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CDNGLOBAL Brokerage Expands into Toronto with Plans for Future Growth [Video Interview]

By
Retail Insider
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Image: CDNGLOBAL

Craig and Scott Mulligan, Managing Partner and Broker of Record at CDNGLOBAL, discuss an overview of CDNGLOBAL’s recent expansion into the Toronto market through a successful merger with Ellington Partners Corporate Real Estate Advisors. The discussion unveils the unique position of CDNGLOBAL as a boutique brokerage, emphasizing its ownership structure and empathetic approach to client services.

Scott Mulligan

The conversation delves into the challenges of the industrial space, shedding light on the increasing demand driven by the surge in e-commerce. Mulligan analyzes the tight industrial market conditions, with a mere 1 percent vacancy rate, and speculates on potential corrections in rental rates. The dialogue explores CDNGLOBAL’s plans to actively grow its existing industrial business while expressing a keen interest in acquiring a team to lead the CDNGLOBAL retail group, recognizing the interconnectedness of retail and industrial sectors.

Mulligan also shares insights into recent notable deals, highlighting CDNGLOBAL’s involvement in the sale of a building and land in Sheridan Park, emphasizing their active role in the life sciences sector. The conversation concludes with Mulligan expressing excitement about the merger and CDNGLOBAL’s national representation, reinforcing their commitment to providing premium service to clients across Canada.

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Background Music Credit: Hard Boiled Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Rudsak Plans Further Retail Expansion in Key Canadian Markets and will Open Flagship at Royalmount [Interviews]

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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Rudsak Royalmount (Rendering: Rudsak)

Canadian outerwear brand RUDSAK continues to expand its retail footprint across North America with plans to grow the business in different markets.

Alex Kocun

Alex Kocun, VP Sales and Operations, said part of the expansion includes opening a store next year in Montreal’s massive mixed-use development Royalmount, likely near the end of summer.

The store will be about 2,200 square feet.

Image: Rudsak

RUDSAK, which is based in Montreal, began in 1994. Currently, it’s a global brand with its e-commerce reach. 

Rani Al-Hawli

“The DNA of the brand started 30 years ago as an outerwear company that specialized in leather, fur and a really very body hugging silhouette. Very aesthetically pleasing outerwear for the Canadian market,” said Rani Al-Hawli, CFO. “Over the 30 years, the brand and the company has evolved. We are now a performance luxury brand.”

“Being 12 months a year whether it’s spring, summer or whether it’s winter, RUDSAK is now known for being a performance luxury brand providing both athleisure, athletic, active wear in the transitional periods and in spring and outerwear in the fall period, ski wear. This is where RUDSAK is right now.”

“Our physical presence is Canada. We’re a Canadian company. We have a physical presence in Canada both in retail stores and in our head office operations. We also have operations and retail stores in the United States. And we are currently growing across Europe and the Asian market.”

In Canada, the company has 22 stores with a stronger footprint in the East particularly in Montreal and in Toronto.

“But we do have expansion plans that we would like to include our footprint in the West of the country. Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton.”

Al-Hawli said the company is pleased with the Royalmount presence.

“It’s in a really nice location. We picked it specifically for the lighting of that location. It’s going to be our future flagship store in Quebec. So we’re very excited about that. It will have our new retail concept in it. We have a designer who is currently doing the interior design of that store. It’s going to be spectacular,” he said.

Ben Labrecque of Oakmont Real Estate Services represents Rudsak.

Royalmount (Image: CarbonLeo)
Luxury wing, Royalmount (Image: Carbonleo)

Kocun said Royalmount offers something unique in the Montreal retail landscape. It’s an “experience centre.”

“It’s clearly a high end mall. Montreal hasn’t had a project like that. It is needed,” he said. “We believe as a brand that it is a perfect fit for us because we are offering a high end product as well. Therefore we believe it was a very good opportunity for us and that’s one of the reasons we are in Royalmount.”

Al-Hawli said the recent pandemic changed many things for retailers. RUDSAK, like many other retailers, had to adapt to that environment.

