Featuring Stitch It’s 3D Body Measurement technology, the location will allow customers to get a full body measurement within 60 seconds in a three-step process.
“This non-invasive technology is designed to improve sizing accuracy when shopping for clothes in-store and online at the user’s favorite retailers,” says Taimoor Jamil, President and CEO, Stitch It.
“With Covid-19 limiting access to fitting rooms and e-commerce gaining more and more traction for retail consumption, this service is meant to complement the shopping experience. Our intentions are to help retailers and customers offer a sustainable purchasing experience and reduce the reliance on returns.”
Stitch It Clothing Alterations & Dry Cleaning Opens New 3D Body Measurement Pop-Up Store Inside of Sherway Gardens Mall
The pop-up location at CF Sherway Gardens is a step forward for the brand, as they are looking at adding technologies that will give customers the upper hand in online shopping.
“Since 1989, we have always been forward-thinking and customer-centric. This 3D fitting and sizing solution will become the go-to for measurements even post-pandemic. We are committed to offering complete and convenient access to alterations and dry-cleaning services across Canada. With the use of technology, we want to further empower our clients to fit and feel their best in the clothing they choose”.
This pop-up is the second location in the shopping centre for Stitch It, which opened the first store in July 2018.
Stitch It is a family-owned, national clothing alteration service and has more than 450 employees across Canada.
Stitch It Clothing Alterations & Dry Cleaning Opens New 3D Body Measurement Pop-Up Store Inside of Sherway Gardens MallStitch It Clothing Alterations & Dry Cleaning Opens New 3D Body Measurement Pop-Up Store Inside of Sherway Gardens Mall
Beauty retailer Sephora has expanded further into the Canadian market over the weekend with the opening of two storefronts in Surrey near Vancouver and Orleans near Ottawa.
Scott Kerby
A 4,900 square foot storefront opened at the Trinity Crossing near Ottawa, marking the retailer’s 36th location in Ontario. The new Sephora at Grandview Corners in Surrey brings Sephora’s store count to 86 across Canada.
“We’re excited to be making our unique in-store experience even more accessible to Canadians across the country with the opening of two new Sephora Canada stores in Surrey, British Columbia and Orleans, Ontario on November 5th, rounding off eight Sephora Canada store openings in 2021,” shared Scott Kerby, VP Stores & Client Services, Sephora Canada.
“With an amazing assortment of makeup, skincare, haircare and fragrances at every price point, we’ve truly got something for everyone and our Beauty Advisors are true experts in helping clients find the perfect products to suit their needs. We can’t wait for the local communities of Surrey and Orleans to discover all that we have in store, just in time for the holiday season!”
“We are thrilled to be expanding our presence in Toronto with the planned opening of a new Sephora store at Union Station,” said Gregory Bruyer, General Manager of Sephora Canada in a statement to Retail Insider. “Our national expansion strategy focuses on bringing our unique in-store experience to more Canadians while delivering ease and convenience to our clients, with new ways to shop Sephora continuously rolling out. We can’t wait for the local community and commuters alike to discover all that we have in store for them at this new location.”
Retail Insider will be following up with additional details on Sephora’s Canadian expansion as plans become available.
Podcast [Interview] Discussion of Canadian Retail Before, During and After COVID-19 with Bruce Winder
Bruce Winder joins Retail Insider Founder and Editor-in-Chief Craig Patterson to discuss what the future might hold for Canadian retailers after the pandemic. Winder is the author of the book RETAIL Before, During & After COVID-19. Tune in for an animated discussion.
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:
Bruce Winder – Retail Analyst – Author of RETAIL Before, During & After COVID-19 (Available on Amazon), Consultant, Speaker, Instructor, Neurodiverse, Artist
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Background Music Credit: Hard Boiled Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Iconic US retailer L.L.Bean is capping off another busy year of expansion in the Canadian market with the opening of its latest store at The Amazing Brentwood in Burnaby, B.C.
Howie Kastner
Howie Kastner, President of the JAYTEX Group, L.L.Bean’s Canadian partner, said the latest store opening is the eighth in the country and fourth this year.
“We started opening stores in Ontario in 2019 and 2020 as the majority of our customer base was located there. This year we’ve expanded to other areas where we have a strong existing customer base. In addition to looking at each market objectively, we also dug into customer comments and feedback. A great example of that has been Halifax, where we have years of customer comments asking us to open a store,” said Kastner.
“We plan to add four new stores in both new and existing markets next year, building on the strategy of identifying where our customers are concentrated, where we can attract new customers, evaluating the market, and listening to customer feedback.
“We are very excited about continued growth in the market. Our focus on the customer has built strong and consistent growth in the market and we expect that to continue. The brand, products and our purpose fit the market well and will continue to support our expansion both digitally and in our continued store buildout.”
