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.
Ahead of its scheduled grand opening on August 15 of this year, developer Carbonleo has announced an initiative that will see artwork permanently placed in the retail component of Royalmount. A total of 15 works of art from 17 artists will be showcased, as part of an effort to heighten the visitor experience and further differentiate the centre from competitors.
Carbonleo says that the artists are among the “boldest local and international artists of our time”, creating a unique aesthetic and wide-ranging visual experience for guests.
Andrew Lutfy
“The art walk speaks to Royalmount’s unifying essence. We want to celebrate art, democratize it, and open it for everyone to discover,” said Andrew Lutfy, CEO of Carbonleo and co-owner of Royalmount in a statement. “People should be inspired by, enjoy, and be moved by the works of artists from here and elsewhere. By making human connections the driving force behind our initiatives, we look forward to offering the community an evolving visual experience.”
“An open-air museum visitors will find enriching, that will kindle their curiosity, their emotions, and spark discovery.”
(Left) CHIAOZZA Garden at Coachella – Photography by Colin Douglas Gray and (Right) Bivouac by Collectif Escargo
The large original art pieces will be stationed in various areas of Royalmount when it opens — the works’ titles will be unveiled this summer. To keep things fresh, Carbonleo says that additional art pieces will be added on an ongoing basis to further enrich the experience.
The art walk was made possible by a collaboration with MASSIVart, which is well-known in Montreal’s art community, to make this unprecedented art walk happen.
Claire Tousignant
“This is an incredible initiative, and thanks to Royalmount’s bold vision, we were able to bring together the most inspiring talent, both local and global, to design an art walk like no other in Montreal,” said Claire Tousignant, a partner at MASSIVart in charge of overseeing the art walk initiative. “This collection of powerfully arresting works will stimulate social connections, and together they will form an inspiring gathering place. This is how public art is at its most effective, where art and the reaction it generates meet.”
Participating artists were asked to create a series of works around the theme of Unexpected Horizons. The art walk will showcase works by Hanna Barczyk (Montreal), Nicole Beno (Toronto), Bikismo (Puerto Rico), Chiaozza (New York), Cooke-Sasseville (Quebec), Chun Hua Catherine Dong (Montreal), Collectif Escargo (Montreal), Isidro Ferrer (Spain), Cristina Mejías (Spain), Drew Merritt (Los Angeles), Zéh Palito (Brazil), Matthias Pliessnig (Rhode Island), Soft Lab (New York) and Ara Thorose (New York).
MASSIVart is also working jointly with LNDMRK and Art Souterrain to bring the art walk to fruition.
The art work will create a unique and interesting visual element to the shopping centre, which will be unlike anything in the region. The art work is part of an effort to enhance the overall visitor experience to Royalmount, with a goal of bringing in shoppers and having them return. Royalmount will compete with the downtown core as well as a handful of suburban shopping centres for customers, with Royalmount’s differentiation including its newness, brand-focused tenant mix and a range of attractions.
Royalmount’s art initiative is also likely an attempt to attract a monied visitor to the shopping centre, which will feature a roster of luxury brands not found elsewhere in Quebec. Luxury brands will cluster along a central corridor on the main floor of the shopping centre component of Royalmount, with art work located in central areas that will be visible from some of the big-brand stores. In November of 2022, Royalmount announced a roster of luxury brands secured for the retail centre that include Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., and Gucci, as well as French contemporary brands Sandro and Maje. In June of 2023, Royalmount announced further luxury brands including Saint Laurent, Versace, Jimmy Choo, David Yurman and TAG Heuer — all of which will be the first standalone locations for the Montreal market.
Rendering of the luxury wing at Royalmount — Tiffany & Co. will be in the unit with the light blue facade, with Louis Vuitton across from it. Rendering: CarbonleoRoyalmount (Image: CarbonLeo)Royalmount (Image: CarbonLeo)
In June of 2023, several Montreal-based brands were announced to be opening stores at Royalmount. They include Acuité Visuelle, Aldo, Arc’teryx, Bikini Village, Browns Shoes, Dynamite, Garage, Influenceu, Judith & Charles, La Canadienne, La Vie en Rose, Mackage, Moose Knuckles and Rudsak.
