Home Blog Page 1282

Joe Fresh Launches Massive International Expansion, opening over 140 stores in 23 Countries

By
Craig Patterson
-
Rendering: Joe Fresh

Inexpensive Canadian clothing brand Joe Fresh will open over 140 stores in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and South Korea. It will do so through three partnership agreements that will see Joe Fresh stores open in 23 countries. This is the company’s first store expansion outside of North America.

These new Joe Fresh store locations will offer comprehensive collections of men’s, women’s and children’s apparel, in addition to Joe Fresh Beauty cosmetics.

Joe Fresh has more than 340 retail locations across Canada. It boasts six freestanding stores in New York City including a flagship location on Fifth Avenue. It also has over 650 shop-in-store locations within J.C. Penney stores across the United States. It was founded in 2006 by Joe Mimran, who continues to be Creative Director of Joe Fresh. 

We think Joe Fresh is doing it right: it’s partnering with local companies familiar with their respective retail markets. Mario Grauso, chief operating officer of Joe Fresh Apparel Canada, an affiliate of Loblaw, said the following about the partnership: “In order to best tap these vibrant new markets, we have partnered with companies possessing deep local knowledge and wide expertise of the retail dynamics and consumer preferences in their respective geographies. Together, we are committed to bringing the Joe Fresh formula of sophisticated style and compelling value to a broad overseas audience. International markets are an important avenue of growth for Joe Fresh, combined with our own retail stores, in-store shops and burgeoning Canada e-commerce business.”

Below is a summary of Joe Fresh’s international business partners and related store details: 

Fawaz A. Alhokair & Co., based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is the partner for the Joe Fresh expansion into 17 countries in the Middle East, North Africa and Europe including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Macedonia, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Belarus, Armenia, Serbia and Spain. The company plans to open at least 96 stores by 2018 in those markets, including 40 in Saudi Arabia alone. The first stores are scheduled to open in the summer of 2014 in Saudi Arabia.

Retail Arabia International, based in Dubai, is the partner for five countries in the Middle East including the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. The company plans to open at least 15 stores by 2018 including nine in the United Arab Emirates. The first stores are scheduled to open in the United Arab Emirates later this year.

Origin & Co., Ltd., based on Seoul, South Korea, is the partner for South Korea. The company plans to open up to 30 Joe Fresh retail locations in high-traffic shopping districts, malls and department stores over the next five years. One of the first locations will open in the Lotte World Mall this spring. The company plans to open a flagship store in Seoul later this year.

Source: Press release

[Joe Fresh website]

London Drugs rated #1 brand in British Columbia

By
Craig Patterson
-
Photo: London Drugs

Richmond, BC-based London Drugs has been rated the best brand in British Columbia, according to Ipsos Reid and BC Business magazine. Ipsos Reid created a top 10 list while BC Business Magazine polled readers for their ‘most loved’ brands. Impressively, London Drugs won both. 

“London Drugs almost tripled the average BC brand score when it came to consumers referring to a ‘brand that I trust,'” said Michael Rodenburgh, executive Vice President of Ipsos Reid in Western Canada. “The company also more than doubled average BC scores in the categories of a ‘brand I’m likely to interact with,’ and a ‘brand that I see everywhere.'”

Ipsos Reid’s top 10 list is as follows: 

1. London Drugs

2. WestJet

3. Save-on-Foods

4. White Spot 

5. SunRype

6. Vancouver Canucks

7. BC Hydro

8. The Keg

9. BCAA

10. Chevron

BC Business Magazine’s ‘most loved’ study based its conclusions on eight factors: contribution to British Columbia, engagement, innovation, presence, relevance, social responsibility, trust, and uniqueness.

“Here in British Columbia, we have some extraordinary brands that have succeeded in making a name for themselves on the local, national and global scenes,” said Rodenburgh. “For those brands defined as the most loved in BC, they have meaning in our daily lives. We couldn’t imagine this beautiful province without them.”

London Drugs is a private company that was founded by Sam Bass in 1945. It began as a small drug store that was eventually acquired in 1976 by the H.Y. Louie Company. The chain is comprised of 77 store locations, 50 of which are in British Columbia (mostly in Greater Vancouver). Alberta has 21 stores ( including nine in the Edmonton area and eight in metropolitan Calgary) and there are two stores in Regina, two in Saskatoon and one in Winnipeg. 

The company has expanded its operations well beyond those of the original drug store, making it a go-to shopping destination for many. London Drugs stores offer merchandise and services such as electronics, grocery items, pharmaceuticals, health and beauty products, photofinishing, insurance service, furniture, toys and housewares. 

