Welcome to the updated Canadian Retail News from Around the Web. News will now be archived daily for readers who may have missed past news stories. Feel free to provide any suggested comments/improvements to Craig Patterson at: craig@retail-insider.com.
Jewellery Brand ‘APM Monaco’ Opening 3 More Canadian Storefronts
APM Monaco storefront at the CF Richmond Centre. Photo: Ritchie Po
Some good news for the Canadian retail industry, and a signal that brick-and-mortar retail space is still in demand. Upscale Monaco-based jeweller APM Monaco has leased three boutique spaces in the top shopping centres in Western Canada. All three stores will open later this year, bringing APM Monaco’s Canadian store count to five.
The APM Monaco brand was seeing tremendous growth internationally before the pandemic with some international storefronts selling millions of dollars of product annually. APM Monaco has about 200 stores worldwide. In the United States, APM Monaco operates 15 storefronts in New York City, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu, suburban Philadelphia, suburban Seattle, Miami, Saipan, and Guam. The brand locates in busy upscale areas.
APM Monaco was founded in 1982 by Ariane Prette as a jewellery brand specializing in creating traditional gold, diamond, and precious stone pieces for other jewellers. In 2011, the Prette family launched the new APM line (standing for Ariane Prette Monaco) that is made from the purest form of silver, carefully selected cubic zirconia, and one-of-a-kind freshwater cultured pearls, among other high-quality materials. Its products are handmade with their own manufacturer to ensure consistency. Designs are also “influenced by Monaco and the South of France,” according to the company, “with a touch of Monegasque flair”. Creative director Kika Prette (daughter-in-law of Ariane Prette) introduces four new collections a month with 12 fashion themes a year.
Chocolate Retailer Godiva Shutting All 11 Canadian Stores
Godiva store at the CF Toronto Eaton Centre. Photo: Zomato
Belgian chocolate brand Godiva has announced that it will shut its 11 standalone Canadian storefronts by the end of March 2021. The company will maintain its wholesale distribution which includes several shop-in-shops in retailers such as Hudson’s Bay as well as distribution in speciality, food and pharmacy retailers.
The standalone Godiva stores to close are located in Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, and Manitoba. The seven Ontario stores include four Toronto stores: CF Toronto Eaton Centre, Yorkdale Shopping Centre, CF Fairview Mall, Scarborough Town Centre; two Ottawa stores: CF Rideau Centre and Tanger Outlets; and a Mississauga location at the Square One shopping centre. In British Columbia, Godiva has stores at Metropolis at Metrotown in Burnaby as well as at CF Richmond Centre in Richmond. In Quebec, Godiva operates a store at CF Carrefour Laval near Montreal. In Manitoba, Godiva operates a store at the CF Polo Park shopping centre.
Plans were in place in 2019 to more than double Godiva’s store count in North America with a goal of operating about 400 stores. The COVID-19 pandemic changed those plans as the company struggles amid changing consumer shopping behaviours.
Canadian mall landlords will yet again have to back-fill vacant retail spaces as Godiva exits its Canadian retail operations. Godiva’s locations are considered to be premium which means that they will be leased more easily than some retailers shuttering stores.
Godiva is now Turkish-owned and its headquarters are in New York City. The company was founded in 1926 by Joseph Draps and its first store opened in Paris in 1958. The first Godiva store in North America opened in 1972 on 5th Avenue in New York City.
Godiva will also exit its 117 US storefronts as is part of this week’s announcement. Godiva will continue to maintain its retail operations across Europe, the Middle East, and China.
Brioche Dorée Opens New Parisian Café & Bakery in Toronto
Exterior of new Brioche Dorée location on Toronto’s Bay Street. Photo: Brioche Dorée Instagram
Internationally acclaimed urban café bakery Brioche Dorée has opened a new Parisian Café & Bakery at 879 Bay Street in Toronto.
“We are very proud to be a multi-store owner with the Brioche Dorée brand,” says Mr. Ardestani, franchisee of the Bay Street Store. “My experience was so successful with my North American Centre location that I wanted to build on that success”.
The chain of urban café bakeries is built on the simple idea that it is possible to serve up French-inspired products of exceptional quality and freshness in a fast-service style. The company’s franchise partners are proud to offer everything from traditional 100% pure butter pastries to fresh-baked breads, sweet and savoury crepes, fresh sandwiches, salads, and more.
1 of 3
Interior of new Brioche Dorée location on Toronto's Bay Street showing coffee station. Photo: Brioche Dorée Instagram
Interior of new Brioche Dorée location on Toronto's Bay Street showing pastry and sandwich lineup. Photo: Brioche Dorée Instagram
Interior of new Brioche Dorée location on Toronto's Bay Street showing pastry and sandwich lineup. Photo: Brioche Dorée Instagram
The new Brioche Dorée location is currently offering adapted services in compliance with the latest health and safety measures due to COVID-19. Equipped with click & collect takeout services, the store has also partnered with Uber Eats and DoorDash to deliver its products directly to customers in the comfort of their own homes.
“We are excited to grow with one of our franchisees,” says Pascale Closson-Duquette, Chief Administrative Officer of the Brioche Dorée brand. “It has been a wonderful collaborative effort and we’re very proud of the result with this brand-new café bakery. We consider ourselves very fortunate to be able to build on our success in the current context, and we look forward to offering this neighbourhood a little taste of Paris”.
Founded in 1976, Brioche Dorée is committed to serving local markets and continues to roll out new neighbourhood locations. Today, Brioche Dorée now has 12 locations across Canada.
Nova Scotian Brands Partner to Launch Winter Clothing Collection
East Coast Lifestyle hoodie on model. Photo: East Coast Lifestyle
Canadian family-run manufacturer, Stanfield’s Ltd., has announced the launch of a winter collection with Atlantic Canada’s largest clothing brand, East Coast Lifestyle.
The collection will be available on February 1st and will feature t-shirts, hoodies, socks, toques, and underwear, in addition to Stanfield’s iconic long underwear for both men and women. It will be sold on the East Coast Lifestyle website and at their three retail locations — Seaport, 1099 North Marginal Road in Halifax, Mic Mac Mall in Dartmouth, and the Cavendish Boardwalk on PEI. Products will also be available at Pseudio stores across Atlantic Canada.
The partnership between the two Nova Scotian brands was founded on a mutual desire to create specially designed pieces that represent the beauty and unique qualities found in Nova Scotia and its people. All products are made in Canada.