Other brands released by Carbonleo for publication include US-based Michael Kors — owned by the same parent company as Versace and Jimmy Choo. In April, newly announced retailers at Royalmount include Moncler, Longchamp, Veronica Beard, Anine Bing, Roche Bobois and Canada Goose, Zara, Nike, Mango, H&M, Alo Yoga, and Sephora.
Royalmount (Rendering: Carbonleo)Rendering of the new Rennai beauty hall at Royalmount. Image supplied.
In April, as well, details on a newly announced food hall were released. Le Fou Fou, which will span about 35,000 square feet and be run by MTB Collective. The European-style food hall will have 12 distinct culinary offerings including catering plus four bars with indoor/outdoor dining that seats over 900 guests. It’s described as being Montreal’s first food hall to combine top-tier talent, hi-touch technology and programming all year round.
The $7 billion Royalmount development, set to open in August of 2024, will be the largest project of its kind in Canadian history, according to Carbonleo. The project has been under construction since before the pandemic and in the spring of 2019 Retail Insider attended the ground-breaking of Royalmount which at the time was a former industrial site with construction equipment preparing to begin building the complex.
On Location at Royalmount (Image: MASSIVart) Image: Carbonleo
Royalmount’s first phase will include an 824,000 square foot two-level retail and lifestyle complex, which will be the first 100% carbon-neutral mixed-use development in the Americas and the largest LEED Gold retail project in Canada. Previously announced components include an aquarium and Cineplex, which will bring premium cinemas and The Rec Room entertainment concept to Royalmount.
The privately-funded Royalmount project is being developed in partnership with investor L Catterton, an investment arm of LVMH. The development will include a mix of experiences and will also be home to a three-kilometre linear park called Le Champ Libre, along with an outdoor public plaza.
Carbonleo is a privately owned, Quebec-based real estate development and management company. Founded in 2012, the company has more than 170 employees and counts several major projects to its credit, including Quartier DIX30 and the Four Seasons Montreal Hotel and Private Residences.
Underwear and apparel retailer Knix has opened six new stores since last fall, bringing its total store count to 14 now, as well as launching a wholesale initiative with products being sold in Sporting Life.
Joanna Griffiths
More store expansion is in the works and the brand is also looking at more retail partners for its wholesale strategy.
The latest two Knix stores to open were CF Market Mall in Calgary and CF Polo Park in Winnipeg.
“We’re cautiously optimistic. We’re just in the process of working through some leases but we should be opening another couple of locations in Canada this year,” said Joanna Griffiths, Founder and President of the company.
Knix (Image: Mario Toneguzzi)
“We go off the ecomm data that we have to sort of look for high penetration markets where there’s a loyal Knix following. That’s probably the first step to help us hone in on what regions and then it’s all a matter of finding the right vacancies with the right co-tenants which is the part that can have things take a little bit longer depending on what’s available.
“We have three different concepts in market right now. So Toronto Premium Outlets is our one premium outlet model. We have some community streetfront locations. So that would be for example West 4th in Kitsilano or Queen Street West in Toronto. Westboro in Ottawa. And also Robson Street (Vancouver). So we’re still looking for the right community streetfront locations. Those spots are kind of few and far between now. And beyond that we’re primarily looking at the malls and then it’s really waiting for the right real estate within the mall that has the co-tenancies and is in a good location.”
Griffiths launched Knix with the goal of transforming an underwear market that had too much frill and not enough function. A trailblazer with the creation of Leakproof Underwear, she continues to focus on listening to what people want and bringing revolutionary solutions to life.
In 2013, Knix introduced Leakproof Underwear to the world. In 2015, Knix released their first wireless bra. In 2016, Knix is the first brand to use real women–of all ages, sizes, and backgrounds–on their site. In 2017, Knix launched the first period underwear brand for teens and tweens, Kt by Knix. In 2019, Knix is the first brand to release a lingerie campaign exclusively featuring women from ages 50 to 81. And in 2022 Knix launched the first of its kind Confidence Tour, empowering people to be their most confident selves on a live runway in their intimates.
