The retail component of Toronto’s iconic Toronto-Dominion Centre was recently ranked Canada’s 19th most productive shopping centre by this publication. It’s especially exceptional, considering that the centre operates limited hours and only five days a week. We spoke with General Manager David Hoffman to gain insight into the mall’s remarkable success.
Many know the mixed-use Toronto-Dominion Centre as one of the few Canadian buildings designed by the late, storied architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The 151,000 square foot retail component features 58 retailers, and it located at the base of six office towers housing a daytime population estimated to be about 20,000. The centre’s office component spans 4.3 million square feet, and is located in the heart of Canada’s financial and banking centre. Construction on Toronto-Dominion Centre began in 1964, and it was completed in 1969.
With sales of $819 per square foot annually, Toronto-Dominion Centre is particularly exceptional given that its stores operate from 10:00am to 6:00pm on Monday to Friday, with stores closed weekends and holidays. The retail centre sees an estimated 50,000 visitors per day from nearby office towers, residents and other visitors.
Mr. Hoffman, who explained how the centre’s success is based on its mixed-use, and how its retail component benefits from thousands of office workers above, as well as from adjacent office towers and nearby attractions. Toronto-Dominion Centre links into Toronto’s extensive PATH underground pedway system, the largest of its kind in the world. Mr. Hoffman also explained how retail sales continue to increase as new condominium towers continue to be built downtown – Toronto’s condo boom is now one of the world’s largest, with new towers particularly locating south and east of nearby Union Station.
Mr. Hoffman described how Toronto-Dominion Centre benefits from landlord Cadillac Fairview‘s strong retail experience, leasing team, and relationships with retailers and suppliers. He also revealed that the centre’s retail and office components are both almost 100% leased – an exceptional feat in light of considerable new construction in Toronto’s downtown core. The centre features a variety of retailers including a florist, toy store, dry cleaner, post office, and even a chaplaincy. It also features Canada’s first Noodles & Company restaurant and last week, Mark McEwan opened an upscale 5,500 square foot grocery store within the complex.
Toronto-based luxury firm WINSTON Collective is looking to hire a visionary to create brand-building, inventive window displays. You will bring unique and innovative ideas to the position, and will have creative freedom to design original windows which will get people talking.
The position involves interfacing with creative and operational partners of WINSTON Collective, including a retailer and a wholesale which has multiple, substantial windows boasting exceptional traffic and visibility. You will have access to cutting-edge European mannequins, and clients are open to props and displays of all kinds, providing that they make a cohesive statement and enhance the brand’s products. Brand-building is an essential part of the position.
There is room for growth in this part-time position, as WINSTON Collective has a number of partners requiring similar services. Previous window display experience is essential, and salary is open to discussion, commensurate upon experience. If you feel that you would qualify, and you are interested, please email your resume and cover letter to: info@winstoncollective.com
Forever 21‘s new concept store, F21 Red, has revealed its first two Canadian locations. The brand is currently on the hunt for Canadian retail space as it expands the concept nationally.
The F21 Red concept “offers customers a deeper inventory of the trend-led staples from Forever 21, Forever 21 Men, Forever 21 Plus and Forever 21 Girls” according to a Forever 21 spokesperson and furthermore, the brand is “able to deliver greater quantities of the styles and trends customers seek, while maintaining the value and entry-level category price points Forever 21 is known for offering”. F21 Red launched in Los Angeles in May of 2014 with a location in suburban Los Angeles.
F21 RED (IMAGE: FOREVER 21)
F21 Red’s first two Canadian locations will open this fall in Ontario. One location will be at Place d’Orleans in Ottawa, and the other at Windsor’s Devonshire Mall.
Aurora Realty Consultants Inc. represents F21 Red nationwide. According to Aurora Realty, F21 Red seeks retail space in the 10,000 square foot to 18,000 square foot range.
We first announced F21 Red’s Canadian expansion in September of 2014. Thank you Style Democracy for directing us to information on the company’s first Canadian locations.
The retail industry has been on a tumultuous ride over the past few years, and there’s no signs of it slowing down. Retailers around the world continue to experience challenges which include an uncertain fate for brick-and-mortar, growth of e-commerce, and adoption rates of mobile commerce. Not to mention, there are the continually developing, emotionally erratic, and often fixated generations X, Y and Millennials, who are putting the squeeze on new and well-established retailers, alike.