“Now we are in that re-expansion phase. So what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and COVID did that for us. It really accelerated the way we work as a company. It automated a lot of our processes internally. And it realigned us to be ready for this future which is where we are today. Alex and the retail team are driving a re-expansion across the Canadian and the U.S. space,” he said.

“For us, in our retail expansion, there’s a strategic plan to align the brand in the places our customers want to be. So for us Royalmount is one of those key places. We believe the values and the offering that that mall is proposing to its clientele also fits the same values we have as a company. It fits our client base. So for us, it’s part of our strategic go-forward plan for retail in Canada.”

Rudsak “Outerwear Brand of the Year” winner at the Canadian Arts & fashion Awards 2023
Rudsak “Outerwear Brand of the Year” winner at the Canadian Arts & fashion Awards 2023 (Image: Linkedin)

Al-Hawli said the company believes it’s ready for growth to triple over the next two to three years. 

“We’re looking to triple our numbers and we’re in line to do that,” he added. “We had phenomenal growth over last year. I know it’s very difficult for many retailers to say, especially this year. I think the last time we ran the numbers it was 27.8 per cent growth for this year which is phenomenal.

“Luxury like all other retailers are feeling that retail pressure. Fortunately for us as a brand we’ve been very strong at connecting with our customer base, with our clientele. If you look at some of our customer reviews, I think you’ll see some of the most phenomenal customer reviews for an outerwear brand across Canada if not North America. That’s being reflected in the customer’s consistent demand.”

Overregulation Threatens Canada’s Natural Health Product Retailers [Op-Ed]

By
Sylvain Charlebois
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Many companies harbour a general aversion to regulations, often perceiving them as excessive burdens that hamper their ability to navigate an intricate web of rules. In sectors like food production, which encompasses areas such as food safety, fiscal constraints, and labelling requirements, these challenges are a constant struggle. Some of this resistance to regulation is undoubtedly rooted in corporate interests, but it is increasingly evident that the regulatory burden on companies, especially within the food industry, is exacting a toll.

Let’s examine Canada’s thriving Natural Health Product sector as a case in point. This sector has emerged as a significant contributor to the national economy, showcasing robust growth and innovation. However, its promising trajectory is currently under threat due to what many perceive as overregulation, particularly stemming from new labelling rules that present substantial challenges for the industry. The health products sector encompasses a wide range of products, from vitamins and herbal remedies to traditional medicines and organic hygiene products. According to a recent Deloitte report, sales in this sector have surged from an estimated $4.3 billion to approximately $13.2 billion in recent years, with exports also expanding from $0.7 billion to $3.6 billion. This growth is not only reflected in sales figures but also its significant contribution to Canada’s GDP and employment, providing livelihoods for approximately 92,000 full-time equivalent jobs—a truly substantial impact.

Regrettably, most Canadians are unaware of the regulatory shifts occurring across various facets of this sector, including cost recovery, labelling, and health product regulations. While consultations are ostensibly carried out for each change, public authorities seldom heed the concerns raised by industry stakeholders. For instance, the ongoing open consultation on cost recovery, which concluded in August, is poised to be implemented by 2025 with no significant adjustments. In 2022, new labelling regulations were introduced, with a phased implementation plan stretching into 2025. Additionally, the recent Royal Assent for Vanessa’s Law in 2023, with implications for Natural Health Products, anticipates the introduction of further regulations in 2025 and beyond, underscoring the evolving Canadian regulatory landscape, with one change following another in quick succession.

These recent regulatory changes, particularly those related to labelling, are poised to unravel the significant progress made in the natural health sector. Although well-intentioned, these regulations disproportionately impact the predominantly small and medium-sized businesses that constitute the sector. Many of these enterprises have already been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and have limited capacity to absorb the additional costs associated with these new rules. A recent Deloitte survey paints a grim picture: 50% of respondents foresee a negative impact on business attractiveness, 76% anticipate reducing their product offerings, and 21% are contemplating shutting down their operations in Canada. The prospect of one in five businesses exiting the industry is well beyond the norm, potentially fostering more competition and competitive pricing overall—a double-edged sword.

