retail investors and retail investment advisers.
The newly-created Retail Committee will focus on evaluating how investors and investment advisers access consolidated RTMD and identifying any barriers to accessing this data, said the CSA.
“The Committee’s goal is to develop actionable recommendations that improve access to consolidated RTMD products for retail investors and retail investment advisers,” it said.
Who should apply?
The CSA said it welcomes applications from:
Retail-focused investment firms and platforms.
Investor advocacy groups.
Data vendors and technology providers.
Academics and researchers with market data expertise.
Other stakeholders with relevant experience or interest in how retail investors and retail investment advisers’ access and use RTMD.
How to apply
Interested parties are invited to submit:
A brief expression of interest.
A summary of relevant experience or perspective.
Contact information.
Interested parties are invited to send submissions to marketdata_committees@osc.gov.on.ca with the subject line: “Retail Industry Committee – Expression of Interest” by January 9, 2026.
“We anticipate that the Committee’s work will begin mid-January 2026, and the work will take six to nine months to complete. Further details on committee timelines and structure will be shared with selected participants.
The CSA, the council of the securities regulators of Canada’s provinces and territories, coordinates and harmonizes regulation for the Canadian capital markets,” said the CSA.
Staples Canada, The Working and Learning Company, is redefining its retail experience with the opening of a new, brand-defining store in Burlington, Ontario that brings the company’s EASY promise to life through innovative merchandising, expanded product categories, and new shopping experiences. (CNW Group/Staples Canada ULC)
Bullfrog Power has launched a pilot program for Bullfrog Environmental Tokens, a unique digital record that provides businesses with long-term traceability and enhanced reporting of their environmental impacts.
Staples Canada, a Bullfrog Power customer for over a decade, is participating in the pilot as the first company to adopt Bullfrog Environmental Tokens.They will be available to additional Bullfrog Power customers in 2026.
“Bullfrog Power continues to drive innovation in the clean energy space, and the launch of Bullfrog Environmental Tokens is the next breakthrough in our 20-year evolution of providing clean energy solutions to our customers,” said Suha Jethalal, President of Bullfrog Power. “These Tokens are a game-changer in how our customers can digitally verify and report their environmental purchases with enhanced confidence and transparency.”
Suha Jethalal
The company said Bullfrog Environmental Tokens build on Bullfrog Power’s existing chain of custody tools — such as Emissions Reduction Reports and Annual Green Energy Audits — by introducing a secure, permanent, and publicly accessible digital certificate. These tokens represent Environmental Attribute Certificates (EACs) and offer a traceable record to report clean energy purchases. Each Bullfrog Environmental Token is uniquely linked to a verified set of environmental attributes, which is embedded in the token and remains accessible in perpetuity, ensuring full traceability and auditability.
This pilot marks a significant advancement in clean energy verification and reporting. Staples Canada, a long-standing Bullfrog Power partner, is the first to adopt Bullfrog Environmental Tokens, reinforcing its lasting commitment to sustainability, it added.
Brian McDougall
“Sustainability is at the core of everything we do. As one of Canada’s leading retailers, with close to 300 store locations from coast-to-coast, we’re proud to partner with Bullfrog Power in raising the bar for clean energy verification,” said Brian McDougall, Chief Retail Officer, Staples Canada. “Bullfrog Environmental Tokens will enhance our ability to trace, verify, and communicate our environmental impact at the store level – helping us make a meaningful environmental contribution to the communities we serve.”
The launch aligns with the opening of Staples’ newest store in Burlington, Ontario. All items printed in Staples production centres across Canada are bullfrogpowered with 100 per cent renewable energy. Staples’ customers will have real-time access to see the company’s localized renewable energy usage. This community impact will be on display at the new Burlington store through in-store signage featuring QR codes that link to detailed information about the store’s clean energy footprint. The Bullfrog Power partnership is part of Staples’ nationalStaples for Community program, reflecting the company’s ongoing commitment to giving back to Canada, explained Staples.
Bullfrog Power, an Envest Corp. company, offers innovative and sustainable energy solutions that help thousands of businesses and individuals meet their climate goals. Since 2005, Bullfrog Power has transformed Canada’s energy landscape by providing the country’s first green energy option for businesses and individual consumers.
Pet Valu, the leading Canadian specialty retailer of pet food and pet-related supplies, says its philanthropic program, Companions for Change, has received more than $4.3 million in monetary and product donations so far in 2025 for Canadian animal organizations.