“We’re doing a lot of technology infrastructure projects at the moment to be more omnichannel but we still think that’s going to be the big unlock for us. We get over three million visitors a month to our site,” explained Griffiths. “And so if we can make it really easy for them to understand where’s the nearest store, what inventory is available in that store, that’s when I think we’ll really start to see things pick up in an even more significant way.”
Knix (Image: Mario Toneguzzi)
Beyond this year, Griffiths said more stores are planned for Knix, continuing to build in Canada and the United States. Currently, it has two stores in the U.S. in Santa Monica and in San Diego.
“We have about half of our sales coming from the U.S. right now so we still feel there’s significant upside for us to continue to build south of the border,” said Griffiths.
“Recently over the past couple of years we’ve entered into some newer categories like swimwear, activewear and so we see both retail and also strategic wholesale partners being important for us as we continue to build out those new categories.”
Griffiths said the partnership with Sporting Life is a great opportunity for Knix to promote its intimates collection as well as its activewear and swimwear because there’s a great consumer in those locations looking for those specific products.
“It’s our first (wholesale partnership) in a very long time. When I started the brand we were a wholesale first business. We did a Nordstrom pop-up program in 2019 into 2020. This is our first true wholesale partnership since then,” she said.
“We’re really looking for meaningful brand building wholesale partnerships. And so we’re having a number of conversations right now to find the right partners that make sense for the business. I think the Sporting Life partnership has proven to be a really good one for us. There’s a lot of mutual respect between both of us. We have great presence within the stores.”
The Super Bowl is the peak event of American football every year and fans all around the States give it the proper attention. Many of the football enthusiasts travel to the hosting city of the Super Bowl to watch their favorite team’s final match and potentially their win. There are several activities that people do when the Super Bowl time comes, such as hosting Super Bowl parties, trying their luck on Super Bowl betting or constantly supporting and posting their favorite team on social media.
Surely, retail companies take advantage of this interest to not only give fans the best experience ever during this huge event but also raise their profit goals. Hence, there are many sectors in retail where the sales skyrocket during the Super Bowl period.
We will show you in this article today how the Super Bowl impacts retail sales in different ways. Let’s hop on!
Food and drinks
Expectedly so, food and drinks are leading the list of the retail sector that benefit during the Super Bowl. I mean, is that even a surprise to anyone? It is pretty common to see fans watching the game in the stadium while munching on some snack or drinking their favorite beverage. It seems as if this activity has become a part of every match in other sports as well, and at this point is essential to bring something when going to the stadium.
Nevertheless, people who stay at home and decide to watch the Super Bowl from TV spend just as much on food and drinks right before the event. The party hosts spend crazy amounts at the grocery store for food, drinks and decorations. According to the National Retail Federation, the spending for Super Bowl 2024 was expected to reach $17.3 billion, or $86.04 per person. Grocery stores do look forward to the yearly Super Bowl event!
Electronics
This one might be a surprise for some readers, but people buy a lot of TVs the week before the Super Bowl. The intent behind this purchase is mainly because the better the quality of the TV, the more exciting is the whole experience. In addition to that, electronic retail shops have created “The Super Bowl Sale” where prices go down significantly and of course everyone loves a good bargain. For example, it was reported that Best Buy had TVs listed for crazy prices, where you could save up to $2500.
Rightfully so, the Super Bowl is considered as one of the best times throughout the year to buy a new TV. Getting a TV during a crazy sale is one of the best deals, especially during those inflation times that we’re living in. This trend doesn’t only help retail stores financially, but also make it possible for them to get rid of older TV models to make space for newer ones. So, it’s honestly a win-win situation for everyone involved.
Jerseys and merch
A nice jersey or some merch from one’s favorite team is also really nice to have during the Super Bowl. If you are to attend one of the Super Bowls in person you will see everyone either wearing a jersey, a hat or some sort of merch that finds them with their favorite team. Fans usually take pride in belonging to a team which made it to the Super Bowl, and that’s why they want to show it off as much as possible. Those jerseys, by the way, are not cheap at all. For example, the official store of Kansas City Chefs, which was one of the teams of Super Bowl 2024, has jerseys going from $99.99 to $369.99.