Nutrition House 2.0 at CF Toronto Eaton Centre (Image: Dustin Fuhs)

What makes these developments especially worrisome is that they revolve around health products, which have gained paramount importance for Canadians in the wake of the pandemic. As Canadians prioritize their health more than ever before, the competitiveness of our food sector becomes pivotal.

The repercussions of these regulations are vast, extending beyond stifling innovation and competitiveness to encompass significant job losses and reduced product diversity. This is deeply concerning, given that the health products sector has not only been a source of entrepreneurial potential but has also offered healthier lifestyle choices for Canadians.

Furthermore, the sector’s challenges highlight broader issues within regulatory policies. Regulations, originally designed to ensure safety and efficacy to protect the public, can inadvertently stifle growth and innovation. This is particularly true in sectors like natural health, where small businesses dominate and lack the resources to navigate complex regulatory landscapes.

As Canadians and Ottawa grapple with ways to enhance competition in our nation, it’s crucial to strike a balance between consumer safety and health on one hand and innovation and business growth on the other. The current trajectory strongly suggests the need for a comprehensive review of these regulations, potentially exploring alternative policies that achieve the same objectives without jeopardizing this vital sector. Only through such a reassessment can we ensure that our food sector, not just health products, continues to thrive, contributing to Canada’s economy and the well-being of its consumers.

The Body Shop Launches ‘Shop-in-Shop’ Spaces at Shoppers Drug Mart, Expanding Retail Presence [Interview]

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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The Body Shop x Shoppers Drug Mart (Image: The Body Shop)

Global beauty brand The Body Shop is growing its retail presence in Canada with shop-in-shop locations at Shoppers Drug Mart stores.

Jordan Searle

Jordan Searle, President of The Body Shop North America, said currently the brand is in 53 locations with the concept.

“Firstly we’ve had quite a history I think over the last couple of years of talking with Shoppers on and off and finally the timing was right to work with them,” said Searle. “As you know, they’re an awesome retailer. Very present in Canada not only physically but in the consumer’s mind as well.

The Body Shop x Shoppers Drug Mart (Image: The Body Shop)

“For us, we’re very penetrated in terms of D2C in Canada. We have ecommerce that compliments the 108-store network and those stores are a huge part of our business. Hence continued investment to upgrade them.

“But over the COVID period there was quite a lot of changes in the ways consumers were shopping. Because grocery and pharmacy were kind of still trading through that period and they were often only the most accessible retail for people to shop, it became a common place for consumers to shop in all the different categories within those different environments. And that trend still has persisted as we’ve moved away from COVID.

“For us, in order to bring The Body Shop to more consumers and to make it more convenient for people to shop The Body Shop, we felt that a relationship with Shoppers was a great idea. That’s primarily why we expanded with them.”

The Body Shop has 108 stores across Canada. The Body Shop operates about 3,000 retail locations in more than 70 countries.

Searle said the brand has not opened any new locations in Canada in the past year but it has been undergoing renovations of existing locations.

“Obviously with 108 stores, we’re fairly well penetrated across Canada. So it’s really been a question of us upgrading our stores to our new workshop concept. The most notable of those would be our Yorkdale store which was back in August,” he said, adding that about nine stores have gone through the process.

“And more to come.”

The Body Shop x Shoppers Drug Mart (Image: The Body Shop)
The Body Shop x Shoppers Drug Mart (Image: The Body Shop)

Searle described The Body Shop as a democratic beauty brand with quite a unique place in the market being an activist brand and focusing on sustainability.

The shop-in-shop concept is nationwide. And The Body Shop is branded within those Shoppers stores.

“We’ve been super happy with the results that we’ve been achieving with Shoppers and certainly we’ve proven that we have a place within the Shoppers merchandising mix. So right now we are discussing future great plans with them. But obviously not totally at liberty to say what that looks like but for sure we’re looking to grow,” said Searle.

This move marks The Body Shop’s first expansion beyond its standalone brick-and-mortar retail locations in Canada.

