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.
Canadian shopping centre landlord Cadillac Fairview is launching a number of holiday activations across the country to attract shoppers to their properties and enhance customer experiences.
Craig Flannagan, VP, Marketing, Cadillac Fairview, said traffic in the company’s shopping centres has been steadily increasing with sales back to pre-pandemic levels.
“So that’s great. What we’re focused on right now is building experiences that are going to make people want to come to the mall and bring people together and feel that magic of the season. We know the importance that experience plays . . . and we’ve got great expectations for the season. We think it’s going to be great,” he said.
Image: cadillacfairview.com/holiday
Cadillac Fairview is inviting customers to experience ‘CF Winterville’ at shopping centres across Canada this season.
To usher in the most wonderful time of the year, all 18 CF retail properties across the country will transform into their own “CF Winterville” destination, featuring iconic holiday décor, enchanting CF Music performances, beloved visits with Santa, and at select properties, festive tree lighting ceremonies, including the much-anticipated return of the 114-foot tall Christmas tree at CF Toronto Eaton Centre.
“Nothing brings people closer together during the holidays than the magic and wonder of traditions old and new, and we’re proud to offer a range of memorable experiences to make a visit to CF extra special this holiday season,” said Flannagan. “We’re focused on delivering unique and entertaining experiences and hope that guests feel inspired and delighted when they come to shop during this festive and busy time of the year.”
“We’re in the business of building experiences. Holidays are no different for us. We’re going to continue to build experiences that create and celebrate traditions and bring people together and engage and inspire. And for this holiday, it’s things like the return of our iconic decor. So we’ve got big, beautiful decor in every property across the country. We’ve got CF Music experiences. I’m not sure many people know but we’ve had hundreds of musical performances in CF properties this year and we’ll continue to have over a hundred different performances in our properties this holiday. So bringing music is such a big part of the experience.”
CF Toronto Eaton Centre (Image: Dustin Fuhs)
Tree lighting ceremonies will be happening at various properties across the country. The biggest one was at CF Toronto Eaton Centre on Wednesday, November 15th.
“Following a successful revitalization of the centre’s glass atrium ceiling, the iconic tree that has been a part of Toronto’s holiday celebrations since 2016 is back and even better than ever. To complement the tallest and most magical indoor tree in North America, the centre will make it snow even more than last year, transforming CF Toronto Eaton Centre into a true wintery wonderland,” said the company.
“The tree is a special part of the CF Toronto Eaton Centre holiday experience, and after a year-long hiatus, we are thrilled to bring it back – bigger and better than ever,” said Sheila Jennings, General Manager, CF Toronto Eaton Centre, of the 114-foot tree.
To learn more about CF’s holiday hours, experiences and services, along with event registration and ticketing info, please visit https://shops.cadillacfairview.com/holiday
Sheila Jennings at CF Toronto Eaton Centre Tree Lighting 2023 (Image: Dustin Fuhs)CF Toronto Eaton Centre (Image: Dustin Fuhs)
Cadillac Fairview (CF) is one of the largest owners, operators, investors and developers of best-in-class office, retail, multi-family residential, industrial and mixed-use properties in North America. Wholly owned by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, with assets under management of more than $30 billion, CF manages over 35 million square feet of leasable space at 68 landmark properties across Canada, including Toronto-Dominion Centre, CF Toronto Eaton Centre, Tour Deloitte, CF Carrefour Laval, CF Chinook Centre and CF Pacific Centre.
Flannagan said hosting activities in shopping centres is incredibly important.
“I think that our spaces are places where people come to connect and engage and we want to build experiences that promote that. Our properties have been gathering places for the community for decades and we want to make sure we can build experiences that promote that behaviour. It’s something that people need, especially post-pandemic we found. That ability to come together with others and feel that connection, that human energy, it’s really important,” he said.
“It’s why you’ll see thousands of people singing together this Wednesday at the Toronto Eaton Centre tree lighting but it’s also why we think important traditions like the social aspect of music and how our decor is something you can bring your family to, walk around and have an experience just in that.
“And furthermore, even beyond a traditional holiday experience we’re looking at other experiences that promote people coming to the property but also just kind of reflecting and hanging out.”
Flannagan said Cadillac Fairview continues to put its best foot forward in giving people reasons to come visit its properties.
“These experiences are a very important part of the puzzle but also obviously retail is a big piece as well. We’ve got some exciting new retailers. Canada’s first and only Apple flagship opened at CF Pacific Centre. We have Uniqlo’s that are opening across the country. Alo. Fox Homes, Athleta, food options like Eataly, T&T. Toronto Eaton Centre will have an O&B (Oliver & Bonacini ) Queen’s Cross Food Hall and the Constance Taverne opening shortly. There’s just going to be many more options for people to come and hang out and maybe get a bite to eat while they’re at the mall as well.”
