On Saturday August 27th, Toronto-based J2 Retail Management will launch its latest ‘Community Playground’ concept at Toronto’s Bentway located at 250 Fort York Blvd. The activation will include over 40 vendors as well as numerous activations.
The outdoor market, protected from the elements by the Gardiner Expressway above, will also include carnival games and there will be other activations to entertain visitors.
Sustainability will be a key message as part of the Bentway Community Playground, with vendors selling vintage items while encouraging consumers to embrace the circular economy. The activation will take place at The Bentway on Saturday from 1:00pm to 7:00pm.
Click image for interactive Google Map
As part of its evolution, J2 Retail Management has expanded its service offerings and is now hosting Community Playground activations in the Greater Toronto Area. Founders Jodie Wolfe and Brian Le Saux, both retail veterans, have grown J2 Retail Management’s operations by offering services that include logistics and supply chain management, merchandising, e-commerce, and visual media. Their company operates several warehouse spaces in the Toronto area with plans for further expansion.
Wolfe and Le Saux say that more Community Playground activations are forthcoming as the duo continue to expand the concept into 2023.
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It’s candy store heaven and US-based candy retailer IT’SUGAR has launched its presence in Canada with a new store which has opened in West Edmonton Mall.
The company has plans to open several more Canadian locations in the next few years.
Jonathan Schwartz
Jonathan Schwartz, Vice President of Real Estate and Business Development for the brand, said the retailer brings brands to life.
“We have a number of the world’s largest and most famous candy brands around the country and internationally that we sell within our location,” he said. “We’re really a humorous escape. We don’t take ourselves too seriously. We want to make people have fun and kind of blend ourselves between retail and entertainment or retailtainment.
“We have a wide selection of everyone’s favourite candy. We have licensed products and non-edible products, hats and T-shirts and pillows and mugs and flip flops and everything else. And we have our own private label products which we use to kind of tell our story, share our humour and no nutritional value added and your diet starts tomorrow. That’s what makes us unique and different and that’s our personality.”
IT’SUGAR West Edmonton Mall (Image: IT’SUGAR)
The brand was established in 2007 by Jeff Rubin who is the company’s current CEO. Currently, there are just over 100 locations.
“The concept has really evolved. Our latest prototype is centered around a candy department store model. So we have three different store types and they range in different square footages,” explained Schwartz.
“We’ve got a Sugar Rush at 3,000 feet, a Sugar High at 5,000 square feet and then a Sugar Daddy which is larger than 10,000 square feet. The store in West Edmonton Mall would be a Sugar High store which is really kind of the internal name that we call it. But it brings in the vast majority of the brands that we would sell in one of our flagship locations.
“And the candy department store concept really started when we opened up our American Dream (Mall) store which was in 2019.”
IT’SUGAR West Edmonton Mall (Image: IT’SUGAR)
IT’SUGAR West Edmonton Mall (Image: IT’SUGAR)
The West Edmonton Mall location is the retailer’s first outside of the US.
“We’ve been wanting to expand to Canada for some time now. So this is a great first entry point into the market. We have stores with Triple Five, the owner of the West Edmonton Mall. They also own Mall of America and American Dream so we have stores in both of those properties. This made kind of a natural fit for us to go into West Edmonton Mall. I’m Canadian. I’m very excited about us expanding into the Canadian market,” said Schwartz, who was born in Montreal.
“This will really be the starting point and a launching pad for us to add a number of other locations throughout the country. I think we’d love to open five to 10 over the next several years. Probably over the next five or six years. So we’re looking at all the major markets throughout Canada. Our eyes are really focused right now on Toronto. We’ve got a number of locations that we’re looking at. So we’ll be coming soon to Toronto.”
IT’SUGAR West Edmonton Mall (Image: IT’SUGAR)
IT’SUGAR West Edmonton Mall (Image: IT’SUGAR)
Schwartz said that only about 20 per cent of its portfolio is in malls.