“We’re very grateful to our devoted pet lovers, franchisees, corporate store teams and vendors whose generosity helped us surpass last year’s record-breaking results. Thanks to their ongoing support, the Companions for Change program has collected almost $37 million since 2010, one hundred per cent of which is distributed to Canadian animal rescues, shelters and charities,” said Tanbir Grover, Chief Marketing and Digital Officer at Pet Valu. “We’re very proud that we’re able to make a meaningful difference to hundreds of Canadian animal rescues, shelters and charities.”
Tanbir Grover
As wildfires and floods displaced thousands of Canadians and their pets this year, Pet Valu said the Companions for Change program stepped in to donate much needed pet essentials such as food, litter, bowls, collars, leashes and crates to animal organizations that were providing on-the-ground assistance to evacuated animals and their devoted pet lovers. Animal Food Bank, Canadian Disaster Animal Response Team (CDART), Steinbach Animal Rescue and the Ontario SPCA each received emergency donations. The Niagara SPCA received an emergency product donation to assist with an unexpected, larger than usual, cat intake.
“With the goal of leveraging its scale to make meaningful impact, since 2018, Companions for Change sponsorships have been helping worthy Canadian animal organizations fund larger capital projects. In 2025, Pet Valu committed more than $450,000 to sponsorships, including three mobile units: a mobile vet clinic for Coastal Animal Rescue & Education Network Society on Vancouver Island, a transport bus for Just Four Paws Rescue Society in lower mainland British Columbia, and a transport van for Restigouche County SPCA in New Brunswick,” it said.
Pet Valu said it is a longtime supporter and sponsor of Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides. In May, it sponsored the Pet Valu Walk for Dog Guides, Dog Guides’ annual fundraising walk which helps the organization continue to raise, train and place Dog Guides for Canadians living with disabilities at no cost to them. The Companions for Changeprogram also continued to sponsor Dog Guides Feeding Program, providing Performatrin Ultra® and Performatrin Prime® food and treats to approximately 200 puppies and dogs in training. Additionally, this year, the Companions for Change program is sponsoring over 20 additional Dog Guides teams.
“As a proudly Canadian, proudly local pet retailer with stores in hundreds of communities across Canada, we’ve seen firsthand how vital local animal organizations are for giving homeless pets a second chance,” said Grover. “In addition to providing donations, our stores work closely with animal rescues in their communities to help find forever homes for pets through in-store adoption events. Since 2010, we’ve helped find fur-ever homes for more than 53,000 homeless pets including over 1,500 this year.”
Donations raised through the Companions for Change program originate from multiple fundraising initiatives hosted by Pet Valu and its franchisees. These include Pet Appreciation Month in June and Companions for Change month in October, during which devoted pet lovers contribute by purchasing PAWS, making custom donations and rounding up their purchases at checkout.
This year, Pet Appreciation Month raised over $2.3 million in monetary and product donations, its highest donations to date. Pet Valu and its franchisees also provide additional support by donating $1 per item on the sale of select Performatrin® and Fresh 4 Life® products in October.
Devoted pet lovers who are looking for ways to help pets in need during the holiday season can pick up the annual Companions for Change “give-what-you-can” calendar from all Pet Valu stores, outside of Quebec, for a “give-what-you-can” donation. All proceeds go towards the Companions for Change program.
Pet Valu is Canada’s leading retailer of pet food and pet-related supplies with over 800 corporate-owned or franchised locations across the country.
RONA inc., one of Canada’s leading home improvement retailers operating and servicing over 425 corporate and affiliated stores, is partnering with Chagall, a nationally recognized design, and manufacturing company, to better support housing development across Canada.
Thanks to this new partnership, RONA said it now provides a complete, turnkey solution for the design, manufacturing, and installation of kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities in multi-unit buildings across Canada.
“This partnership with Chagall significantly strengthens RONA’s national Pro service ecosystem, allowing us to offer a more comprehensive and integrated solution to professional builders. By adding kitchen and bathroom cabinetry for multi-unit projects, we can now support Pro customers from the earliest planning stages through to project completion, reinforcing RONA’s position as a one-stop shop for construction professionals across Canada,” said Jamal Hamad, Senior Vice-President, Professional Services at RONA inc.
Jamal Hamad
From the planning stage, customers benefit from expert guidance, rigorous quality control, and support throughout the project, ensuring a seamless experience and results that meet expectations. To see if a project qualifies, interested builders can contact their Outside Sales Representative from RONA or visit their local store’s PRO desk for full program details. Personalized support is offered at every step for qualified projects, said the home improvement retailer.