Lush at CF Toronto Eaton Centre (Image: Dustin Fuhs)
Every year, Lush Cosmetics excels in creating a season of vibrant scents and eco-friendly products. This year is no exception as Lush has already released its holiday products, including some new collections. Erica Vega, brand and product expert at Lush, provides insights into what consumers can expect, what new products are available and will unwrap new trends.
Vega says like other retailers, the holiday season at Lush is starting earlier every year. For this season, holiday launched earlier than ever, on September 21, even seeing the launch of our iconic Snow Fairy Shower Gel launching as early as August 24th, to coincide with the Barbie collaboration.
“Christmas is getting earlier and earlier every year. We really want to make sure people have the comfort of knowing they don’t have to rush out at the very last minute to get things, they can take their time and get things done in a stress-free way. This year is probably the first year where people feel a lot more secure about going out, shopping and enjoying the holiday season again. So, we want people to come into the store and just enjoy their time with us,” says Vega.
Lush at CF Toronto Eaton Centre (Image: Dustin Fuhs)
Balancing tradition and innovation
Lush is known for its ready-to-go gift sets, including traditional items like Lush’s advent calendar or its 12 days of Christmas. While consumers can count on Lush for its easy and traditional gifts, Vega says products inside will be different every year – keeping it fresh for consumers and gift receivers.
“You can never really rely on Lush to come out with the same things all the time. So when it comes to traditions – the tradition is giving and receiving Lush, but it might not be the same products every year. The only thing consumers can pretty much count on is Snow Fairy, our best selling product.”
In addition to Snow Fairy, consumers can anticipate new products such as seaweed sheet masks that can be used multiple times, seaweed eye pads, gingerbread lip scrub, strawberry santa shower foam, snowman sheet mask and other bath, shower and skin products.
“Everyone loves lip scrubs as you can just throw it in the stocking, so those are just nice additions to either bath stuff, shower stuff, or skin care products. Our one thing I would say if Lush was known for, it would be for creativity and innovation.”
Image: Lush.com/ca
Vega says inspiration comes from picking up ideas from all over the place such as traveling or “sometimes it is just from a funny Christmas movie that they want to bring out.” Lush is also known to collaborate with the entertainment industry, such as its Barbie collection, and will continue to evolve and collaborate for more ideas.
Lush also provides a variety of products to include and celebrate everyone.
“No matter what holiday you celebrate, whether it be Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali or maybe you are not celebrating any particular holiday but you just want to be part of the festive season. We have something for everyone that comes into our shops and has a way to feel included and celebrated.”
Lush at CF Toronto Eaton Centre (Image: Dustin Fuhs)
One product turning into multiple
Besides holiday gift sets, Vega says Lush also evolves with products. For example, Snow Fairy started off as a shower gel in 2009; today it is now included in over a dozen different products for the Christmas season for bath, shower and body lotions.
Lush has also branched out to include new products such as candles and its lush melt.
“Candles are pretty new to us, but we are really exploring all the different ways we can incorporate things not just into the bathroom routine, but also perfume and to celebrate the home as well. We also have something called lush melt which has a double purpose: you can use it as a bath melt and infuse the bath with beautiful oils, or you can melt it in your wax burner and perfume the room with it.”
Self-care trend on the rise
Vega says since the pandemic, emphasis on self-care and relaxation has increased – bringing more people to Lush. As people are becoming more aware of their mental health and the need for self-care, Vega says “more people are wanting to take care of themselves better and incorporating self-care into their daily routines.”
With the increased trend, more shoppers are buying to treat themselves during the holiday season, not just for others. No matter what products consumers are looking for this holiday season, consumers can expect each Lush store to provide the identical experience and products.
“Christmas time is a really interesting time for Lush because I would say that is where people are the least familiar. They might be walking through the mall and come in because they need gifts – and then they discover it. This is the time where people discover Lush a lot and is a time where people start their own Lush traditions.”
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.
Quiet Luxury (This image was generated with the assistance of AI)
Quiet luxury is growing in Canada as consumers are on the hunt for high-quality products they can resonate with, without being overly flashy. Michael Warwick, Partner of B Hemmings & Co.; Ian Rosen, President and Chief Operating Officer at Harry Rosen; and Craig Patterson, Publisher and Owner of Retail Insider discuss the growing trend, challenges and the future of quiet luxury in Canada.
Escape the noise, embrace the elegance
Ian Rosen
Rosen describes quiet luxury as focusing on materials and silhouettes rather than showing off logos. “It is obviously luxurious, but very understated in terms of branding. It is a refined way of the luxury market evolving where the store is more about how the product is made rather than what is on the product,” says Rosen.