Canada is no exception to these trends. In the last several months we’ve seen many retailers declare bankruptcy, file for protection, downsize, put stores up for sale, or exit Canada altogether. Yet we’ve also seen a lot of new entrants boldly make their way to Canada at both the high-and low-ends of the retail spectrum including Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, and Uniqlo, just to name a few.
The Canadian retail market offers its own share of challenges. Our population is seeing very slow growth and our dollar is struggling. In fact, Statistics Canada recently revealed that retail sales dropped .01% in April, a sharp contrast to the .07% increase that had been forecast. Add to this the fact that inflation was stronger than expected, and we have a renewed recipe for uncertain times that directly affects the retail industry, as conservative Canadian consumers pull back on discretionary spending.
PHOTO: CADILLAC FAIRVIEW
So what does it take to thrive in this turbulent market? Below, we identify five Canadian retailers, in five different sectors, that stand out as having the right strategic combination to thrive in this time of change. By establishing parameters for experimentation, creating a differentiated environment, building a cult around quality, pushing and testing digital, and understanding and catering to their customers in unique ways, these retailers are ensuring current and future relevance – and success. Each of the retailers, below, are listed in alphabetical order.
Aritizia The ultra-hip, style-savvy Vancouver based retailer bridges the gap between upscale boutique and fast fashion, catering to the highly desirable market of women and girls ages 15 to 45. Aritzia is a cult favourite with strong ties to the hearts and wallets of Canada’s ‘coolest kids’. In contrast to the recent struggles and closures of many Canadian retailers, particularly those experiencing the “middle squeeze,” Aritzia’s positioning is decidedly fashion-forward and based on quality, not price (a step up from J.Crew and Banana Republic, but not as high-end as Barneys New York). With a wide assortment of both branded and private label merchandise that appeals to multiple demographics from the teen and tween set to modern working women, Aritzia has carved out a strong and unique niche that differentiates it from the competition and is driving U.S. expansion. The company recently opened a store on the corner of upper and lower Fifth Avenue in New York City – literally and figuratively positioning itself as a destination for style-savvy U.S. shoppers who can’t quite afford a closet full of luxury garments but aren’t satisfied with the disposable fare offered by global mega-chains like H&M and Zara.
PHOTO: CANADIAN TIRE
Canadian Tire A beloved Canadian icon, Canadian Tire defines and caters to its Canadian consumers like no other. With its highly successful evolution from the old Canatire business and acquisitions like Marks and FGL Sports, Canadian Tire continues to grow and expand the brand’s brick-and-mortar reach. What sets the business apart is how it is pushing the needle in the digital space. Canadian Tire believes that the growth of e-commerce has fundamentally shifted the in-store shopping experience from being ‘needs driven’ to ‘event driven’. To that end, Canadian Tire has created a destination experience for the entire family, offering ‘something for everyone’. Furthermore, the company recently reduced its flyer to feature digital much more significantly than before. As a result, sales are up across the board and this iconic brand continues to surprise us all. It continues to be laser-focused on, and tied to, the Canadian consumer and says expansion into the U.S. is not in the cards, as it would only be a distraction. Canadian Tire has built a reputation from an early age that is carried throughout a lifetime.
COUCHE-TARD (PHOTO: GOOGLE STREET VIEW SCREEN CAPTURE)
Couche-Tard Couche-Tard has grown into one of the top convenience store players in the world. Based in Laval Quebec, Couche-Tard is not only the clear leader in the Canadian convenience store industry, it is also the largest independent convenience store operator in the U.S. and a leader in convenience store and road transportation fuel throughout Europe’s Scandinavian and Baltic countries, as well as having a significant presence in Poland. With the acquisition of American retailer The Pantry, Inc. in March, 2015, more than 1,500 additional stores were added to Couche-Tard’s network in the United States, bringing its total to 7,815 convenience stores throughout North America — including 4,870 stores with road transportation fuel dispensing. The secret to the company’s success may lie in its very nature as a small format convenience store. In a time when the overall retail industry is struggling and many retailers are dealing with large, unproductive real estate, Couche-Tard operates small format locations that drive incremental neighbourhood growth and keep operating costs low. While space limitations prevent the stores from going deep into product categories, the choice to go broad ensures ability to capture the sale. And while convenience stores typically operate off of a higher cost base than bigger stores, they are likewise able to sell goods at higher prices than grocers – a fact that consumers are both aware and accepting of, in exchange for the ease of making quick, local pick-ups. Once known only for cigarettes and beer (depending on the province), today’s convenience stores seamlessly satisfy ‘fill-in’ trips for urgent essentials, as well as quick lunch or snack trip for consumers on the go. With thousands of locations, efficient formats, and a broad base of products to satisfy the needs of time-starved consumers in need, Couche-Tard is a retailer whose growth trend shows no sign of slowing down.