Source: Ipsos Reid press release

[London Drugs website]

Winnipeg’s first H&M store location revealed

By
Craig Patterson
-
Future H&M at Polo Park (Image: Polo Park)

Winnipeg’s first H&M store will be located on the first level of Winnipeg’s Polo Park shopping centre. The 25,000 square foot store will be located off the mall’s Centre Court in a wing anchored by Hudson’s Bay. The floorplan below illustrates its location. 

At 25,000 square feet, Polo Park’s H&M will also be one of Canada’s largest H&M stores. As a comparison, the largest Canadian H&M store measures 33,057 square feet at the Toronto Eaton Centre. The second-largest is Vancouver’s 31,437 square foot Pacific Centre store.

We initially expected H&M to open in part of a former Zellers store space. We were obviously incorrect with that assumption. 

H&M also just announced that it plans to open its second Ottawa-area store, a 22,000 square foot unit at Les Promenades Gatineau. 

Top Photo: Polo Park, via Twitter

[H&M website]

More on Holt Renfrew’s new Bloor Street men’s store

By
Craig Patterson
-
More on Holt Renfrew's new Bloor Street men's store

More details have been revealed about the new Holt Renfrew men’s store that will replace Roots at 100 Bloor Street West in Toronto. Holt Renfrew President Mark Derbyshire provided an interview to Women’s Wear Daily, and we’ll summarize the details.

The new Holt Renfrew men’s store is expected to open in the fall of 2014, and it will be about 14,000 square feet over two levels. It will utilize some of the innovations introduced in the new men’s store at Holt Renfrew’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre location, including a men’s lounge. In the Yorkdale store, the lounge (appropriately called ‘The Lounge’) features a black BMW motorcycle and foosball table. Services provided include free straight-razor shaves on vintage barbershop chairs, and free shoe shines. And despite what Women’s Wear Daily says about Holt Renfrew having no plans for any additional freestanding men’s stores, we’ve heard otherwise from sources within the company.

Mark Derbyshire is quoted as saying: “The stand-alone men’s shop will be a classic sartorial store and supports our growth plans to further enhance our luxury men’s wear and Holt Renfrew’s presence on Bloor Street — the destination for luxury.”

Source: Women’s Wear Daily

Samsung will open 90 Canadian shops-in-store within Best Buy and Future Shop locations

By
Craig Patterson
-
A general view of atmosphere of the Samsung Experience Shop at Best Buy Union Square on April 24, 2013 in New York City.

Samsung will reportedly open 90 shop-in-store kiosks within Canadian Best Buy and Future Shop stores this spring.

This is part of Samsung’s plans to further expand its business into Canada.

Samsung has also opened several free-standing Canadian stores including a 2,200 square foot location that opened last week at West Edmonton Mall.

Source: Mobile Syrup

H&M brand COS looking to open Canadian stores

By
Craig Patterson
-
Image: COS

Sources tell us that H&M‘s upscale label ‘COS‘ is seeking Canadian retail space for free-standing COS stores. It has looked at several retail spaces on Toronto’s Bloor Street, though we’ve been told that no deals have been signed at this time. Sources tell us that Vancouver and Montreal are also on the list for possible new stores, while Edmonton and other Canadian cities may soon follow. 

For those unfamiliar, COS is H&M’s upscale label offering higher-end materials and more ‘classic’ designs. COS’ designs have been compared to higher-priced fashion labels Marni, Jil Sander and Céline. Launched by Swedish apparel giant H&M in 2007, COS stands for ‘Collection of Style’. Its first store outside of Europe opened in June of 2013. COS currently has 82 stores worldwide and appears to be expanding aggressively as it has recently signed leases to open stores in the United States and Australia. Its first American location will open this April in New York’s Soho district.

We’ll update you when we learn the location of COS’ first Canadian store. 

We’ll be back Tuesday, February 18th

By
Retail Insider
-

We’re currently working on our new website and fixing a few minor glitches. We’ll be back Tuesday, February 18th, with new article content. Thank you for your patience. 

Happy Family Day to readers in Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan. 

Retail Insider x Mathers & Co: exclusive stock sale

By
Retail Insider
-
This weekend, we’ve teamed up with retailer Mathers & Co. to bring you an exclusive stock sale for Retail Insider readers only. Mathers & Co. is a philanthropic clothing brand based out of Vancouver and it was founded by 20-year-old Damien Mathers. With a tagline like “threads for humanity,” the aim of the brand is to help raise funds through the sale of its products. Proceeds directly benefit the philanthropic ideas and/or charities voted on by customers. 

Mathers & Co. is a new company with an ambitious vision. We’re sure they would appreciate your support. If you would like to be part of their initiative, you may participate in their sale at the link below. 