Philippe McAllister
“Chagall is a reputable design, and manufacturing company with national reach and proven expertise in multi-unit projects. We’re pleased to collaborate with RONA to meet the growing needs of the construction and home improvement market and support developers in the success of their projects. Like RONA, we are committed to delivering tailored customer service to support industry growth and respond to the high expectations of professionals,” said Philippe McAllister, Vice President Business Development at Chagall.
Founded in 1992, Chagall is a Canadian leader in design, millwork manufacturing. The company specializes in food retail, commercial spaces, and multi-residential projects, delivering turnkey solutions that span from concept development to fabrication and installation.
Canada’s chocolatier since 1907 – Purdys Chocolatier – has released what it describes as “a festive and delectable line of holiday chocolates” to meet domestic demand.
New survey findings about Canadian shopping trends, conducted by Angus Reid Group, confirms that 67% of Canadians feel pride, responsibility, or nostalgia when choosing Canadian-made gifts, a connection that inspires 60% of Canadians to actively seek out Canadian-made options this holiday season, said the chocolatier.
The new Holiday collection from the company is an ideal option for shoppers prioritizing quality, craftsmanship and supporting local products. Its chocolates, known for their delicious, decadent taste, are made with premium sustainable cocoa and crafted in Vancouver, B.C., it noted.
Kriston Dean
“Many Canadians have grown up with Purdys Chocolatier. It’s our heritage, quality, and irresistible chocolate experience that make them proud to choose us for these special gifting moments. We look forward to helping Canadians find the perfect gift this holiday that reflects their appetite for premium and delicious Canadian gifts,” said Kriston Dean, VP of Sales and Marketing, Purdys Chocolatier.
Purdys Chocolatier consumer survey revealed that:
60% of Canadians are planning to opt for gifts made in Canada this holiday season.
67% of Canadians feel proud, responsible, or nostalgic when supporting Canadian-made gifts.
1 in 3 Canadians say that supporting local or Canadian businesses is what matters most to them.
Purdys Chocolatier has operated since 1907.
The Purdys Chocolatier 2025 Christmas Collection is available to shop now online at https://www.purdys.com and in over 90 Purdys Chocolate shops and pop-up shops across Canada.
Retail Insider is streamlining its Canadian retail news from around the web to include a handful of top news stories that can be viewed quickly during the day. Here are the top stories from the past 24 hours.
Most creators continue to have problems with voiceovers that are flat, robotic, and just unenthusiastic in 2026. Poor narration kills the retention of the viewer at once, regardless of how outstanding the pictures are. Taping yourself is time-consuming, requires a costly microphone, needs perfect sound, and requires indefinite retakes. A single cough, a single background, a single off-day, and the entire take is destroyed.
This issue is totally avoided by the CapCut text to speech AI. It transforms any written script into a studio-quality, emotionally charged, natural-sounding narration within a few seconds – and not even one recording session. The result? Releases and Shorts, which sound more professional and engaging than 99% of human voice-overs, are all recorded in less than 5 minutes.
Why Top Reel Creators Switched to CapCut’s Text to Speech AI
Professional Narration in a Snap
You can stop wasting hours recording and editing your voice. The text-to-speech AI by CapCut produces crystal-clear and human-like speech with natural breathing, emotion, and perfect pacing each time.
Save Hours Per Video
One click can now take the place of 2–4 hours of recording, cleaning audio, and retakes, so it is now possible to post 1020 Reels per day instead of 12.
Consistent Brand Voice Across All Content
Choose a signature voice (deep and dramatic, warm and friendly, excited Gen-Z) and use it indefinitely. When you open the video, your audience immediately knows who you are because of your sound.
Sound 10× Better Than Most Human Creators
Select between 150+ high-quality voices with emotion control, excited, mysterious, sarcastic, calm, ASMR, and motivational, and apply studio effects such as reverb or phone filter to the voice to get the agency of a viral.
Go Global Instantly
Single script becomes instantly translated into Spanish, Hindi, French, Arabic or any local accent and conquer the world tendencies.
Next Level with a Talking Avatar
If you want your Reel to feel even more personal and thumb-stopping, pair the text to speech AI narration with CapCut’s AI avatar. With one extra click, you get a lifelike talking host that lip-syncs perfectly to the voice you just generated, no filming required.
Key Features of CapCut’s Text to Speech AI That Make Reels Go Viral
Over 150 ultranatural voices: male, female, deep, and young with regional accents.