Rob Newcombe, VP of Marketing and Sales for Stanfield’s comments, “This was a very natural collaboration for us. The idea of taking some of our hero items and having them interpreted by East Coast Lifestyle is something our customers will love and wear with pride”.
Alex MacLean, Founder and CEO of East Coast Lifestyle adds, “We have long admired Stanfield’s and to us, this is a way to get two stellar Nova Scotian brands together and into the hands of so many people who want to rep Nova Scotia, from coast to coast”.
A factory tour with East Coast Lifestyle CEO, Alex MacLean, can be found here.
The Wellness Market Plans Ahead Despite Uncertainty of COVID-19
The Wellness Market
Despite the current COVID-19 lockdown in Toronto, The Wellness Market is looking ahead and preparing for its 2021 event. Set to take place on May 2nd, 2021 at Evergreen Brick Works in Toronto’s Don Valley River neighbourhood, The Wellness Market has both opened its application process for vendors and announced the availability of tickets for customers.
The immersive wellness experience has been operating since 2017 with a focus on supporting local, small business owners in the wellness category. With over 50 participating local vendors, the market provides a platform for brands involved in organic skincare, handmade jewellery, fresh florals, supplements and superfoods, and more.
The Wellness Market
“Now, more than ever before, we are fiercely committed to putting the hard-work of locally owned businesses directly into consumers hands. Vendors are given the opportunity to showcase their products to hundreds of like-minded individuals, all eager to become life-long, loyal customers.”
For vendors and customers alike, The Wellness Market is a fully interactive and educational experience — one that will not be dampened by the current COVID-19 pandemic.
“Celebrating our wellness, mental, and physical health has never been more important. We are committed to ensuring that we follow all government recommended COVID protocols. We may all be six feet apart, but we will be a million steps closer to the connection we miss and need, now more than ever before,” the website states.
In addition to the vendor market, The Wellness Market experience encompasses workout classes, wellness treatments, group workshops, and wellness panels.
Harry Rosen & Masai Ujiri team to launch HUMANITY. Photo: Harry Rosen
Philanthropy and charitable work are not undertakings unfamiliar to Harry Rosen. The brand and the family have given back to the communities that they live and operate in for generations. It’s a point of pride for the iconic menswear retailer that has a longstanding reputation as the go-to destination for Canadian men who want to look and feel their best. And it’s a commitment by the company to help improve the welfare of those around them that continues in full today through its current collaboration with Toronto Raptors President and Giants of Africa (GOA) Co-Founder, Masai Ujiri.
Designing Change
Launched in December 2020, the unique partnership features a seven-piece athleisure collection designed by Ujiri and Canadian designer Patrick Assaraf. Anchored by the theme HUMANITY, the intention of the project is to help promote the ever-important message of equality, inclusivity and the need for greater understanding within our society, and to remind us all that there is more that unites us than divides us. Each piece within the collection includes the word ‘HUMANITY’ in Ujiri’s handwriting, underscoring the need for a collective effort in order to eradicate injustice and to help elevate the standing of those less fortunate and privileged within our communities. And, according to Harry Rosen’s CEO, Larry Rosen, involvement in a project of this nature centered around a campaign with such a strong social narrative is not only an honour, but is also seen by the company as its incumbent responsibility to help amplify and support the message in whatever way it can.
Masai Ujiri
“Masai is an incredible, noble person,” he says. “And Patrick is an immensely talented designer. The fact that Harry Rosen could join forces with these individuals for such an amazing and hugely important cause is exciting for everyone at the company. But it also provides us with an unprecedented opportunity to contribute meaningfully toward making a real difference within communities across the country. Everyone knows about the systemic barriers to accessibility and opportunity that exist within the industry and society as a whole. We want to be a part of affecting positive change that can impact everyone. And this collaboration with Masai and Patrick gives us the platform to try and do just that.”
A Platform for the Underrepresented
In addition to promoting the message of equality and inclusivity through high-quality fashion, the project is also focused on raising funds for charity and introducing new Black designers to the Canadian market. Net proceeds from the sales of the collection, which is available exclusively on HarryRosen.com, is going to Black Youth Helpline, an organization which provides young people with access to culturally relevant, high-quality services and resources in their local community. The much-needed funds help to uphold and improve crisis counselling, strategies aimed at keeping youth in school and provide support for underrepresented families, schools and communities in need. It’s an extremely admirable gesture that’s been made by the retailer and its collaborators, something that’s recognized by Barbara Thompson, Founder & Executive Director of Black Youth Helpline, the campaigns primary benefactor.
“We are incredibly grateful to Masai Ujiri and Harry Rosen for their steadfast commitment to youth from Canada’s underrepresented backgrounds and under-resourced communities,” she says. “Now more than ever, there is a need to support and empower Canada’s disadvantaged youth. This transformative partnership will propel us as we develop and execute new strategies for education, and community well-being in support of keeping Canada’s vulnerable youth on track to successful futures.”
Creating Dialogue Around Social Injustice
It’s a sentiment that’s shared by Ujiri, whose attempts to address the need for unity within our society helped fuel the campaign with Harry Rosen. Ujiri, born and raised in Nigeria, and the first and only African-born President and General Manager of a professional sports franchise in North America, started to use his passions for basketball and humanity to great effect when he Co-Founded the GOA in 2003. The organization, which has grown in effectiveness and prestige in the years since its founding, was developed with the vision to leverage basketball as a means to educate and enrich the lives of African youth – both boys and girls. Ujiri’s passions remain unchanged today, seeing a greater need for unity now than perhaps ever before. And he’s hopeful that the collection developed between he and Assaraf might help strengthen the dialogue around the issues of racial injustice.
“This year we have been consumed by the twin pandemics of COVID and racism. We need to find a cure for both, urgently,” he says with conviction. “No one expects a t-shirt to change the world, but each of us committing to look at each other as human beings and really see the humanity in everyone is a good start. See the word. Have the conversation. Really talk to each other. Remember that our humanity is the first thing we all have in common. Once we recognize that we share that connection, we can find others.”
The HUMANITY campaign is a truly inspiring collaboration and partnership that reflects some of the overriding ills within society as well as some of the ways that we as a collective can start to break down some of the barriers that exist today. It’s also provided a catalyst for Harry Rosen, a reinforcement to its commitment to diversify its shelves and offering and to create a more equitable and inclusive Canadian fashion market. Backing up its commitment, the retailer recently signed George Sully, the creator of Sully and Son, and the Founder of Black Designers of Canada, to design an upcoming collection for the brand. Sully will be one of the first among a growing roster of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) designers offered by the brand.