“In the rest of our portfolio we look for tourist destination markets. High footfall. We are an impulsive purchase, an impulsive brand. We want to be where people are on vacation or also at lifestyle centres, urban on street locations, we do really well next to sports arenas and concert venues and convention centres,” he said.
“It’s a sense of escapism. We want to create a fun place for people to come and enjoy their favourite brand. Our customer is anyone who has teeth and that’s our target demographic. We’re not just a kid’s candy store. We’ve got a lot of nostalgic candies that were everyone’s favourite when they were a child. It’s really a fun place to explore and try new things and have a laugh. We see people of all ages in our stores, all walks of life.”
A recent partnership with Sport Chek and delivery service DoorDash to provide same-day delivery from its network of store locations across Canada is improving the retailer’s ecommerce ecosystem and could be rolled out to other brands under the Canadian Tire Corporation umbrella.
Mike Moussa, Associate Vice President, ECommerce Fulfillment Network Experience for Canadian Tire Corporation, said the arrangement is currently in more than 170 of its 212 Sport Chek stores.
Mike Moussa
“Obviously over the months and years of the pandemic, we started to see a shift in customer desire for same-day delivery, really fast delivery, urgent kind of stuff. So much so that free shipping was great but customers would still get upset about how long free shipping took,” said Moussa. “And so we started to look at less conventional ways of getting our product to customers when they order online.
“These food delivery services were all the rage. So we started talking to them. DoorDash had the best coverage for our needs and a really easy to work with team in terms of the technical set up. We were able to put together a proof of concept December of 2021 in five stores, offering same-day delivery over Christmas. So we launched just a little over a week before Christmas. We saw that there’s a market for this. There is a segment of customers that buy that sort of last-minute item and they want it and they’re willing to pay the extra surcharge for it.
Forward With Design at SportChek (Image: Canadian Tire)
“Since then, we’ve continued to add stores and at the beginning of April, about 90 per cent of the eligible Sport Cheks, meaning Sport Cheks that are in a market that DoorDash operates, have been turned on and DoorDash has been doing a handful of orders per store across the country ever since. And we’ve been experimenting with pricing, with promotions, and with key retail moments. Some really interesting key moments in the Spring were Mothers’ Day and Father’s Day where we would see our volume for same-day delivery double that day before . . . as well as the day after where the recipients of gifts had gift cards and they wanted that item like right away.”
The service will become important in the coming days as it gets closer to schools opening across the country.
Sport Chek currently has 212 stores. One new store opened this year in Niagara Falls. One relocation in Peterborough will also take place this year.
“More and more, Canadians are looking for faster and easier ways to get products from their favourite brands delivered to them on the same day,” said Shilpa Arora, General Manager, DoorDash Canada, in a statement. “We are proud to partner with Sport Chek to offer their range of apparel and sporting equipment to consumers in Canada for convenient same-day delivery to their doorstep.”
Moussa said the rollout of DoorDash will likely come in the future to other brands under the Canadian Tire Corporation umbrella.
“Everything that we do now, especially with this proof of concept, we’re really operating in a way that considers the enterprise . . (If) there’s a customer that wants a pair of running shoes or backpack the same day, we have to assume that there’s probably a use case at Canadian Tire for anything in their assortments, anything in the Mark’s assortment especially when we consider workwear and sometimes the urgency around that,” he said.
Sport Chek at West Edmonton Mall. Photo by Matthew at Best Edmonton Mall
“We want to make sure when we test this and we build it, we build it so we’re only building it once and we’re able to extend that capability across our family of companies.”
Moussa said the trend firmly established during the pandemic of more consumers wanting their purchases delivered will continue.
“I think so. Maybe not necessarily at the same level that we saw when stores were closed as a percentage of the whole. But what we’re seeing a lot of is that customers have dipped their toes into different options and we’re starting to see an increased segmentation on what works for me under what context,” he said.
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.
Retail giant Décathlon will open a store at Marché Central, one of Canada’s top performing power centres and Montreal’s premier value shopping destination, joining Walmart Canada’s Supercentre future location in the shopping centre’s sixth retail phase.
