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Danier Opens 3 Stores in Canada with Expansion Plans [Interview]

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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Danier at First Canadian Place (Image: Dustin Fuhs)

Canadian fashion brand Danier, known for its leather clothing and accessories, has recently opened three new locations in the country in key markets.

Stores have opened in First Canadian Place in Toronto, the Halifax Shopping Centre in Halifax and CrossIron Mills just outside of Calgary, bringing the total store count to 13 locations in BC, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Nova Scotia.

Olga Koel

“We plan to expand our brick and mortar locations to 10-20 stores across major cities in Canada in the next one to five years. We do not want to oversaturate the market with redundant locations, rather focus on creating a more exclusive feel, where customers view us as a destination shop. Our brick and mortar stores are critical to the success of our business as there is still no substitute for being able to touch and feel the products before buying,” said Olga Koel, Executive Managing Director at Danier.

“Our products have a sensory element that invokes a strong feeling of richness and satisfaction – nothing beats the experience of getting into that perfect leather jacket and seeing how it transforms your look in an instant or wrapping yourself up in a luxurious wool coat and the confidence that comes with it.

“We expect to continue growing our online business to provide a robust omni channel experience to allow our customers the freedom and flexibility of shopping with us at their convenience. We look to incorporate integrated systems to create a seamless shopping experience that will work hand in hand with our brick and mortar locations.”

Danier at First Canadian Place (Image: Dustin Fuhs)

Koel said a critical component of selecting a retail location lies in understanding its target market. 

“We want to be easily accessible and have stores that best display our products and the modern, sophisticated feel we want to emulate. We choose spaces with large windows and attractive entrances to draw the eye in and help us stand out in the area. When selecting a location, we thoroughly study our competition and the adjacencies to the retail space to ensure that the environment is complementary to our offerings. Most importantly, we look at the overall experience through the point of view of our customers to ensure the best fit through their eyes,” she said.

Danier relaunched its operations in the fall of 2016 under new ownership and a new strategy, dropping ‘Leather’ from its name and focusing on a variety of men’s and women’s fashion categories. It has expanded its product assortment from what the former Danier had.

The previous Danier Leather brand sought creditor protection in February 2016 and closed all of its stores. New owners came in during the summer of that year.

Danier at First Canadian Place (Image: Dustin Fuhs)

Koel said the Danier store today “evokes trend and modern possibilities.”

“Clean lines and light colours create a canvas where our products are displayed with pride. While all stores have their own unique character, we keep a certain consistency through single bag display and no overcrowding to ensure that our customers feel comfortable, relaxed and welcome in our stores. We enhance the mood with selected playlists and trendy mannequin displays to complete the look,” she said.

“We strive to provide a top-level, in-store experience to match the high quality of our products. We have full service teams ready to help our customers achieve their style goals through trend and fit. These professionals work to make the Danier experience complete with the knowledge and attention to detail one could only expect from the best.

“It’s our leather that differentiates us from everybody else. It’s the history, our heritage of leather.”

Danier at First Canadian Place (Image: Dustin Fuhs)
Image: Danier

 Koel said the retailer is always looking at new locations. 

“We still believe definitely in the retail market and being in more locations. We’re actively looking at expanding all the time in all the different areas, especially in BC, in Alberta . . . We are looking in BC more actively and that’s the area we’d really like to develop more there,” she said.

“We definitely want to look in key market areas. We want to be more in all of the upscale malls. So right now we’re actively looking at all of the top malls in BC and we want to get the right space wherever it is. It has to be the right space in the right area. If you don’t get the right space, you’re not going to get the right foot traffic and you’re not going to get the right recognition if you’re not in those areas.”

Canadian Retail News From Around The Web For October 31st, 2022

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 three days.

ASICS Shuts Only Full-Priced Canadian Store in Toronto

By
Craig Patterson
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Former ASICS at 364 Queen St W (Image: Dustin Fuhs)

Japanese athletic fashion and footwear brand ASICS has shut its only full-priced Canadian storefront in Toronto. The brand continues to operate a network of outlet stores in this country. 