L.L.Bean at Amazing Brentwood
The first Canadian store opened August 2019 at Oakville Place. Stores then opened at Georgian Mall (Barrie, July 2020), Ottawa Train Yards (August 2020) and CF Shops at Don Mills in Toronto (October 2020).
This year stores have opened at the Mayfair Shopping Centre (Victoria, August), at Dartmouth Crossing (Nova Scotia, September) and Deerfoot Meadows (Calgary, September).
“Canadians have an amazing appreciation for the outdoors and how time spent outside has a positive impact on our physical and emotional health. They also appreciate high quality products that stand the test of time. Given our focus on creating products to help customers to get outdoors and keep them cozy when they come home, there is a natural affinity for the brand in the market,” said Kastner.
“Throughout the pandemic people have sought refuge in the outdoors, and L.L.Bean has enabled those pursuits while also making the inside more comfortable. As a result, stores have outperformed our expectations. We’ve been thrilled with the response both from our existing customers who are delighted to touch and feel the product after shopping online for years and from new customers discovering the brand for the first time.”
L.L.Bean at Amazing Brentwood
Kastner said the company has adapted the shopping experience to ensure the safety and health of its customers and employees, but if anything, the pandemic has crystallized its purpose – to enable and inspire everyone to experience the restorative power of the outdoors.
The newest L.L.Bean location in Burnaby is 12,541 square feet in The Amazing Brentwood, a mixed-use development featuring world-class shops, restaurants, public plazas, entertainment, and 6,000+ new homes. The development touts indoor/outdoor public space and design, size and scale, connectivity, and diverse retail offerings.
L.L.Bean will offer Burnaby shoppers an assortment of men’s, women’s and kid’s active and casual apparel, outerwear, footwear and gear, paired with what it calls its legendary customer service.
L.L.Bean at Amazing BrentwoodGrand Opening – L.L.Bean at Amazing Brentwood
The retailer launched its Canadian e-commerce site in the fall of 2018, followed by the introduction of a Canada-specific catalogue. Then it began its launch of brick and mortar stores into the market.
L.L.Bean, Inc. is a leading multi-channel merchant of quality outdoor gear and apparel. Founded in 1912 by Leon Leonwood Bean, the company began as a one-room operation selling a single product, the Maine Hunting Shoe. L.L.Bean is a family-owned Maine company, led by Executive Chairman, Shawn Gorman, the great grandson of Leon Leonwood Bean, and Stephen Smith, President and CEO.
L.L.Bean operates 57 stores in 19 states across the United States, along with 25 stores in Japan. The 220,000-square-foot. L.L.Bean retail store campus in Freeport, ME, is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and welcomes more than 3 million visitors every year.
The Jaytex Group, founded in 1978 is a privately-owned company with a diverse portfolio of private label and lifestyle licensed brands in Canada. Partners include Kastner, Eric Grundy, and Leo Grunberger.
Brokerage Oberfeld Snowcap represents L.L.Bean in Canada for its expansion under the direction of Andrew Laudenbach. L.L.Bean stores are typically in the 13,000-to-15,000-square-foot range, with some being larger or smaller.
Additional Images from L.L.Bean at Amazing Brentwood
Image: L.L.Bean at Amazing BrentwoodImage: L.L.Bean at Amazing BrentwoodImage: L.L.Bean at Amazing BrentwoodImage: L.L.Bean at Amazing BrentwoodImage: L.L.Bean at Amazing BrentwoodImage: L.L.Bean at Amazing BrentwoodImage: L.L.Bean at Amazing BrentwoodImage: L.L.Bean at Amazing BrentwoodImage: L.L.Bean at Amazing BrentwoodImage: L.L.Bean at Amazing BrentwoodImage: L.L.Bean at Amazing Brentwood
Vancouver-based Mine & Yours, a luxury resell boutique, has opened its newest location in Vancouver’s Yaletown area. The location now operates in addition to the retailer’s first storefront at 1025 Howe Street nearby.
Mine & Yours has taken over the prominent 1,800 square foot location formerly occupied by men’s streetwear retailer Brooklyn Clothing at 418 Davie Street. The concentration of high-end labels in Vancouver are for the most part located on and near the 1000 block of Alberni Street while Mine & Yours is the first high-end resale retailer to open in the Yaletown neighbourhood. The boutique operates as both a luxury re-seller and as a consignment shop.
In addition to its retail space, Mine & Yours has a robust influencer program, where influencers may earn store credit towards luxury goods. The retailer says that it is dedicated to diversifying its client base and its representatives.
