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Endy Announces First Physical Store in Toronto’s CF Sherway Gardens [Interview]

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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Endy at CF Sherway Gardens (Rendering: Endy)

Canadian-made mattress company Endy, which since its launch in 2015 has developed its brand as an online retailer, is now moving into traditional retail space with the launch of its first retail store at CF Sherway Gardens in Toronto in early November.

Endy’s expansion into omnichannel retail is a reflection of its impressive growth and broad brand awareness that will resonate with consumers while creating new opportunities for product education and demonstrations, said the company. 

Alexandra Voyevodina-Wang

Alexandra Voyevodina-Wang, Endy President and General Manager, said “there are a few mattress stores already in the mall and the mall’s known for a fairly high foot traffic so we’re happy to be joining that group.

“We’re very customer focused and we always have been as part of our DNA. And we recognize that some customers just prefer to shop in person and we think it would be really complementary to our ecommerce presence to have a specific location where people can touch and feel and interact with our product in person and check out however they wish – whether they choose to go home and check out online or take the products right there with them.”

Image: CF Sherway Gardens
Future Endy at CF Sherway Gardens (Image provided)

At the end of 2018, Sleep Country Canada acquired Endy.

Endy has worked with a handful of partners over the years such as Indigo but it never offered its entire collection in those stores.

“We’ve seen immense growth since the ecommerce started to pick up as a result of the pandemic and as a result of adoption of ecommerce,” said Voyevodina-Wang. “And we’ve seen some continued success and we’re really proud of all the products and all the mattresses that we’ve been able to get into Canadian homes and getting more Canadians sleeping better on their Endys.

“We’re really excited about this next phase of a more traditional retail footprint because we are very excited about even more Canadians being close to our brand.”

The first store will open November 9 at CF Sherway Gardens in about 1,000 square feet of space. It is located through Entrance 5. Some stores that Endy is located by are Casper, Adidas and MAC.

“We’re really excited to see how this one does. We’re going to listen to our customers and we hope to grow from there and continue to expand and bring the physical feel and experience of Endy across the country,” said Voyevodina-Wang. 

“It does feel like it’s a starting point. Sherway specifically does have high foot traffic which we’re excited about and it’s also in one of our largest markets the GTA so it felt like the right place to start. But we do believe it’s just the beginning.

“We will be showcasing all of our mattresses, all of our accessories and we will be testing out some new exciting products in-store specifically and looking for customer feedback on those.”

Image: Endy
Image: Endy

She said the brand continues to resonate with consumers because of a balance between the quality of product it has introduced at a price point that is accessible to many Canadians and the trust the brand has built.

“We really engage with our customers and we really listen to feedback and make sure that we can continue to bring forward products that resonate with the Canadian market,” she said. “We also develop all our products for the Canadian market specifically and I think that shows.”

Voyevodina-Wang said Endy works collaboratively together with its parent company Sleep Country.

“There’s obviously a lot of similarities and a lot of differences between the businesses and I think we’re lucky to have a parent that allows us to continue to operate independently and continue to build the Endy brand very separately from Sleep Country,” she said. 

New MEC CEO Peter Hlynsky Discusses the Retailer’s Growth Plans [Feature Interview]

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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Image: MEC

Peter Hlynsky, who has moved into the role of Chief Executive Officer of MEC (Mountain Equipment Company), has great plans to grow the retailer’s footprint across Canada in the coming years.

Peter Hlynsky CEO Mountain Equipment Company in front of MEC sign.

Hlynsky has taken over the role from Eric Claus, who was instrumental in steering the iconic Canadian retailer through its transition from co-op to company, as well as through the industry disruption of the COVID pandemic.

Hlynsky has been with the company since November 2020 and as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer over that time, played a major part in the transition of reinforcing MEC’s focus on people, product, sustainability, and community, while re-organizing the business to thrive in a modern retail environment.

“We’re looking for stores across Canada both within our existing markets within the Greater Vancouver Area, within the Calgary area, within Toronto and Montreal. Think about where we are in those markets. There’s still a lot of opportunity in those markets,” he said.

MEC Vancouver (Image: MEC)

“And there’s also a lot of white space in other markets outside of those that we’re looking at . . . Within cities or towns, we can be anywhere. We’re a destination location. So we don’t need to be main on main. We can be off main and so drive a lot of traffic to our stores.

“In the next five years, we’d love to have 40 standalone stores.”

The company currently has 22 standalone stores and three stores within The Bay stores. Those three are at Square One, Yorkdale and Queen Street.

MEC in Moncton, New Brunswick (Image: MEC)

The last standalone store opened in Moncton in August.

