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RCC STORE Conference 2022 is Next Week – May 31-June 1

By
Retail Insider
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It’s less than a week until the highly anticipated Retail Council of Canada STORE Conference 2022 that takes place Tuesday May 31-Wednesday June 1. It’s the first major retail industry event in Canada in three years. [Buy tickets here]

The two-day conference will include speakers who are the “who’s who” of retail in North America. RCC STORE 22 will also bring together more than 75 speakers and 2,000 retail delegates and business partners who will be encouraged to talk candidly about their current challenges, how to drive change, and about the future possibilities for retail. 

There will be main stage and concurrent speakers and interactive sessions. There’s also the popular Excellence in Retailing Awards Gala and the Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards Gala.

The roster of speakers at this year’s STORE Conference is exceptional — you’ll learn from the best. The roster of speakers includes:

·      Susan O’Brien, Chief Brand & Customer Officer, Canadian Tire Corporation

·      Rosie Pouzar, Chief Operating Officer, Sephora Canada

·      Ron Wilson, President, International, Best Buy Canada

·      Gillian Stein, CEO, Henry’s

·      Kate Ancketill, CEO and founder, GDR Creative Intelligence

·      Dr. Hadiya Roderique, Diversity and Inclusion Advocate, Journalist, Lawyer

·      Dianne Buckner, Host, CBC’s Dragons’ Den

·      Ira Kalish, Chief Global Economist, Deloitte

·      Paco Underhill, Founder and former CEO, Envirosell

·      Jacquelyn Kankam, Senior Director of Sustainability & Social Impact, DECIEM

·      Duncan Fulton, Chief Corporate Officer, Restaurant Brands International

·      Joanna Griffiths, Founder and CEO, Knix

·      Eric Morris, Director Retail, Google Canada

·      Diane J. Brisebois, President and CEO, Retail Council of Canada

The conference also provides opportunities to reactivate your network and celebrate retail excellence. 

The Excellence in Retailing Award Gala on the evening of Tuesday, May 31 will announce winners in eleven retail categories as well as the Award of Distinction will be awarded to Giant Tiger’s Paul Wood President and CEO, Giant Tiger Stores Limited, and Shashi Behl, Founder and CEO, Joydrop. In addition, sixteen recipients of the RCC’s Retail Scholarship program will be announced.

The Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards Gala on the evening of Wednesday June 1 will announce the top food and non food products of 2021 ( both national brands and private label products) while also celebrating two Lifetime Achievement Award winners:  Margaret Hudson, President, Burnbrae Farms and Darrell Jones, President, Save-on- Foods. 

There will also be a silent auction to help Retail Council of Canda fund the scholarships of brightest retail leaders of tomorrow. You might come home from the conference with an amazing deal on some great items including electronics, appliances, patio furniture and gift baskets.

At RCC STORE 22, retailers can attend provocative “big picture” keynote presentations as well as concurrent sessions focusing on store operations, marketing, supply chain, and digital and mobile commerce. The content has been developed to ensure that each retailer, regardless of size or type, can participate in sessions that are most relevant to their business needs.  There is also an exciting exhibitor floor which will feature some of the most innovative business partners, from start-ups to leading established companies. These exhibitors will be available to demonstrate their cutting-edge technologies, strategies, and retail solutions. 

“Many retailers have changed their business models over the last two years to be much more responsive to their customers’ quickly changing needs, that, as we all know have been influenced by new insights accelerated by the pandemic. RCC STORE 22 will inspire with retail stories of companies and entrepreneurs who have taken advantage of the new landscape to reemerge stronger and better positioned for success well into the future” said Diane J. Brisebois, President and CEO, Retail Council of Canada. “This year’s conference topics and speakers will address tough questions and provide a range of perspectives and insights that retailers can immediately bring to their teams.”

To learn more about STORE Conference, visit: storeconference.ca

To buy tickets, visit: storeconference.ca/register-now

*Partner content. To work with Retail Insider, email craig@retail-insider.com 

COACH to Relocate Storefront at CF Pacific Centre in Downtown Vancouver

By
Lee Rivett
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Future COACH location at CF Pacific Centre in downtown Vancouver (May 2022). Photo: Lee Rivett

Upscale New York-based fashion brand COACH is relocating within CF Pacific Centre in downtown Vancouver.

The retailer opened its current 3,660 square foot location over four years ago between H&M and Roots on the lower level of the mall.