The shop-in-shop locations carry a select assortment of the brand’s ethically sourced and sustainably made products including bath, body, hair, and skin care from some of its most popular ranges like Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Edelweiss, Tea Tree, and Hemp. Customers will also find the brand’s most well-known body care favorite, Body Butter.

“We are so proud to be partnering with Shoppers Drug Mart, one of the most recognized and trusted names in Canadian retailing, to make shopping for our products as convenient as possible,” said Hilary Lloyd, VP of Brand & Activism, The Body Shop North America. “As a leader in changemaking beauty, we prioritize positive change for the planet and the communities we source our ingredients from. We’re thrilled this expansion will allow us to further grow our mission and impact by making our products more accessible to Canadians.”

The Body Shop x Shoppers Drug Mart (Image: The Body Shop)

Founded in 1976 in Brighton, England, by Dame Anita Roddick, The Body Shop is a global beauty brand and a certified B Corp. The Body Shop seeks to make positive change in the world by offering high-quality, naturally inspired skincare, body care, hair care and make-up produced ethically and sustainably. Having pioneered the philosophy that business can be a force for good, this ethos is still the brand’s driving force. Along with Avon and Natura, The Body Shop is part of Natura & Co, a global, multi-channel and multi-brand cosmetics group that is committed to generating positive economic, social, and environmental impact.

Gwennaëlle Varnier

“Customers trust us to have the best beauty assortment in the country and we continue to launch new brands to ensure we always have something for everyone,” said Gwennaëlle Varnier, Vice President, Prestige Beauty, Shoppers Drug Mart. “We’re noticing a trending increase in body care purchases in Canada, and we are intentionally welcoming The Body Shop products to our lineup because we know it’s what our customers are looking for. Plus, this brand is taking steps towards a more beautiful planet, which is important to us as a purpose-led retailer.”

Shoppers Drug Mart (Pharmaprix in Québec) has almost 1,350 stores.

Canadian Retail News From Around The Web For December 13th, 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.

Independent toy stores face stiff competition (CityNews)

Couche-Tard Exits Canadian Cannabis Partnership (CSP Daily News)

Why ditching fast fashion never goes out of style, and can save money in the long run (CityNews)

You Should Avoid Holiday Shopping In Canada On These 3 December Dates, If You Hate Crowds (MSN)

Tourism recovery not expected until next year, Destination Canada report finds (CTV)

These Are The 7 Best Indian Grocery Stores In Canada (MSN)

Is that Aritzia shirt really worth it? Canadian “de-influencer” helps shoppers make better decisions (Daily Hive)

Beer, wine, ready-to-drink cocktails coming to Ontario corner stores and gas stations in 2026: sources (CBC)

Four designers offer unique apparel options at Saskatoon’s Fashion Collective (Star Phoenix) ********

Mercato Fresh opening third location (CTV Windsor)

‘The heart of our city’: Downtown Winnipeg businesses welcome revitalization, BIZ initiatives (CTV)

Ottawa flower shop reopens after vandals smash windows and ransack the store (Postmedia)

Masked suspects rob downtown Calgary jewellery store (CTV)

Mountain Warehouse Looks to Further Expand in Canada by Opening Dozens of Stores [Interview]

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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Dartmouth Crossing Mountain Warehouse (Image: Mountain Warehouse)

Canadians love the outdoors and Mountain Warehouse is growing its presence in the country to meet a growing need in the market.

Mark Neale

Mark Neale, CEO and Founder of the outdoor clothing and equipment London-based retailer, said Canada is the second most popular country in the world for the brand behind the UK.

The brand began in 1997 and today it has about 370 stores in eight different countries. There are 45 stores in Canada.

“We carved out this positioning for ourselves where we offer great value for money, every day outwear we call it, for the whole family,” said Neale. “There are loads of what you might call our (competitor) brands and they’ve all got a picture of a guy, and it’s always a guy with an ice axe hanging off the glacier. We instead have pictures of a whole family playing with the dog in the woods.

“So it’s an accessible offer, accessible price points, accessible stores where people are shopping anyway, and accessible advice with friendly people who are pleased to see you when you come into the store.