“I think we’re continuing to evaluate where we put our resources right now and right now there’s a lot of opportunity for new standalone stores. And a lot has come to market with a lot of retailers faltering over the last year or so, so there’s a lot of boxes that fit our bill right now that we’re looking at,” said Hlynsky. 

He said a new store is opening in BC next, with details coming soon. 

“And we’ve got a lead on a couple that are out in the Ontario market as well,” he added.

“We prefer 20,000 to 30,000 square feet. Our average store is about 22,000 square feet. Right in that space is perfect for us.”

MEC at Square One Shopping Centre (Image: MEC)

Hlynsky said about a third of the retailer’s stores are standalone on their own within a complex, a group of them are within a power centre. Other than The Bay locations, MEC doesn’t have any mall locations. 

“Malls are a bit more of a challenge for us because we need big space and it’s hard to carry a kayak through a mall,” he said. “So we tend to be in more power centre type locations where basically people can park pretty close to the front door so they can bring their gear out and not have to transport it through a large area.

“In the past three years we have grown the business through a period of unpredictability in the marketplace, overhauled operations systems, opened new stores and this month we are completing the move to a new, larger distribution centre in Western Canada. Importantly, beyond our walls, we have regained brand trust with our long- time members and new brand fans, as evidenced by the Gustavson Brand Trust Index. We know MEC has always been held to a high standard and it has been three years of passion, dedication and hard work from our staff across the country to get us here today. It is my honour to lead our teams into the next chapter of MEC.”

Established in 1971, Mountain Equipment Company (MEC) is Canada’s go-to place for technical outdoor gear, know-how and inspiration. Combining high-quality apparel and equipment with expert advice and first-hand experience. MEC was recognized as Canada’s Most Trusted Brand for 2023 by the The Gustavson Brand Trust Index, reflecting the company’s long-term commitment to fostering trust by delivering exceptional customer experiences, and offering unparalleled value on affordable, quality outdoor gear.

Hlynsky said today’s consumer is very price conscious right now, looking for deals and waiting for deals to happen.

“We’re trying to get ahead of that by having deals in the store all the time and we’re working with the vendor community that has a lot of inventory to bring product in, have lower prices and have deals every single day. Really drive the daily deal,” he said.

Interior image of Toronto’s Queen Street MEC store. Photo: MEC

Claus will remain on the MEC board in an advisory capacity.

“I am really proud of our whole team and what has been accomplished over the last three years, and I know that Peter is the right leader to carry MEC forward,” said Claus. “He understands MEC’s values, culture and has the acumen and experience to ensure continued financial stability and sustained growth. I could not be more confident in MEC’s next phase of growth under Peter’s stewardship.”

Hlynsky has been a member of MEC since 1995. Some of his adventures include ski touring in Canada, hiking in the Andes, rafting the Amazon River, diving off Fiji, surfing in California, and lots of kayaking through Desolation Sound and the Gulf Islands.

Growing up on the North Shore near Vancouver, he has fond memories of riding his 1990s rigid mountain bike wearing hockey equipment as padding (gear has come a long way). These days, you can find him and his wife introducing their three kids to his favourite old trails in the mountains.

“We’re not looking to deviate too much from our core ethos. The people in our business have always been important, the product has always been important and being a very sustainable environment and socially conscious organization is key to what we’re trying to do,” he said. “I think the big thing for us is over the last three years we’ve really invested in our IT infrastructure and our people which will allow us now to basically drive the business forward with new innovative technologies and things that will let us really bring more value to the consumer.”

Canadian Consumer Confidence Hits Six-Year Low Ahead of Holiday Shopping Season, Leger Survey Finds [Interviews]

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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Image: Bank of Canada

A new survey by Leger indicates consumer confidence in the economy and in people’s household finances continues to erode which is not good news for retailers as they head into the busiest shopping season of the year.

Andrew Enns

“Relentless affordability pressures are affecting Canadians’ view of the economy. Two-thirds say the current state of the economy is poor and almost half say it will likely be worse six months from now. With this in mind, there is no surprise that almost a third of households will cut back on discretionary spending. This is not good news for retailers as we head into the holiday season,” said Andrew Enns, Executive Vice-President, Central Canada, for Leger.

Steve Mossop

“Rising interest rates and inflation have affected every Canadian to the point where economic confidence is at an all-time low in six plus years of tracking, and high housing prices exacerbate the situation …Unfortunately, there is not a silver lining in the outlook as there is nothing on the immediate horizon that will change consumer perceptions,” said Steve Mossop, Executive Vice-President, Western Canada, for Leger.