The new location will be on the same level, south of its current location with the new store being located between Ted Baker and Abercrombie & Fitch. COACH’s move is made possible after Massimo Dutti vacated its 7,371 square foot location in the spring 2022. Coach will occupy part of the former Dutti space.

Current and Future COACH location on lower level at CF Pacific Centre in downtown Vancouver. Photo: Cadillac Fairview Lease Plan.
Future COACH location on lower level at CF Pacific Centre in downtown Vancouver. Photo: Cadillac Fairview Lease Plan.
Construction Signage at future COACH location at CF Pacific Centre in downtown Vancouver (May 2022). Photo: Lee Rivett

COACH specializes in leather goods such as handbags, luggage, accessories, and ready-to-wear. COACH was founded in 1941 as a family-run workshop in a loft on 34th Street in Manhattan. In 1985, the Cahns family decided to focus on the family goat/cheese farm and sold COACH to an American consumer-goods company called Sara Lee Corporation. COACH was divested from Sara Lee Corporation in the beginning of 2000 where it became an independent retailer. In 2013, COACH generated $5 billion in sales and operated approximately 1,000 directly operated locations globally. COACH changed its name to Tapestry in 2017 and continued operating the COACH brand in addition to the Kate Spade brand (which was purchased in 2017) and the Stuart Weitzman brand (which was purchased in 2015).

As of May 2022, the store locator on the COACH official website lists 30 Canadian storefronts. These store locations include both full-priced ‘retail’ locations and discounted ‘outlet’ locations. The provincial breakdown included:

  • 6 in British Columbia (four retail stores and two outlet stores);
  • 4 in Alberta (two retail stores and two outlet stores);
  • 1 retail store in Manitoba;
  • 16 in Ontario (ten retail stores and six outlet stores); and
  • 3 in Quebec (two retail stores and one outlet store).

The four retail COACH storefronts in British Columbia include:

  • 755 Burrard Street (Vancouver);
  • CF Pacific Centre (Vancouver);
  • Metropolis at Metrotown (Burnaby); and
  • CF Richmond Centre (Richmond).

The two discount COACH storefronts in British Columbia include:

  • McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Vancouver (Richmond); and
  • Tsawwassen Mills Outlets (Delta).
COACH at CF Pacific Centre in downtown Vancouver (May 2022). Photo: Lee Rivett
Former Massimo Dutti at CF Pacific Centre (Dec 2020). Photo: Retail Insider CF Pacific Centre Video Tour.
Former Massimo Dutti location at CF Pacific Centre in downtown Vancouver (August 2019). Photo: Saif Al Shamaa/Google Streetview.

Massimo Dutti Closes Storefront at CF Pacific Centre in Downtown Vancouver

By
Lee Rivett
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Massimo Dutti location at CF Pacific Centre in downtown Vancouver (August 2019). Photo: Saif Al Shamaa/Google Streetview.

Spanish clothing brand Massimo Dutti, sister brand to Zara and owned by Inditex and specializing in cashmere and wool fashions, exited CF Pacific Centre in downtown Vancouver earlier in the spring 2022. At least part of the space is already leased.

Massimo Dutti vacated its prominent 7,371 square foot location between Ted Baker London and Abercrombie & Fitch on the lower level of the mall. The retail space had two separate entrances to the shopping centre and had the square footage of two typical retailers at CF Pacific Centre.

Part of the location is currently under construction to become the new location for COACH which is currently down the corridor from the former Massimo Dutti space.

Future COACH location on lower level at CF Pacific Centre in downtown Vancouver. Photo: Cadillac Fairview Lease Plan.
Construction signage at former Massimo Dutti location at CF Pacific Centre in downtown Vancouver (May 2022). Photo: Lee Rivett.
Construction Signage at future COACH location taking over the left portion of the former Massimo Dutti location at CF Pacific Centre in downtown Vancouver (May 2022). Photo: Lee Rivett

Massimo Dutti’s parent company, Inditex, is headquartered in Spain and has other clothing brands including Zara.

In 1991, Inditex company acquired a 65 per cent share of Massimo Dutti when the brand was focused on menswear. Womenswear was added in 1995 when Inditex purchased the remaining 35 per cent share of Massimo Dutti.