Dollarama (PHOTO: WWW.THECENTREMALL.COM
Dollarama Leading the charge among value chains in Canada, Dollarama’s broad assortment of paper products, food, and accessories hits just the right note for those seeking great quality goods at $3 and under. Although it packages itself as a dollar store, Dollarama is quite different from others in the space. Catering to the pre-teen/teen market, the company focuses on what its customers ‘want’ versus only what they ‘need’, making it a treasure hunt for kids that also appeals to parents. But what makes Dollarama truly unique is that it doesn’t look like a dollar store — its stores are exceptionally clean with wide aisles, great site lines, and a large array of both branded and unbranded products that appeal to any shopper. It has built a strong reputation for party products, summer essentials, loot bags, back to school and crafting, not to mention the exceptional holiday business it has created — notably around Halloween and Christmas. The company has also been strategic when it comes to picking its store locations, both urban and suburban, and alters its assortment to satisfy the different needs of customers in each area. With its compelling value, pleasing shopping environment and convenient locations, Dollarama continues to exceed the expectations of its everyday consumer. Sales are up 13% on average with checkout rates rising +5.9%. In a time when many retailers are shuttering doors, Dollarama is in growth mode, having opened 17 new stores in its first quarter of fiscal year 2016.
PHOTO: INDIGO BOOKS & MUSIC
Indigo Books Toronto-based Indigo is the largest book, gift and toy specialty retailer in Canada, and it is also a story of reinvention. Take a declining book business; add in lifestyle, gift giving, accessories, toys and stationery, and you’ve given it a whole new reason for being. It’s been well documented that books have been among the retail categories hardest hit by the growth of technology. The competition that started with Amazon quickly escalated to include e-readers, tablets, digital movies and music. In the U.S., we saw Borders file for bankruptcy and are watching Barnes and Noble struggle to hang on. Indigo took the lessons and quickly changed strategy to stay relevant to the Canadian consumer by reinventing its business with a product assortment that goes well beyond books. Building on this momentum, the company created a joint venture to bring American Girl doll shops into several of its stores. Next, they sought to increase traffic by replacing existing coffee shops with consumer favourite, Starbucks. They have also become a Canadian favourite for teachers gift and a go to for stationery and truly have a very strong seasonal business that helps to keep them active. The results of such an innovative and fluid strategy are clear: same stores sales are up 6.8%, with significant growth in each category including double-digit growth in toys and a win for American Girl, which is exceeding growth goals and expectations.
Other standouts, which have been mentioned before, include Lululemon, Hudson’s Bay, Harry Rosen and Longo’s. Each of these retailers have thrived by pushing the edge and creating exceptional experiences that build loyalty, drive sales and separate them from the pack. Although times are tough for many retailers, some Canadian companies are thriving through innovation while addressing relevant consumers.
Farla Efros is President of HRC Advisory, a leading retail advisory firm. She previously worked with Office Depot, where she served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer. She has coached executives at numerous leading retailers and consumer packaged goods companies in the area of category management and assortment optimization, and she has broad experience in merchandising and category management, having worked with many of the world’s leading consumer packaged goods companies and retailers. Ms. Efros can be reached at: fefros@hilcoglobal.com.
Vancouver-based custom suit maker and menswear retailer Indochino is looking to open more permanent brick-and-mortar locations, after seeing tremendous success with its physical stores. We spoke with Indochino’s co-founder and CEO Kyle Vucko to discuss how the online retailer’s operations have benefited from a physical store presence.