The Décathlon store will be 35,000 square feet and is slated to open in the Summer of 2023. It will be the retailer’s fifth location in the Montreal market.
The Walmart Canada Supercentre is slated to open in the Summer of 2023.
Marion Nadeau
“We are so excited to be opening a new store in the commercial hub of Marché Central,” said Marion Nadeau, Regional Director of Quebec, Décathlon Canada, in a news release. “This location will provide those in the Greater Montreal area with even greater access to our quality, affordable sports gear and equipment. We are eager to build lasting connections within the community and hope to share our love of sports and active living with everyone who enters the store.”
Décathlon is a world-renowned brand that designs, manufactures, tests and sells apparel and equipment for over 65 different sports. It has more than 1,700 stores in over 60 countries.
Marché Central (Image: QuadReal)Décathlon at Montreal Eaton Centre (Image: Dustin Fuhs)
Marché Central has a current retail mix of 60 tenants, including value-based outlet brands, service retailers and large format tenants, in what will be the shopping venue’s sixth retail phase, on the adjacent 30 acres of land that has been unlocked by QuadReal Property Group for development.
Andy Clydesdale
“Our goal with the Phase 6 expansion is to strengthen the value-oriented offering, enhance tenant synergies and solidify Marché Central’s dominant position in both Montreal and Canada,” said Andy Clydesdale, Executive Vice President of QuadReal.
“Notwithstanding the compelling offering Décathlon adds to our mix, this addition further establishes our reputation as a destination for those pursuing a healthy and active lifestyle as it will trade alongside other like minds in the project including Mountain Equipment Company, PUMA, Golf Town, Under Armour and Nike Factory Store.
“Décathlon shares our “value” philosophy by offering the best product at the best price. As such, it helps to further strengthen our value-oriented offering, enhance tenant synergies and solidify Marché Central’s dominant position in both Montreal and Canada. It also further establishes our reputation as a destination for those pursuing a healthy and active lifestyle.”
Marché Central (Image: QuadReal)Marché Central (Image: QuadReal)
QuadReal said the urban, open, large format, ‘value’ centre located in central Montreal is comprised of five retail phases with 16-campus style buildings with a gross leasable area of more than one million square feet. The sixth phase is under construction and will include the state-of-the-art 140,000-square-foot Walmart Canada Supercentre with a 125,000-square-foot green roof.
“This next phase will also include a food emporium, more casual dining options, green space, a network of landscaped walkways and a central gathering area,” said Clydesdale.
“There is obviously a tremendous market for value-based outlet brands, service retailers and large format tenants as evidenced by the fact that Marché Central is regarded as one of Canada’s top performing value centres and Montreal’s premier value shopping destination. With an additional 30 acres recently unlocked for development, we are eager to add more of these types of uses that our customers so clearly love, to the mix.”
Marché Central (Image: QuadReal)
Last week, Décathlon announced it was opening a new City concept store, in Toronto’s Union Station on September 1.
“As part of the brand’s commitment to make sports accessible to all, the Union Station location will connect Toronto residents with Décathlon’s wide range of products, designed and manufactured in-house. While the 3,500 sq. ft. City concept store will feature a top-seller selection of the 7,000 products offered by the brand, it will also conveniently serve as a pick-up location for downtown commuters who have made Click & Collect purchases online,” said the retailer.
Décathlon has four large, full-concept stores in Ontario (Vaughan, Burlington, Brampton and Ottawa); but the new City concept store will be the first in Canada.
Decathon City at Union Station facade (Image: Décathlon Canada)Image: Decathlon
“We are very excited to be able to meet downtown Torontonians exactly where they are with this new concept store,” said Bjorn Bosmans, Ontario leader for Décathlon Canada, in a statement. “It is a great way to introduce our brand to people who live, work or commute in the downtown core.”
“We want to get Torontonians moving through this central hub acting as a point of connection, a place for events, and see where this experience can take them. Union Station provides us with the perfect access point for our new City store experience, and we look forward to meeting people and bringing the community together to stay active, uniting under the banner of sports.”