Quiet luxury is the essence of luxury without being gaudy and appeals to individuals who prefer a more sophisticated look. Loud luxury receives attention, is bold, is made to impress, is showy and can be a status symbol. Spotting loud luxury is easy as it often shows logos or a brand symbol; quiet luxury is silent on the streets while still creating an impact.
“In many cases, consumers say they have been stopped on the street from people asking what type of bag they have because people are curious. Quiet luxury is focused on craftsmanship, quality and beauty rather than being centred around marketing – embracing the quiet,” says Warwick. “For a lot of our customers, they want something truly exclusive and they have a keen eye recognizing exquisite detail and artisanship. They are looking for something unpretentious, understood and sophisticated: wanting all the benefits of loud luxury, without the logos and markings.”
Brunello Cucinelli at Harry Rosen (Image: Harry Rosen)
The rise of quiet luxury: Unveiling the reasons behind the growing trend
Searching for uniqueness and not needing to project social status are two reasons Warwick says why the trend of quiet luxury is growing within Canada.
Michael Warwick
“People are looking for something special, can customise or even something one of a kind. People are interested in the stories of how things are crafted with quality and beauty without being overly flashy – something rare and exclusive,” says Warwick.
At B Hemmings & Co., Warwick says one benefit is consumers can customise a bag using its monogramming services and each product is made with craftsmanship and attention to detail. Each bag is also made by hand and often has a deep history and story behind it. Products include briefcases, luggage, wallets, bags and accessories – most of them falling under quiet luxury.
B Hemmings & Co. (Image: Dustin Fuhs)
Warwick says loud luxury can sometimes mean lack of quality and some brandsoften sell products out of its speciality.
For example, a luxury store selling bags and purses when its specialty is clothing. The craftsmanship of those bags can be poor, even though they are coming from a luxury brand. A quiet luxury brand tends to focus less on expanding into things it does not specialize in and focuses on being great at what they are already making, such as the luggage at B Hemmings & Co.
For instance, when a luxury brand primarily specialises in clothing starts selling bags and purses, the quality of these accessories might suffer. In contrast, a luxury brand like B Hemmings & Co. prioritises excellence in what they already specialise in, its luggage.
Brunello Cucinelli women’s boutique at Holt Renfrew, 50 Bloor St. W. in Toronto. Photo: Craig Patterson
“Given the logo mania we have seen happening with some luxury brands, some consumers have now decided they want to move to brands like Brunello Cucinelli and Loro Piana which are really quiet luxury brands for the most part,” says Warwick.
Craig Patterson
Patterson says people leaning towards quiet luxury generally want to avoid showing off how much money they have, want to remain safe on the streets and are looking to stay away from identifiable logos. This trend goes beyond clothing as Patterson is noticing an increase of luxury brands providing logoless bags, providing an extra step to give consumers, who want to keep their wealth status a secret, additional comfort.
“In the past, and particularly during recessions, we have seen some high-end retailers in Toronto give out non-branded shopping bags to consumers instead of recognizable bags from brands like Hermes or Louis Vuitton. These bags are usually in plain paper bags, so no one would know the consumer went shopping at a luxury store,” says Patterson.
Quiet luxury has been around for decades Patterson says. From the early 1900s into the 1950s, households would spend 12 to 14 per cent of their gross annual income on clothing. Today, Patterson says the average household spends just three per cent of their annual income, and we have about five times the amount of clothing in our closets. Fast fashion is one of the reasons.
“Our closets are bigger. We are spending less – but we have more,” says Patterson. “Back then, they had less clothing and it was of high quality, meant to last. Today we have fast fashion, inexpensive brands and also discounters. So the quiet luxury movement is, at least to a degree, taking things back to where they would have been in the past.”
Who is buying?
B Hemmings & Co. (Image: Dustin Fuhs)
“We live in an age where we want to show our social status, believe it or not, but I think some customers are very comfortable in their own skin – they are truly buying something for themselves,” says Warwick. “They are self-assured and want something rare and exclusive. Consumers are again buying for themselves and not for others, and would rather whisper more than they want to scream.”
Rosen says luxury is typically targeting a more exclusive audience of higher net worth individuals. With quiet luxury, Rosen agrees consumers are looking to shop more for themselves than for others and it allows the person to invest in themselves. They want to present themselves professionally, without the flashiness you see in ‘loud luxury’.
“At Harry Rosen, for a lot of men they desire to feel confident in clothing and feel expressive with the quality, but not necessarily be extremely loud with print, colour or a big label which speaks to a relatively sophisticated man. As for me, I think it is definitely something we are going to continue to see catch on, but time will tell,” says Rosen.
Patterson says quiet luxury tends to attract consumers who are looking to increase sustainability as quiet luxury products last longer.