A Strategic Approach
Trinh Tham
It’s a bold commitment by the retailer, a move of significant importance that is well understood by its accomplished CEO. And, although he provides what he describes as a “steady hand on the rudder” for the company, he’s quick to credit the forward-thinking team around him for the vision and execution of the HUMANITY campaign and for their youthful perspective that is helping to continue driving the Harry Rosen brand forward and further the positive influence that it has on the communities it’s a part of.
One of those forward-thinkers that Rosen is privileged to have working with him is the company’s Chief Marketing Officer, SVP Marketing & E-Commerce, Trinh Tham. Credited with much of the excellent work and thinking organizationally that has led to a refreshed look and feel for the brand, Tham and her team are helping to lead Harry Rosen into a new chapter, adding to its already acclaimed history. She explains that the collaboration is part of the broader strategic approach that’s recently been taken by the company to do better, and to appeal to a wider audience of Canadian men.
“Harry Rosen has always been a very values and purpose-driven organization,” she says. “It’s in the company’s DNA. Our partnership with Masai really reflects and emphasizes that aspect of the brand and our values of ‘leadership, passion, creativity and inclusivity’. He’s a great personification of what the company stands for and perfectly fits our focus strategically to work alongside role models that the brand looks up to. Working with him on the HUMANITY campaign allowed us to be a part of something really meaningful and to promote a really strong and positive message. It also helps us in the work that we’re doing to move the brand forward, not only improving the experience we provide our amazing existing customers, but attracting new customers to the brand as well.”
A Powerful Message
Tham describes her involvement in the creation and development of the campaign as an incredible experience, presenting her with the opportunity to contribute to something that she feels deeply passionate about. And it’s a sentiment that she explains was shared by everyone who worked on the project, lending to the power and effectiveness of the campaign.
“We engaged our creative partner, Zulu Alpha Kilo, to work on the project with us,” she says. “The energy displayed by everyone involved was incredible, resulting in an amazing campaign that they helped us develop pro bono, which fit really well with our mandate. The HUMANITY campaign was never meant by anyone involved to be a commercial venture, but as a means to deliver its message. We really focused on creating a campaign that was as genuine and meaningful as possible. The fact that everyone who contributed believes strongly in the message of inclusivity, fairness and openness helped to make it something really special and allowed us the perfect platform to give voice and raise the awareness and recognition of the underrepresented in society.”
Return to its Roots
Despite the success of the campaign to date, however, and the incredible response that’s been received concerning the modernization of the brand that she recently helped execute, Tham stresses that these achievements are the result of a culmination of work that’s been put in by everyone at the company. She explains further that their collective accomplishments and everything else that Harry Rosen does are entrenched in the foundations of the company and inspired by the continued leadership of the Rosen family.
“The HUMANITY campaign and all of the other work that we’re doing to move the brand forward has received full support from the Rosen family and really helps reflect who they are and what they’ve represented to the communities the brand has served through the years. It might seem like a refresh to some. But we haven’t changed anything about the values the brand stands for and believes in. We’re simply returning to our roots and starting to share those values in a more relevant and meaningful way that resonates more profoundly with today’s customer, helping us to grow the brand even further.”
This week, Craig & Lee discuss the disappointing news of Barneys New York not coming to Canada as planned, significant shopping centre changes for 2021, as well as a discussion about the West Edmonton Mall photo tours released by Retail Insider this week.
The Weekly 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.
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/
Street sign with directions to either NEW BEGINNING or INSOLVENCY
The online publication Insolvency Insider highlighted 244 insolvency filings in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on the financial viability of many companies in Canada throughout various industries.
Retail led all industries with 45 filings mentioned, followed by real estate with 23 filings, manufacturing with 17 filings, food and accommodation with 16, and cannabis with 15.
The publication said 112 filings mentioned were in Ontario, followed by 45 in Alberta and 35 in Quebec.
Dina Milivojevic
Dina Milivojevic, Editor of Insolvency Insider, said the number of filings in 2020 in the retail sector was not as high as perhaps expected.
“One of the reasons from a landlord’s perspective is probably that some landlords aren’t enforcing (full rents) because it won’t be good for business in the post-COVID era to have lots of empty un-leased space,” she said. “So to the extent that they can keep their tenants alive I think that’s what they’re trying to do.
“From a tenant’s perspective it may not make sense to file even if they are struggling financially because one of the biggest incentives for filing was potentially having to pay rent and a decision out of Quebec recently made it clear that even if you file for CCAA (Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act) protection you’ll still have to pay rent to your landlord.
“And so that would have been one of the biggest stressors on a debtor’s cash flow and if they can’t avoid paying rent then it may not make sense to file. And sort of in the same vein, debtors may also be waiting to file as long as possible so that overdue rent accrues in the pre-filing period and that makes it a pre-filing debt. If they file, they will have to pay rent post-filing to stay in the space.”
Milivojevic said that in a typical cycle many retailers file for protection in the first quarter of the year after the holiday season after they’ve looked at their numbers and figured out whether it makes sense to file or not.
She said the industry expects there will be more filings in 2021 because landlords are probably getting a little bit more impatient, lenders are probably getting a little bit more impatient and the Canada Revenue Agency too.
“From the retail perspective we’re still in a stalemate at this point so it’s really hard to predict,” added Milivojevic.
“The holiday season is typically a retailer’s busiest season and a lot of the money they make over the course of a year is made in the months of November and December and so if they haven’t had a good holiday season then they might not have enough cash to service their obligations. So they would typically be filing at this time of year. But for the reasons I’ve described it might not happen this year.”
Milivojevic said retailers can only hold on for so long as the pandemic continues.
“Retailers are trying to hold on for dear life because they’re hoping that if they can stay afloat financially and they can avoid a filing and avoid shutting down then in the post-COVID environment competition will be much less because we’ve already seen a number of retailers that have filed. There will be fewer players in the market and then they’ll be servicing a market that has less competition. So I think that’s what they’re hoping for and another reason why they’re holding out,” she said.
“But it can only go for so long. The longer it goes on the more filings we’ll see for sure.
With the number of CCAA filings, the hope is that companies will be able to restructure. Many businesses in the service industry were impacted by COVID.
“The longer that stores and restaurants aren’t able to have people in their businesses the more likely they will be to file,” added Milivojevic.