ASICS opened its Canadian flagship store in a space spanning 4,400 square feet in March of 2018 at 364 Queen Street West. The two-level store featured a range of footwear and fashions. The retail space was occupied by retailer Guess before ASICS leased the space which is neighboured by a MAC cosmetics store on one side and a Nobis flagship store on the other. 

A CIBC bank is now under construction to replace ASICS. CIBC is relocating from a nearby corner retail space at Queen and Spadina streets for subway construction. A new subway station at the corner will be part of the Ontario Line. 

Richard Sullivan, who in 2018 was head of ASIC Canada and is now CEO of North America, said when the store opened, “The flagship store represents the new direction of the brand, offering consumers a brand experience aimed at celebrating movement, while offering them the best of our products across both performance and lifestyle, better catering to their needs.”

Click image for interactive Google Map
The Queen Street ASICS prior to closing. Photo: JLL

ASICS was expected to open full-priced standalone stores in major Canadian markets following the opening of the Queen Street flagship in Toronto. ASICS was also in expansion mode in the United States at the time. A flagship store opened in New York City at 579 5th Avenue in December of 2017, and the store closed in early 2021. The company was struggling financially after losses related to the pandemic and its lockdowns. 

“Amid the uncertainties regarding when the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic will end, the company will further improve the profitability of the North American business by closing this store, considering the business risk of continuing to operate the store and other factors,” ASICS said at the time of closing.

The brand continues to operate seven outlet stores in Canada. Four are in Ontario including at the Toronto Premium Outlets in Halton Hills, Vaughan Mills, Outlet Collection at Niagara, and Tanger Outlets Ottawa. There are also outlet stores at the McArthurGlen Outlets near Vancouver, CrossIron Mills near Calgary and at the Outlet Collection Winnipeg. The brand is also available wholesale in some multi-brand retailers. 

ASICS was founded by Kihachiro Onitsuka in 1949 in Kobe. The brand rose to international prominence over the decades for its unique and innovative designs. A vintage range of ASICS shoes are produced and sold under the Onitsuka Tiger label. 

Youtube video
Current CIBC at Queen and Spadina (Image: Dustin Fuhs)
Former ASICS at 364 Queen St W (Image: Dustin Fuhs)
Former ASICS at 364 Queen St W (Image: Dustin Fuhs)

Ren’s Pets Announces 8 Store Openings for 2023 in New Canadian Markets [Interview]

By
Shelby Hautala
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Image: Ren's Pets

Ren’s Pets is expanding by eight new stores in 2023 and are planning to continue to expand and fill in gaps throughout Canada, one of these stores is going to be opening in Newfoundland – a province Ren’s Pets have not been in yet.

“It is an Ontarian and Maritimes expansion, and at this point we are filling in the gaps,” says Scott Arsenault, the CEO of Ren’s Pets. “I have been with Ren’s Pets for eleven years and the one thing that keeps coming back to me is we need more stores. Every market we have gone into we haven’t had one Ren’s Pets that was unsuccessful, which is exciting as we have never needed to close a store in 47 years. It is just about opportunities and how we will make sure we live up to each one.”

“Three of the stores are out in the Maritimes which is really exciting,” says Larissa Wasyliw, the VP of E-commerce and Marketing for Ren’s Pets. “We have five stores out there right now and this will be another three and PEI and Newfoundland are brand new provinces for us, so that will be exciting. The whole Eastern Canada seems to be welcoming to Ren’s Pets so it is exciting to be able to build our store network in that area. So the next eight stores that are for 2023 really start to build Ren’s Pets in a way we have not done before.”

Rendering: Ren’s Pets The Junction

Below are the eight new stores that will be opening.

