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MONTREAL’S OGILVY AND HOLT RENFREW STORES TO MERGE, SHERBROOKE ST HOLT RENFREW TO CLOSE

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Retail Insider
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BREAKING: We’ll follow up on this announcement with an analysis article in a few hours. 

MONTREAL, Nov. 19, 2013/CNW Telbec

Holt, Renfrew & Co., Limited today unveiled grand plans to expand and transform the St. Catherine’s Street Ogilvy location into a unique and exciting luxury retail destination branded

Ogilvy, part of the Holt Renfrew & Co. collection

Spanning 220,000 square feet, the new specialty store will expand to include an adjacent site and become the largest in the Holt Renfrew network, offering innovative new retail concepts and Canada’s richest assortment of luxury fashion and beauty brands. Following a $60 million investment, the new store is slated for completion in late 2017.

“This is another exciting step forward in Holt Renfrew’s dynamic growth plan,” said Holt Renfrew President Mark Derbyshire. “The Montreal market presents a unique opportunity to leverage two storied brands. Inspired by the best of both Holt Renfrew and Ogilvy, and based on extensive customer research, we have developed a grand vision with bold new concepts that celebrate Montreal’s rich fashion heritage and sophisticated shoppers.”

“I am also pleased to note at this time the appointment of Joanne Nemeroff as Senior Vice President, Ogilvy, part of the Holt Renfrew & Co. Collection, based in Montreal, to lead our team and this exciting development,” Derbyshire said. “Joanne is a seasoned retail executive with a great wealth of expertise and relationships in the Montreal market.”

“We’re thrilled to offer this exciting fashion retail concept for Montreal, one that is sure to cement this city’s standing as an international luxury shopping destination,” said Joanne Nemeroff. “With an expanded offering at a high-traffic location, the energized new store that will emerge in 2017 will provide customers with an unparalleled shopping experience. It’s about getting the best of both worlds and more, all under one roof and one banner.”

Grand, one-store vision to become a reality in 2017: 

Ogilvy, part of the Holt Renfrew & Co. collection

The construction phase for the future store is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2014 and be completed later in 2017. The store will remain open throughout this period to serve customers, as will the current  Holt Renfrew store in Montreal.

Familiar elements of the distinctive and stylish Ogilvy building will be celebrated in the new store design, including its magnificent façade, complemented with an expansion on the site of the former Hotel de la Montagne. The store will also continue to offer a mix of lease partners.

The Holt Renfrew store on Sherbrooke Street will also remain open to welcome customers throughout this period, with exciting upgrades to enhance the shopping experience, including the recent launch of a new Dior shop, which offers the richest assortment of its kind in Canada, and plans for a new Prada shop. Plans for the Sherbrooke Street property post 2017 will be confirmed at a future date, and are expected to include retail offerings to benefit the local community.

“We are very excited about the development of this unique concept for the Montreal market. For now it remains business as usual for the current Ogilvy and Holt Renfrew stores. They will continue to provide the very best in beauty and luxury fashion as well as the quality service our customers have come to expect and enjoy,” concluded Nemeroff.

About Holt Renfrew

Celebrating a 175-year heritage, Holt Renfrew is recognized worldwide for an inspired shopping experience. Once a purveyor of fashion to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, Holt Renfrew began in 1837 as a modest hat shop in Quebec. Over the years the brand developed and expanded across Canada. In the 1930’s Holt Renfrew began exclusive accounts with some of the best designers in Europe and in 1947 hosted Monsieur Christian Dior when he launched his “New Look.” After many years of foreign ownership Holt Renfrew was bought in 1986 by W. Galen and the Hon. Hilary M. Weston. Under their ownership Holt Renfrew has become Canada’s destination for luxury retail. Holt Renfrew has 2,300 employees with nine stores across the country in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Quebec City, Ottawa and Toronto (Bloor Street, Sherway Gardens and Yorkdale). In early 2013, Holt Renfrew launched hr2, Canada’s first premium off-price concept, offering leading brands and on-trend styles at irresistible prices. Visit us at www.holtrenfrew.com.

Holt Renfrew and Ogilvy, part of the Holt Renfrew & Co. collection, are part of Selfridges Group Limited. With extensive know-how and experience in operating luxury fashion retail stores, the Selfridges Group owns and operates leading heritage banners in key markets around the world, including Brown Thomas in Ireland; de Bijenkorf in The Netherlands; Holt Renfrew and Ogilvy, part of the Holt Renfrew & Co. collection in Canada, and Selfridges in the United Kingdom. Selfridges Group Limited is a family owned business, W. Galen Weston is Chairman.