“The longer that it goes the more likely that even bigger retailers will be closing their doors in the future. Some companies have been more successful than others in transitioning to online sales. The bricks and mortar shops that drive most of their sales from in-person buying are really, really struggling whereas the Amazons that were already established online are doing very well.”
The vast majority of filings in 2020 were in Ontario most likely because many of the companies are headquartered in that province. For Alberta, the number of filings also may reflect the economic downturn the province has experienced not only due to COVID but also to lower oil prices.
Entrance to the Retail Innovation Lab on the McGill University campus.
McGill University and Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. have recently partnered to launch one of Canada’s first retail innovation labs. The initiative is part of the retail innovation studies program at the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, acting as a live testing ground for innovative and frictionless technologies that address the retail sector’s future challenges.
In the wake of COVID-19 and the countless obstacles it imposes on retailers, the university and the global retailer have come together to create one of North America’s first live, open laboratory stores, in a bid to transform the customer experience at this critical time.
Located on McGill University’s downtown campus on prestigious Sherbrooke Street West, the lab is led by two research directors at McGill, Professor Maxime Cohen of the Desautels Faculty of Management and Professor James Clark of the Faculty of Engineering. Governed by a joint steering committee, preliminary research themes are set to focus on helping customers make healthier, more sustainable consumer choices, and finding equilibrium between personalization and privacy within the shopping experience.
Professor James Clark (left) & Professor Maxime Cohen (right)
“By combining artificial intelligence and retail management, this retail innovation lab at the Bensadoun School of Retail Management will allow our researchers to develop new initiatives and technologies to improve the customer experience for the retail sector with the help of industry partners,” said Professor Morty Yalovsky, Dean of McGill’s Desautels Faculty of Management. “We are excited to welcome one of Canada’s largest retailers, Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., as the first industry partner of our lab to help shape the future of retail during this pivotal moment in history.”
The lab provides researchers with state-of-the-art artificial intelligence tools, while also ensuring stringent data privacy and confidentiality protocols, to improve demand forecasting and customer recommendations, as well as virtual reality to make it easier for customers to find what they are looking for.
Deb Hall Lefevre
Inside the lab, a Couche-Tard Connecté section is specially designed with frictionless technologies to allow autonomous and contactless checkout. Using an app, customers can unlock the door to walk into the Connecté section, pick up items, and leave. The items selected will be recognized in real-time, and payment will be processed automatically in the app. A first in Canada’s convenience store sector, the frictionless store will allow Couche-Tard team members to provide elevated service, speed up in-store visits, and create a more straightforward shopping experience for customers.
“This new store on the McGill University campus is a unique demonstration of our commitment to find new ways to make our customers’ lives a little easier,” said Deborah Hall Lefevre, Chief Technology Officer, Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. “At Couche-Tard, we are always searching for innovative solutions that improve the experience for our customers in our stores. By having a live laboratory, we are confident that the research projects and technologies successfully tested at the lab may eventually be implemented in some of our 14,220 stores across our global network,” she added.
In addition to enabling ground-breaking research, the lab will allow McGill students to deepen their knowledge through on-site experiential learning in an innovative commercial environment.
Sophie Provencher
“We are proud to deploy this new store with McGill’s Bensadoun School of Retail Management, and in doing so, contribute to developing the next generation of entrepreneurs, offer a differentiated customer experience with the latest technologies, and provide an even more rewarding and safe work experience to our current and future employees,” said Sophie Provencher, Vice-President Quebec West – Operations, Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. “Through this partnership, we will build on the great customer service our store team members provide every day, by making their jobs a little easier and giving them more time and opportunity to delight our customers,” she added.
The lab is currently open at reduced hours and allows for a limited in-store capacity until local public health authorities in Quebec deem it safe to operate at full capacity.
The lab is funded by the Bensadoun Family Foundation and Bensadoun School of Retail Management Founders Circle, of which Alain Bouchard, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., is a member.
First impressions. They are one-time occurrences that for many helps to begin shaping their initial perceptions and interpretations of individuals, communities, pieces of art, or anything else. They provide a frame, a sketch, a partial introduction or sneak-peek at the bigger picture, often leaving behind lasting effects. For retailers and other businesses, the first impression can mean everything, piquing curiosity and interest in prospective customers and establishing the voice and tenor of the brand. It’s a notion, and the importance of which, that is well-understood by Gregory Signs – a leading Toronto-based signage company that’s been working with businesses, helping to satisfy their branding and signage needs for more than four decades.
Forty Years of Growth
Founded in 1981 as an engraving shop by Gregory Kaminsky, the company began operations with the opening of its first retail location at 2899 Steeles Avenue West in Brampton, northeast of Toronto. Excelling within his craft, it wasn’t long before Kaminsky, who recognized an increasing need for the development of different types of signage, started to grow the business and the base of customers that it served. And, a little less than ten years following its founding, in response to its exponential growth and aided by the advent of new technologies, the company increased its product line, moving its operations to Petrolia Road in North York. It represented an incredible start for the company whose mission early on was to earn the recognition of its customers, employees, suppliers and communities it serves as one of the highest quality performers in the sign industry. And, as it turns out, the operations and reputation of Gregory Signs were only just beginning to flourish.
Boris Kaminsky
In 2006, due to an ever-increasing demand for the company’s services, as well as the commissioning of larger-scale projects, it once again moved its operations, this time to a larger freestanding manufacturing facility in Concord, Ontario. Sales have continued to escalate during the decade-and-a-half that’s followed, in concert with a widening portfolio and broadening scope of work that the company has taken on. In 2019, in efforts to support its impressive success, Gregory Signs opened a new Head Office in Concord, resulting in increased space at its nearby manufacturing facility. Shortly thereafter, the company opened additional sites, including a brand-new sales, showroom and manufacturing facility in Barrie, Ontario and a sales showroom in downtown Toronto. The growth and expansion of the company since its founding has been steady and quite impressive. But, according to Boris Kaminsky, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Gregory Signs, the organization remains focused on continuing to build its reputation within the industry and communities it serves, and dedicated toward sustaining the extraordinary success it’s enjoyed to date.
“The company was built on a foundation of providing excellent customer service and expertise for the clients we work with,” he says. “And because the signage industry is one that’s constantly evolving with consumer and market trends and the introduction of new technologies, we make sure we continue to adapt every day. We’re constantly exploring ways that we can continuously improve the way we do things and expand the range of products that we offer. But, in the end, our success is all about working with retailers and other businesses to consistently help them develop and display the signage that best represents their operations, conveying the story of the brand to the customer.”