The retailer said the Union Station store will be Décathlon’s 12th location in Canada and more store openings are slated for various locations across the country in the near future.
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.
Walmart Canada is now using a 60-foot multi-temperature refrigerated trailer in southern Ontario – the first of its kind for the giant retailer in North America.
The company said the custom-built multi-temperature refrigerated trailer allows it to ship more freight to stores in a single trip. That helps to improve the retailer’s supply chain operations and also results in a smaller carbon footprint.
Brian Sookhai, Senior Manager, Transportation Innovation and Planning, Walmart Canada, said the trailer launched into use in July primarily in the Woodstock and Windsor, Ontario, corridor along the western Highway 401 area.
“We’ve had phenomenal feedback with it so far – a tremendous result,” he said.
Walmart Transportation Team (Image: Walmart Canada)
“Within Walmart Canada, our fleet has expanded into our first 60-foot, multi-temperature refrigerated trailer. It’s also the first of its kind for Walmart for use in North America. The custom-built, multi-temperature refrigerated trailer allows us to ship more freight to stores in a single trip and that results in improved efficiency with our supply chain and less CO2 emissions.”
Brian Sookhai
He said the trailer is the latest example of how Walmart Canada is innovating within the transportation industry and transforming what it does with its size and scale.
The trailer also allows for more capacity than what the retailer has done in the past. For example, the trailer’s capacity is as many as 30 pallets of perishable goods, like meat and dry/wet produce, requiring different temperatures. A standard 53-foot trailer can fit about 26 pallets.
Sookhai said eventually more of these new trailers could be in use by the company.
“We want to continue exploring more with what the trailer can do. We want to plan on how it can be better utilized within our operations. For us, sustainability is a key factor for Walmart Canada and we’d like to incorporate as much as we can moving forward within our network and as many avenues as possible to expand where we see fit.”
Walmart Fleet Associates (Image: Walmart Canada)
The trailer was launched in that particular region because the company looked at where it has the most mileage from its distribution centre to its food centres.
“When I looked at what we can do and where we can implement it, I saw there was a great fit for stores that typically weren’t paired together but with the utilization of this trailer it allows us to do so resulting in a reduction in miles as well as CO2 emissions,” added Sookhai.
“It gives us more flexibility in making sure we’re serving our stores in the most efficient manner by pairing certain stores together that we couldn’t do before and by doing that it gives us the opportunity to have fewer trucks on the road and less mileage. This trailer gives us up to 30 per cent increase with shipping more products so it definitely benefits the environment and it reduces our overall transportation cost where we can utilize the savings and pass it along to our customers.”
In 2012, Walmart initiated a pilot program with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation to introduce 60-foot trailers to Ontario’s roads, explained the company. This Special Vehicle Configuration Permit pilot was successful and helped to open the door for organizations across the province to improve productivity by reducing the number of trips required to move lighter, bulkier cargo, it added.
Walmart Canada continues to accelerate its commitment to its omni-channel network across the country with the announcement Monday of a new $118-million, 430,000-square-foot fulfillment centre in Rocky View County, which is located just north of Calgary’s city limits. (Rendering: Walmart Canada)
Patricio Dallan
The retailer said it is targeting zero emissions globally by 2040 without the use of offsets and has committed to an alternatively-powered fleet in Canada by 2028. In 2021, Walmart Canada announced it was the first major retailer in Canada to offer carbon-neutral last mile delivery.
“Introducing this 60-foot, custom-built, multi-temperature refrigerated trailer into our fleet is the latest example of how Walmart Canada is continually innovating within the supply chain and pushing boundaries in the industry,” said Patricio Dallan, SVP, Supply Chain, Walmart Canada, in a statement. “When Walmart makes a change, it has a ripple effect. In this case, we’re introducing a new custom solution to the Canadian market that helps to reduce our total number of trips and emissions. We’re incredibly proud of this milestone.”
Walmart worked with Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company to customize the build of the new trailer.
Video Interview: SophieGrace Founder Discusses Becoming a Retailer After Careers in Real Estate and Law
Emma May, Owner, SophieGrace, discusses how she became a retailer after careers in both law and real estate.