Some highlights of the study include:

  • Confidence in the national economy continues to erode. 66 per cent of Canadians say that their confidence in the national economy is poor or very poor;
  • Inflation remains the most important issue for Canadians. 24 per cent now believe that it is the most important issue, an increase of three points from August 2022. Housing affordability comes second, with 17 per cent of Canadians believing that it is the most important;
  • Confidence in current household finances continues to decline as well. 39 per cent of Canadians think that their household finances are poor or very poor, an increase of four percentage points since January 2023;
  • 32 per cent of Canadians expect that their discretionary spending will be lower in the next six months;
  • Predictions about discretionary spending reveal that more Canadians plan to pull back than spend more. This is poised to affect many spending categories, with the restaurant, electronics/computers, and clothing/footwear/accessories sectors to be potentially hit hardest; and
  • 23 per cent of Canadians think their household’s finances will decline in the future, while 15 per cent think they will improve. These perceptions are consistent across the country.

Mossop said the survey indicated a level of pessimism by Canadians on every level.

“If you look at some of the key indicators, whether it’s perceptions of the national economy, perceptions of their personal finances, spending intentions, worry, all of them are at all-time highs or all-times lows in almost every category. So it’s quite a dire situation that I haven’t seen for quite a while in my career,” he said.

Leger Canadian Economic Confidence Fall 2023

Mossop said three of the top four issues facing Canadians relate to economics. 

“And that hasn’t always been the case. Inflation is number one, housing affordability is number two, we’ve got health care number three and rising interest rates at number four. Followed by climate change. The economy is front and centre. Even pre-COVID it wasn’t the case that the economy really ran the gamut as far as the number of people that think about it on a top of mind basis.”

Mossop said household finances are a slightly different picture. The number of Canadians who say their household finances are in good or very good shape is 58 per cent. But it’s a reversal when you look at the state of the economy with 66 per cent who say it’s poor or very poor and just under 30 per cent who say it’s good or very good. 

“But even with those numbers the 58 per cent, the household finances, that’s down from an all-time high coming out of COVID, the economy was booming and in January 2022, 68 per cent said their household finances were in great shape.

“Often when we get to the what we call the bottom of the cycle and consumer perceptions, we tend to see glimpses of the horizon in the future. This time we don’t. It’s really quite shocking. The percentage of Canadians who think the Canadian economy will decline in the next six months is 47 per cent. Only 11 per cent think it will improve. That 47 per cent is the lowest I have here since March 2017.”

Leger Canadian Economic Confidence Fall 2023

Mossop said only 15 per cent of Canadians say their household finances are going to improve while 23 per cent say they will decline.

“The reason for this is really the lag effect of interest rates on mortgage holders. If we look across the country, we’ve got about 40 per cent of Canadians who have a mortgage of any type and of that in the mid-40’s (per cent) are on a variable rate. So what you’re seeing in this lag effect is as people renew their mortgages or anticipate the renewal of their mortgage they see themselves as being in the future worse off,” he said. 

Mossop said some categories of spending stand out including travel with 20 per cent saying they are going to spend more this year on travel. Health and wellness, electronics and computers are also high on the list of spending. 

Eataly Announces 3rd Toronto Location for CF Shops at Don Mills 

By
Craig Patterson
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CF Shops at Don Mills (Image: Cadillac Fairview)

Large-format Italian food marketplace Eataly will open its third Toronto location next year at the CF Shops at Don Mills, following the opening of a second storefront in the city on November 2 at CF Sherway Gardens. With three locations, Toronto will boast more Eataly locations than any city in in North America. 

The CF Shops at Don Mills Eataly will open in the first half of 2024, according to the company, and few details have been released at this time. A building application with the City of Toronto shows that Eataly will occupy at least two retail spaces, combining a 5,892 square foot corner space and a 3,898 square foot space as per the building application/plan below. The combined space spans almost 9,800 square feet.

The CF Shops at Don Mills open-air lifestyle centre is owned and operated by Cadillac Fairview, and serves an affluent population in North York that includes wealthy areas such as The Bridle Path. 

Image: CF Shops at Don Mills

The North York location follows the opening of Eataly at CF Sherway Gardens on November 2, which is the second Eataly location for the Toronto market. The CF Sherway Gardens Eataly spans about 25,000 square feet and is located next to a large retail space that is currently occupied by a Saks Fifth Avenue store.

Eataly’s first Canadian location opened in downtown Toronto’s Bloor-Yorkville area at the Manulife Centre in November of 2019, just before the pandemic. The 55,000 square foot expansive space spans three levels and includes several restaurants as well as various food offerings, including groceries. 