End-to-End Services and Solutions
To help its clients achieve these goals, Gregory Signs offers a full range of signage services, from conceptual planning and design through to fabrication and installation. And, as Kaminsky points out, there isn’t a business that the company will turn away, servicing all types and sizes of operations from all walks and industries. Specializing in developing and installing exterior signage, the company also offers an incredible array of other services, from delivering on interior, structural and custom signage needs to the development of wayfinding and digital signage, and just about everything in between. Each service is part of the overall custom solutions that are available to clients of the company who, according to Kaminsky, range with respect to the needs of the organization.
“We work with clients right across the spectrum who are all at different stages of their businesses’ development with varying signage requirements,” he explains. “Some of our clients come to us with a logo and branding that’s already been developed and implemented and they need our help in fabricating and installing it at locations. Some of our clients are at the prototype stage of their branding and require our expertise in making recommendations as we work with them to finalize their signage. And we also work with clients that come to us with very little in terms of branding and ideas. That’s when we’re able to leverage our full complement of experience and industry knowledge, providing consultation and our project management skills to help them develop their identity from scratch. We understand the importance of signage and how it can help differentiate brands. This, in combination with our decades of experience and know-how, helps to set our clients apart from their competitors.”
Expanding Presence and Portfolio
Its experience and know-how, it seems, also helps to set Gregory Signs apart from its competitors, too. As one of the few full-service signage providers, it long ago established itself as a market leader. Today, the company works with a breadth of organizations and brands, including the Toronto Transit Commission, the Ontario Provincial Police, Oracle, Puma, and Holmes, to name a few. The company has also been responsible for the recent development of a range of eclectic projects that include design and consulting work, as well as interior and exterior signage creation and installation, for the new Niagara Entertainment Complex, a number of temporary sign installations at construction sites, in addition to the development of cemetery wayfinding signs. And, although the majority of the clients that the company works with have operations based in Ontario, its services are also engaged by a substantial number of businesses outside of the province, in Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba, as well as in the United States and other parts of the globe.
As part of its suite of services, Gregory Signs also works to ensure permits for their clients and assurance that their signage needs fit within local bylaws. And if a bylaw variance is necessary in order to fulfill the signage needs, the company will do the work required to assess the cost and viability of the variance for the business. Otherwise, it’s also able to make insightful recommendations concerning adaptations to the sign that will allow it to adhere to bylaws while retaining its desired impact. In addition, the company is also becoming more involved in the architectural design of store facades, adapting to market needs and extending its services even further, beyond the sign, to include the development and construction of a businesses’ entire first impression.
Agility During Difficult Times
The ability that Gregory Signs has shown through the years in its efforts to respond to market trends, shifting and adapting its service to meet client demand, has been remarkable. It’s a characteristic and attribute of the company that Kaminsky says has always been a part of its culture. And he explains how the impacts of COVID-19 presented yet another opportunity for the company to extend its services even further to help fill new and emerging needs and requirements amongst some of its clients.
“When the impacts of COVID started, we needed to pivot a little bit to make sure we were able to provide our clients with the services they required,” he says. “For instance, we received a lot of initial requests from dentist’s offices for the fabrication and installation of temporary enclosures and plastic doors and dividers to help close off open spaces for the safety and comfort of patients. We’ve been fortunate enough to be able to remain open for business because of these essential services that we provide and the projects that we’re involved in, including work with the TTC, hospitals and other medical and government buildings.”
Signs of Optimism
Although he recognizes the negative impacts that the global pandemic has had on some of the company’s competitors and the industries that it serves, Kaminsky explains that Gregory Signs is forging ahead with aggressive growth plans, nonetheless. Over the coming year, the company is intent on continuing to expand its presence, grow its customer-base and extend its portfolio of projects even further. In doing so, he suggests, its operations will be well placed to service the signage needs of a retooled and revitalized business landscape.
“Results of the pandemic on businesses, retailers in particular, have been severe. We’ve witnessed the impacts firsthand as a company through the services we provide. There have been a lot of bankruptcies and closures. And, we’re unfortunately expecting to see more before this all comes to an end. I don’t think we’ve yet seen the full impacts of the pandemic. But this situation isn’t going to last forever. With this in mind, we’re currently hiring in order to meet today’s demand, and to help prepare us for the future, too. We’re also going to be opening two new locations in Ontario, east and west of our current offices and facilities. We’re hopeful and optimistic that business will bounce back. When protocols are lifted and they’re allowed to fully open up again, when people feel comfortable going out and entering stores and other enclosed spaces, we’re anticipating an increase in the demand for the services that we provide. And, supported by our growth and the expert work that we do, we’ll be ready to meet that demand.”
*Partner Content. To work with Retail Insider, email: darryl@retail-insider.com
DALLAS – January 19, 2021 – Centennial, a real estate investment firm with a national portfolio of shopping, dining, entertainment and mixed-use destinations (www.CentennialREC.com), announced today that, in March, it will launch the next phase of its innovative and first-in-the-U.S. “Shop Now!” omni-channel shopping platform, originally introduced in September of last year, with the first phase rolled out to all Centennial properties nationwide in time for the 2020 holiday season. Developed for Centennial by Adeptmind, a leading technology company specializing in artificial intelligence and e-commerce, the platform’s newest iteration will offer a host of new benefits to consumers, including a streamlined single-cart checkout process, same-day delivery, and near 100% retailer participation at each Centennial shopping center. For downloadable photos of the Shop Now! platform, click here: http://ow.ly/4q3d30rdvaq.
“Shop Now! is a game changer in the retail industry,” says Whitney Livingston, Centennial’s COO. “It’s a tool that merges the brick-and-mortar and online shopping experience in ways consumers never imagined were possible before. As the next phase of the Shop Now! platform rolls out in Centennial malls across the nation, shoppers will be able to search the in-stock, local inventory of all of their favorite stores, purchasing through a single consolidated online shopping cart, and picking up their purchases in person or opting for same-day home delivery, providing customers with the ultimate in shopping convenience and accessibility.”
The next phase of Shop Now! will be launched first at just one Centennial shopping center beginning in March. Centennial expects to have the new phase of the platform rolled out to all of its shopping centers nationwide before the end of the year.