However, it should be mentioned that those stores also have crazy sales during the Super Bowl, so watch out because these prices will definitely go down right before the event. Jerseys and merch are a top purchase because you can have it also for later as well. Thus, you can make use of it as much as possible, also in other matches when your team plays. Apart from that, those items are cool, and people also wear them in their daily lives.
Conclusion
To conclude, it is true that the Super Bowl makes those retail sales go up. However, the stores also treat their customers by putting items related to the Super Bowl on sale during that period. As a result, both the stores and the customer are content. Sometimes during those sales people go crazy because they all want to get stuff while it’s still in stock and this might be a bit overwhelming for the store workers. Nevertheless, one could say that Harry Gordon Selfridge’s good old saying that “the customer is always right” still stands because most of the retail workers respect and try to best serve their customers even during chaotic times like the Super Bowl sale!
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 48 hours.
Kinton Ramen Express at 1 Richmond St W (Photo: Dustin Fuhs)
Popular food establishment brand Kinton Ramen continues to aggressively expand its footprint in Canada and is soon launching a new concept called Kinton Express in a smaller format.
Currently there are over 40 Kinton Ramen locations across Canada, United States and Japan and the first Kinton Ramen Express is scheduled to open in the coming weeks at 1 Richmond St W in Toronto.
Karalyn White
Karalyn White, Senior Director of Franchising for the Kinka Family which operates the Kinton Ramen brand, said about 10 new Kinton Ramen locations are expected to open this year.
The first Kinton Ramen opened in 2012 on Baldwin St in Toronto. Today more than half of the locations are in southern Ontario with a presence as well in Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, Victoria, Tokyo, Chicago and New York.
Kinton Ramen Express at 1 Richmond St W (Rendering: Kinton Ramen)Kinton Ramen Express at 1 Richmond St W (Rendering: Kinton Ramen)
Eli Vladimirsky, Director, Advisory & Transaction Services and Sari Samarah, President, CEO and Broker of Record for Value Insight Realty, works with the Kinka Family to handle its real estate needs.
“High density neighborhoods or areas with good daytime and evening traffic” is what Value Insight Realty looks for when scouting out potential locations for Kinton Ramen.
“Ramen is something you can enjoy during lunch or dinner,” he said. “Our ideal size for a typical Kinton Ramen is about 1,800 to 2,200 square feet with dine in, with an average of 50 seats. We do have stores that are larger and smaller but that’s the typical size.
“For the Express concept that we’re starting and have implemented into some locations, we can go as low as 500 to 600 square feet for a food court or even as small as 1,000 to 1,500 square feet.”
Kinton Ramen Express at 1 Richmond St W (Rendering: Kinton Ramen)
White said the Express will offer a quicker version of getting the noodles with self-serve kiosks.
“1 Richmond is going to be our flagship express store that will have a smaller seating area without table service and with emphasis on grab and go, take-out and delivery.” she said.
As Kinton Ramen expands its footprint, it will expand with both full size locations and the Express versions.
“If we go to enclosed malls, airports, The Path or destinations in more urban territories like the heart of downtown it would make sense to do an Express version. In Japan, it’s quite popular to actually go and have ramen and stand, eat and go. So the idea of quick served ramen is already popular around the world. For us to implement that here – the plan would not be every Kinton Ramen – but where it would work and make sense we would want to implement this version,” said Samarah, adding that it would be a faster food option at a quality offering.
“In the food courts we’ve seen over the years and for fast food options, there’s good quality options but if we can take the Kinton Ramen dining experience and bring it in a faster, casual atmosphere then it becomes fine casual dining.”
Kinton Ramen at One York (Photo: Dustin Fuhs)Kinton Ramen at 396 Church Street (Photo: Dustin Fuhs)
White said there has been a demand from franchisees and from guests for the new concept.
“We’re able to go into various types of real estate opportunities,” she said.