Eataly Il Mercato at CF Sherway Gardens (Image: Eataly)

More Eataly locations could open in Canada, though nothing has been confirmed. There are rumours in the industry that Eataly has been in negotiations to open a location in a prominent retail space in downtown Vancouver. Eataly has also said that it has its sights set on Montreal if the right space can be found.  

Wittington Investments is a partner in Eataly Canada, owning a share of the business. Wittington is owned by the Weston family, and has assets across classes ranging from real estate to retail. That includes the luxury retail chain Holt Renfrew in Canada. 

According to Eataly’s North American CEO, Tommaso Brusò, Toronto has been a strong market for Eataly. The downtown location is the only one in North America offering three styles of regional pizza, and is the first in North America to host an after-hours Eataly tasting experience. It’s also the first city where Eataly has collaborated with local partners, from chocolatiers to honey producers, to create only-in-toronto house-made limited-time products. 

Eataly Toronto (Image: Eataly)

Eataly has almost 50 locations globally. Only Tokyo will have more locations than Toronto in 2024, with the Japanese city having four Eataly locations including one within a department store. Dubai also has three Eataly locations. 

In the United States, Eataly operates two storefronts in New York City, as well as individual locations in Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Dallas, and San Jose, California. 

We’ll follow up on this story when more details on the CF Shops at Don Mills Eataly location are revealed. 

First Look: Eataly Expands Its Canadian Footprint with 2nd Toronto Location at CF Sherway Gardens [Interview/Photos]

By
Dustin Fuhs
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Eataly CF Sherway Gardens (Image: Eataly)

In a significant move that underscores Canada’s evolving gourmet marketplace, Eataly is set to launch its second Toronto location at CF Sherway Gardens on November 2nd. This 25,000 square-foot Italian culinary experience, following on the heels of its successful 2019 Bloor-Yorkville venture at the Manulife Centre, underpins Eataly’s bullish sentiment on the Canadian market.

Tommaso Brusò

“The store at Sherway Gardens is special, marking Toronto as one of the rare North American cities to host more than one of our locations, said Tommaso Brusò, CEO of Eataly North America. “Toronto’s appetite for authentic Italian gastronomy has been overwhelming, and our expansion here reflects that enthusiasm.

“Sherway Gardens was a natural second location for us in Canada. The mall itself opens the door to conveniently reach new audiences, with access to customers coming from Oakville, Mississauga, Brampton and more. Our first store in Toronto has the density of the Yorkville neighbourhood, while Sherway Gardens will see us hosting customers primarily in a drive market and who are looking for a high-quality experience closer to home. CF Sherway Gardens has undergone a beautiful transformation in recent years, and the customer experience has a high bar – we knew this would be the right audience for us.”

“Restaurants are a big priority for us at this location. We have two restaurants, Il Pastaio and La Pizza & La Pasta. Il Pastaio is a fresh pasta concept that we originally launched in in New York City at Eataly Flatiron and it offers fresh, housemade pasta, prepared daily by Eataly’s very own pastai — or pasta makers. La Pizza e La Pasta is the same concept that the GTA has come to know and love from our Yorkville location, with a higher number of tables to meet demand and a dedicated private dining room.”

Mercato Di Eataly at CF Sherway Gardens (Image: Eataly)
Eataly CF Sherway Gardens (Image: Eataly)

Sherway Gardens as Eataly’s Newest Home

Eataly’s choice of CF Sherway Gardens for its expansion was deliberate. The shopping centre, having recently undergone a significant transformation, offers a combination of diverse clientele and a premium shopping environment. Its southeast corridor, where Eataly is located, aims to become a hotspot for culinary aficionados while expanding the tenant mix to include a destination that mixes experiential with essentials.

Salvatore (Sal) Iacono

“At Cadillac Fairview, nothing is more important than creating a dynamic retail mix complemented by compelling dining experiences, and our partnership with Eataly is a perfect reflection of what we strive to offer,” said Sal Iacono, EVP of Operations and the incoming CEO at Cadillac Fairview.

In addition to the opening of Eataly at CF Sherway Gardens on November 2nd, the centre has welcomed a number of retailers, including:

  • Endy will be opening its first store in the first week of November
  • Kiokii will be open on November 1st
  • Solmaz opening in November

    Recently opened retailers include:
  • Hatley – May 2023
  • Claire’s – May 2023
  • Studio Dental – May 2023
  • Swatch – May 2023
  • Knix – Pop up Store June 2023
  • Fox Home – Opened July 2023
  • Real Fruit Bubble Tea – Sept 2023
Il Gran Caffe at Eataly CF Sherway Gardens (Image: Eataly)
La Pizza e La Pasta at Eataly CF Sherway Gardens (Image: Eataly)

When Eataly launched at the Manulife Centre on Bloor Street in downtown Toronto in November of 2019, it introduced its distinct experiential approach to the Canadian audience. Four years on, a new Canadian location offers Eataly an opportunity to refine and adapt its strategies.