  • St. John New Brunswick, located at 90 Consumers Drive. This store will be 9889 square feet and will be opening in April.
  • Brockville, located at 2098 Parkdale Avenue in Ontario. This store will be 8600 square feet and will be opening in April.
  • St. John’s Newfoundland, located at 56 Aberdeen Avenue. This will be the first Ren’s Pets in Newfoundland. It will be 9996 square feet and will be opening in April.
  • St. Thomas, located at 1063 Talbot Street in Ontario. This store will be 8100 square feet and will be opening in May.
  • Cornwall, located at 501 Tollgate Road in Ontario. This store will be 6650 square feet and will be opening in May.
  • Oakville, located at 270 North Service Road in Ontario. This will be the second store in Oakville, along with its flagship store. It will be 6900 square feet and will be opening in June.
  • Charlottetown, located at 80 Buchanan Drive in Prince Edward Island. This will be the first store in PEI. It will be 6700 square feet and is opening in July.
  • Owen Sound, located at 1555-18th Avenue East, Sydenham Heights in Ontario. This will be 9200 square feet and will be opening in August.

Two New Provinces

Ren’s Pets decided to open stores in two new provinces, Newfoundland and PEI, as they continue to look for new opportunities to expand across Canada. And Ren’s Pets has been waiting for these locations for a while. As winter months can be harsh in Newfoundland, Arsenault said with the larger store, 9996 square feet, it can stock more products in case there are issues with shipping.

Scott Arsenault

“That was our A site and our A demographic. Newfoundland has long been on our list, we just wanted to make sure that we move with the full support of the team. One of the things we talk about for your pet’s best life is food as it is the number one requirement for any pet parents and making sure you are not switching or transitioning it. So, we need to make sure that this store is stocked appropriately and that it has enough weeks of supply that if there were any interruptions we would be able to serve the pet community really well so that is going to be an exciting one,” says Arsenault.

Arsenault said they see the maritimes being a 12-15 store market and are looking to opening more in the East Coast soon, and “even Newfoundland could be a multiple store market, it is just a matter of filling out all the gaps.

Second Location in Oakville

Gus in Dieppe (Image provided by Ren’s Pets)

Oakville is where Ren’s Pets opened its first location 47 years ago, and in June – it will be opening its second location there.

Larissa Wasyliw

“Oakville is going to be our second location there. The first one is our flagship store and the first ever Ren’s Pets, so we are excited to be able to build a second location in that area. What is really fun about the other seven stores, is that we have been traditionally a GTA type of company, so this really starts to fill out the rest of Ontario,” says Wasyliw.

As Oakville is growing in size and in population, Arsenault said it is getting tougher for people to travel from the top end of Oakville to the bottom as it can take around thirty minutes.

“Oakville is one of the leading cities in Canada in terms of population, demographics, and in pets spend. We feel like we are undeserving the south, so we are looking to put a store that will be readily available for those consumers and we just wanted to be more localized to the south end of Oakville,” says Arsenault.

Future Expansion Plans

Rendering: Ren’s Pets Sarnia

The eight stores that will be opening in 2023 were the only ones discussed; however, Ren’s Pets will be making its way across Canada. Arsenault said the minimum goal for Ontario would be to have around 100 stores and will expand to go all the way to British Columbia.

“We have a wish list. We see Ontario to be a minimum of around 100 stores, so that is what we have mapped out. We are going to head out West at some point and open more stores in the Maritimes. We have done really well in Ottawa and we have learned a lot through our two Halifax stores, so those lessons are really going to help us now as we look out West, We have been giving out a road map to fill out the rest of Canada, but we just have to do it in a manner that is responsible and aggressive – but not reckless,” says Arsenault.

Wasyliw and Arsenault said Ren’s Pets as a loyalty program, along with other data information, that helps them collect data information from customers and use the information to help find site selections and where their customers are coming from. In the next five years, Arsenault said he can see opening around a 100, but they have to wait for the right opportunity to come to them.

“We are very solid in who we are, we really believe we are here for your pets best life and that is what our employees stand behind. That is one thing that makes Ren’s Pets different is our core values and what we believe in as a company. Our brand is well recognized as it is Canadian owned and operated – which means a lot to people these days. Customers know when they are coming to us, they are getting the best food, the best treats, and the best pet toys they can get. Pets are family, and we are here to support them. The company started 47 years ago and how amazing it is that we now have 44 stores, two more to open, and eight more next year – it is just a great Canadian story.”

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Video Interview: Best Ways To Build A Business Brand And Community

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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Lauren Gross is a Digital Marketing Lead at Chic Geek, growing the number of women in the tech space through thought leadership and impactful content. She is also Founder of Calgary-based marketing agency Lauren Natalie Designs, working with small businesses and solopreneurs to embrace their brand and find their voice online.