SOURCE Holt Renfrew


WHAT STORES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE OPEN IN CANADA?

By
Retail Insider
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Photo: Uniqlo

We’re asking readers what retailers they’d like to see open stores in Canada. We want your feedback, and we’ll be contacting your top choices to suggest that they open Canadian store locations.

As a test, yesterday evening, we asked our Twitter followers what retail stores they’d like to see open in Canada. The answer was, overwhelmingly, Japanese value-priced retailer UNIQLO. Given the readership of our previous articles on Uniqlo, we’re not surprised.

With Uniqlo in mind, we’re creating a list of the retailers Canadians would most like to see in Canada. Once we’ve compiled a list of about 10, we’ll then contact these retailers to learn of their possible Canadian expansion plans. If necessary, we’ll encourage readers to join us in petitioning these retailers to come to Canada. 

So, what retailers would you like to see open in Canada? DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse? Bloomingdale’s? Muji? Henri Bendel? Fendi or Bottega Veneta? Please feel free to comment below or provide your suggestions on our Retail Insider Facebook Page or tweet us on our Twitter Page.

Hopefully we can help encourage even more exciting retailers to join the Canadian market.

PORSCHE DESIGN TO OPEN STORES ACROSS CANADA

By
Retail Insider
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Porsche Design Bloor Street

German luxury retailer Porsche Design will open stores across Canada according to sources, and its list of desired cities includes Calgary, Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver and possibly Edmonton. It is also expected to open at least one more Toronto-area store. The company is testing the market, having already opened a pop-up shop at Toronto’s Sherway Gardens as well as a temporary store location in Vancouver. We’ll briefly describe Porsche Design’s potential plans in several cities:

Calgary: 

A source at Porsche Design tells us that the company is looking to open in Calgary’s Chinook Centre, ideally close to the mall’s new Nordstrom store which is scheduled to open in the fall of 2014. The source wasn’t sure if Porsche Design has already signed a lease in the mall.

Toronto:

Porsche Design’s Sherway Gardens pop-up store, which opened a few days ago, will remain open for only about two months. A company representative says that Porsche Design is hoping to secure a permanent retail presence in the mall by the end of 2014. 

Another possible Toronto store location could be at the Yorkdale Shopping Centre. A source tells us that Porsche Design might look to take over the 1,365 square foot retail space currently occupied by ICON Shoes, as ICON’s lease expires in 2014. The space is located across from the mall’s expanding Holt Renfrew store and is within close proximity to upscale stores such as Mulberry, Tiffany & Co., Cartier, Salvator Ferragamo, David Yurman and others.

PORSCHE DESIGN POP-UP SHOP AT TORONTO’S SHERWAY GARDENS. PHOTO: SHERWAY GARDENS

Edmonton: 

An Edmonton store is a possibility for Porsche Design, and we were informed that West Edmonton Mall would be the most likely location. Our source wasn’t able to provide any further information as to when this could happen or its location within the mall. 

Ottawa and Montreal:

Ottawa and Montreal have both been mentioned as possible locations for Porsche Design stores, though we have few details besides Ottawa’s Rideau Centre being the likely candidate for an Ottawa store location.

More on Porsche Design in Canada: 

Porsche Design already has two Canadian store locations: one on Toronto’s Bloor Street and another which opened last week in Downtown Vancouver. Further plans to expand show Porsche Design’s confidence in Canada’s luxury retail market.

It appears that Porsche Design’s presence in Canada could become substantially greater, per capita, than that in the United States. Porsche Design only has 11 American store locations and one outlet location. Within a couple of years, Canada could have as many as 8 Porsche Design stores (though we suspect that number will end up being more like 5).

We’ll continue to keep you updated on Porsche Design’s Canada-wide store expansion.


HOARDING FOR HUMANITY: DONATING RETAIL STORE HOARDINGS WITH PROCEEDS GOING TO CHARITY

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Retail Insider
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Example of retail store hoarding from Hoarding for Humanity

We found this concept interesting: former store construction hoarding being donated for sale, with proceeds going to a worthwhile charity. Drywall hoarding facades are often used for the front of stores under construction, and Hoarding for Humanity has found a way to recycle this drywall by donating it to the Habitat for Humanity Canada ReStores. The following is a description from the company itself:

“Hoarding  for  Humanity is a refreshing, innovative and eco-friendly solution to hoarding. We design and install temporary construction enclosures in major shopping centres acrosssouthern Ontario. Hoarding (mainly consisting of drywall)is the third leading component in construction and demolition waste partially due to its short life span. 