Holt Renfrew Men at 100 Bloor St W, Toronto (Image: Dustin Fuhs)
“Quiet luxury is being bought by consumers who want to be more sustainable and don’t want to show off how much money they have. They may be looking for high quality items that will last a long time and don’t have visible logos. This is in contrast to loud luxury, which is more focused on the name and not quality and may break down after a couple of years,” says Patterson.
Although anyone can find quiet luxury, loud luxury or a mix of both to their taste, Patterson says there are differences.
Akris boutique at Holt Renfrew, 50 Bloor St. W. in Toronto. Photo: Craig Patterson
“Some of it is because of old money versus new money. Some people with newer money want to show off. People with older money who have had it for a long time may still be somewhat flashy and showy – it really depends on how crass they are,” says Patterson. “There is also a difference between people who think they know luxury compared to people who do – some people may lack taste.”
“Others who come from ‘old money’ may choose brands of high quality but are not identifiable in terms of logos. This is what some refer to as ‘stealth wealth’, a topic many are discussing with the popularity of the HBC hit series ‘Succession’,” says Patterson.
For some emerging populations such as people from China or India who are wealthy or upwardly mobile, Patterson says they may buy loud luxury to show off their status, such as wearing a Gucci belt or something else noticeably expensive. Patterson is also noticing Asian demographics in Canada leaning more into the loud luxury as they tend to focus more on logos.
“They are going to be a bit more focused on logos than other demographics. With certain demographics and shopping groups, as they evolve and become more sophisticated – they will start to move away from logo brands to find something a bit more subtle. They start to look for quality and not just to show off,” says Patterson. The trend is already taking place in China, he notes.
Delvaux concession at Holt Renfrew, 50 Bloor St. W. in Toronto. Photo: Craig Patterson
Future of quiet luxury in Canada
Warwick, Rosen and Patterson agree quiet luxury will remain in Canada, but are unable to predict what will happen in the future to the growing trend. Warwick hopes consumers in Canada will start to recognize the beauty, artisanship and craftsmanship of quiet luxury products.
“We hope more people will gather interest in quiet luxury. When we think about artisanship, if it is not embraced – it will be lost and then we will only have loud luxury. People are curious about our brands because certainly with a lot of the loud luxury brands, they are ubiquitous – anything branded is not really going to turn heads. I think people are looking for something more real and down to earth,” says Warwick.
Peak Performance, the renowned Scandinavian outdoor brand, is opening its first concept store in Canada on November 17.
Situated in the heart of Vancouver, on West 4th Street in Kitsilano, the 1,900-square-foot store will cater to Vancouver’s vibrant outdoor community, offering a curated selection of high-performance outdoor apparel.
Marcus Grönberg
Marcus Grönberg, VP Global Expansion at Swedish-based Peak Performance, said the new store is envisioned to be a vibrant community hub.
“We’ve designed the new store to be a gathering place where outdoor enthusiasts can connect, find inspiration, and discover the ultimate technical apparel for their adventures,” he said.
Image: Peak Performance
“We appreciate the similarities between Canada and Sweden. Canada experiences the best of all four seasons and can have notably cold winters. This climate, coupled with its stunning and diverse natural landscapes and terrains, creates a need for products like ours, built to withstand extreme conditions and ensure smooth transitions between seasons. Canada also boasts a dynamic community of outdoor enthusiasts, who we’re sure will appreciate our versatile range, whether they’re adventuring on skis, by bike, or on foot.
“Vancouver, with its expanding outdoor community, stunning natural beauty, and proximity to the mountains, stands as the ideal location for an outdoor brand like Peak Performance. The city boasts a thriving outdoor community and draws individuals from across Canada and the world. All of these elements in conjunction create an ideal setting for those pursuing an active lifestyle, aligning seamlessly with Peak Performance’s values and offerings. Our new store finds its home in the bustling Kitsilano neighbourhood, a favourite shopping destination for both locals and tourists. We see immense potential in this area and eagerly anticipate our role in fostering further growth within the outdoor community.”
Image: Peak Performance
Peak Performance will open at 2123 West 4th Avenue.
“Following our successful franchise stores in Whistler and Montreal, the launch of our innovative Vancouver concept store marks a significant milestone in our Canadian expansion. Our online platform, peakperformance.com, serves as the central hub for outdoor enthusiasts nationwide. Our future store strategy focuses on major cities near ski destinations such as Whistler, Banff, Blue Mountain, and more, ensuring easy access for the outdoor community,” said Grönberg.
“Born in the small town of Åre, Sweden in 1986, Peak Performance was founded by two passionate skiers, one of them a world-class mogul skier with multiple World Cup victories. While testing a new ski-wear line on a chairlift ride up a mountain, they wondered why no one was creating ski apparel that combined excellent functionality with a simple, appealing design. Initially, their ambitions were modest, aiming to make clothes for themselves and their friends. Their business was driven by what was important to them, designing ski wear for themselves, their friends, and their wider ski community that balanced great design with the perfect technical solutions for their rides. In the late 1980s, as people sought genuine quality over extravagance, Peak Performance’s ski jackets with leather details and flannel shirts gained popularity.