Mr. Vucko founded Indochino with a former classmate in 2007, seeking to create affordable, custom-designed men’s suits. The online company’s concept involved men submitting measurements, then receiving custom-tailored garments several weeks later. Beginning in 2011, the brand experimented with a number of pop-up locations, finding men to be receptive to the temporary bricks-and-mortar shops.
Indochino learned that many men prefer face-to-face retail experiences, including being professionally fitted and being able to feel fabrics and other samples. Furthermore, men shopping in-store tended to buy pricier suits than those shopping online.
Seeing the opportunity to build lasting relationships with a wider variety of customers, Indochino opened its first permanent retail space in the fall of 2014. Measuring over 4,300 square feet in Vancouver’s Gastown area (deal negotiated by Cushman & Wakefield’s Boe Iravani) , the store was an immediate hit. Successful pop-up shops in Toronto led to the recent opening of Indochino’s second permanent location in that city. Measuring about 4,000 square feet, the Toronto store is located at 143 King Street East in Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood. Over 30 custom options are available, and there’s a dedicated grooms’ lounge featuring a foosball table and Nespresso bar. Avison Young‘s Hilary Kellar-Parsons represented Indochino in negotiating the Toronto deal.
Mr. Vucko said that part of the reason the company is opening permanent retail spaces is to create a convenient and comfortable ‘space’ for men to come back to repeatedly, be it for modifications/alterations or for more clothing. Indochino’s new Toronto store is located a convenient walk east of the city’s financial district, and Mr. Vucko noted that future Canadian locations should ideally be similarly conveniently located. Stores are unique, however, in that they operate more as showrooms — rather than carrying stock, men select fabrics and get measured in-store during 60-minute one-on-one appointments, with each made-to-measure garment delivered about four weeks later. Purchases can be delivered to the store for a second-fitting, if desired.
Longer-term, Indochino is looking to possibly open permanent stores in Ottawa and Calgary, as well as possibly a second location in Toronto, according to Mr. Vucko. Men in Toronto wear more suits than in any other Canadian city, hence warranting a second space. Indochino will continue to test individual markets before making permanent real estate decisions, he said. Generally, Indochino seeks retail space in the 2,000 to 4,000 square foot range, depending on space configuration and location.
Mr. Vucko also revealed that he’s looking to open permanent locations in a handful of American cities. He says that the company currently doesn’t have an ultimate goal as to the number of locations it will operate, as it likes to ‘test the market’ before making any major real estate decisions.
CORNER OF WEST GEORGIA STREET AND BURRARD STREET. PHOTO: HELEN SIWAK
Christian Dior has opened its first Canadian flagship location, in Vancouver. The two-level store is located within the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver at 900 West Georgia Street (corner of Burrard Street), and features a separate men’s Dior Homme boutique with its own entrance.
Estimated to span about 12,000 square feet, Vancouver’s Dior features a ground-level with accessories, fine jewellery and watches, as well as a Dior Homme shop which can be accessed from a separate hotel entrance as well as from within the Dior store itself. The second level features women’s ready-to-wear, evening wear, footwear, and a dedicated ‘VIP’ fitting room.
SECOND-FLOOR SALON. PHOTO: CHRISTIAN DIOR
The store’s interior reflects the Peter Marino-designed Dior Flagship on Paris’ Avenue Montaigne. The Vancouver store also features several works of art, commissioned from contemporary artists. A Louis XVI style marble and bronze antique fireplace anchors the second-floor evening salon, and zodiac lighting in the shape of the Aquarius sign characterizes the store’s ground-floor fine jewellery salon.
DIOR HOMME ENTRANCE FROM INSIDE THE HOTEL VANCOUVER. PHOTO: HELEN SIWAK
“The Dior boutique is an exquisite two story shopping experience! From both entry points space flows organically with the customer being gently guided from salon to salon prompted by glimpses of original artwork, chic decor and stunning pieces” said Retail Insider’s Vancouver correspondent, Helen Siwak. “The customer service included not only personalized tours through the new boutique but the detailed accounts of the represented artists and their histories made each salon even more personal. It was explained that even the colour palette of this seasons collection, muted silver and soft pink are colours from Mr. Dior’s childhood home in Normandy. Sincere congratulations to the staff for giving customer service a couture edge”, she said.