She was recently a guest speaker at the Small Business Summit in Calgary, presented by Square, Interac and Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation. She spoke about the best ways to build a business brand and community

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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 News Editor with Retail Insider and owner of Mario Toneguzzi Communications Inc. and can be reached at mdtoneguzzi@gmail.com.

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Also check out the other series offered by Retail Insider, including The Weekly podcast and The Interview Series, which are both available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Podcasts, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Simplecast and other podcast players.

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Canadian Tire Expanding Large Format ‘Remarkable Retail’ Store Concept as it Marks 100 Years [Interview]

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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Carlingwood Canadian Tire (Image: Canadian Tire)

Retail giant Canadian Tire, celebrating its 100th birthday this year, is launching two new stores under its Remarkable Retail concept.

The stores in Ottawa and Welland are each over 100,000 square feet and part of the company’s Better Connected Strategy – a $3.4 billion, multi-year strategic investment to create better omnichannel customer experiences.

The Carlingwood store in Ottawa, at 135,000 retail square feet and the largest Canadian Tire store in Canada, opened September 15. It was a relocation of an existing Canadian Tire store.

Canadian Tire Carlingwood (Image: Canadian Tire)
Canadian Tire Carlingwood (Image: Canadian Tire)

The Welland store, near the downtown core, will be opening later this fall and it’s the largest expansion the retailer has ever done in its history, nearly doubling in size from 64,000 retail square feet to nearly 120,000 retail square feet. It will be the third largest Canadian Tire store across the country. 

The second largest Canadian Tire store in Canada is at Edmonton South Commons at about 133,000 square feet which opened in about 2015-2016.

Jason Kane, Vice-President of Store Planning and Design for Canadian Tire and Party City, said Canadian Tire stores today range in size from about 5,000 square feet to the three major ones. An average store is about 60,000 square feet.

Jason Kane

Canadian Tire said it is investing $1.2 billion to better connect its digital and physical channels, modernizing and creating a more contemporary experience for customers and making the Triangle brand a trusted source for the products and services customers need.

“These investments and new stores first and foremost are connected to our overall Better Connected Strategy that we announced earlier this year in our Investor Day and this is a program where Canadian Tire has a multi-year strategic investment program of $3.4 billion that’s really designed to create better omnichannel customer experiences across our entire business and within that $3.4 billion investment plan there’s just over $1.2 billion that’s focused on investing in our store network and that is really all about connecting and modernizing our stores so we have a great modern contemporary experience and that we’re really bringing together the physical and the digital to deliver on the services that customers are looking for us today,” explained Kane.

“Guided by our most advanced analytical insights on demographics, market trends, and loyalty data, the new concept will deliver an enhanced customer experience through an expanded assortment and seamless omni-channel shopping options, including Click & Collect, Curbside Pickup, and deliver to home,” said the company.

Carlingwood Canadian Tire (Image: Canadian Tire)

“These stores are large, with more than 100,000 square foot of retail space, and are focused on delivering a ‘wow’ experience to customers by showcasing the breadth and depth of Canadian Tire’s product assortment and bringing meaningful brand experiences to life.”

According to Canadian Tire, Remarkable Retail store highlights include:

1. A modern, clean store design, with both stores spanning an impressive retail square footage;

2. Enhanced In-Store Technology creating a simplified and seamless customer experience through Scan & Buy and Electronic Shelf Labels;

3. Seamless omnichannel capabilities, with Welland hosting a 12-car, 5,000 square-foot enclosed order pickup drive-thru area, and Carlingwood featuring a six-car covered canopy pickup area;

4. A transformed Seasonal Centre, with world class four-season capabilities that is directly connected to retail that can be used for live goods and other products; and 

5. Enhanced Auto Service capabilities using the latest service and diagnostic equipment and an expansion of tire and parts assortment to better service customers’ needs.

Canadian Tire in Welland (Image: Canadian Tire)

The retailer has just over 500 stores across the country.

Kane said the company’s $1.2 billion investment into its store network will update over 200 stores across the country. 