“When we opened the first store in Canada, we understood that the Toronto market is a renowned food city for a reason – there is an elevated understanding and appreciation for cuisine and a strong base knowledge, in particular, of Italian cuisine,” said Brusò. “This was reinforced over the last four years, and the city’s love for unique experiences has pushed us to raise our own bar.”

“Yorkville is the only store in North America where we offer three styles of regional pizza. It’s the first city in North America where we hosted an after-hours Eataly tasting experience. It’s the first city where we have collaborated with local partners, from chocolatiers to honey producers, to create only-in-Toronto, housemade limited-time products.”

“We also learned there is an appetite for Eataly and high-quality Italian products across Canada. In 2020, we launched our nationwide e-commerce platform. Within Toronto, we’re able to ship almost our entire catalogue. Across Canada, we can ship anything from our dry market – and we’ve been encouraged to see orders come in from Victoria to St. John’s to Yellowknife.”

Eataly CF Sherway Gardens (Image: Eataly)
Il Pastaio at Eataly CF Sherway Gardens (Image: Eataly)

Eataly’s Vision Beyond CF Sherway Gardens

With the CF Sherway Gardens location soon to be operational, Eataly is already plotting its next moves. A third Toronto location at CF Don Mills is on the cards for 2024, further cementing Eataly’s commitment to the Canadian market. Retail Insider will be covering that announcement in further detail in a separate article.

“It’s an exciting time for Eataly,” said Brusò. “In Canada, we are planning a third Toronto location at CF Shops at Don Mills to open in the first half of 2024. Similar to Yorkville, CF Shops at Don Mills presents a new market to us, this one uptown. More details will follow in the coming months, but we continue to evolve the Eataly approach and offer in order to fit our markets and locations, and CF Shops at Don Mills will be no exception.”

“We’re looking beyond Toronto as well. At the moment, we are not at a stage to announce any future locations, but what the Yorkville location affirmed for us is that Canada is a key market for Eataly and we are just beginning to tell our story here.”

Canadian Retail News From Around The Web For October 27th, 2023

By
Retail Insider
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Canadian Retail News From Around The Web

News at a Glance

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.

Big grocers being cagey about their inflation-busting plans, but many are already in place (Financial Post)

The 2023 Canadian Independent Grocers of the Year (Financial Post/press release)

Small business confidence lowest since 2020 (BNN)

Heather Reisman marks Indigo comeback with new store following leadership turmoil (CTV)

50% of Canadian restaurants just breaking even (CityNews)

Competition Bureau resolves competition concerns with Global Fuels acquisition of Greenergy’s retail fuel business (Newswire)

Fitzgibbon demands major retailers explain gas prices in Quebec City (Montreal Gazette)

Ikea outlet to open, full-scale store remains elusive for London (London Free Press)

Grocery chain with a Mediterranean (Adonis) twist coming to London (London Free Press)

ByWard Market merchants disappointed with new police centre’s location (CBC)

Mine & Yours to open new Kitsilano storefront November 2023 (Curiosity)

Police make 20 theft arrests over 3 days at downtown Victoria store (Vancouver Island Free Daily)

Jewelry store break-in the fifth in less than a year for Nanaimo businessman (Vancouver Sun)

Giant Tiger Celebrating New Store in Saint John With Giveaways (To Do Canada)

Zellers pop-up planned at Richmond Centre evokes nostalgia (Richmond News)

Landlord Morguard Confident in Canadian Retail as it Keeps Focus on Smaller Markets, Shifting Consumer Trends [Interview]

By
Evan Duggan
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Sevenoaks Shopping Centre (Image: Morguard)

While the weakening of the Canadian economy is growing more apparent each week, the national retail environment isn’t going to give David Wyatt too many sleepless nights. 

David Wyatt

Wyatt is the senior vice-president of retail at Morguard, which, according to its online portfolio has $4.1 billion in total retail assets among its total ownership pie of $14.7 billion held more specifically by Morguard Corporation ($4.5 billion); Morguard REIT ($2.3 billion); Morguard North American Residential REIT ($4 billion) and Institutional Clients ($3.9 billion).