May talks about her careers, the history behind SophieGrace, what it does, being an entrepreneur, fashion and getting through the pandemic.
The Video Interview Series by Retail Insider is available on YouTube.
Connect with Mario Toneguzzi, a veteran of the media industry for more than 40 years and named in 2021 a Top Ten Business Journalist in the world and the only Canadian – to learn how you can tell your story, share your message and amplify it to a wide audience. He is Senior National Business Journalist with Retail Insider and owner of Mario Toneguzzi Communications Inc. and can be reached at mdtoneguzzi@gmail.com.
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Union Station in downtown Toronto continues to expand the roster of offerings as the transit hub transforms into a community destination for food and entertainment.
The latest tenant to be announced is a restaurant concept by the Liberty Entertainment Group called Blue Bovine, which will open in Union Station’s East Wing.
Liberty Entertainment Group, under the leadership of CEO Nick Di Donato, operates multiple entertainment and special event venues, including Casa Loma and the Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex. They are also responsible for the development of BlueBlood Steakhouse, Don Alfonso 1890, Xango and three Cibo Wine Bar locations (King West, Yonge St and Yorkville), as well as a Toronto nightlife venue – Arcane.
Blue Bovine (Image: Liberty Entertainment Group)
Blue Bovine (Image: Liberty Entertainment Group)
Blue Bovine (Image: Liberty Entertainment Group)
Nick Di Donato
“Their experience with heritage sites and ability to create new and unique concepts which are appropriate for the time and fit the space, were key factors when targeting prospective tenants for this location,” shared Rademeyer. “The selection of this group aligns with the continued vision, supported by Osmington for Union Station – to celebrate local and to bring the best operators to the station.”
Nadia Di Donato
The concept is being described as an elevated steak and seafood restaurant, with the design by Nadia Di Donato.
“We are confident that this will further expand the reach of the station to draw not only from the surrounding offices and residential but importantly to create an iconic destination at Union, which will attract suburbanites especially and compel them to make that special trip to the station to experience Blue Bovine.”
Toronto Union Station (Image: Dustin Fuhs)Future Blue Bovine Location at Toronto Union Station (Image: Dustin Fuhs)
Retail Insider Media Publisher Craig Patterson described Union Station as “Canada’s busiest transit hub and it is seeing an incredible overhaul that includes a repositioning and redevelopment of its retail component which will expand to a footprint of about 170,000 square feet. The mix of retail, food and service tenants will make Union Station a draw for locals and visitors in a unique heritage building in the heart of the city. There hasn’t been a more significant retail development in downtown Toronto since CF Toronto Eaton Centre opened nearly 45 years ago.”
According to a new report, digital transformation represents a trillion dollar opportunity for the retail industry and in the face of the global pandemic, Canadian businesses experienced a new age of digital adoption unlike ever before.
Moving forward, there are many opportunities for merchants to connect backend systems and provide a seamless customer experience, as well as build customer loyalty, according to a new report released by Adyen, a leading retail end-to-end, all in one payments solution for merchants across the globe.
Some key findings of the report include:
61 per cent of merchants expect to grow by 20 per cent or more in 2022, representing a $338 million opportunity;
61 per cent of consumers believe retailers used technology well to make their products available during the pandemic:
10 per cent increase in merchants’ average performance after adopting unified commerce;
67 per cent of Canadian customers prefer to shop in-store, compared to global average of 59 per cent;
50 per cent of Canadian customers said physical stores should focus on the experience beyond the product, since they can get the products easily online;
56 per cent of customers would be more likely to use a retailer’s loyalty program if it automatically linked with their payment card;
60 per cent of consumers would be more loyal to a retailer if they could return their online items in store; and
36 per cent of Canadian customers prefer retailers who use previous shopping behaviour to serve personalized suggestions and create a more tailored shopping experience
Image: Adyen
Sander Meijers
Sander Meijers, Country Manager of Canada, Adyen, said Canadians have always liked their store experiences.