“Customers are going to see that investment come to life in a store experience we call Concept Connect and Concept Connect is not only expanding the size of stores and re-merchandising them through these projects, it’s also ensuring that we can evolve our presentation of our assortments to make sure that it’s becoming more localized, more relevant, really leaning in and showcasing our own brands and making sure we’re growing key strategic businesses for us such as pet, garden centre, and also baby and kids, at the end of the day. So those are some of the big drivers of this pipeline to change investment and change the shape of retail for our brand across the country,” said Kane.

  • Canadian Tire in Welland (Image: Canadian Tire)
  • Canadian Tire in Welland (Image: Canadian Tire)

The intervention of 200 stores represents more than 50 per cent of the company’s total square footage across the country.

“So it’s a very significant transformation between now and the end of 2025,” added Kane.

“Remarkable Retail, these two stores (Ottawa and Welland) are what I would say ultimately the best and biggest version of Canadian Tire’s brand experience and there’s a handful of these stores too that we’ve opened and a small development pipeline for the future, but these are really about showcasing the best that Canadian Tire can be across all the different ways we want to support and serve customers.”

Canadian Tire Carlingwood (Image: Canadian Tire)

The next Remarkable Retail store is slated for Calgary in 2025. It will be in Deerfoot Meadows and the relocation of a nearby store, and will include elements of sustainability.

Kane said Welland “is quite a transformation” as it broke ground in the Spring of 2021 to begin the expansion process there. 

Here are some key facts about the Welland store:

  • The store has over 1,150 items on display to allow customers to see the breadth and depth of Canadian Tire’s product assortment;
  • There were 3.8 million data points considered when allocating space at a SKU level, and the store has a fully customized retail floor layout;
  • This store features network-leading omnichannel pickup capabilities, including a 12-car Order Pickup drive-thru area, in addition to eCommerce lockers;
  • The warehouse features equipment and design including over 550 feet of conveyors, with half of it being automated, advanced product sortation capabilities, new wearable technology to improve efficiency, and the ability to hold over 170 full truckloads of product.

Here are some key facts about the Carlingwood store:

  • Canadian Tire broke ground on the Carlingwood store in the fall of 2019;
  • The Carlingwood location also features the second largest Canadian Tire warehouse in the country, capable of holding 1,200 skids;
  • The warehouse is built to optimize capacity and efficiency, featuring four levels with eight total freight lifts, over 850,000 lbs. of warehouse racking and the ability to hold over 165 full truckloads of product;
  • The new tire warehouse can fit 10,552 tires – if you stacked all the tires that would be taller than three CN towers;
  • All Customer and Employee washrooms are Gender Neutral;
  • More than 1,300 drawings of the retail space, warehouse, electrical, architectural, and mechanical features of the store have been completed since 2018
Cottonwood Centre Canadian Tire (Image: Cottonwood Centre)

Also recently, Canadian Tire completed a relocation project at the Cottonwood Centre in Chilliwack, BC. The new store has just over 93,000 square feet of retail space, more than double the size of the old store and is part of its Concept Connect strategy. 

The store features: a six-car Auto Service Drive-in, supported by 12 service bays that have the latest equipment; a 12,000-square-foot Garden Centre; and a dedicated Order Pickup area with a covered canopy.

Canadian Retail News From Around The Web For October 28th, 2022

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.

MEC Opens First 3 Concessions in Hudson’s Bay Stores [Photos]

By
Craig Patterson
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MEC at Square One Shopping Centre (Image: MEC)

Vancouver-based outdoor retailer MEC (Mountain Equipment Company, formerly Mountain Equipment Co-op) has opened three concession shop-in-stores in Hudson’s Bay locations in the Greater Toronto Area. 

That includes MEC locations inside of Hudson’s Bay stores in downtown Toronto at the Hudson’s Bay flagship store on Queen Street, at the Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto and at Square One in Mississauga. All three concessions replace Forever 21 which operated shops inside of Hudson’s Bay for only about a year, and each spans between 7,000 square feet and 11,000 square feet. 