Complete control of emotion and tone: excited, calm, dramatic, whispering, storytelling.
Studio effects: reverb, echo, noise reduction, fade in/out, volume automation.
Breathing and pauses are natural and not artificial sounds of a real individual.
Perfect sync: works perfectly well with trending audio and videos.
Step-by-Step: Generate Natural Voice Narration with CapCut’s Text to Speech AI
This article provides detailed instructions on how to use CapCut to create natural voice narration using the Text to Speech AI.
Step 1: Open CapCut Desktop and Start Your Project
Install CapCut Desktop (free on Windows/Mac) → Select Create Project > add or Import your B-roll, text overlays, or trending videos.
Step 2: Add Your Script
On the left sidebar, click on Text / Default text, and paste your entire script of the Reel in the box. Make it brief, sharp, and conversational. AI reads the most natural writing.
Step 3: Convert Text to Natural-Sounding Speech
Having chosen the text, click in the right panel Text to speech and select the voice of your dreams (e.g., Deep Dramatic Male, Excited Female Gen-Z, Mysterious Whisper) → Change the speed, pitch, emotion, and add pauses where required and apply such effects as slight reverb or phone filter to get the additional vibe.
Step 4: Fine-Tune and Export
Drag the audio created to fit your visuals exactly. → Use fade-in/fade-out and volume balance, click Export, select a vertical 1080/1920 resolution, and Download or Post to TikTok/Reels.
Practical Tips from Creators Getting High Engagement
It is important to always begin your script with a hook question or shocking statement, the AI will pronounce this with exact intensity.
Include dramatic pauses in your text using either [pause=2s] or [..] to keep the audience on the edge of their seats.
First 8 seconds: Excited tone, after that, switch to Storytelling.
Place the AI voice on top of a trending sound at 1520 percent volume to get that authentic viral experience.
Batch 20 Reels: paste all the scripts simultaneously, modify the voice/effect only, and export everything within less than 45 minutes.
Upgrade hooks with AI Avatar. After generating your voice, drag an AI avatar from the library, hit “Add Speech”, and select the exact same TTS voice you just created. You instantly get a talking digital host that boosts watch time 20–40% on most Reels.
Conclusion
Quit wasting time doing mediocre voiceovers. The text to speech AI of CapCut provides you with professional, emotional, and natural-sounding narration that will sound better than most humans in a few seconds, and at no cost.
You do not need a microphone in your next viral Reel. It only requires a script and 5 minutes in CapCut. Install the CapCut PC immediately, enter your hook, select your voice, and press generate. The For You page has never been closer.
There’s this moment — you’ve seen it — when someone slows down outside a shop without meaning to. They’re mid-walk, maybe thinking about dinner or the cold or whatever’s buzzing in their pocket, and then… something in the window catches them. A warm light. A bit of greenery.
Retail analysts keep repeating the same number: well-designed holiday windows can bump foot traffic by up to 23%. That’s not theory. That’s measurable human behavior shifting on the street.
So, if foot traffic matters — and it always does — here are five tactics that actually move people.
1. Build a Window That Makes People Linger
A window shouldn’t just show products. It should feel like a small scene. Not perfect. Not overly polished. Just… lived in.
People slow down when they feel a story unfolding, even a quiet one. That 23% lift happens because the brain reacts to narrative cues faster than it reacts to price tags.
You don’t need a movie set. A single “hero” object — a lantern, a gift box with a slightly crooked ribbon — can anchor the whole thing.
2. Use Lighting to Change Mood, Not Brightness
Warm light doesn’t scream for attention; it pulls it. There’s a difference.
Research shows that elements of store atmosphere — like lighting, layout, décor, and general ambience — significantly impact customer mood, time spent inside, and purchase intentions.
A few extra minutes inside your store changes the math of conversion completely. If the outside feels welcoming, people trust the inside before they even cross the threshold.
3. Add Depth with Natural Textures
You know that feeling when you walk past a display, and something in your chest says, “That looks… warm”? Texture does that.
Rough wood. Soft greenery. Metal with a hand-crafted look rather than a mass-produced shine. These details signal intention, which shoppers read as quality. Instantly.
One of the easiest ways to do this is with seasonal botanicals. Not plastic-y ones. Real-looking ones. Pieces that feel like someone shaped them purposely.
That’s why some retailers quietly use décor like the handcrafted botanical wreaths and greenery arrangements you find when you shop seasonal wreaths by H Potter — they have this forged-metal, heirloom vibe that adds depth to a window without overpowering it.