PHOTO: DIOR
Pamela Baxter, president of Christian Dior Couture, North America, told Women’s Wear Daily: “Canada is an important luxury market because of its steady economic growth,” she said. “The number of top household incomes grew 15 percent last year, with a growing numbers of younger affluent customers. Young men, in particular, have become more fashion focused in the last few years. They are all highly educated, fashion forward and demanding of excellence in the products they choose. Quality and craftsmanship are at the top of their expectations. Luxury sales are on the rise in Canada largely due to this new client, making 2015 the perfect time for Dior and Dior Homme to open their first stand-alone boutiques in Canada”, said Ms. Baxter.
“The Vancouver luxury market has heated up with new stores opening as well as renovations of existing stores. Asian consumers represent the number-one and fastest-growing nationality for luxury goods worldwide. More than 40% of Vancouver’s population is of Asian descent, many having emigrated years ago. Dior and Dior Homme have a strong presence in Asia,” Ms. Baxter told Women’s Wear Daily.
GROUND-FLOOR HANDBAGS DEPARTMENT. PHOTO: DIOR
Besides the new Vancouver flagship, Dior bags and accessories are also available at Dior concessions in Holt Renfrew locations in Vancouver, Toronto (Bloor Street, Yorkdale Shopping Centre) and in Montreal.
Dior joins a number of other luxury brands within the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. Gucci‘s free-standing unit is located at the opposite end of the hotel, at the corner of West Georgia Street and Hornby Street. Luxury jewellery and timepiece brand Omega is located next to Gucci, and American luxury womenswear brand St. John Knits is also located in the hotel. A 10,000 square foot Louis Vuitton store sits opposite from Dior with its own extensive Burrard Street frontage. Although Vancouver’s Vuitton was originally declared to be a ‘Maison’ location, sources at Vuitton say that the 18,000 square foot Toronto Bloor Street flagship is Canada’s only ‘true’ Maison, as Vancouver lacks some product customization capabilities.
Upscale Australian skin care brand Aesop has opened its first two Canadian locations. A third location is set to open soon in Montreal, as the brand expands its brick-and-mortar presence worldwide.
Aesop’s Toronto location is at 880 Queen Street West, in Toronto’s trendy ‘West Queen West’ neighbourhood. The 990 square foot boutique was created in collaboration with local architecture firm superkül. Hilary Kellar-Parsons of Avison Young represented Aesop and negotiated the Toronto lease.
Aesop’s 615 square foot Vancouver location is at 19 Water Street, in Vancouver’s trendy Gastown area. The interior’s prominent material feature is Douglas Fir, which forms a mosaic surface that shrouds walls, ceiling and floor. The Vancouver store is located next to unusual luxury boutique Secret Location, featuring a uniquely curated collection of fashion and lifestyle products, as well as an adjacent restaurant.
TORONTO STORE PRE-RENOVATION. PHOTO: GOOGLE STREET VIEW SCREEN CAPTURE
WINDOW DISPLAY IN THE VANCOUVER LOCATION. PHOTO: HELEN SIWAK
Aesop was founded in 1987 in Melbourne by hairdresser Dennis Paphitis. Product packaging is simple, and its quality is considered to be exceptional. It sources plant-based and laboratory-made ingredients, and uses only those with a proven record of safety and efficacy. It operates free-standing ‘signature stores’ as well as wholesale operations in a variety of retailers, high-end department stores such as Holt Renfrew and Barneys New York. Canadian stocklists include multiple WANT Apothecary and gravitypope locations, as well as a handful of smaller independents.
VANCOUVER STORE. PHOTO: HELEN SIWAK
In March, guest author William Connor wrote an extensive piece on the brand for Retail Insider, where he explained the brand at length. Farla Efros, President of leading retail consultancy HRC Advisory, commented on how luxury brands continue to look to Canada for growth.
Aesop’s New York City office says that it will provide details on the new Montreal store when it opens, and we’ll update this article accordingly.
CBRE just published a report providing a list of the most productive retailers doing business in Canada. Remarkably, a number of retailers on the list are homegrown, though perhaps unsurprisingly Apple Stores made the top of the list with annual sales estimated at $7,241 per square foot. We spoke with retail expert Farla Efros, President of leading consultancy HRC Advisory, to gain insight into why the top retailers see success.