White said two locations for the brand have been signed for Calgary to open in 2025 and the company is on the hunt for more locations in Calgary and in Edmonton.
“We’re also expanding all over Canada. In Quebec, Ottawa, as well as potentially in the Maritimes, Saskatchewan, Winnipeg. We’re working on expansion to those markets,” added Samarah. “And we believe that Kinton Ramen in the next few years will have 100 stores in Canada at the current pace of growth we are experiencing.”
In recent years, with an increasing focus on health and fitness, Canada has seen a shift in beverage preferences, with tea emerging as a popular choice. While coffee still dominates many morning routines, tea is being embraced as a drink for any time of the day. Daniel Lewis, co-founder of PEKOE.LIFE, discusses the evolving tea landscape, highlighting consumer trends, innovation, and the future of tea in Canada.
Image: Daniel Lewis
“I am very happy to see the tea industry in Canada growing, with people becoming more receptive to exploring different teas. Right now, you are really seeing a big push towards ethical and sustainable tea brands, showing me that Canadians are really interested about not just the tea, but where it comes from and who is producing it. We are starting to really just emphasize those stories,” says Lewis.
This change in consumer habits is because of the increase of diverse tea options. Lewis says as Canadian tea drinkers are no longer limited to the supermarket, they can explore teas from around the world, brought to them locally by brands.
Lewis is noticing a shift in consumer tastes from sugary, flavoured teas to a preference for the natural qualities of tea leaves: “Consumers are increasingly seeking authentic, high-quality teas that offer genuine taste of their origins.”
Consumers are increasingly looking for teas with natural tastes, authentic, and high-quality.
For newcomers to tea, Lewis recommends starting with flavours that are similar yet authentic: “If you are transitioning from coffee, try a robust black tea. If you prefer lighter, herbal flavours, start with a genuine Japanese green tea.”
Lewis says going forward, consumers will have more mature palates, driving the demand for more specialized high-quality tea offerings. Lewis says this would bring more people to steer away from mass-produced blends to more artisanal selections, supporting more small-scale tea farmers and sustainable farming practices globally.
“Consumers are not just buying a beverage; they are exploring a piece of the world with each sip and they are curious about where it comes from. Each of these places offer a distinct narrative that is expressed through the flavour of its tea, providing a sensory journey that is as enriching as it is enjoyable.”
Lewis emphasises the importance of storytelling and consumer engagement in connecting with tea brands.
“Storytelling is number one for us. We invite consumers to learn more about the tea and how we are ‘people expressing kindness over everything.’ This opens the door for us to share impactful stories about our ethical initiatives and the communities we support.”
Storytelling also enhances the consumer’s shopping experience, engagement, and loyalty while exploring different teas.
“Every package of tea we sell tells a story, not just about the tea itself, but about the people behind it. When our customers buy our tea, they learn more about the background of where the tea is coming from, who is making it, and how we support communities such as our partnership with farms in Malawi.”
To bring tea stories to life, Pekoe uses digital platforms such as its website and social media channels to share stories visually and through content. Lewis says this allows consumers to understand the process of tea making, the people behind the tea, and how their purchase impacts the community – bringing trust to the brand, showing how it is sustainable, and increasing success as they are not just telling, but showing what is happening.
Ethical and sustainable practices
Pekoe (Image: Pekoe.Life)
As the demand for tea grows in Canada, so does the interest in its ethical and sustainable sourcing.
“Ethical and sustainable tea sourcing means ensuring fair wages for tea farmers and good living conditions. It is about verifying the journey from the moment the tea is plucked till it ends up in your cup and make sure everyone is treated fairly.”
Pekoe’s commitment to being ethical and sustainable extends to its partnerships, such as a tea farm in Malawi, which supports local communities by providing daycare for workers with children – bringing social benefits into business.
“You can’t just claim your product is sustainable – you have to prove it. We are seeing companies use technologies like Blockchain to ensure transparency and traceability from farm to cup. This approach allows every consumer to see the entire journey of their purchase, not just where it comes from, but how every step contributes to ethical practices. By embedding this technology into our supply chain, we are not only providing a window into the path of the tea, but also ensuring that every hand involved, from the tea pickers to the packers, is recognized and rewarded fairly. This level of transparency is what today’s consumers expect and it is what will set apart the brands in the future.”