Massimo Dutti’s first Canadian store opened in August of 2012, measuring 4,800 square feet at the CF Toronto Eaton Centre. It subsequently opened two more Toronto stores: at Yorkdale Shopping Centre and First Canadian Place. Inditex announced opening more Massimo Dutti stores across Canada in 2014, despite mediocre sales in its first three locations.

Retail Insider reported on the closing of the Massimo Dutti store at CF Rideau Centre in Ottawa in June 2021. The store locator page on Massimo Dutti Canada’s website reports five Massimo Dutti locations as of May 2022:

  • Yorkdale Centre (Toronto, Ontario)
  • First Canadian Place (Toronto, Ontario)
  • CF Toronto Eaton Centre (Toronto, Ontario)
  • CF Carrefour Laval (Laval, Quebec)
  • Rockland (Mount Royal, Quebec)
Former Massimo Dutti Interior at CF Pacific Centre in downtown Vancouver (January 2017). Photo: Local Buzz/Google Streetview
Former Massimo Dutti Interior at CF Pacific Centre in downtown Vancouver (January 2017). Photo: Local Buzz/Google Streetview

Understance Flagship Opens in Downtown Vancouver

By
Lee Rivett
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Understance flagship on Robson street (May 2022). Photo: Lee Rivett

Canadian undergarment retailer Understance recently opened its first store in downtown Vancouver. The company is all-female led and is headquartered in the city. The flagship is located at 1024 Robson Street which forms part of the Robson Street Business Association.

The local retailer’s LinkedIn page mentions “We make comfortable, flattering, chic bras that feel as amazing as they look” and the retailer is developing a technical product for women rather than something exclusively regarded as a fashion piece.

The brand focuses on both being ethically and sustainably manufactured. Its factories are an Internationally Certified Ethical Employer where the people making their garments are treated fairly, paid on time, and enjoy great working conditions. It has also been able to produce 50% less wastewater at its factories than other manufacturers and use 100% recycled materials in its tags.

Inside of Understance Flagship on Robson Street (Feb 2022). Photo: Jiayi Lyu/Google Streetview
Inside of Understance Flagship on Robson Street (March 2022). Photo: Michelle/Google Streetview
Understance Grand Opening in February 2022. Photo: Understance Instagram Profile.

The Understance website includes categories for both underwear and bras. Underwear products were noted as being further broken down by Seamless/Free Cut, Natural Fibers and Lace categories. The bra selection was grouped by bra size.

The company also supports the ‘Downtown Eastside Women’s Center’ and the ‘Lu’ma Native Housing Society’ charities focusing on providing shelter and warm meals to the homeless.

The Robson Street in downtown Vancouver was profiled by Retail Insider in the summer of 2021. At the time, the location was a previous David’s Tea location which was shuttered as part of the retailer’s difficult decision to close a total of 166 retail locations in Canada.

Former David's Tea location on Robson Street (June 2021)
Former David’s Tea location on Robson Street (June 2021). Photo: Lee Rivett.
Understance flagship under construction on Robson street in Vancouver, BC (December 2021). Photo: Lee Rivett

Bath & Body Works to Expand into New Location at CF Toronto Eaton Centre

By
Dustin Fuhs
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Future Bath & Body Works at CF Toronto Eaton Centre (Image: Dustin Fuhs)

Bath soap and home goods retailer Bath & Body Works has announced that it will be relocating into the former 5,010 square foot Microsoft location on Level One of the CF Toronto Eaton Centre in downtown Toronto.

The current 4,520 square foot space on Level Two, next to the former Disney Store, will close to make way for the summer 2022 relocation.

The new space was made available when Microsoft shuttered all 83 physical stores worldwide in June 2020, which affected seven Canadian locations in BC, Alberta and Ontario. Most recently, The Latest Scoop used the space as a pop-up location before relocating to the former True Religion jean storefront on Level three.

Future Bath & Body Works at CF Toronto Eaton Centre (Image: Dustin Fuhs)

Bath & Body Works was founded in 1990 in New Albany, Ohio, and entered the Canadian market in 2008 with an initial six locations. The brand has subsequently grown to more than 1900 stores worldwide and operates more than 100 in Canada.

Bath & Body Works, Inc (formerly known as L Brands, Limited Brands and The Limited, Inc.) was created as a separate company in 2021 when then L Brands CEO announced that Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works would be separated into two publicly traded companies.

L Brands was the home to a number of brands throughout the years, including Lane Bryant, Abercrombie & Fitch, Structure, Express and La Senza, which was sold to Regent in 2019.