“There are going to be highs and lows in the economy. It’s cyclical,” Wyatt told Retail Insider in a recent interview covering the company’s current perspective on the national retail situation. Wyatt said Morguard’s grip in the Canadian retail market is wide and deep and their team won’t be “cycling out” of retail real estate based on current conditions — namely rising interest rates, nagging inflation and a slowing national economy. 

The Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (Image: Morguard)

Instead, they’re paying attention to shifting trends and the effects on shopper behaviour and leasing activity, all while shoring up their national retail portfolio, which includes assets like Burquitlam Plaza in Coquitlam, Crossroads Station Shopping Centre in Winnipeg and The Centre in Saskatoon. 

“We have many retail clients… in our long-standing buildings that have been with us for 20 years…or longer,” Wyatt said. “We like developing relationships with (retailers) whether they’re local, regional, or national retailers with the idea that we have more than one property that would suit their needs over their time horizon.”

Morguard is a fully-integrated real estate company that owns, manages and invests in assets across North America. With 45 years in business and a team of 1,300 professionals, Morguard is based in Mississauga and has offices in seven provinces and three U.S. states. 

Morguard continues to value smaller markets, Wyatt said, listing cities such as Prince George, Grand Prairie, Brandon, Thunder Bay and North Bay.

Those markets hold potential for growth and renewal. “There have been a number of international and quality national retailers that have reinvested in those markets,” Wyatt said. “We like to think we’re providing more compelling shopping centre experiences in those markets.”

Investments in retail assets ‘muted’

Centerpoint Mall in North York, Ontario (Image: Morguard)

From an investment perspective, retail asset sales have been muted this year, according to Morguard’s second quarter update from its 2023 Canadian Economic Outlook. 

Retail asset deal volume in the second quarter of this year neared a three-year low, the report said. “Retail investment property sales with a minimum sale price of $10 million in the combined Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal markets totaled less than $300 million in the second quarter, the lowest dating back to Q2, 2020.” 

Morguard blamed a few factors for the slowdown. “The most recent of these was the interest rate hikes the BofC implemented to control inflation,” the report said. “The evolution of consumer shopping behaviour continues to generate the uncertainty that keeps the buyer pool thin. Relatively few significant portfolios or flagship properties have been made available for acquisition recently. Smaller and/or value-add assets with repositioning potential have been brought to market more commonly, amid an environment of relatively muted sales activity.”

Shifting consumer behaviour is part of the equation

Part of the equation is changing consumer behaviour and a shifting interplay between e-commerce and bricks-and-mortar, Wyatt said. “We’re trying to align ourselves with those retailers that are really good at omni channel retailing. We find that, whether they’re local, regional, national, or international, those are the retailers that are paying the most attention to what the marketplaces are telling them.”

Shoppers are spending less time window-shopping or “shopping on foot’, Wyatt said. Instead, consumers are spending more time online educating themselves about products or shopping online. However, trips to the shopping centre today “are more purposeful”, Wyatt said. 

Retailer and shopping centre traffic counts are generally lower than pre-pandemic levels, but conversion rates are up, Wyatt said.  

Prairie Mall in Grand Prairie, Alberta (Image: Morguard)

Core retail sales, excluding gasoline and fuel sales, and motor vehicles and parts sales, gained 1.3% in July, month-over-month, according to Statistics Canada’s most recent retail report.

StatsCan says total national retail sales rose 0.3 per cent to $66.1 billion in July, helped by the strength of sales of food and beverage. However, the agency said more recent months could see a reversal of those modest gains. 

Wyatt said Morguard shares the responsibility with retailers to give shoppers a reason to come out and spend money. “We spend a lot of time trying to figure out how we can integrate food and beverage options, or greater food and beverage options in (our) buildings.”

Morguard is also looking into adding more entertainment options at their shopping centres beyond just cinemas.Wyatt pointed to Activate opening its largest ever location last year at Bramalea City Centre in Brampton as an example.”That was our first deal with that particular (company) and it’s been very well received.” Activate has a series of 11 interactive game rooms where people can play arcade-style games involving jumping, climbing and dodging. The Bramalea City Centre location is 13,000 square feet and features laser lights, glowing walls and high-tech rooms with games like Arena, Hoops, Mega Grid and Climb.

Consumers are getting more discretionary

Place Rosemère in Rosemère, Quebec (Image: Morguard)

Consumers though continue to face inflation, declining discretionary budgets and elevated interest rates. 

It’s possible that discretionary spending on apparel could recede and there has also been a lot of public and government scrutiny on grocery prices, Wyatt said. “That’s not lost on us when we’re evaluating the marketplace in general.” 