In downtown Toronto, MEC’s newest store is on the second level of the massive Hudson’s Bay flagship store across from a women’s shoe department. At Yorkdale, MEC occupies a second level space accessed from an escalator in the store’s cosmetics department, and at Square One MEC occupies a prominent space with a mall entrance adjacent to Hudson’s Bay. 

MEC at Hudson’s Bay Queen Street (Image: Dustin Fuhs)
  • MEC at Hudson’s Bay Queen Street (Image: Dustin Fuhs)
  • MEC at Hudson’s Bay Queen Street (Image: Dustin Fuhs)

In addition to the physical stores, MEC has launched on TheBay.com with more than 400 MEC Label styles including outerwear, base layers, supplies for kids, camping gear and packs, and more styles will be added soon according to MEC in a statement.

“MEC doors are officially open at Hudson’s Bay stores across the GTA and we’re thrilled to give Torontonians more access to outdoor gear and expert advice,” said Eric Claus, CEO and Chair of MEC. “We’ve spent more than 50 years inspiring people to get active outside and our latest shops have everything outdoor enthusiasts of all levels need for their next adventure – come say hi!”

A range of goods are available in the three MEC concessions, including weatherproof jackets, hiking boots and base layers to sleeping bags, backpacks, and snowshoes among other products. An assortment of gear, apparel and footwear is available from brands including Scarpa, Salomon, The North Face, Black Diamond and its in-house brand MEC Label. 

Dedicated MEC staff work in the three concessions, and are able to provide educated opinions on what consumers should buy, be it a tent, footwear or bike lights. MEC also says that like with its standalone stores, purchases made in the Hudson’s Bay concessions are backed by its Rocksolid Guarantee.

MEC at CF Toronto Eaton Centre (Image: MEC)
MEC at Yorkdale Shopping Centre (Image: Dustin Fuhs)

MEC renovated the former Forever 21 spaces which now feature brand-related imagery as well as forest scenes, along with mannequins for different activities and branded fixtures. Each concession operates like a standalone MEC store but due to space constraints, lack larger items as well as bike and ski service stations. Bulkier items such as skis, bikes, canoes and kayaks can be purchased online with the assistance of MEC staff in the concessions, offering expert advice. 

The partnership was struck after multiple conversations between MEC and Hudson’s Bay, recognizing the opportunity for two iconic Canadian brands to come together under one roof. In August Retail Insider announced the initiative and interviewed Wayne Drummond, former President of Hudson’s Bay as well as Eric Claus, CEO of MEC. 

More MEC locations will open inside of Hudson’s Bay stores in Canada next spring according to Drummond in the interview at the time, and no formal announcements have been made in terms of locations. Hudson’s Bay stores offer enough space for MEC’s concession footprint which means MEC has the opportunity to expand its presence in the Canadian market in pre-existing real estate. 

MEC at Yorkdale Shopping Centre (Image: Dustin Fuhs)

Mountain Equipment Company, as it is now called, was formerly named Mountain Equipment Co-op prior to the cooperative’s restructuring in 2020. The retailer is now a corporation with 21 standalone stores across the country. A typical MEC store spans between 20,000 and 40,000+ square feet. 

Hudson’s Bay operates a network of 84 department stores in Canada as well as online marketplace TheBay.com. The retailer was founded in 1670 and is part of the Hudson’s Bay Company, which is the oldest company operating in North America and also owns Saks Fifth Avenue and Saks OFF 5TH banners in the US and Canada. 

Psycho Bunny Opens Canadian Flagship Store at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre [Photos/Interview]

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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Psycho Bunny at Yorkdale Shopping Centre (Image: Psycho Bunny)

Psycho Bunny‘s Canadian flagship has opened at Yorkdale Shopping Centre with plans to open more locations in Canada.

“The new Yorkdale location is a true flagship store for us, it is absolutely stunning and a must see. We are located in the old OVO space right across from Williams Sonoma, Away and Warby Parker. It is 1,580 square feet,” said Carm Sivers, Vice President, Sales and Store Operations for the retailer.