Aesop Opens at Park Royal in West Vancouver

By
Lee Rivett
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Aesop at Park Royal in West Vancouver (May 2022). Photo: Shanon Thornley

Upscale Australian skin care brand Aesop has opened its newest Canadian store location at Park Royal in West Vancouver. The retailer took over the former Montreal-based DAVIDsTEA location in “The Village” section of the shopping centre. The location is next to the former storefront for Vancouver-based fashion brand Kit and Ace and across the street from the former location of French retailer Salomon as well.

It’s the fourth Aesop location in the Vancouver area and the first outside of the city proper. The other store locations include Aesop Kitsilano (on West 4th Avenue), Aesop Gastown (on Water Street) and Aesop Main Street in Vancouver.

Aesop entered the Canadian market in the summer of 2015 with its first location in Vancouver. The company subsequently expanded into the Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and Calgary markets by opening standalone stores.

The first Vancouver store opened at 19 Water Street in the city’s Gastown area in 2015 in a 615 square foot space. Other locations that followed it include at 3583 Main Street in an up-and-coming area of the city as well as at 2072 W. 4th Avenue in Kitsilano. Sources say two more Vancouver lease deals are currently being negotiated.

Mario Negris and Martin Moriarty of Marcus & Millichap negotiated the lease on behalf of the retailer.

Aesop Locations in the Greater Vancouver area. Photo: Aesop Website (Locations)
Aesop Construction Signage at Park Royal Shopping Centre in "The Village" (Oct 2021)
Aesop Construction Signage at Park Royal Shopping Centre in “The Village” (Oct 2021). Photo: Shanon Thornley (LinkedIn).
Former location of DavidsTea at Park Royal in West Vancouver in May 2021.
Former location of DavidsTea at Park Royal in West Vancouver in May 2021. Photo: Lee Rivett.

Columbus Café Announces Canadian Expansion

By
Retail Insider
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Columbus Cafe at Carrefour Laval (Image: Think Retail)

As the local coffee shop industry looks to rebound from a difficult time over the last two years, popular France-based brand Columbus Café & Co is planning an expansion in Quebec with four new cafes.

Founded in 1994 as the first coffee-shop chain in France, the brand is considered to be one of the contenders to fill the void that Starbucks left when the Seattle-based chain closed a significant part of its storecount in 2020.

The new cafes set to open in the province include:

  • CF Carrefour Laval (910 sq. ft.)
  • 262 Ste-Catherine Street West (former Starbucks)
  • 2153 Ste-Catherine Street West (1883 sq. ft.)
  • 269 Rue Sicard, Sainte-Thérèse (2088 sq. ft.)

The Rue Sicard location was announced as its first drive-thru cafe in Quebec.

Columbus Cafe at Carrefour Laval (Image: Think Retail)

Columbus Cafe has partnered with Canadian brokerage Think Retail to launch its Canadian stores, and is seeking additional locations in Montreal with high-traffic street front locations with an optimal size of 1,500 square feet. The brand would also consider the right fit in regional malls, open-air centres and other non-conventional locations according to Think Retail.

Tony Flanz

“It’s an exciting time for this marque global brand as it makes it mark in North America,” shared Tony Flanz, President & CEO of Think Retail. “The Think Retail team is proud to work with this forward-thinking company that epitomizes quality on every level, from its delicious coffee to gourmet menu and fabulous branding.”

The first North American café made its debut on Mont-Royal Avenue in Montreal in 2020 and has since added locations on Park Avenue and last week with the new 910-sq.-ft. cafe at CF Carrefour Laval.

Columbus Café & Co is looking to open about 80 locations in the next three years, which means the expansion is ongoing and will be significant.

Additional Images from Columbus Cafe at Carrefour Laval

Columbus Cafe at Carrefour Laval (Image: Think Retail)
Columbus Cafe at Carrefour Laval (Image: Think Retail)
Columbus Cafe at Carrefour Laval (Image: Think Retail)
Columbus Cafe at Carrefour Laval (Image: Think Retail)
Columbus Cafe at Carrefour Laval (Image: Think Retail)
Columbus Cafe at Carrefour Laval (Image: Think Retail)
Columbus Cafe at Carrefour Laval (Image: Think Retail)

Canadian Retail News From Around The Web For May 24th, 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 several days.