Overall, the Canadian retail market has performed relatively well, bouncing back from the pandemic-induced slide, Wyatt said, noting that post-pandemic consumer growth has been taking place at their shopping centres around the country in many categories including apparel, home furnishings, food and drug and specialty items. 

Tourism and travel have also returned to strength in Canada’s big cities. “I think the consumer economy has brought the sales back in many or all of our buildings to pre-pandemic levels,” he said. “We’re still not at the same level of leasing, per se, that we were, (and) our occupancy rates are slightly lower than they were pre-pandemic.”

On a short-term basis, Morguard is trying to re-tenant its shopping centres with the types of shops and services consumers are demanding, he said. “We spend a lot of time in our buildings, listening to what our shoppers tell us in terms of what they’d like to see.”

Craig’s Cookies Continues Growth Strategy with Multi-Store Franchise Agreement [Interview]

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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Image: Craig's Cookies

Craig’s Cookies, which Craig Pike began as a way to pay his phone bill by selling the treats over Facebook and Instagram in 2013, has signed a multi-location franchise development agreement with Ontario-based LLH Loose Change. 

LLH Loose Change Holdings will open a minimum of five Craig’s Cookies stores, primarily at major regional shopping malls. The company principals are long-time friends and business partners Jay Lee, Bernie Li and Chris Hornung.

“We’re thrilled to embark on this adventure alongside Craig’s Cookies,” said Lee. “We’ve been big fans of Craig’s Cookies ever since they opened their first location in Parkdale. Since then, we’ve been to several locations and continue to be impressed by the consistency of the service and quality of the product. When we learned they were franchising, we jumped at the opportunity. We love what Craig has built so far and are extremely excited to be a part of the growth of this amazing brand.”

Craig’s Cookies at Yorkdale Shopping Centre (Image: Craig’s Cookies)

Pike said the franchise partners bring with them a great deal of experience and share the vision for the brand.

Craig Pike

“They truly understand what we are all about. They are committed to providing the very best service and products to our amazing (and growing) diverse customer base,” said Pike.

“Our aim is to work with the very best franchise partners to open Craig’s Cookies in the locations best suited to deliver our unique customer service and creative approach. Our vision is to be the leading premium cookie business in Canada, by offering our franchisees an unparalleled business opportunity in their local communities. Our mission is to celebrate the YUM factor in the chocolate chip cookie, while honouring diversity and inclusivity. We provide our franchisee family with extensive initial and on-going training and support, impactful marketing and a respected brand name.”

There are six corporate Craig’s Cookies locations and one franchise. In July, the brand opened its first franchise location in Niagara-on-the-Lake. It offers customers chocolate chip cookies with a wide range of toppings and flavours through its retail locations and also ships Canada-wide.

InnoFran, specialists in franchise development helped in facilitating the agreement for Craig’s Cookies and LLH Loose Change.

“Craig’s Cookies presents a fantastic concept and an exceptional avenue for franchising. Since the initiation of the franchise program, the momentum has been unceasing. This progression stands as a captivating and organic advancement for the brand,” it said.

Craig’s Cookies at 106 Queen St Unit E in Niagara on the Lake (Image: @streetsofnotl)

Pike said during COVID and lockdowns a couple of years ago he noticed that the brand was quite strong so he decided to open a couple of stores in Leslieville, Yorkdale Shopping Centre, and St. John’s, Newfoundland.

“And once those six locations were open the brand was continuing to be very, very strong and based on my want and personal need to be involved in the arts which is my gig before I started Craig’s Cookies, I wanted to continue to celebrate the strength of the brand but not open specific locations myself,” he said. 

“And so instead of having corporate grow and having my involvement grow I decided to grow the franchise route because it would be a great way for Craig’s Cookies to expand, to reach different neighbourhoods, different communities in southwestern Ontario and then eventually across Canada.

“The really interesting thing about franchising is that it does give many, many people an opportunity to be able to start their own business in a way. We’ve had quite an extensive reach out from folks all across the country. In meeting folks, it’s really important for me to be very specific with who I would like to do work with and to do business with.

“We see as projections the potential of about 10 to 15 in southwestern Ontario and then in major cities across Canada.”

Craig’s Cookies Grand Opening at 106 Queen St Unit E in Niagara on the Lake (Image: Craig’s Cookies)

Pike said the company’s strategy is to grow the brand in the future through franchising but if an opportunity comes his way to be able to open another corporate store that would not be off the table. Also, there is potential to reach into the U.S. market eventually.

Pike said he is shocked and amazed about where the brand is today compared to when it first started.