“You don’t need to be a super technical outdoorsman to shop with us.”

Image: Mountain Warehouse

Neale said the brand opened two stores in Canada in 2023 in Whistler, B.C., and Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

Another Vancouver store in CF Richmond Centre is opening around Christmas this year and a shop in Banff on Banff Avenue will open sometime before Easter.

“We’re also doing a new store next year, spring time, in Kingston, Ontario and we’re looking at a few other things,” said Neale.

When asked how many stores the brand could grow to in Canada, Neale said: “I honestly don’t know but I’d like to think we can get to 70 or 80 stores in due course.”

Stores are typically 3,000 and 6,000 square feet.

“One of the things we are doing is we’re looking for bigger stores at the moment,” added Neale. “In the UK, which is our home market, we’ve been doing a lot bigger stores. We’ve got some now that are 15,000 plus square feet and we found that they’ve been going really well for us. We developed a much wider product range during COVID for the online business because when all the stores were closed the online was really booming.

“Now we’re finding to put that in stores we need bigger stores and that’s working well for us.”

Mountain Warehouse (Image: G.L. Smith)
Mountain Warehouse (Image: G.L. Smith)

Neale said when the company looks for real estate space in Canada it is now keen to find locations in power centres which it hasn’t done yet. 

“Geographically we’re all over the country but we’re in the most populated areas obviously. But we’re also in some smaller markets,” he said.

COVID was a booming time for the retailer, like many others in the industry. During the pandemic, many people were buying outdoor gear who traditionally were not outdoor customers.

“I particularly remember that, particularly in that first year, literally every person in the world wanted a pair of walking boots so they could spend their one hour of exercise a day with their dog or whatever walking,” said Neale.

“But travel gear you could not sell for love or money. As things progressed, things changed and it’s pretty much back to normal now.”

Neale said the newest stores have a much brighter look to them and they are tending to be bigger to showcase the whole range of products.

“And that’s been working well for us,” he said.

Toronto’s ‘The Haifa Room’ Founders Open ‘Bar Haifa’ in Vancouver, Blending Middle Eastern Cultures and Cuisines [Interview]

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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Image: Bar Haifa

The founders of The Haifa Room — a beloved Middle Eastern restaurant/bar located in Toronto’s Trinity Bellwoods neighbourhood — have opened their new elevated West Coast concept, Bar Haifa, in Vancouver.

The port city of Haifa, Israel, has been home to Arabs and Jews living and working alongside each other for centuries. In this spirit of co-existence, close friends and seasoned restaurateurs from both Palestinian-Muslim and Israeli-Jewish backgrounds Waseem Dabdoub, Fadi Hakim, Yossi Misrahi Eastwood, Daniel Suss, and Mark Kupfert came together to open their Toronto take-away window in June 2021 during the pandemic and felt the name captured the essence of their endeavour.

Soon, The Haifa Room grew beyond mouth-watering take-out falafel and sabich pita sandwiches. Later that year, with the addition of Chef Jason Hemi (formerly of Fat Pasha and Rose and Sons), it became a hyper-casual 28-seat restaurant, with accolades and a loyal following for its Fennel and Apricot Labneh, Kofta, Boneless Lamb Shoulder, and Signature Fresh-made Hummus.

L-R: Daniel Suss, Chef Jason Hemi, Fadi Hakim, Waseem Dabdoub, Mark Kupfert
Image: Bar Haifa

“We all have different gigs but we all came together for this project and Waseem connected us all. And it’s been like a really special project. It kind of got us through COVID. It was a dark time,” Kupfert said. “For all of us, I think it’s a breath of fresh air compared to our regular (work). We all have different things.

“During COVID I was approached to open up another location of my current business. I have a bunch of vegetarian restaurants and I was in COVID and just kind of feeling closed in and the idea of doing something very far-placed, full of nature, beauty, a beautiful new building. And I thought ya this is what I should be doing. I took the leap. Then COVID just continued, continued and continued. There were delays, and delays and delays. By the time I got our building permit and we were ready for construction, I lost my passion for that use whereas I was still very passionate about the Haifa Room and what it was doing just in terms of the narrative, the food, the experience. It just seemed a lot more exciting.