“The newest phase of Shop Now! will deliver even more conveniences that change the way Americans shop at the mall,” says Jesse Michael, Managing Director, Adeptmind. “Together with Centennial, we are especially proud to announce that, as the next phase of the Shop Now! platform is introduced, we will have achieved 100% participation from all retailers in each Centennial shopping center, giving customers online access to all of the products carried by each local retailer. Now, shoppers can truly have an omni-channel shopping experience at the local level, shopping as easily online as they do in-person in their local mall.”
How It Works
The Shop Now! platform gives shoppers at each of Centennial’s properties the ability to search all products from all stores, and in-store inventories from select stores in their local Centennial mall via that property’s existing website. To get started, shoppers simply click on the Shop Now! tab at the top of the mall’s home page. Shoppers can then search for the product they are looking for – “blue jeans” for example – and the site will display all the blue jeans available from the center’s directory of retailers. To refine their search, they will be offered filters and guided discovery tools. Shoppers can then decide if they prefer to use the tool to purchase online or simply pre-plan their in-person visit. Additionally, visitors to each shopping center’s website can book services like hair and nail appointments or order food from mall restaurants through each center’s website directory.
New Additions Coming Soon
Streamlined Checkout: In the first phase of the Shop Now! program, shoppers completed their purchases via individual retailer transactions at checkout. The next phase of the Shop Now! platform will include a streamlined single-cart checkout process, a change which greatly simplifies the platform’s use.
Same Day Delivery: In the initial phase of the platform, shoppers could use the tool to pre-plan an in-person visit or purchase online, picking up their purchases in store, curbside (where available), or choosing to have their purchases shipped to their homes. In the new phase, shipping options will be replaced with curbside pick-up and same-day delivery for all stores, a move which makes the Shop Now! process more convenient than any other online experience.
Enhanced Retailer Participation: When Shop Now! was initially rolled out nationwide just before the holiday shopping season began, Centennial malls had greater than 70% retailer participation. By the time the new phase rolls out, each center will have 100% retailer participation, giving consumers digital access to explore each retailer’s products and purchase from select retailers’ in-stock local inventory.
About Adeptmind
Adeptmind was founded in 2017 by two former employees of the Microsoft-exited tech startup Maluuba. As the leading AI based, e-commerce product discovery company, Adeptmind uses innovative active and deep learning techniques to enhance the customer purchasing journey. With offices in Toronto, San Francisco, and Paris, Adeptmind supports more than 400 partners, including Ulta Beauty, Decathlon, Cadillac Fairview, Centennial, U.S. Polo Assn., and more with innovative technology. To learn more about Adeptmind, please visit adeptmind.ai and follow Adeptmind on LinkedIn and @adeptmindai on Instagram.
About Centennial
Centennial is a national owner of major shopping, dining, entertainment and mixed-use destinations. Rooted in retail since 1997, the company is focused on shaping the evolution of American retail by creating a superior multi-faceted shopping experience. Centennial properties serve not only as a place of commerce, but a place of community. For more information, visit CentennialREC.com.
Dynamite and Soft Moc at Avalon Mall - January 2021 (Photo Crombie REIT)
As years go, 2020 turned out to be a bit of a black swan, to say the least. The impacts of the COVID-19 global pandemic have wreaked havoc on the societal norms that we’ve all been so long accustomed to, interrupting everyone’s lives in some of the most drastic of ways. For many businesses and industries, the results have been near-catastrophic, highlighted by hindered markets and trade, representing one of the most turbulent and uncertain economic periods the world has ever collectively experienced. And as government-imposed lockdowns and restrictions on businesses continue in conjunction with a seemingly diminishing availability of abatements and other aids, it’s safe to suggest that the real impacts of the pandemic have not yet been fully realized or understood. In light of the current ambiguity, many are leveraging this time as an opportunity to rethink, reassess, and retool where possible. And, according to industry expert, Stan Boniferro, it’s exactly what shopping centre landlords across the country have planned for 2021 and beyond.
“The last ten months or so have obviously been very difficult for the retail industry as a result of the impacts of COVID-19,” he says. “The severity of these impacts varies from province to province, with Ontario and Quebec being the hardest hit. But lockdowns and restrictions have prevented stores across the country from being open and customers from visiting them. The lack of footfall has drastically reduced, if not removed, impulse purchases, which is one of the pillars of the philosophy around creating a shopping environment like the shopping centre. And when traffic is limited and sales are down, you’ve got to expect a shopping centre experience in the future that is not exactly like the experience that existed pre-pandemic. Landlords and developers will be taking a good look at their mix over the coming year, in combination with the function of their centres within the areas they serve, and will start to innovate to evolve what the shopping centre of tomorrow will look like.”
Shift Toward Non-Traditional Retail
Though he recognizes the significant effects that COVID has had on the retail shopping centre environment and the customer experience, he’s also quick to point out the fact that the changes that are afoot are actually all part of an evolution based on market and consumer shifts that had already started to take hold before the onset of the pandemic. Trends including the consumer’s migration toward making more of their purchases online, their increasing penchant for ease and convenience, and a revaluation on the part of both retailers and shopping centre landlords concerning the way commercial space is used, have all been accelerated by the impacts of COVID rather than directly influenced by them. Nonetheless, Boniferro sees change coming for shopping centres across the country. Though the change that occurs, he suggests, won’t be the same across the board.
“Modifications that are going to take place within shopping centres in the near and immediate term are going to depend on the type of centre,” he asserts. “Major malls like Yorkdale, CF Toronto Eaton Centre, CF Pacific Centre, and CF Chinook Centre, as well as primary malls serving smaller towns and cities, are environments that offer something for everyone. Most of them have significant food offerings and entertainment offerings as well. And given the pre-COVID sales volumes that many of them were experiencing and the strength of their attraction to the shopping public, they’ll survive these trying times. But they’ll certainly look to diversify their offerings which will be represented not only by different retail concepts, but by multi-faceted properties that will include residential, office, entertainment, and institutional spaces. The second tier of shopping centres could very well be converted to completely different uses than what we see today, moving toward a more convenience and personal services-driven use. And the third level of the shopping centre is unfortunately likely destined to disappear.”
Providing Greater Ease and Convenience
A potential shift toward non-traditional retail offerings will help landlords assign spaces that have been vacated by businesses not fortunate enough to have survived the initial impacts of the pandemic. It could also serve as a means to address the consumer’s growing desire for ease and convenience, providing significantly more than the traditional retail offering, becoming something of a hub of the community and attracting a new type of shopping centre visitor to the properties. Another way in which landlords will look to add value and convenience to the shopping centre experience of tomorrow, suggests Boniferro, will be in concerted efforts to enhance the level of services that are provided by their centres, namely through the expansion of availability of curbside pickup options.