Following Apple, Vancouver-based athletic brand Lululemon averages $2,961 per square foot annually. Surprisingly, large format retailer Costco is third with sales estimated at $1,490 per square foot. That surpasses LVMH‘s Canadian numbers (including Sephora and Louis Vuitton) with sales of $1,224 per square foot, annually.
Edmonton-based Katz Group was a surprising find – the company’s chain of drug stores (including nameplates Rexall Pharma Plus and Rexall Drug Store) saw sales of $1,030 per square foot. That’s higher than Shoppers Drug Mart’s sales of $790 per square foot annually.
Below is a chart from the CBRE report, listing all retailers studied. The full PDF report can be viewed here.
HRC Advisory President Farla Efros said that the top six retailers all feature ‘feel good’ lifestyle brand experiential shopping environments which particularly appeal to female shoppers. Apple Stores continue to innovate, most recently with the introduction of the Apple Watch. Lululemon’s fashionable workout wear blends with its experiential shopping environments. Costco, according to Ms. Efros, is becoming part of the health trend, carrying more organic, healthy choices at affordable bulk pricing. Louis Vuitton blends brand status with product diversity beyond its ‘classic handbag’, and Katz Group’s recent ‘reinvention‘ appeals to female customers with softer colours. Whole Foods, meanwhile, continues to expand into the realm of convenient, grab-and-go healthy meal options, according to Ms. Efros.
Canadian shopper marketing technology startup Linkett created the following infographic, conveying how the Canadian retail landscape is changing. Specifically, Linkett has identified the top four emerging trends in Canadian retail, (which include loyalty programs, omni-channel, showrooming, and a generally changing retail landscape) as revealed below.
The much anticipated McArthurGlen Designer Outlets at Vancouver International Airport opened last week, with approximately 45,000 shoppers making their way to check out the advertised savings at the designer outlet. Traffic was at a stand-still and travellers were delayed at the Vancouver International Airport with airport officials advising travellers to give themselves extra time to successfully make their flights. The Richmond RCMP was also on hand and directing traffic, requesting travellers stay in the left lane and those heading to the outlet mall to stay right.
There was an overwhelming response from public and in droves they flocked to Coach and Polo Ralph Lauren outlets, creating long line-ups. Other brands that welcomed shoppers included legendary Italian label Giorgio Armani, American designers Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and Hugo Boss, and footwear staples Nike, Cole Haan and Vans. For those looking for upscale fashion, J.Crew and Brooks Brothers were noticeably closed but luxury retailer Secret Location launched their trimmed down SL with style with founder and owner Carey Melnichuk making an appearance.
Over the course of the day, shoppers were entertained by musicians, first nations dance group Coastal Wolfpack, an impressive piece of public art by local visual artist Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas and CTV’s Samantha Sito invited everyone to join her at noon to enter a contest to win a Trip to Italy. Food and beverages were for sale (cash and credit card only) by local food vendors at the Hawkers Mercado, as well as a luxurious centrally located Caffé Artigiano and Nice Vice dairy-free pop-up ice cream shop.
There are 2,000 free parking stalls available and arriving at the Templeton Skytrain Station will situate shoppers less than 5 minutes away by foot and unless you can satisfy your shopping desire in 90 minutes, there will be an additional $9 transit fee to get home. The Templeton stop is under the jurisdiction of YVR and are offering free transit service between YVR and Templeton only and no reduction to local shoppers of the usual airport rate.
McArthurGlen Group was founded in Europe by the Kaempfer Partners in 1993 and is the pioneer of designer outlet retailing in Europe. McArthurGlen has developed 20 Designer Outlets (6.5 million sq ft of outlet space) in 8 countries: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands and the UK.
According to the company, as part of its on-going expansion, McArthurGlen is also under way or in planning with new designer outlets in: Provence (Marseille), Ghent (between the Belgian cities of Brussels and Bruges), Remscheid (near the German cities of Cologne and Düsseldorf), Málaga (southern Spain), two new centres in Istanbul, and one near Paris (Normandie).
Helen Siwak is an entrepreneur with a love of the environment, ecofriendly fashion, plant-based diets and animal welfare. She is the driving force behind ecoluxury lifestyle magazine THEClosetYVR and the upcoming lifestyle boutique of the same name. Helen writes for numerous online magazines and is a luxury retail/lifestyle contributor to VancityBuzz. Follow her at Twitter/Instagram: @THEClosetYVR