“So I approached my partners and told them we have this opportunity. We already have a lease, we already have a building permit. We just have to redesign it and I think it would be a really good location because it has good lunch and dinner trade and it’s in a super cool building and there’s a patio and doors that open.” 

The Vancouver restaurant was originally scheduled to open in July of this year, but because of construction delays it was pushed to mid-November, placing the opening in the midst of the tragic conflict in Gaza and Israel.

“At first, words failed us. We’re devastated. We all have family members living in Palestine and Israel,” said Hakim. “As we grapple with the situation, we grieve for all the civilians, our helplessness. For now, our focus is connecting people through shared experience and finding a commonality between people through food.”

Image: Bar Haifa
Image: Bar Haifa

Located in the heart of downtown Vancouver on the ground floor of the Deloitte Summit building on Georgia at Homer, Bar Haifa contains 55 indoor seats, including a cocktail bar, chef’s table, banquette seating and an open kitchen, along with a spacious outdoor patio that will double its seating during the summer.

The Vancouver eatery features an expanded menu that showcases the terroir of its new location, with lots of fresh seafood and local ingredients, along with a dedicated take-out only street-food menu. Bar Haifa will have a bigger focus on service than in the Toronto location, and an extensive wine and cocktail list. 

The partners believe the concept could be successful in other Canadian cities.

“Right now we’re just relieved that this one opened because it’s been so delayed,” said Kupfert.

Upscale Toronto Fashion Retailer ‘Carriage Trade’ Marks 60 Years with Expansion Plans [Interview]

By
Shelby Hautala
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Carriage Trade on Bloor St. W. in Toronto. Image: Carriage Trade

Carriage Trade, an upscale women’s retailer in Toronto, is celebrating its 60th anniversary, is planning to expand, updating its existing store, and enhancing its social media presence. 

Nori Mirza

“Being in business for 60 years gives us a lot of credibility. We are definitely expanding and growing, which is very exciting for us. We are always looking for new brands and we are constantly pivoting, almost monthly, and we are just really listening to our customers’ needs. People can shop anywhere, there is a lot of merchandise out there, but I think they come to us because of our credibility and they trust us,” says Nora Mirza, the owner of Carriage Trade since 1994.

Going into 2024, Carriage Trade is looking at expanding and renovating its existing store location in Toronto and is hoping to double its square footage, allowing more room for showcasing new brands and inventory. 

“It is getting really tight right now, so hopefully in 2024 we will be able to expand and double our space. We are also working on a new website and rebranding – but still maintaining the Carriage Trade name, because to find a name that has been around and has such a long legacy is not easy.” 

Image: Carriage Trade

Improving its online presence

Mirza says updating the website will improve consumers’ online shopping experience. Mirza is also planning to grow the brand’s online presence through social media and will look into pop-up shops and events in new regions to test new markets. As the store is located in the West End of Toronto, social media has been a huge factor in attracting new consumers. 

“We are not downtown – so it’s a bit trickier for us. Social media has been huge for us, as far as a real marketing tool to reach new clients and influencers. So social media and our website has really given us an advantage to reach more clients.” 

Image: carriagetradeshop.com

The main goal right now is to increase its footprint, enhance its digital presence, and continue introducing clients to new fashion trends and brands.

“As far as having multiple stores, I think growing my online presence and working on pop-ups and events is probably for now where I want to go. All of our staff really flow well together, work as a team, and we are pretty much a family, so to replicate that for the future, I don’t know as it’s not easy.” 

With having one store, Carriage Trade is able to build relationships with consumers, know what they are looking for, and know what they bought previously – giving the team the chance to connect with each customer. 

“We can reach out and say ‘yes, this blouse is perfect for that skirt you purchased last year,’ so building relationships is really important. We also focus on quality as it is not fast fashion, it is one of a kind. Consumers trust the quality, so we are just continuing to expand and build these long-term relationships.” 

Celebrating 60 Years 

To celebrate, Mirza said they gathered women who have been supporting them throughout the decades and did a generational photoshoot. 