AI and robotics
Looking ahead, Lewis is excited about integrating technology to enhance the consumer experience.
“We use AI to make personalized recommendations, simplifying the shipping process and ensuring satisfaction by aligning products with individual tastes. AI helps us guide consumers through our extensive selection, making personalized recommendations based on their preferences and past interactions. This not only simplifies the buying process, but also enhances customer satisfaction by closely matching products to individual tastes.”
Lewis also anticipates the potential for robotic tea cafes, which would further personalize the experience: “Looking ahead, we might see robotic tea cafes where machines prepare your perfect cup of tea, programmed to your preferences, available at the touch of a button.”
These technologies will offer tea brands to engage with consumers, personalizing experiences, and streamline the process. As these innovations continue to evolve, Lewis says it promises to increase personalization and accessible tea-drinking experiences to consumers and potentially transform the tea industry for the future.
Simplifying the brew
Pekoe (Image: Pekoe.Life)
In an effort to make tea as convenient as coffee, Pekoe is introducing high-quality, single-use tea bags filled with premium loose leaf teas – without compromising the tea quality.
“We are introducing high-quality tea leaves in convenient, single-use bags. This allows consumers to enjoy the full flavour and health benefits of loose leaf teas with the ease of a tea bag. Our goal is to bridge the gap between convenience and quality – it will bring ease and speed.”
Lewis says the new tea bags will be available in the upcoming quarter and will cater to those who have a busy lifestyle who may not have time for traditional tea brewing: “We understand mornings are rushed and people are looking for quick options, good tea doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming.” The new concept, Lewis says, will challenge the outdated thoughts on tea and will hopefully introduce more people to the beverage.
Additionally, Lewis is eager to change perceptions about tea, promoting its health benefits.
“Tea is more than just a soothing drink; it offers a range of health benefits, from reducing stress with black tea to anti-aging properties from the antioxidants in green tea. Green tea for example is packed with powerful antioxidants, which helps combat aging. These antioxidants are also linked with lower risk of heart disease and can enhance metabolism. Each variety of tea brings its own unique set of health benefits, making tea not only a delightful beverage choice, but a smart one for maintaining good health overall.”
Through these innovations and educational efforts, Lewis is aiming to transform how Canadians think about and consume tea, making it a healthier, easier, and ethical choice for today’s consumer.
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 48 hours.
Anatomy of a Leader: Jean-Christophe Bédos, President and CEO of Maison Birks
When Jean-Christophe Bédos was going to university in Europe, he was very interested in law and intellectually very stimulated by it.
But when he finished his law studies in Paris, Bédos got a part-time job with luxury retail brand Cartier in Paris.
“I completed my law degree and then they offered me a job. That’s exactly when I thought okay I will probably not be a lawyer, let me try this. And the rest is history because I’ve stayed in the luxury industry ever since,” said Bédos, President and CEO of Maison Birks.
Image: Jean-Christophe Bédos
At the head office of Cartier, he was working in product development for luxury watches. It included brand management, merchandising, marketing and communication.
“This is where I made my way through the world of Cartier and luxury goods. Retail came later as I became Managing Director of Cartier in France and then I moved on to become the CEO of Boucheron, another great jeweler in Paris. This is when retail came on my radar.”
Bédos was born in Morocco but he was raised in France from when he was two years old. His father was a judge, working with the justice ministries in Morocco and France. In France, Bédos grew up in Toulouse, which is in the southwest part of France.
He has a Sloan MSc in Strategy & Business Management from London Business School. Law degree from Paris Sorbonne University. Business Administration degrees from Nottingham and Toulouse Business Schools.
But Bédos was drawn to the luxury retail side of business.