“It’s not just about going in-store for customer service, returning goods, or getting in-person help with a product that they couldn’t get online. Today, physical stores should be exciting places to visit as well. Stores must offer something more than the products and services available online to keep consumers interested and coming in, if done correctly people will come.
“Also, it’s clear in the numbers that people missed being in store during COVID. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, 41 per cent of consumers globally say they have a new appreciation for being able to touch, feel or physically try products before they buy.
“The experience of shopping in a physical post is changing. Now, the way stores are engaging with their customers is about connecting with the brand and not just buying a product. Think about Nike for example – some stores have basketball courts inside, with classes available for visitors, which allows shoppers to connect with Nike’s brand values. Lego brand stores are another great example and a personal favourite; forget walking out empty handed when you let your kids experience what’s possible with Lego in their store.”
Lego at CF Richmond Centre. Photo: Geetanjali Sharma
Meijers said the physical shopping experience is not only about allowing shoppers to connect to brand values, it’s also about providing a well-rounded end-to-end experience.
“Everything in a physical store must look and feel fitting, whether it’s a sleek payment terminal when you pay in store, or by using devices to scroll through a shopping catalog. Technology provides the opportunity for brands to make physical shopping experiences more customer friendly, allowing shoppers to connect online and at physical stores to ensure a truly seamless experience,” he said.
“For example, if a customer is shopping for an item in store and their size is not available, the store has an opportunity to offer the item from another location, all through the power of shopping online. The shopping journey presents multiple point of sale opportunities for retailers, whether in store or online. This integrated experience is what we call unified commerce – connecting e-commerce, mobile commerce, and physical commerce into one, connected, and easy to navigate shopping experience. Research shows that those who were quick to join the digital movement and implement unified commerce see growth in sales, with the average merchant performance increasing by 10 per cent. Falling short could result in the opposite: 64 per cent of Canadian consumers will not shop with organizations that have a bad shopping experience, either online or in store.”
Image: Chipotle Loyalty Rewards
Meijers said it’s important to implement loyalty programs the right way – inputting personal data is a no-go for him and many other people.
“Loyalty programs are great, but they need to offer easy opt-in and opt-out options for shoppers. The data speaks for itself – Canadians would prefer programs that require little barriers to join or utilize. Automating the experience through shopper recognition is a great way to easily engage customers,” he said.
“Using technology to remove barriers to entry can also be beneficial from a payment’s perspective, allowing customers to avoid the hassle of adding in their credit card details time and time again. In fact, 56 per cent of customers would be more likely to use a retailer’s loyalty program if it automatically linked with their payment card. Additionally, 64 per cent of Canadian customers believe retailers need to use technology to make their loyalty programs easier and more effective.”
Meijers said each store has its own policy on returns, which can be frustrating to customers when they need to return their products.
“Customers are looking for the path with least friction. They want a seamless experience where there are no barriers depending on the channel. Research shows 61 per cent of consumers would be more loyal to a retailer that allows them to buy things online and return in store, an increase of 13 per cent compared to our 2020 Retail Report research,” he said.
Image: Adyen
“Centralized payments data can be the key in this process. By leveraging payments data, brands can minimize fraud by returning to the original payment method. The same centralized data can provide the often-needed view of a full history of online and in store payments, including partial and full refunds in one overview.”
Meijers said knowing your customers and tailoring experiences to them can have a huge impact.
“Adyen has worked with a luxury brand in Europe where the payment data showed that purchases in their physical stores were mainly from Chinese credit cards. The brand used the data and introduced a Chinese assistant at the store to make their clients feel more comfortable during their shopping experience,” he explained. “Tailoring and personalizing can and will have many forms, and only with real time data will businesses be able to build these experiences.
“We are excited to see experiences unveiled in the coming years. Today, 36 per cent of Canadian customers prefer retailers who offer them personalized suggestions, or a tailored shopping experience. Adyen provides that personalized experience to retailers through its payment platforms, allowing brands to accept all payments everywhere, rather than being confined to a payment’s terminal.”