“The overwhelming response to their first mail-order catalogue led to the opening of their first store in Åre in 1987. Today, Peak Performance boasts over 60 stores, including franchises across 20 markets globally, recently expanding to Japan, Denmark, Austria, Shenzhen, China, and soon, Berlin, Germany.”
Image: Peak Performance
The new concept store in Vancouver is set to open a Care & Repair section in the coming months, where customers can receive assistance to patch and repair damaged items. Peak Performance will also offer professional wash and laundry services in-store, complemented by staff expertise on the garments. The initiative showcases the brand’s determination to improve longevity by providing high-quality products that can be used over and over again. As a special treat for the Vancouver community, the new Peak Performance store will also offer a cozy hot chocolate bar, allowing customers to unwind while they shop and enjoy a truly ‘lagom’ Swedish experience.
“Our strong roots in freeskiing and our unwavering passion for venturing into uncharted territories have been defining features of our brand from day one, setting us apart as a market leader in our niche to this day. We blend technical excellence with a bold and distinctive style which, in my belief, remains truly unmatched,” said Grönberg.
“In today’s fiercely competitive retail landscape, where numerous brands offer exceptional products, we find motivation to push our creative boundaries and innovate our product designs one step further. Modern consumers seek more than just gear for various outdoor activities; they desire brands that align with their values, engage meaningfully, and provide seamless online and in-store experiences.
“With the launch of our new concept store in Kitsilano, we aim to build a space that fosters community amongst the city’s passionate outdoor enthusiasts. While skiing remains at our core, we understand the growing popularity of year-round outdoor activities and have expanded our offerings to cater to these needs. We’ve leveraged our technical expertise from skiing to create products that enhance outdoor adventures, whether on snow or on the trails.”
New Nespresso boutique-style store in Toronto’s Union Station (CNW Group/Nespresso)
Nespresso Canada has opened its 35th boutique in Canada at Toronto’s Union Station.
The boutique, which opened today, is the first one in a train station in Canada, strategically located within Canada’s busiest transportation facility with about 300,000 daily visitors.
The Union Station location will be the brand’s newest concept of boutique – the first in North America – with elevated services and convenience for commuters.
Anne-Valerie Guidollet
Anne-Valérie Guidollet, Nespresso Canada’s Vice-President, B2C Sales and Custom Relationship Centre, said the brand was looking for a downtown Toronto location “because we felt we weren’t serving enough our Club Members and prospects in that area.”
“And on top of that we didn’t have any presence yet in Canada in train stations and we thought it would be very interesting to have a boutique in a train station to be at the heart of the commuters’ life – coffee moments like the morning,” she said.
“It’s really the first time that we will be located in a train station, a high traffic area. We also designed our boutique with that in mind, knowing that there would be a lot of traffic coming by.”
Nespresso at Union Station in Toronto (Image: Dustin Fuhs)Nespresso at Union Station in Toronto
Guidollet said Nespresso has a corner location at Union Station with a see-through facade.
“We believe that’s really important because we really want people that pass by to see what’s happening in the boutique and we’re really in the boutique putting the emphasis on one side on the experience. We have a dedicated, what we call our famous, Coffee as an Art area that will be dedicated to an educational and sensorial coffee experience,” she said, adding the boutique will also have dedicated service areas for customers.
“It was designed to be open and transparent, making sure that all the services are very clearly laid out – the experience side and also more the pick up, delivery side.”
Guidollet said Union Station was on the company’s list for expansion for some time.
“There are really interesting retailers there that have very interesting concepts. It’s great to be part of that dynamic aspect of retail as well,” she said.
Nespresso at Union Station in Toronto (Image: Dustin Fuhs)
The boutique is the first one in North America to incorporate the latest Nespresso design elements, such as state-of-the-art technology and design elements that enhance the customer experience and leverage its coffee expertise.
“With raw and refined materials, customers are part of an emotional and sensorial experience through the Coffee as an Art section with a roasting coffee experience, allowing customers to discover coffee aromas and origins and try exclusive recipes,” said Nespresso.
“The Union Station Boutique will be the perfect opportunity to discover and try our new coffees launched throughout the year.”
Nespresso at Union Station in Toronto Nespresso at Union Station in Toronto
“We are delighted to announce the latest addition to our retail family, Nespresso, marking a key milestone in our ongoing journey of expansion and growth at Union Station,” shared Elena Price, General Manager, Union Station.