4. Add Small Motion — Even a Tiny Flicker Works
Movement hits the peripheral vision like a tap on the shoulder.
Doesn’t matter if it’s big or small. A rotating ornament. A flickering candle bulb. A short 5-second loop on a mini screen tucked into the corner. Anything that shifts slightly will pull eyes toward the display long enough for curiosity to take over.
Retail designers love to talk about “micro-motion.” It’s boring jargon, but it works. People can’t ignore motion. Biology wired us that way.
5. Refresh the Display Before It Gets Stale
Here’s the part retailers skip — and it’s such an easy win.
If you refresh even one element mid-season (a new wreath, a color change, a swapped-out prop), you trigger what’s basically a pattern interrupt.
Shoppers notice. Stores that update windows even twice over the holiday period report meaningful bumps in engagement and return visits.
It doesn’t need to be dramatic. Change one object. Adjust the lighting angle. Add something with texture or shine. People like the feeling that something new is happening.
The Quiet Power of Warm Details
Holiday displays aren’t about being loud. They’re about warmth and small signals: texture, light, motion, and the feeling that someone cared enough to arrange something beautiful.
Funny how a single handmade wreath or a soft light can stop a stranger mid-step. But it does. And that’s where the traffic comes from.
Santorini Design at West Edmonton Mall. Photo: Santorini Design
Saskatoon-based jewelry brand Santorini Design has opened its second brick-and-mortar store, marking its tenth anniversary with an important milestone: a prime location at West Edmonton Mall. Founded by mother-daughter duo Khadijah Ahmed and Hanna Erci, the growing jewelry company has become a symbol of family-driven entrepreneurship, creative resilience, and Canadian retail ambition.
“It definitely wasn’t easy,” said co-founder Hanna Erci. “But we loved the mall, and we loved the people that run it. I knew I wanted to get bigger, so this was the right move for us.”
Hanna Erci and Khadijah Ahmed at Santorini Design at West Edmonton Mall. Photo: Santorini Design
The 1,000-square-foot boutique sits on the second floor of West Edmonton Mall, above the Ice Palace and across from Zara, Starbucks, and Tim Hortons. The new store introduces Santorini’s warm, welcoming design aesthetic to one of Canada’s busiest shopping destinations.
From Wholesale Beginnings to a Beloved Retail Brand
Santorini Design’s story began in 2015, when Ahmed, then a single mother, transitioned from wholesale into retail. Having worked in the industry since the early 2000s, she was looking for stability and community after years of international trade shows.
“I started Santorini as a wholesale company,” she said. “But it meant a lot of traveling. I wanted to stay home and raise my daughter, so we opened a small store in Midtown Plaza to clear out inventory. It ended up doing so well that we never looked back.”
That first retail space in Saskatoon quickly became a community favourite. Over time, the brand evolved into a fine jewelry destination recognized for its timeless design and personalized service. Erci, who began working in the business at fifteen, joined full-time while still in high school. “I always grew up in retail,” she recalled. “I’d nap in the back room of my mom’s old store. It’s been my world since I was little.”
Santorini Design at West Edmonton Mall. Photo: Santorini Design
A New Generation of Retail Leadership
Now 22 and a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s global management program, Erci represents a new generation of Canadian retail leadership, blending traditional values with digital fluency.
“I bring in newer education, fresh technology, and marketing ideas,” she said. “My mom has all the experience and intuition from years in retail. We balance each other perfectly.”
That generational balance proved essential when the pandemic hit. While many retailers faced closures, Santorini Design thrived online. “COVID was actually our best year,” said Erci. “I focused on our website, grew our marketing, and connected through friends and community. People supported us because they believed in what we were doing.”
Erci’s digital-first approach helped transform Santorini Design into a modern, omnichannel business. She introduced a men’s jewelry line after friends expressed interest, which now accounts for 60 to 70 percent of total sales. “It started with my high school friends asking for chains,” she said with a laugh. “Now it’s a huge part of what we do.”
Santorini Design at West Edmonton Mall. Photo: Santorini Design
Aesthetic and Brand Philosophy
Santorini Design’s aesthetic is defined by timelessness, simplicity, and longevity. “Our jewelry is young, clean, and designed to last forever,” said Erci. “We don’t chase trends. Everything we design has to feel classic.”
That ethos extends to the new West Edmonton Mall store, which reflects the brand’s warm and inclusive sensibility. “We didn’t want cold white lights and glass cases,” she explained. “We went for warmer tones — wood floors, soft lighting, and mirrors that make the space feel cozy. I wanted people to feel at home.”