Retail Insider was invited to attend a grand opening soirée the night before the boutique’s first day of business. Staff were on-hand to greet a stylish crowd that included a live DJ, champagne, and a great opportunity for local fashionistas to connect. To ensure the safety of their guests and clients, Mine & Yours requested proof of full vaccination against Covid-19 prior to entry, in compliance with BC’s local health and safety laws.
Click image for interactive Google MapImage: Mine & Yours
After the event, we caught up with Mine & Yours Courtney Watkins. Here’s what she had to say about the opening of her new location.
Retail Insider: This is the second location within downtown Vancouver. Do you have plans to expand further?
Courtney Watkins: Yes, we can’t wait to expand into new neighbourhoods! We have been planning a Toronto expansion since 2019, but Covid put a hold on these plans. We are aiming to open a Toronto store by the end of 2022. Keep an eye out for all the exciting things we have in store (excuse the pun!)
RI: What factors helped you decide that Yaletown would be the ideal second location?
CW: I knew the previous owner of this space when it was Brooklyn Clothing Co. and always told him how amazing the space was and how much I loved it, which is why he called me when he decided to move. I said “yes!” before running the numbers or deciding whether it would be a move or a second location. I just had a gut feeling that this was the right spot for Mine & Yours!
Image: Mine & Yours
RI: How will the concept differ between the two locations, if at all? Do you see both stores as part of a continuity, as complementary to one another?
CW: While the two stores will overlap in the products they carry, Davie Street will carry more of the luxury designer pieces. Howe street will have more curated, streetwear, and contemporary brands at mid-level price points.
RI: For your Influencer program, what values do you look for in an influencer, and how do they reflect the values of Mine & Yours? Do you see them as cultivating a different audience for luxury retail?
CW: Our influencer program is very inclusive, anyone can sign up through our website and you don’t need a large following to apply. We have something for everyone at Mine & Yours and we love celebrating your personal style. In terms of values, we look for influencers who love sustainability, fashion and shopping at Mine & Yours! Sustainability is one of the core values of our business and circular fashion is the future of the industry. We want our influencers to reflect that aspect of our business by being conscious shoppers.
RI: We noticed you have a few men’s items for sale, will you also continue to include more men’s wear and possibly expand on it?
CW: We just started carrying menswear this summer and it has been selling out! With two locations, we now have more room to expand our menswear and even children’s collections. We are looking forward to offering more pieces and brands for our community!
The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) has unveiled a storefront at the Manulife Centre at 55 Bloor Street West. The store is located at one of the most prominent retail corners in Canada in a space once occupied by luxury fashion retailer Creeds.
The LCBO store spans about 11,325 square feet on one level with street-facing both Bloor Street and Balmuto Street. Of that, about 8,800 square feet is publicly accessible retail space. Included in-store is an expansive assortment of 3,445 wines, beers, and spirits, ready-to-drink cocktails, and coolers from around the world. About 250 Ontario wines are displayed including 173 VQA wines. There’s an expansive Vintages section which includes premium offerings as well — some of the prices for bottles seen in the store were close to $10,000. The interior of the new LCBO store appears to be similar to other newer stores in the Toronto area.
A total of 144 linear feet of refrigerated shelving offers a wide selection of Ontario craft beers as well as other domestic and imported brands, ready-to-drink cocktails and coolers. There is also a chilled wine section that features 32 linear feet of refrigerated wine and an ice refrigerator for customers. The store’s product mix is said to be the result of market research, matching products and services to local tastes, demographics, and community interests, and includes an assortment of made in Ontario products.
Image: LCBO Bloor Flagship (Photo: Dustin Fuhs)
George Soleas
“We are excited to open our doors in our newly relocated store, in the heart of some of the best shopping in Canada,” said George Soleas, President & CEO, LCBO. “The modern store offers an elevated shopping experience that our loyal customers from the community have come to expect from the LCBO.”
Scott Gordon
“We are excited to be partnering with LCBO to expand their presence in the Bloor-Yorkville community,” said Scott Gordon, head of real estate asset management, Canada at Manulife Investment Management. “We worked closely with LCBO to ensure their new location allowed them to showcase their premium offering, while also enhancing the local retail community.”
The former LCBO at Manulife Centre spanned about 7,500 square feet on the basement level of the retail podium. The space is now being offered for lease by CBRE with demising options for potentially several small tenants.
The former Creeds store at the Manulife Centre — the luxury women’s fashion store went bankrupt in 1990. Photo: https://strategicimaging.com
From the early 1990s until early 2017, tableware and gift retailer William Ashley occupied the prominent corner of Bloor and Balmuto streets at the Manulife Centre. William Ashley relocated in 2017 to the second level of The Colonnade at 131 Bloor Street West.