Elena Price-Bozzelli
“This strategic partnership is not just about welcoming a new store; it’s a testament to our commitment to enhancing the offerings at Union Station. Our new expansion aims to elevate the overall experience for our guests, and Nespresso plays a pivotal role in this exciting chapter. Their presence reflects our on-going dedication to our patrons in offering a curated mix of high-quality stores and services.
“Coupled with the recent opening of The Source, Hazikudo and Wetzel’s Pretzel, these opening are about broadening horizons, embracing innovation, and creating an environment where shopping becomes an immersive, convenient, and enjoyable experience.
“We invite our community to join us in exploring the enhanced experience that Nespresso adds to our growing retail hub. As we continue to grow, our commitment to delivering excellence in shopping, dining, and entertainment remains unwavering. Union Station is a destination where innovation meets tradition, and where every visit promises new discoveries.”
Nespresso at Union Station in Toronto (Image: Dustin Fuhs)
The company said the new boutique will offer exclusive and tailored services for commuters and on-the-go clientele:
Self-Serve Service: Customers can place their own orders via the self-service system;
Pick ups in store: Customers can place an order online or via phone, two to three hours prior to their arrival at the boutique and can pick up their order without having to go through the lineup;
Home Delivery Service: Customers can place their order at the boutique and get it delivered to their home without having to carry anything during their commute.
Nespresso Canada began in 2006 with the opening of its first boutique in Toronto in 2007. It has 10 boutiques in the Greater Toronto Area and two in downtown Toronto.
Nespresso has a commitment to sustainable practices. Club Members can easily return their used coffee capsules at the boutique in the dedicated recycling station.
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.
The Park Hyatt Hotel south tower, where Richemont-owned boutiques Panerai, IWC and Roger Dubuis will open boutiques, along with partner L'ORO Jewellers. Photo: Craig Patterson
Three major Richemont-owned luxury watch brands will be opening at the base of the recently renovated Park Hyatt Hotel on Bloor Street in downtown Toronto next month. They will open in partnership with respected local multi-brand jeweller L’ORO, which has stores in the Greater Toronto Area.
The three Richemont watch brands, including Roger Dubuis, Panerai and IWC, will face Bloor Street at the prominent intersection of Avenue Road. The independent boutiques will range from 600 to 850 square feet each. A L’ORO jeweller store will also operate a multi-brand presence adjacent. The entire space will span 130 feet of frontage, making one of the most prominent facades on the Bloor Street luxury run on the street level of the Park Hyatt.
Product carried in each of the three boutiques will include pieces that are unavailable within the traditional wholesale network. Each of the boutique spaces were designed within strict brand specifications. What will result is high-quality luxury retail spaces reflecting the latest brand aesthetic.
Construction hoarding on the exterior of the Park Hyatt Hotel in Toronto showing the future Panerai boutique. Photo: Craig Patterson Rendering of the future Panerai boutique at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Toronto. (Image: Provided)Rendering of interior of the Panerai boutique at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Toronto. (Image: Provided) Rendering of interior of the Panerai boutique at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Toronto. (Image: Provided) Rendering of interior of the Panerai boutique at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Toronto. (Image: Provided)
L’ORO Jewellery also operates a store at CF Sherway Gardens in Toronto with adjacent Chopard and Omega boutique spaces, as well as at CF Markville in Markham. The L’ORO Group also operates seven Pandora mono-brand boutiques within Ontario and British Columbia.
Oxford Properties, owner of the Park Hyatt Hotel, spent several years renovating the property while marketing the 20,000 square foot two-level podium retail space for lease. The last retail tenant to occupy the corner was Strellson, which shut that location in 2018.
All three of the new Richemont watch brand stores are a major score for Bloor Street, which has been competing with Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre for luxury consumer dollars. Roger Dubuis is particularly notable, with the brand having only a handful of boutiques globally. There are only two Roger Dubuis stores in the United States, at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, California, and on Hyman Avenue in Aspen, Colorado. Global cities such as London, Dubai, Hong Kong and Sydney also have standalone locations for the brand.
South retail facing Bloor Street at the Panerai boutique at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Toronto. Included is an image from jewellery brand Messika which will presumably be carried in the new multi-brand L’ORO space. Photo: Craig Patterson Future Roger Dubuis boutique at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Toronto. Photo: Craig Patterson Rendering of the Roger Dubuis boutique at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Toronto. (Image: Provided) Rendering of the Roger Dubuis boutique at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Toronto. (Image: Provided) Rendering of the Roger Dubuis boutique at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Toronto. (Image: Provided)
Panerai and IWC both operate stores at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre — they, along with Vacheron Constantin and Piaget, opened in the mall in 2016. Vancouver’s Alberni Street, another important luxury node for watches and jewellery, boasts storefronts for Richemont watch brands Panerai, IWC and Vacheron Constantine among others.