Hoarding for Humanity has developed an environmentally friendly approach to the hoarding process by supporting Habitat for Humanity Canada and their nearly100 ReStores across Canada through the donation of the gently used hoarding material. 

Habitat for Humanity Canada volunteers sell new and quality used construction materialin their ReStores as part of their fundraising effort for their home building projectsfor those in need in their respective communities.  Drywall is a commodity the ReStores are in need of thus a partnership was  formed between Habitat for Humanity Canada and Hoarding for Humanity.  

To dateHoarding for Humanity and their affiliate shopping centres have donated over 213,000 sq. ft of hoarding material and have raised over $40,000 forthe Habitat For Humanity CanadaReStores and their efforts. The donated drywall weighs over 260,000 lbs and if the sheets were laid next to each other, they would stretch to the height of 19 CN Towers.  That’s a lot of CN Towers kept out of landfill.” 

Hoarding for Humanity

For more on this wonderful concept, we direct you to their website: www.hoardingforhumanity.ca

PORSCHE DESIGN OPENS ITS 2ND CANADIAN STORE LOCATION IN VANCOUVER

By
Retail Insider
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Photo: Porsche Design

Porsche Design has opened its second Canadian retail store location in Vancouver. A source tells us that the current location is only a temporary one, as there is a free standing store scheduled to open below the new Nordstrom in Vancouver’s Pacific Centre toward the latter part of 2015. 

The current, temporary Porsche Design store is located on the basement level of Hudson’s Bay, adjacent to TopShop/TopMan. A source tells us that in early 2014, Porsche Design will relocate to a dedicated space within the Hudson’s Bay store for a period of about 1.5 years, until its store below Nordstrom is completed. This permanent location will be in a 48,000 square foot expansion of Pacific Centre.

Concourse level of Vancouver’s Downtown Hudson’s Bay store, including the temporary location of Porsche Design. Note: The space indicated in light blue is currently for lease. Image: PBS Realty Advisors

For those unfamiliar, Porsche Design retails high quality, high-priced clothing, accessories, luggage, watches and various novelties. The company was founded in Germany in 1972 to compliment the Porsche motorcar business. It concentrates on product design and products are often manufactured for a limited time. Porsche Design has 11 store locations in the United States as well as one outlet mall location. It also boasts store locations worldwide and its products are also carried in various upscale international retailers. 

Porsche Design’s first Canadian store opened at 77 Bloor Street West in Toronto in the summer of 2012. The 1,600 square foot store has been popular with affluent shoppers, according to Retail Insider’s Karim Rashwan.

For a while, it appeared that Pacific Centre’s landlord was having trouble leasing the retail space located under the mall’s future Nordstrom store. We’ve been informed that some retailers have finally signed leases beneath Nordstrom, including, of course, Porsche Design. We’ll discuss some of the other new retailers at a later date.

[Porsche Design website]

RYAN KESLER AT OLD NAVY GRAND OPENING IN DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER

By
Retail Insider
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An Old Navy flagship store has just opened at the prominent intersection of Granville and Robson Streets in Downtown Vancouver. The two-floor store is actually larger than we had originally reported. In our original article in September 2012, we said that Old Navy had leased 12,365 square feet, mostly on the second level of the new 720 Robson Street building. As an update, we’ve been informed that Old Navy has leased the entire retail component of the building, comprising of about 17,400 square feet.

Original asking rents for the first and second levels of 720 Robson Street. Old Navy now occupies units 101-104, as well as unit 201. Source: CBRE

We’re not sure exactly what rent Old Navy is paying, but the ground level’s asking rent was substantially higher than that of the second floor (see image above).

Update: Old Navy occupies both retail levels of this floorplan. Plan: CBRE

The store is celebrating its grand opening on Saturday, November 16th. Vancouver Canuck Ryan Kesler will be in the store from 3:30pm to 5:30pm that day to sign autographs and be photographed. There will also be free skating at the nearby Robson Square ice rink.


RELATED:



[Old Navy website]


LOFT BY ANN TAYLOR OPENING FIRST VANCOUVER-AREA STORE

By
Craig Patterson
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Image: LOFT

LOFT by Ann Taylor opens its first Vancouver-area store today at West Vancouver’s Park Royal Shopping Centre. The 4,823 square foot store is located in a new addition to the mall’s south component, ‘Park Royal South’.