You can shop online at: 

www.mathersclothing.com 

Enter in promo code ‘stocksale’ for a surprise discount! 
Mathers & Co. is also on social media: 

facebook.com/mathersclothing 
instagram.com/mathersclothing

You may also subscribe to their newsletter, by clicking below: 

 > Click here < 

11 PriceSmart Foods Stores have become Save-On-Foods

By
Retail Insider
-
Save-on-Foods, Image: Pattison Food Group

In an ambitious plan that took just a week to complete, 11 of Overwaitea Food Group‘s 16 PriceSmart Foods stores in British Columbia have been converted to the Save-on-Foods banner. The announcement was officially made on February 6th and the conversion is scheduled to be completed by today (Friday, February 14th, 2014).

The company will re-focus its PriceSmart Foods brand in its remaining five stores in British Columbia: Vancouver (two locations), Richmond, Surrey (the ‘Fleetwood’ store) and Coquitlam. These five locations will remain PriceSmart Foods stores, which will position the PriceSmart Foods banner “for future growth and evolution with a continued dual-focus on offering a low price platform with market-specific international food offerings” according to company press release. 

Stores converting to Save-On-Foods today include:

  • Surrey (Cloverdale, Clayton & King George) 
  • Burnaby (Marine Way and Cameron) 
  • North Vancouver (Capilano) 
  • Chilliwack 
  • Langley 
  • White Rock 
  • Abbotsford (Clearbrook) 
  • Fort St. John 

Source: press release

[PriceSmart Foods website]

[Save-on-Foods website]

Sobeys to sell 30 stores in Western Canada

By
Retail Insider
-
Sobeys Store

Sobeys Inc. has signed deals to sell 30 of its stores in Western Canada for approximately $430 million. Sobeys purchased Canada Safeway in June of 2013. The Competition Bureau required Sobeys to sell 23 of its stores prior to granting approval for its Safeway purchase.

Overwaitea Food Group has agreed to buy 15 Sobeys locations, while Federated Co-operatives Ltd. will buy 14 Sobeys stores. Sobeys will also sell its Price Chopper location in Winnipeg to a buyer which was not named in its press release.

According to Sobeys, Overwaitea and the Federated Co-operatives chain have received approval from the Competition Bureau and Sobeys anticipates the deals will close in March or early April. The sale of the Winnipeg Price Chopper store is subject to finalization of an agreement, as well as approval from the Competition Bureau.

Overwaitea has agreed to purchase the following 15 store locations:

  • Safeway: 2345 Beacon Avenue, Sidney, BC
  • Safeway: 1950 Foul Bay Road, Victoria, BC
  • Safeway: 3958 Shelbourne Street, Victoria, BC
  • Safeway: 1143 – 56 Street, Tsawwassen, BC
  • Safeway: 131 Signal Road, Fort McMurray, AB
  • Sobeys: 1000 Railway Avenue, Canmore, AB
  • Sobeys: 65 Bow Street, Cochrane, AB
  • Thrifty Foods: 270 East Columbia Street, New Westminster, BC
  • Safeway*  3756 – 10 Avenue, Port Alberni, BC
  • Safeway*  610 – 6th Street, New Westminster, BC
  • Safeway*  181 Trans-Canada Highway, Duncan, BC
  • Safeway*  108 – 3170 Tillicum Road, Victoria, BC
  • Safeway*  370 Trans-Canada Highway, Ladysmith, BC
  • Thrifty Foods*  18888 North Parallel Road, Abbotsford, BC
  • Thrifty Foods*  2000 Island Highway, Nanaimo, BC

* Additional stores not included in October Consent Agreement

Co-op has agreed to purchase the following 14 store locations:

  • Safeway: 1441 Main Street, Winnipeg, MB
  • Safeway: 77 Vermillion Road, Winnipeg, MB
  • Safeway: 850 Dakota Street, Winnipeg, MB
  • Safeway: 1120 Grant Avenue, Winnipeg, MB
  • Safeway: 2331 – 66 Street NW, Edmonton, AB
  • Safeway: 3801 Albert Street, Regina, SK
  • Safeway: 3310 – 8 Street East, Saskatoon, SK
  • Safeway: 4926 – 46 Avenue, Taber, AB
  • Sobeys: 10004 – 99 Avenue, Fort Saskatchewan, AB
  • Sobeys: 5421 – 50 Street, Leduc, AB
  • Sobeys: 4703 – 50 Street, Wetaskiwin, AB
  • Sobeys: 18370 Lessard Road, Edmonton, AB
  • Sobeys: 5036 – 106 Avenue NW, Edmonton, AB
  • IGA: 6204 – 90 Avenue NW, Edmonton, AB

RELATED:

Source: Press release

[Sobeys website]

1...1,2811,2821,283...1,342Page 1,282 of 1,342