“We had done photoshoots with the family together to commemorate and then we gifted portraits to them as a thank you. This idea came about because I had one of my really good customers shopping and she brought her mother, her grandmother, and her daughter – it was four generations and I thought it was incredible. It was so nice to see all the different generations together and wearing our clothing.” 

Image: Carriage Trade
Carriage Trade 60th Celebration (Image: Carriage Trade / Blair Ann Studios)

Carriage Trade also partnered with two charities: HART, an anti-trafficking charity where they support survivors, and Rethink Breast Cancer in Toronto. The brand collaborated with two Toronto artists: Nessa Lilly and Sophie Brussaux for exclusive and limited shirts and scarfs. 

“During our campaign, we had all these clients wearing these shirts and showcasing the scarf – it was a lot of fun and was a nice way to give back to women who have supported us all these years. 100 percent of the proceeds of the shirts and scarves were donated to these two charities.”

Outside of Carriage Trade, people walking by will also notice huge window displays of generations of women wearing different styles that were relevant back in the day and current trends. “We have a massive decal that covers three quarters of the window, and it is interesting because we have seen customers stop by and just really make comments because it really makes a statement for women and how far we have come; from the 60s to where we are today. It really has resonated with a lot of our female clients.” 

Carriage Trade was founded in 1963 by two sisters and opened the same day John F Kennedy was shot. Mirza says when she bought it about 30 years ago, she thought about changing the name. Eventually one of the sisters left and the brand closed and Mirza took the chance and bought it. 

“The clientele had aged with the store and I had thought about changing the name, but I was on the phone with Bell Canada and someone would tell me about their story about shopping at Carriage Trade – so it has quite the legacy because it has been around for so long. 

Canadian Retail News From Around The Web For December 12th, 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.

Grocer profits set to exceed record in 2023, expert says, ahead of committee meeting (CTV)

Trouble in toyland as shoppers seek low prices, retailers say (Global)

All grocers need to sign code of conduct if it is to succeed, Metro CEO tells MPs (Financial Post)

Business owners face ‘tipping point’ for federal pandemic loan repayment cut-off (CBC)

Mastermind deal would keep at least 43 stores open, preserve hundreds of jobs if approved, court filing states (Globe & Mail / subscribers)

Canadians say rising cost of living will impact holiday plans: surveys (CHEK News)

Food Basics union workers reach deal with Metro (Grocery Business)

Longtime Gildan CEO Glenn Chamandy pushed out in boardroom shakeup (Montreal Gazette)

Canada’s Shopify discloses increased stake in automation firm Klaviyo (Reuters)

True North Real Estate, Southern Chiefs’ Organization to work together to redevelop Portage Place, the Bay (CBC Winnipeg)

Calgary Police say requests from retail sector for security assistance are increasing (CBC)

Beauty giant Sephora may be coming to Chilliwack’s Cottonwood Centre (Chilliwack Progress)

The SAQ announces net income of $336.3 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2023-2024 (Newswire)

Ontario wants to change how booze is sold. So let’s talk about restaurants (TVO Today)

New West thrift store pushes sustainability (CityNews)

Uniqlo Announces Canadian Store Expansion Plans for Spring 2024

By
Craig Patterson
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Uniqlo at CF Fairview Pte-Clair near Montreal. Photo: Cadillac Fairview

Japanese fashion retailer Uniqlo is picking up the pace on its Canadian expansion with four locations announced for spring 2024. It’s part of a bigger growth plan for the company which entered Canada with its first stores in 2016. 

The four Canadian locations opening in the spring include three in Ontario and one in Alberta. Two of the Ontario stores will be in Toronto, at CF Fairview Mall and Scarborough Town Centre, and another Ontario location will be at Bayshore Shopping Centre in Ottawa, marking a second Uniqlo location for the Ottawa market. A second Calgary store has also been announced for CF Market Mall in Calgary. 

Uniqlo said in a press release that it plans to open more than 20 stores in North America in 2024, and that could include more Canadian stores as well. Uniqlo is still conspicuously absent from the city of Vancouver, and there have been rumours that Uniqlo may have secured a space on popular Robson Street for a store. 