LOFT opened its first Canadian store at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre in November 2012. It subsequently opened four Ontario stores this year. LOFT is considered to be a more ‘relaxed’ and ‘younger’ version of its sister label Ann Taylor. Ann Taylor is a moderately upscale womenswear retailer. The United States has over 500 LOFT stores.

We’ll continue to keep you updated on newly announced Canadian LOFT store locations, as the company has ambitious expansion plans. 

RELATED:

[Park Royal Shopping Centre website]

[LOFT website]

Image: LOFT

NEW LARGE-SIZED DISCOUNT SHOE RETAILER, SIMILAR TO DSW, TO OPEN IN CANADA

By
Retail Insider
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[Image Source]



Sources say that The Shoe Company will open a Canadian chain of large-sized discount shoe stores, similar to America’s DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse. Lease negotiations are already underway for its first store location in suburban Toronto. The new retailer will have a new name of which we’re not yet aware. 


We’ve been told that this retailer could be compared to DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse. For those unaware, DSW is an immensely popular American shoe retailer with almost 380 store locations. It sells designer shoes at discounted prices. Stores average at around 22,000 square feet and each carries about 24,000 pairs of shoes. 


The new Canadian footwear retailer will face competition once Nordstrom Rack and Off 5th by Saks Fifth Avenue open their Canadian discount stores. If the Canadian footwear store is the same size as DSW, though, it will likely have a wider selection and more shoes than its competition. DSW stores are, in fact, almost as large as Nordstrom Rack and Off 5th stores, both of which carry not just shoes but also apparel and accessories. 


DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, itself, could still open stores in Canada. Another source tells us that the company is currently examining a Canadian retail strategy. 


One of our sources for this article is bAuHaUs of Urban Toronto. 

DESIGUAL’S 1st CANADIAN STORE FEATURES 7,000 GLASS BOTTLES

By
Retail Insider
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[Image Source]

Desigual has opened its first Canadian retail location at Downtown Montreal’s Les Cours Mont Royal. The 2,400 square foot store is impressive and features a massive display of about 7,000 glass bottles suspended from the ceiling. We’ve been told it took about four days to complete the ceiling installation.


For those unfamiliar, Desigual is a Spanish-based, moderately-priced clothing brand noted for its patchwork designs, intense prints and colourful garments. It was founded in 1984 and sells clothing and accessories for men, women and children. The company achieved 60% annual sales growth between 2002 and 2009 and is still growing very rapidly.


The Montreal store is a franchise, though the store’s merchandising and public relations are handled by the Desigual corporation. According to the business publication Les Affaires, Desigual could open stores in Toronto and possibly in other Canadian cities. A source informs us that the Montreal store is already showing stellar sales and if this trend continues, we can expect other Canadian Desigual stores.


Les Cours Mont Royal is a upscale destination shopping centre in Downtown Montreal. It was created in 1988, from a converted former hotel to retail space. It includes Montreal’s only Club Monaco and DKNY stores, and some considerably upscale retailers such as designer women’s store Ursula B. and a flagship Harry Rosen menswear store.


We’ll keep you updated if Desigual opens any more Canadian store locations.


Thank you to bAuHaUs of Urban Toronto for directing us to this article by Les Affaires (in French) as well as providing the image above.


[Les Cours Mont Royal website]


[Desigual website]

CANADA’S 1st JOHN VARVATOS STORE HAS OPENED, AND YOU COULD WIN A $1000 GIFT CARD

By
Craig Patterson
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Image: John Varvatos

Canada’s first John Varvatos store has opened at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre. The 3,600 square foot store is located in the mall’s recently expanded wing, between Canada’s first AllSaints store and the mall’s high-volume Apple Store.

As part of the store opening, Varvatos is giving away a $1,000 gift card. To enter, you can follow this link via Yorkdale Shopping Centre:  http://yorkdale.com/contest/john-varvatos

For those unfamiliar, John Varvatos is an American lifestyle menswear brand which designs, manufactures and retails high-end fashion. The company has won numerous awards and has attained a loyal customer following.

John Varvatos is in the process of a significant store expansion. It had 13 free-standing stores at the beginning of 2013 and expects to have a total of 20 by the end of 2014. 

The Yorkdale Varvatos store is located in the new wing of the mall’s most recent expansion. In November 2013, Wayne Gretzky opened the new 145,000 square foot wing which reportedly cost about $185 million. New tenants included Kate Spade, Ted Baker, Tesla Motors and Canada’s first Microsoft Store, among others.

We’ll update you on any further John Varvatos Canadian store openings, including a rumoured Vancouver store location. 

[Yorkdale Shopping Centre website]

[John Varvatos website]

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