“The advent of curbside pickup is one of the few positives that have come out of the entire pandemic situation,” he reflects. “It presents landlords and their tenants with a great opportunity to provide their customers with the convenience they crave while solving challenges that exist in the last mile of delivery, which is the costliest for them. It shifts the burden onto the consumer who is showing a willingness and preference to pick their purchases up at physical locations. It presents a big opportunity, one that the country’s major mall operators realize, resulting in the current development of common curbside pickup services that will be available for all tenants to leverage.”
Repurposing to Meet Evolving Needs
It’s a trend, and a move by retailers and landlords, that reflects the recent acceleration concerning the migration of purchases from bricks-and-mortar locations to the online channel. And, according to Michael Kehoe, Owner and Broker of Calgary-based Fairfield Commercial Real Estate and Lead Ambassador for Canada at the International Council of Shopping Centers, it creates the perfect scenario and a tremendous opportunity for retailers and mall operators to meet the demand of online shopping by way of utilizing their space accordingly.
“Space is currently being recycled in most shopping centres across the country,” he says. “New restaurants and retailers are evolving. Successful retailers are expanding their footprints. But as consumers continue to become more comfortable shopping online, what we’re noticing is a repurposing of space into fulfillment and distribution hubs. Whether consumers are ordering online to have the product delivered to their home, pick it up in the store or by way of curbside pickup, the ease, convenience, and choice that these options provide is increasing in appeal among shoppers. And it represents an opportunity for retailers and shopping centre landlords to support the experiences they offer, making their locations and properties hubs of omnichannel fulfillment.”
Re-Emergence of Tenant-Landlord Relationships
The shift toward rethinking and repurposing traditional shopping centre space is just one of the ways that mall landlords and their tenants will be working with one another to innovate in efforts to ensure success going forward. After all, the prosperity and longevity of each are pinned to the other. But Kehoe, who has nearly 45 years of experience working within the retail and real estate fields and has witnessed firsthand much of the evolution that has taken place within and around the North American shopping centre, believes that the significant events of the past year have brought with them a re-emergence of the importance of the tenant-landlord relationship, and could lead to more favourable terms for retail tenants.
“We’ve been witness to all manners of behaviour from landlords as a result of the pandemic,” he says. “From reactive to proactive, ranging from evasiveness and denial on one extreme to outright empathy and cooperation on the other. Ultimately, events over the past ten months or so have led to a renewed tenant-landlord relationship, wherein the parties realize that rent is more a function of sales and not just a product of the landlord’s pro forma and budget. Landlord property managers and lease administration personnel were overwhelmed in the Spring of 2020 with rent relief and rent deferral requests and bogged down by the related lease amending agreements. As a result, the major mall swagger devolved into a bit of a stumble and, in some cases, a complete falling-down on the tenant relations front. Fortunately, much progress has been made and a correction is well underway that should lead to a more tenant-focused environment in 2021 and beyond.”
Creating a Safe and Engaging Experience
Another way in which the tenant-landlord relationship has recently been galvanized is their collective need to ensure the comfort and safety of their guests. Both Boniferro and Kehoe agree that most shopping centre operators and their tenants have been working as diligently as they’ve been able to in order to put necessary protocols and procedures in place, attentively limiting the occupancy levels within stores and common areas and providing adequate sanitization and cleanliness throughout the properties. It’s all part of critical work that’s currently required to allay the fears and trepidations of today’s consumer. However, each expert is hopeful and anticipating an end to the bleakness of the COVID era, when a vaccine has been administered and the general public feels safe once again to begin returning to storefronts and malls.
“Over time, as people become more amenable to socializing again and entering shopping centres where there are crowds, I think it will reflect a change in their social behaviour that’s been influenced by events of the past year,” says Boniferro. “People will likely be more mindful of keeping their distance. And shopping centres will also place a greater emphasis on the safety of their patrons. They’ll look at their common area furnishings and amenities, making alterations like spacing out seating and providing more common areas for visitors to walk in. These are just a few of the adaptations that will be made. Retailers and shopping centres have always responded to the needs of the consumer. It’s the name of the game. And the innovation and creativity that’s sparked by the need to adapt will only intensify their efforts throughout 2021 and beyond in order to continue appealing to the Canadian consumer.”
Though the timeframe around the world’s return to something resembling normalcy is still relatively hazy, with estimates ranging from this time next year to perhaps not until sometime in 2023, it seems a return is on the horizon, nonetheless. In the meantime, Kehoe also recognizes the innovation and creativity that’s being executed by retailers and shopping centres and suggests that a greater understanding of the roles they play within their communities and the attitudes and preferences of their customers could result.
“Retailers and shopping centres are always looking to engage with their visitors on a deeper level and in more meaningful ways. There’s a big emphasis on shopping local, and it’s a trend and message that’s gaining traction every day. As we move into 2021 and beyond, you’ll see mall landlords and their tenants really take this to heart and leverage the notion to get even closer to their customers, connecting with them in more significant and personal ways, leading to another shopping centre boom that’s driven by an enhanced experience and elevated service.”
Barneys New York Not Coming to Canada as Announced
Authentic Brands Group (ABG) announced in late 2019 that it had successfully acquired the Barneys New York name for $271 million, following Barneys’ bankruptcy. In a partnership with HBC-owned Saks Fifth Avenue, Barneys New York had been set to open more than 40 ‘Barneys at Saks’ departments in the US as well as in Canada which would have included an initial three locations in Toronto and Calgary.
Last week it was revealed in WWD that the Barneys rollout will now be limited to two Saks locations in the US for the time being. That includes a 54,000-square-foot Barneys at Saks on the fifth floor of the Saks flagship store in Manhattan, which opened last week, as well as talks of a 14,000-square-foot Saks building in Greenwich, Connecticut, which will open at Barneys on January 25, 2021.
Barneys had been expected to open combined women’s/men’s fashion departments at Saks Fifth Avenue stores in Canada, including in the Saks flagship at CF Toronto Eaton Centre/Hudson’s Bay, at Saks CF Sherway Gardens in Toronto, and at the Saks store at CF Chinook Centre in Calgary. Sources said that Barneys would have opened as departments in the ‘contemporary’ fashion departments in these stores.