Podcast [Interview] Michael Binetti Discusses Toronto’s Retail History

By
Retail Insider
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Podcast [Interview] Michael Binetti Discusses Toronto's Retail History

Craig has an animated conversation discussing the history of retail in Toronto with Michael Binetti, who hosts Jane’s Walks. Binetti begins by discussing the first store in Toronto, followed by how a department store row developed on King Street East that gave way to Simpsons and Eaton’s opening further up on Queen.

The Interview Series podcast by Retail Insider Canada is available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. Also check out our The Weekly podcast where Craig and Lee discuss popular content published on Retail Insider which is part of the The Retail Insider Podcast Network.

Interviewed this episode:

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Drop us a line at Craig@Retail-Insider.com. You can also rate us in Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show!

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

Pitchfork Market + Kitchen to Open in Downtown Saskatoon and Launch Store Expansion in Western Canada: Interview

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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Pitchfork Market + Kitchen at The Meadows (Image: Pitchfork)

Pitchfork Market + Kitchen was born out of an idea of creating a more wholesome and inspiring food shopping experience for people in Saskatoon.

After opening its first location in The Meadows neighbourhood in southeast Saskatoon, the company is expanding to a downtown location at the Midtown shopping centre – with plans to eventually expand the brand throughout Western Canada.

“Pitchfork is a combination grocery store and restaurant,” said Chris Brychun, Director of Retail Operations. “With that, our grocery side of the business has a full selection that your traditional grocery store would have in a smaller, more intimate, community size store and we also lean pretty heavily into local content. We have local content represented in almost every category in the store as well.

Pitchfork Market + Kitchen at Midtown (Rendering: Pitchfork Market + Kitchen and Smart_)
Pitchfork Market + Kitchen at Midtown (Rendering: Pitchfork Market + Kitchen and Smart_)

“And the restaurant part of the business, the kitchen part, we have chefs on staff that work with us and they create all of the products that are made in store. All the prepared meal products that are sold in stores is done by them. Essentially anything that would need to be prepared in any way. It’s got that actual flavour to it. It’s not taken out of a box and put on display. It’s actually created in the building and our restaurant also offers sit-down service. There’s 45 seats in our original location plus a patio for the summer months. We have breakfast, lunch and dinner menus available. All of this is also available for delivery.”

Chris Brychun

The first location opened in June 2021 in about 7,500 square feet.

The Midtown location is expected to open near the end of this year or the first quarter of 2023. Square footage is between 15,000 and 18,000. 

“It will be essentially the look, feel and representation of our current store with obviously some changes. Our restaurant is going to be about twice the size. It’s going to be more of a true restaurant experience versus the cafe comparison that we use in the Meadows. Obviously with the square footage being significantly larger, we’re also going to have a larger representation of all of the grocery products and expanded assortment in that location,” said Brychun.

Pitchfork Market + Kitchen at The Meadows (Image: Pitchfork)

“We also are planning a show and production kitchen. The show kitchen will service the actual restaurant. The production kitchen we are designing to be able to produce centrally in the city for up to three or four locations. Then we can actually centralize some of our production. Make it a little bit more efficient and make sure that it is a bit of a standard offering across locations that we open.”

Brychun said the downtown core is an interesting one in the city and the goal as a business is to fill a niche market. 

“Downtown has had grocery stores in the past but over time, it’s been over two decades since there’s been a functional grocery store in the downtown,” he said. “We thought it was a prime opportunity to fill a distinct need for residents of the downtown core, the massive population of people that work in the downtown core, who enter and leave that area on a daily basis, but also its proximity to the inner city.”

In the future, Brychun said the company believes grocery stores are a pivotal part of community building. It’s looking at opening three or four locations in Saskatoon but the grand vision is to create a new chain to go across Western Canada.

Youtube video
Pitchfork Market + Kitchen Delivery at The Meadows (Image: Pitchfork)

Tara Faris, General Manager, Midtown, said Pitchfork will be accessible from both an exterior entrance, as well as from within the mall. 

“The exterior entrance will be accessed from the West Parking Lot off Idylwyld Drive and Auditorium Avenue and the interior entrance will be in the southwest corridor, adjacent to Boathouse, Coles Bookstore and Tim Horton’s,” she said.

“In looking at potential options for the development of the space, our focus was on securing an anchor that would drive foot traffic to the mall and increase repeat visitation to benefit all retailers and service providers.

“The addition of a full-service grocery store downtown fills a decades-old gap in the amenities available for those that live and work downtown.”

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