“The products were exceptionally beautiful. Very carefully manufactured. High quality. Precious materials. Precious metals. Precious stones. And the history, the heritage of those brands. In retail, the whole point is to translate to the consumer the brand essence and the style and character of the brand so that the brand experience in the store reflects what the brand is about. Its philosophy, its values and retail has to make sense from that point of view. It cannot just be a store. It has to be a store that expresses all the attributes of the brand,” he said.
Image: Jean-Christophe Bédos
Bédos became President and CEO of Birks in 2012, joining the leading manufacturer and retailer of prestigious jewelry and timepieces since 1879 in Canada.
He said he wasn’t brought up in luxury as a child but discovered luxury with his first job at Cartier.
“My parents were not consumers of luxury brands but my mother was very sensitive to aesthetics because she had a spa in Toulouse with a beauty salon and she used to subscribe to every ladies’ magazine you can think of. So as a kid I grew up watching all those fashion magazines and women magazines. It was part of my family. On the coffee table. Whether it was Elle or Vogue or many different magazines, I grew up looking at those pages which inspired me a lot because they were magnificent couture and makeup and beauty,” he said.
“But luxury goods as such like watches and jewelry I discovered later only when I worked with Cartier and then Boucheron. This was an area I got very much inspired. And I’m still working with watches and jewelry today with Birks because in my view there’s a lot of substance in those brands.
“Quality is a must for luxury watches and jewelry. But what really inspired me was the history, the essence of the design, the inspiration. The design language for each brand is very specific to every brand. When you look at the culture around those brands, heritage, design language, brand personality, the brand essence, all of this is very coherent when you look at Cartier or Boucheron. Those fabulous brands with immense history have become legends because they have been very coherent in their expressions and in their striving for excellence. There is always, always a distinction. You can identify a Cartier watch or a Cartier piece of jewelry just at a glance. Same as Rolex. All the great brands have that strength in them. It’s not a coincidence. It all comes from a very, very robust and meticulous obsession for expressing the brand, the brand values, and style and character. Brand management in the luxury goods industry is extremely deep and profound.”
Image: Jean-Christophe Bédos
Bédos said leaders in the luxury space, beyond all the necessary qualifications and experience, also need to have a high sensitivity to history, culture, style and beauty.
“If you are indifferent to those things I don’t think you can be successful in the luxury goods industry,” he said. “You have to be able to be emotionally moved by those products and it’s not just about managing the PNL (profit and loss), managing the balance sheet and the cash flow statement. It’s not only about that.”
When asked to describe his leadership style, Bédos said he is collaborative, especially when he moved to Canada. It’s one of the qualities of Canadian management. He’s learned that here.
“I’ve become definitely a team player, consulting my team, listening to my team and as a CEO I sometimes say I work for them rather than them working for me,” he said.
Image: Jean-Christophe Bédos
Drawing on an analogy with acupuncture, Bédos said a needle is put where there is a need for the energy to flow and those spots have been identified by the health practitioner because there is an absence of energy flow.
“And I like to believe that the CEO has that role. I only intervene and I only plant the needles where there is a need for a flow of energy, communication, initiative and in project management I don’t believe that the CEO should be omnipotent and always there with authority. Sometimes the CEO should listen, sometimes the CEO should not necessarily be present. When everything goes well, why interfere?
“I believe Chinese medicine is quite inspiring from that point of view. The CEO is the acupuncture of the company’s energy.”
Image: Jean-Christophe Bédos
Bédos loves to spend time with his family when he’s not working. He loves simple things like cycling, hiking, gardening, music, dinners with friends, art, going to the cinema and opera and classical music.
“We are foodies. We go to restaurants a lot. So I am busy. I am never bored,” he said.
“I think there are phases in life when you can be dedicated to your job and be a workaholic and I’ve had those years especially at the beginning of my career when I would be working 16, 18 hours a day. But those years are gone and I consider that in a job like mine it’s about people, it’s about managing people. You have to interact with people. It’s not just about numbers.
“In a job like mine also because we deal with luxury brands it’s important to be nourished with culture, with trends and be exposed to what’s happening, going to exhibitions, museums, going to see the latest films in the cinema. It’s important because we sell culture. Luxury goods are part of our modern culture and you can’t be disconnected from that.”