Two other multi-brand jewellers on Bloor Street carry the watch brands opening at the Park Hyatt. Royal de Versailles at 101 Bloor Street West carries Roger Dubuis and IWC, and it’s unknown if these brands will remain in the store once the standalone boutiques open at the Park Hyatt nearby. Birks at the Manulife Centre also has a collection of Panerai watches in a dedicated area of the store.
Toronto’s Bloor Street is seeing a flurry of construction activity as new luxury brands build and open stores. Royal de Versailles is opening a licensed Rolex store spanning over 1,800 square feet at 101 Bloor Street West, and jeweller Van Cleef & Arpels recently opened across the street at 100 Bloor Street West. Storefronts are currently under construction at 110 Bloor Street West including Saint Laurent, Anne Fontaine and Paris Baguette, while Alexander Wang just unveiled a flashy store in the podium. Ferragamo and Bonpoint recently opened stores nearby. We also just learned that Burberry will be relocating its current location at 144 Bloor Street West to the main floor of the former Pottery Barn space at 100 Bloor Street West, and more major announcements for spaces nearby are said to be on the way as leases are finalized.
Future IWC boutique at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Toronto. Photo: Craig Patterson Rendering of the IWC boutique at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Toronto. (Image: Provided) Rendering of the IWC boutique at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Toronto. (Image: Provided)
What is resulting is a Bloor Street at a magnitude that it has never seen, housing a row of luxury brand flagships unlike anything in Canada. Large flagship-sized locations for brands including Louis Vuitton, Tiffany, Dior, Prada, Cartier, Gucci, Burberry, Rolex, Saint Laurent (and others to be announced) solidify Bloor Street as an important global luxury retail address. It will be interesting to watch as more brands move onto the street, with opportunities such as the 16,500 square foot Holt Renfrew men’s store at 100 Bloor Street West. Holts will vacate 100 Bloor in late 2024 when its new men’s department is completed nearby at the larger 50 Bloor Street West flagship. The current men’s store at 100 Bloor could become a ‘maison’ for a single brand, or possibly for two brands as the space had previously been configured before Holts opened a decade ago. Other flagship opportunities will present in years to come with the redevelopments of 80-82 Bloor Street West (which means Harry Rosen must leave/relocate) and the south side of Bloor Street stretching from St. Thomas Street to Bay Street.
Richemont has partnered with leading local jewellers to open independent brand boutiques in major markets globally, particularly those with high-spending foot traffic including locals and tourists. Other non-Richemont watch brands have also done these partnerships — one recent example was seen in San Francisco, where a local jeweller is investing millions into a 5,800 square foot space on Post Street that will house watch brands Patek Philippe and Rolex.
In Canada, Toronto and Vancouver are the two city nodes where Richemont has established a major presence with its watch boutiques. The L’ORO Bloor Street partnership is different, given that the other Richemont-owned watch boutiques at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre and on Alberni Street in Vancouver are corporate stores.
The Park Hyatt Hotel is an iconic 17 storey heritage building at the northwest corner of Bloor Street and Avenue Road. Construction began at the end of the booming 1920s, and a bankruptcy along with the stock market crash/depression resulted in its opening in 1936. For decades, the hotel was known as the Park Plaza Hotel, with a large lit sign on the roof which also has a bar. In 2017, new owner Oxford Properties extensively renovated the property to include the transitioning of the 1936-built 17 storey south tower to a 65-unit luxury residential rental tower. South-facing units feature a sweeping view down Queen’s Park and the Royal Ontario Museum to the CN Tower and Lake Ontario, and apartments are priced in the thousands of dollars monthly. The shorter 14 storey north hotel tower, built in 1956, still contains 219 hotel units as well as ground-level and podium commercial units. Oxford Properties is looking to fill the remainder of the main floor retail space at the Park Hyatt. Oxford has also been marketing the sun-flooded 10,000 square foot second-level space above the watch boutiques in the south tower. The space features dramatic high ceilings and arched windows, and is at what is considered to be one of the most prestigious intersections in Canada.
The corner of Bloor Street and Avenue Road in Toronto is also significant, given that it’s one of few major intersections in the city to feature four important heritage buildings at each corner. The buildings on the four corners includes: Northwest – Park Hyatt; Northeast – Church of the Redeemer (1879); Southeast – Lillian Massey Building/former Club Monaco (1912); Southwest – Royal Ontario Museum (1914). Each building features back-lighting, another rarity to see at all four intersections anywhere in Toronto.
We’ll follow up on this article when Roger Dubuis, Panerai, IWC and L’ORO open at the Park Hyatt, scheduled for December.
Firehouse Subs has entered a multi-year partnership with the Toronto Maple Leafs: Photo: Firehouse
Firehouse Subs is expanding its presence in Canada with several restaurants scheduled to open for the first time outside of Ontario in the West in the coming weeks and into the early part of 2024.