“Beyond the Fifth Avenue and Greenwich locations, Saks has no plans as of now for additional Barneys sites. That’s to be determined based on the degree to which customers take to Barneys at Saks,” as per an article in WWD.
Poppy Barley flagship in Edmonton. Photo: Poppy Barley
Canadian Luxury Brand ‘Poppy Barley’ Launches Cactus Leather Accessory Line
Edmonton-based footwear brand Poppy Barley continues to innovate within the world of sustainable fashion with the launch of its first plant-based product line, PB PLNT. The new concept kicks off with an all-new accessory collection made of Laguaro, Poppy Barley’s eco-conscious cactus leather, and features the Multitasker Backpack, Convertible Belt Bag, and Card Holder.
Unlike traditional leather alternatives that are commonly marketed as “vegan leather” and made from materials like PVC and PU, which are toxic plastics derived from oil, Laguaro is a sustainable and environmental powerhouse. Each PB PLNT accessory is made from harvested Mexican cactus leaves, leaving the rest of the cactus intact, and with cacti being one of Mexico’s most abundant plants requiring little water, this new material just might be the most sustainable plant-based leather on the planet.
The Card Holder and Convertible Belt Bag. Photo: Poppy Barley
PB PLNT parallels the luxurious look and feel of Poppy Barley’s classic leather goods and the accessories are about 80% biodegradable, with Poppy Barley aiming to reach 100% in the near future. The brand also has plans to introduce other innovative plant-based leathers in future collections.
“Our customers have been asking for a leather alternative since day one, but there was never an option that we could stand behind — until now,” says Poppy Barley Co-Founder Justine Barber. “After years of researching and testing, we discovered cactus leather basically next door to our manufacturing facility in Mexico. We finally found a leather alternative that wouldn’t compromise quality or our values when it comes to environmental impact. We believe the future of fashion has no choice but to consider the Earth and humanity, and we want to lead the way.”
PoppyBarley operates stores at Southgate Centre in Edmonton and at CF Market Mall in Calgary. The retailer’s online website is poppybarley.com.
BV x eliteGen event image
Bayview Village & eliteGen Partner to Host ‘Pamper in Prosperity’ for Chinese New Year
Bayview Village in Toronto is celebrating Lunar New Year virtually this year, and is one of the first shopping centres to begin promoting the Chinese holiday in Canada.
From February 6 to 11, Bayview Village is partnering with eliteGen to host ‘Pamper in Prosperity‘ — a series of live virtual sessions to help refresh, rejuvenate, and discover your best self, all from the comfort of your own home.
For $28, customers can purchase an exclusive self-care kit ($200 value) featuring beauty, food, and wellness goods from Bayview Village tenants. For that price customers will also receive access to all six sessions. There will be a daily grand prize draw (valued between $130 to $200) and additional giveaways for attending the sessions throughout the week.
Available for curbside pick-up at BV on Friday, February 5, the self-care kit includes the following products:
Follow @bvshops for the latest updates and to hear about other exciting initiatives for 2021.
Exterior of Simons store at Square One in Mississauga. Photo: Simons
Simons Saves the Corals with New Collaboration
In collaboration with Glowing.org and Pantone Color Institute, Quebec City-based retailer La Maison Simons has created an eco-friendly clothing collection made principally of organic cotton and recycled polyester, all in a concentrated effort to protect our ocean’s endangered coral reefs.
Marking Simons’ first Vision project of 2021, the initiative is part of the brand’s trendy and fashion-forward Twik department.
Simons' new eco-friendly collection to aid the ocean's coral reefs. Photos: Simons
1 of 6
According to non-profit organization The Ocean Agency, our current environmental situation is putting the ocean’s coral reefs in danger. Determined to fight back against this disturbing phenomenon, Simons will be donating $5 to The Ocean Agency for each piece of the exclusive collection that is sold.
Simons is starting the new year by rethinking its focus and is now committed to reducing its water consumption and carbon footprint. “This new space, a place where we can share our social and environmental efforts, was born out of our deep-seated belief that fashion can be both sustainable and a source of beauty,” Simons said in a press release.
Exterior of Rocky Mountain Soap Company store in Burnaby. Photo: Ivanhoe Cambridge
Rocky Mountain Soap Company Leaves Metropolis at Metrotown
Canadian company Rocky Mountain Soap Company has just announced the closure of its Burnaby store near Vancouver. The location, which is set to close permanently on January 28th, 2021, is located in Metropolis at Metrotown and has been there since the winter of 2017.
The all-natural skin care company originated in Canmore, Alberta, and despite the Burnaby closure, will still have a very active presence across the country with 137 locations, including 11 standalone stores, selling the brand’s soaps and bath products across six provinces and two territories.
The brand was founded in 1995 and in 2017 launched a major expansion plan after taking a couple of years off to reevaluate and perfect its product and customer service experience, as well as upgrade various systems and processes.
Retail Insider recently conducted a photo tour of Metropolis at Metrotown to provide an inside view of the shopping centre with retail insights leading up to the Christmas holiday season. You can enjoy that here.
Simone Rocha for H&M collaboration. Photo: H&M
H&M Partners with Simone Rocha
H&M has added yet another designer to its list of high-fashion crossover projects, this time collaborating with Irish designer, Simone Rocha. The collection between the Swedish fast-fashion retailer and UK-based womenswear designer comes after previous highly-successful H&M partnerships, including Commes des Garçons, Giambattista Valli, and Karl Lagerfeld.
The collection will include womenswear, menswear, children’s clothing, and beauty — many of which are new segments for Rocha.
While the offering hasn’t been revealed just yet, H&M says that we can expect Rocha signatures like delicate tulle dresses, tartan tailoring, beaded shirting, cable knits, trench coats, sparkling jewellery, and pearl-embellished shoes. And it will all come in a romantic colour palette that mixes cream, pink, red, and black.
“Simone Rocha has been on the H&M wish-list for some time. This collaboration offers a new audience the chance to own a very special piece of design history. All of us at H&M have been so inspired to work with a female designer who spends so much time thinking about contemporary femininity, and womanhood, and who is so committed to excellence in craft and design, from the process of developing special fabrications, to pushing silhouettes, shapes and embellishments. Every garment within this collection is unique, special and the result of years of work and meticulous research,” said Ann-Sofie Johansson, from H&M.
The collection debuts March 11, 2021, and will also celebrate a decade of the Simone Rocha label. H&M operates stores throughout Canada.