The Pier Bar at the Wellington Market in Toronto. Photo supplied
The Wellington Market food hall has opened at The Well in downtown Toronto, which is expected to significantly increase the vibrancy and overall foot traffic in the new 7.6-acre mixed-use complex. The Well opened to the public in November of 2023, and the Wellington Market is considered to be a key component to its ongoing success.
Currently the first phase of the Wellington Market is open to the public, having about 35 tenants. Included is a small grocery market with fresh fruit and various other convenience items, as well as sit-down and vendor stalls featuring a range of food and beverage offerings.
When the market is completed, which includes a yet-to-be-revealed second phase, its capacity will be 3,400 people in a 70,000 square foot area that is fully liquor-licensed. The fully accessible environment will have 900 seats and will house over 50 vendors.
The Well in Toronto, photo suppliedThe Wellington Market at The Well in Toronto. Photo Supplied
“Creating the ideal mix of merchants resulted from a thoughtful, curated, and strategic process informed by extensive culinary research and outreach beyond Toronto’s borders,” said Oliver Harrison, SVP of Leasing and Tenant Experience at RioCan REIT. “This collection of food options cannot be found under one roof anywhere in the city. It pays tribute to the city’s rich culinary history and offers an inspiring balance of new and well-known staples to its food scene.”
The Pier Bar, located at the heart of the Wellington Market, references the shores of Lake Ontario that once came up to Front Street where The Well is located. The Pier has a signature cocktail called The Well 76, referencing the site’s 7.6 acre size.
Other new tenants in the Wellington Market include Vancouver-based Japadog, which opened its first Toronto location at the Wellington Market selling Japadog’s popular Japanese-inspired hot dog. Rosie’s Burgers was founded by three brothers in 2020 with a range of food, and La Cubana is a Cuban food concept also featuring cocktails.
The Wellington Market at The Well in Toronto. Photo SuppliedThe Wellington Market at The Well in Toronto. Photo Supplied
GPA Architects designed the space, which was intended to be a “European-inspired” and “authentic” market experience with energy and excitement. Reclaimed wood from the original site is used throughout the Wellington Market, and oil drums were repurposed to create lighting fixtures.
The Wellington Market is expected to significantly increase the vibrancy of the retail component of The Well. The retail podium was unveiled to the public about six months ago, and since then some have commented about a lack of vibrancy while revelling in the dramatic architecture. The Wellington Market was carefully designed with numerous entrances, including a series of folding glass walls that open to create seamless transitions to the lower ground level of The Well’s Retail Walk, creating a seasonally open-air experience.
A variety of events, workshop, meetings and culinary experiences will be held at the Wellington Market throughout the year, including in its event venue which spans about 5,000 square feet.
The Wellington Market at The Well in Toronto. Photo SuppliedThe Wellington Market at The Well in Toronto. Photo Supplied
The Well will serve the about 11,000 residents and employees who will live and work on-site, as well as about 80,000 residents living within walking distance — many of those order take-out food weekly and represent an important potential consumer base for The Well and the Wellington Market. About 22,000 daily visitors are expected at The Well.
Twelve new restaurants have opened on the perimeter of The Well, some featuring outdoor patios which are already busy as the warmer summer months are finally upon us. Several of the restaurants line Wellington Street while at the top of the 8 Spadina Tower is Area, a restaurant on the 38th floor with stunning views of the city. On Front Street is the first Canadian location for New York City-based Prince Street Pizza.
The Well is a joint venture between RioCan REIT and Allied Properties REIT. Bordering Front, Spadina and Wellington Streets, it is a mixture of retail, commercial and residential space in downtown Toronto that includes 1.2 million square feet of office space and 320,000 square feet of retail and food service. It also has 1,700 residential units spread throughout six purpose-built rental and condominium buildings, plus one office building connected to a three-level Retail Walk.
Additional photos of the Wellington Market at The Well in Toronto:
The Wellington Market at The Well in Toronto. Photo SuppliedThe Wellington Market at The Well in Toronto. Photo SuppliedThe Wellington Market at The Well in Toronto. Photo Supplied