“I’m very grateful and humble. I never ever thought when I was making cookies in my home 10 years ago, delivering on my bike, that there would be an interest in Craig’s Cookies nationally. And it’s a testimony to not only the products, my mom’s recipe of the chocolate chip cookie, but the hard work of everyone that’s involved in the company,” he said. 

Canadian Retail News From Around The Web For October 26th, 2023

By
Retail Insider
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Canadian Retail News From Around The Web

News at a Glance

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 2 days.

RONA Continues Transformation, Unveils Transition of Lowe’s Stores (The Spec)

‘Buying groceries is terrible’: Canadian TikToker decries everything from self-checkout to no plastic bags (National Post)

Canadians blame store profiteering most for rising food prices, poll shows (Financial Post)

Grocers called back to Parliament to testify about plans to stabilize prices (CityNews)

Unifor to bargain for thousands of Loblaw workers (CTV)

Nearly 90% Canadians eat seafood, fish regularly – despite high prices: poll (Global)

Couche-Tard Reveals 5-Year Plan (CSP Daily)

IKEA Canada set to open more customer meeting points in Quebec and Ontario (Newswire)

Retailers, workers in northeastern Ontario deal with more theft in their stores (CBC)

Kirk LaPointe: The constancy of casual theft is a concern that can’t be ignored (Business in Vancouver)

True North still fine-tuning Portage Place redevelopment (CBC Winnipeg)

Andrea Chiaramello promoted to SVP North America Retail Sales at Lavazza (Grocery Business)

Grand opening for Estevan business marks latest chapter in growth (SaskToday)

Knix to Open 6 New Stores in Canada Amidst Rapid Expansion; Continues to Revolutionize Intimate Apparel [Interview]

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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Knix Robson Street in Vancouver (Image: Knix)

Underwear and apparel retailer Knix has plans to open six stores in the next six weeks in Canada to take advantage of the holiday shopping season as the brand continues to aggressively expand its footprint across the country.

Joanna Griffiths

Joanna Griffiths, Founder and President of the company, told Retail Insider those stores will be located at CF Market Mall in Calgary, Southgate Centre in Edmonton, CF Polo Park in Winnipeg, Richmond Centre in the West Vancouver area, CF Rideau Centre in Ottawa and Toronto Premium Outlets in Halton Hills.

“This is part of a broader expansion plan within Canada. We’re continuing to think about opening a similar group of stores to what we did this year. Six to eight locations a year,” she said. “And looking for penetration across Canada. In some instances opening a second or third location within a market and also looking at net new markets as we’ve just done with Edmonton and Winnipeg.”

Currently, Knix has nine locations – six in Canada and three in the U.S. The Canadian locations include two in Toronto, two in Vancouver, one in Calgary and one in Ottawa. The U.S. locations are all in California – Santa Monica, San Francisco and San Diego.

Knix.ca

Griffiths said the retailer’s typical footprint is about 2,500 square feet. 

“We’re in the process of sort of evaluating what is the best path forward for the U.S. So when we launched our three California stores we kind of took three very different approaches. One’s in a mall. One’s kind of like a community store and then another one is on more of a tourist, shopping street,” she said.

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.

Knix Santa Monica (Image: Knix)

Griffiths said the retailer has discovered it has a nice white space within the Canadian market.

“A lot of feedback from our growing Canadian consumer base that they want to see and touch and feel product and try it on. That’s kind of gearing our strategy,” she said. “We’ve been experimenting over the past couple of years. With (CF) Sherway (Gardens in Toronto) we entered into our first mall concept. The stores before were all more community-driven concepts. We’re seeing great success in both which is leading to the desire to continue to roll out stores.”

Today, the retailer is a trailblazer with its comfortable wireless bras to super absorbent underwear, which are designed to make women feel more comfortable in their own skin.

“We have a pretty unique product assortment. So a lot of our products are highly differentiated via the innovation and the technology that we offer. We’re a bit more fashion forward than I think maybe some of the more traditionally active apparel companies as an example,” said Griffiths. 

“People are loving the product and they’re loving the brand as well. We’ve been on a decade-long journey to really reframe how women are portrayed in the media and portrayed in marketing. Taking a more diverse and inclusive approach and it’s really speaking to people of all ages and backgrounds where they feel like Knix is a store where they want to shop at and they feel comfortable coming into the location and being helped by our incredible retail team members.”

Knix on Queen Street West
Knix on Queen Street West – Photo by Dustin Fuhs

Given the success of the brand’s Canadian stores, Griffiths said the retailer is seeing a desire for people to connect again in person following COVID. 

“From our perspective, the physical retail side of things is really taking off within Canada,” she added.

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