Even the seating was carefully considered. “We brought in these beautiful ottomans,” she added. “It’s about comfort and connection, not intimidation. Jewelry should be approachable.”
Santorini Design at West Edmonton Mall. Photo: West Edmonton Mall
Global Craftsmanship with Local Heart
Santorini’s products are sourced from trusted partners across Italy, Turkey, Thailand, Korea, and China, combining international artistry with in-house design. “We’ve built strong relationships with suppliers over the years,” said Ahmed, noting that much of the brand’s inspiration draws from the Mediterranean region.
Despite its global network, the company remains rooted in Saskatoon. The name “Santorini” was chosen in 2015 to evoke warmth, beauty, and universal recognition. “A friend suggested naming it after the island,” Ahmed recalled. “Santorini felt right. It’s elegant, familiar, and timeless.”
Today, that timelessness is mirrored in the product line itself, which spans sterling silver, gold vermeil, and solid gold collections. Prices range from affordable gifts to fine jewelry pieces valued at several thousand dollars. “We’re a mid-grade brand,” said Erci. “We have things for $30 and things for $7,000. It’s important to us that anyone can walk in and find something beautiful.”
That inclusivity is central to the founders’ philosophy. “We came from humble beginnings,” she said. “My mom’s from Iraq. She built this from the ground up. So for us, it’s not just about business—it’s about kindness, community, and opportunity.”
Santorini Design at West Edmonton Mall. Photo: West Edmonton Mall
The Role of Social Media and Technology
Social media has been pivotal to Santorini Design’s success. Erci manages much of the brand’s online marketing, noting that engagement has evolved significantly.
“People don’t always like or comment anymore, but they’re still watching,” she said. “You see the impact in sales, not necessarily in likes. That’s something a lot of retailers need to understand. The audience is there, even if they’re quieter.”
Her approach to digital retail emphasizes consistency and authenticity. “We’re not influencers; we’re a business,” she said. “Our followers are customers. That changes how you communicate.”
Ahmed added that the mix of e-commerce and physical retail has strengthened the brand’s reach. “The online side has been amazing,” she said. “But nothing replaces meeting people in person, hearing their stories, and helping them choose something meaningful.”
Midtown Plaza and the Path to Expansion
While West Edmonton Mall marks the brand’s most significant expansion to date, Midtown Plaza in Saskatoon remains its home base. “It’s still the number one mall in the city,” said Ahmed. “There’s been a lot of change downtown, but the center continues to do well.”
She credits new management with bringing fresh energy to the property. “They’ve worked hard to elevate Midtown and attract new stores,” she said. “It’s nice to see that commitment to the community.”
Santorini’s roots in Saskatoon are personal as well as professional. “That’s where everything started,” said Erci. “It’s our foundation, and it’s where we learned how to build relationships with customers.”
Santorini Design at West Edmonton Mall. Photo: West Edmonton Mall
A Warm, Inclusive Retail Experience
The West Edmonton Mall location embodies the duo’s shared vision for the brand’s future. “This store represents everything we want Santorini to be,” said Erci. “It’s warm, youthful, and elegant. It feels alive.”
Ahmed agreed. “It’s a big step for us,” she said. “We’re grateful to West Edmonton Mall for giving us this opportunity. They believed in us.”
The two co-founders are already planning additional stores, with hopes to expand eastward in the coming years. “Toronto or Montreal would be amazing,” said Erci. “We already have a lot of online orders from those cities, so it’s the natural next step.”
For her, the expansion isn’t just about business growth, it’s also about representation. “As a younger retailer, it’s sometimes hard to be taken seriously,” she said. “But this shows that we can do it. We can build something strong.”
Family, Perseverance, and a Shared Dream
Throughout the conversation, it became clear that Santorini Design’s success is as much about family as it is about fashion. “We move at the same speed,” said Erci. “If something needs to be done, we do it together.”
Ahmed smiled at the memory of their shared long hours. “When you work late and get hungry, you get cranky,” she joked. “So we take a break, grab coffee, and start again.”
Their collaboration extends beyond the store floor. The pair often travel together for sourcing trips, something Erci describes as deeply meaningful. “It makes me emotional sometimes,” she said. “I think about how my mom did all this on her own when I was little. Now I get to go with her. It’s full circle.”
That full-circle moment is one the duo shares with their growing customer base. “People come in and tell us they’ve followed our journey since the beginning,” said Erci. “That means everything. It reminds us why we started.”