Carm Sivers

“The design is a total departure for us. It is an all white design with great pops of colour, and truly stands out to showcase our pieces. We commissioned designers Nuno Antunes and Gonçalo Silva, partners of Portuguese design firm Gonçalo Silva Arquitectos whose firm has done worldwide design for Louis Vuitton, Nespresso, Luxottica and Guerlain.  Nuno and Gonçalo partnered with Aedifica for the implementation of the concept.

“They played with breaking the rules, breaking the ice and breaking the material, while keeping the classic, quality and aesthetic of the brand. This store truly showcases our product and enhances how special and unique it is, while highlighting quality at every turn.”

Psycho Bunny at Yorkdale Shopping Centre (Image: Psycho Bunny)

Sivers said Yorkdale is one of Canada’s premiere malls and the third largest shopping mall in Canada. 

“It truly is Toronto’s shopping destination. Yorkdale retailers showcase their best-in-class store concepts and present their best store experience to the shopper,” she said.

“It is also one of the country’s busiest malls and gets an abundance of foot traffic on a daily basis. For us it was a total fit to be there. We identify with everything the mall stands for aesthetics, fashion, cutting edge and high end taste for those who love to shop. Anyone who is anyone needs to be there.”

Sivers said the retailer is definitely looking at a few more opportunities in the Toronto market, where it makes sense. 

Psycho Bunny at Yorkdale Shopping Centre (Image: Psycho Bunny)

“We do not in any way want to over store ourselves, as we want to open in brand right locations,” she said.

“Toronto is the New York City of Canada. It is truly a dynamic metropolis. The Toronto consumer is fashion forward and fashion savvy. Toronto is home to such a diverse population. People love to shop in Toronto, as well as it being a huge tourist city, and hosts people from all over the world. Culture, confidence, and style is how I would describe the Toronto consumer.

“There are definitely plans to open other stores across North America. We started at 32 stores at the start of the year, we are currently at 43 (four in Canada) and will close the year off with 60 locations. We will look to possibly open another 20 next year across the US and Canada. We will continue to be thoughtful about which markets and malls we enter. It needs to make sense for the brand. We have an aggressive expansion process but a smart one. We hope to be international in the near future.”

The Yorkdale Shopping Centre store is a continuation of the brand’s ongoing Canadian expansion of brick and mortar stores that started in Summer of 2022 with openings at CF Eaton Centre and Toronto Premium Outlets. It also has a location in CF Carrefour Laval near Montreal.

Jeff Berkowitz of Aurora Realty Consultants represents the brand in Canada and negotiated the four store leases on Psycho Bunny’s behalf.

Psycho Bunny at Yorkdale Shopping Centre (Image: Psycho Bunny)

The newest store is located on the ground floor of Yorkdale’s Shopping Centre with a large-scale LED video wall displaying the brand’s vibrant stories.

Kenny Minzberg

“Psycho Bunny is thrilled to see such tremendous retail growth, and particularly proud to open at Yorkdale Shopping Centre” said Kenny Minzberg, COO of Psycho Bunny, in a statement. “Our unique take on menswear has earned us a very loyal customer base and we are grateful and excited to drive continued growth throughout 2022 and beyond.”

In a sea of sameness, Psycho Bunny is known for classic styles that stand apart, with an unconventional logo, unexpected detailing, expressive pops of colour and meticulous craftsmanship, says the company.

“Each piece is created with an emphasis on quality and has tailored details such as mother of pearl buttons, exclusive pique fabrics and taped seams. Even their signature emblem, a rabbit and crossbones, requires 4,000 stitches to create. The store will carry the brand’s full assortment, which includes key categories such as t-shirts, polos, swim and their recent addition of accessories,” it says.

Video Interview: Retailer Uses TikTok To Amplify Brand

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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Video Interview: Using TikTok To Amplify Your Brand

Connor Curran, Founder, Local Laundry, discusses how the Calgary small business used the TikTok platform to amplify its brand.

Curran talks about the impact the platform had on the company, what it did, the importance of social media for companies and the history behind the company.

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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 News Editor with Retail Insider and owner of Mario Toneguzzi Communications Inc. and can be reached at mdtoneguzzi@gmail.com.

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Also check out the other series offered by Retail Insider, including The Weekly podcast and The Interview Series, which are both available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Podcasts, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Simplecast and other podcast players.

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