For several decades until its bankruptcy in 1990, luxury multi brand women’s retailer Creeds occupied the corner in a 38,500 square foot one level space that once spanned most of the expanse of the Manulife Centre facing Balmuto Street. Prior to its closure, Creeds operated shop-in-stores for luxury brands including Chanel, Ungaro, Jil Sander, Sonia Rykiel, Go Silk, and Krizia.
The Manulife Centre recently underwent an extensive redevelopment including a revitalization of its exterior with a glass facade and the addition of 35,000 square feet of retail space. The crowning new tenant Eataly opened in the fall of 2019 with most of its space occupying the second level. Other tenants include jewellery retailer Birks, footwear brand Ron White, fashion retailer Over the Rainbow, Bay Bloor Radio, Indigo, Shoppers Drug Mart, Loblaw City Market, and we recently reported that upscale fashion retailer Studio D had recently relocated to the Manulife Centre from midtown Toronto. Manulife Centre includes about 285,000 square feet of retail space, 435,000 square feet of office space and 809 rental apartments in a tower at 44 Charles Street West.
7-Eleven, the pioneer in the convenience category, is making it even easier for consumers to buy items from its stores across Canada.
Norman Hower
The company has launched its 7-Eleven Mobile Checkout where consumers simply scan an item, pay and go – it’s the first retailer in the country to introduce this initiative chainwide.
“Our customers told us that they want more time to focus on the important things in their lives. We took that insight and developed 7-Eleven’s proprietary technology to create a full contactless shopping experience. We know this will help our customers save time and empower them to make the most of their day,” said Norman Hower, VP and GM of 7-Eleven Canada. “
“We’re reinventing convenience with the 7-Eleven Mobile Checkout and this is yet another example of how we’re developing digital innovation to actively exceed our customers’ needs.
“About 2018 we started looking at the technology and using our 7Rewards platform as the vehicle to enable the technology. With this application that we have, and 7-Eleven Mobile Checkout, customers can come in and basically check themselves out using their app and earn rewards points with that and get along with their day. If the store’s busy, they don’t have to wait in line. They really have the ultimate contactless experience . . . There’s no need to go to any self-checkout kiosk. The self-checkout kiosk is literally their phone . . . The process is pretty simple for stores and also for customers. Once they get the hang of it, it’s pretty darn easy.”
There are 616 branded stores across Canada from British Columbia to Ontario.
The use of the 7-Eleven Mobile Checkout is a simple process for consumers:
● Download the 7-Eleven mobile app from the App Store or Google Play or update your app to the latest version to ensure it has the Mobile Checkout capability;
● Register for or log into the 7Rewards® loyalty program;
● Open the app in a participating store and tap the “Mobile Checkout” icon on the home page;
● Scan the barcode on each product to add it to your basket. Discounts or promotions will be applied automatically;
● Pay for purchases in the app using Apple Pay, Google Pay or a debit or credit card; and
● Confirm purchase by scanning the on-screen QR code at the confirmation station before you exit the store.
The new feature is available to all customers free of charge.
Hower said 7-Eleven currently has just under six million users on 7Rewards.
Canada is the second market to introduce the feature, after a successful launch and expansion in the US earlier this year. Since its inception in 2018, Mobile Checkout has been used by over one million 7-Eleven customers at all of its 3,000 participating U.S. stores.
“We really perfected the technology there and we are doing a countrywide blowout (in Canada). This isn’t a pilot. This is really a new way to offer customers convenience in 7-Eleven Canada stores. So it’s in every branded store in Canada,” said Hower.
“We know that other retailers are dabbling in this space. We’re the first retailer to roll out on this scale which is kind of exciting.
Image: 7-Eleven Canada
Image: 7-Eleven Canada
“Innovation has always been in our DNA. Customers were telling us when stores get busy or at different times of the day . . . there can be lines and we want to find ways of cutting through that noise and giving customers a way to control their own experience . . . We also wanted to make it easy for the stores not to add new equipment or additional things that can bog down the store layout. Quite frankly, having your own phone and using your own device made a lot of sense. That was how the technology was formed . . . As we launch it too by the way we’re going to offer 10 times the points that they would get at the regular cashier. Encourage people to try it out, check it out, to see if they like it. We think it will.”
7-Eleven, which is based in Irving, Texas, operates, franchises and/or licenses in more than 77,000 stores in 18 countries, including nearly 17,000 in North America.
Hower said 7-Eleven Canada has been operating for 52 years and plans are to continue to expand its footprint across the country.
“We’re going to continue to build traditional new stores. We’re going to continue to look for acquisition opportunities,” he said, adding that it launched in the summer its delivery app 7NOW.