Jeff Berkowitz of Aurora Realty Consultants has negotiated Uniqlo’s leases since the brand entered the country more than seven years ago. In the fall of 2016, Uniqlo opened two stores in Toronto at the CF Toronto Eaton Centre and at the Yorkdale Shopping Centre, kicking off a national expansion that has seen Uniqlo become an important player in the fast-fashion space in Canada. 

Uniqlo at Yorkdale Shopping Centre (Photo: Dustin Fuhs)

The Greater Toronto Area is now home to seven locations — after opening the first two Toronto stores, Uniqlo expanded by opening at CF Markville in Markham, Oshawa Centre in Oshawa, Square One in Mississauga, Upper Canada Mall in Newmarket, and Vaughan Mills in Vaughan. 

Uniqlo’s first store on the West Coast opened at Metropolis at Metrotown in Burnaby in October of 2017, and the retailer subsequently opened locations at CF Richmond Centre in Richmond, Coquitlam Centre in Coquitlam, and Guildford Town Centre in Surrey. 

Uniqlo’s first store in Montreal opened in October of 2020 in the city’s downtown core at the Montreal Eaton Centre. It remains the largest Uniqlo location in Canada with over 40,000 square feet of leased space facing Ste-Catherine Street. In 2021, a Uniqlo store opened at CF Carrefour Laval near Montreal and in 2022, two other units opened at CF Fairview Pointe Claire and CF Promenades St. Bruno. 

The retailer entered the Ottawa market in the spring of 2023 with a location at CF Rideau Centre. The announced Bayshore location will mark the second in the Ottawa market. 

In Edmonton, Uniqlo opened its first store in the fall of 2019 at West Edmonton Mall, which was followed recently by an opening at the Southgate Centre. Calgary’s first Uniqlo opened several months ago at CF Chinook Centre, with CF Market Mall marking the second location for the brand in the Calgary market. 

By the spring of 2024, Uniqlo will have 23 stores in the Canadian market, most spanning in the 15,000 square foot range. It would appear, given the expansion, that Uniqlo is targeting most major shopping centres in major cities. That means that Uniqlo still has room to open more stores in Canada. That includes malls such as CF Sherway Gardens in Toronto. And new markets could open up for Uniqlo such as Winnipeg where CF Polo Park would be the most likely target for a first location, while Halifax could eventually be targeted at the Halifax Shopping Centre or at Mic Mac Mall. 

UNIQLO at CF Rideau Centre (Image: Dustin Fuhs)

“We couldn’t be more excited to enter the next phase of our North American expansion plan and serve more customers in the U.S. and Canada,” said Daisuke Tsukagoshi, CEO of Uniqlo North America in a statement. “Stores are the heartbeat of our business, where we can engage with our local communities, hear directly from our customers, and best understand their needs to continue to improve and perfect our products. We’re looking forward to a big year ahead.”

Uniqlo in North America reported significant growth for the fiscal year ending on August 31, 2023, and the company says that it expects the strong results to continue in 2024. The company expects to achieve double-digit sales growth in its existing stores. The brand recently saw viral success with its mini shoulder bag and it has also had some successful designer collaborations. 

Globally Uniqlo has more than 2,400 stores, including 53 locations in the United States and 19 in Canada. Uniqlo’s first store opened in Hiroshima Japan in 1984, and the company is a brand of Fast Retailing Co., Ltd., a leading Japanese retail holding company with global headquarters in Tokyo. Uniqlo is the largest of eight brands in the Fast Retailing Group, the others being GU, Theory, PLST, Comptoir des Cotonniers, Princesse tam.tam, J Brand and Helmut Lang. With global sales of approximately 2.3 trillion yen for the 2022 fiscal year ending August 31, 2022 (US $16.6 billion, calculated in yen using the end of August 2022 rate of $1 = 138.7 yen), Fast Retailing is one of the world’s largest apparel retail companies, and Uniqlo is Japan’s leading specialty retailer.

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