Mike Hancock
Mike Hancock, Firehouse Subs President, said “we will be in every province in Western Canada by roughly the end of Q1 of next year.”
“By the end of this year, we’re going to open up in Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Vancouver and then we’ll be in Saskatoon early next year.”
The American brand, which is under the Restaurant Brands International umbrella, was first founded in 1994 by two brothers who were fighters with a passion for food. Currently, there are close to 1,300 locations in the U.S. and Canada. In 2015, Firehouse Subs expanded into Canada with its first locally owned franchise restaurant in Oshawa. Since then, the brand has spread across Ontario with 63 locations. This year it opened its first location outside of North America in Zurich, Switzerland.
“We’re going to be opening up Mexico at the end of this year and Dubai early next year,” he said.
The sandwich brand will open seven new locations across Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan through early 2024.
Image: Firehouse Subs
The new Firehouse Subs locations which will begin opening their doors to new communities include:
10 D’Arcy Ranch Drive, Okotoks, AB
#910 1155 Cornerstone Blvd NE, Calgary, AB
Unit 114, 2967 Main Street S, Airdrie, AB
Unit 6, 645 Sterling Lyon Parkway, Winnipeg, MB
Unit F105, 31999 Lougheed Highway, Mission, BC
8651 120th Street, Delta, BC
502 Circle Road, Saskatoon, SK
Hancock said the potential is for the brand to expand to hundreds of locations in Canada eventually.
“We’re really optimistic about how far we can go in Canada. We think we can have hundreds of locations, four or five hundred locations I think is reasonable,” he said.
“One of our sister companies has an incredible presence with (Tim Hortons), they’ve got close to 4,000 locations in Canada. We know that our brand resonates really well with Canadian guests from what we’ve seen in Ontario. We’re one of the only sandwich brands that is growing in the entire country. Several of our competitors are contracting in size. We’re one of the only players that are growing.
“We feel really confident that we can have a pretty meaningful presence there. I think similar to what we’re seeing in the U.S. as well and what’s really exciting is the bigger we get the more our (Public Safety Foundation) can do and give to local communities.”
Image: Firehouse Subs
In the first quarter of 2023, the brand launched a new app in Canada, expanding its loyalty program to Canadian guests for the first time.
Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation of Canada, also founded in 2015, has awarded more than $3.2 million in lifesaving equipment to first responders and public safety organizations.
Firehouse Subs is a restaurant chain with a passion for hearty and flavourful food, heartfelt service and public safety.
As the brand says, “our story has some serious meat to it.”
“Growing up in a family that is both entrepreneurial and built on decades of fire and police service, it seems Chris Sorensen and Robin Sorensen were destined to start Firehouse Subs®. Of course they tried other things along the way to their American Dream – rock ’n’ roll, real estate, and even Christmas tree farming. But everything they experienced on their path led them to opening the first Firehouse Subs,” says the company.
Hancock, who was formerly COO of Tim Hortons, said historically the brand’s footprint was about 1,500 to 1,700 square feet. Today, it’s a bit smaller with restaurants in the 1,200 to 1,300 square feet range.
“The great thing about our product is we think it’s a product that can be in almost all communities throughout North America. There’s not a specific guest we’re looking for that just likes Firehouse. We do really well across different markets. The one thing that’s obviously important is we want to have a location with high foot traffic or high car traffic. We want to have easy access for us,” he said.
“The great thing is our product resonates really well with all different types of guests in all different parts of different communities. That’s one thing we found when we started our international expansion. We weren’t sure how Firehouse would travel to different parts of the world – Europe, Latin America, Asia. Unanimously across the board, our products scored exceptionally well irrespective of what region we went into which was really encouraging.”
Image: Firehouse Subs
Hancock said Firehouse believes its brand is extremely special and customers seem to feel the same way.
“When we look at most guest research, we typically rank number one in the entire industry in hot sandwiches, the taste of our hot sandwiches. So we have great flavours, generous portions. We steam our meats, our proteins, which is unique. Not many other competitors do that. It keeps a very moist flavour. It really brings out the flavours within the sandwich,” he said.
“We’re number one in guest satisfaction so operationally our amazing franchisees across both countries do an awesome job running the restaurants, being friendly to the guests, being consistent and accurate. The guest satisfaction is an extremely important piece and we’re number one in supporting our community. We’re number one in the entire industry.”
Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation of Canada allocates funding in four distinct areas:
Lifesaving equipment to benefit emergency service organizations and public safety
Prevention education tools for public safety and natural disaster preparedness
Scholarships and continued education for public safety officers
Natural disaster support
Since inception, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation has awarded more than $73 million to hometown heroes in 50 states, plus Puerto Rico and Canada.
