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Dyson Launches New Vacuum Technologies in Canada After Launching Successful Canadian Retail Showrooms

By
Craig Patterson
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Dyson Demo Store at Yorkdale in Toronto. Photo: Dyson

UK-based household and technology ‘reinvention’ brand Dyson has launched two new vacuum technologies that provide ‘scientific proof’ of a deep clean. The innovative products are available at the three Dyson Demo Stores in Canada as well as online. 

The Dyson Demo Stores are located at the Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto, CF Pacific Centre in Vancouver and CF Chinook Centre in Calgary. Retail Insider has covered the openings of all three locations which marked an important milestone for Dyson’s continued expansion into the Canadian market.

Image: Dyson
Image: Dyson

Dyson continues to innovate with its product assortment with vacuums being the most recent innovation. The  Dyson V15 Detect™ Total Clean and Dyson Omni-glide™ cordless vacuums recently launched in Canada, with the company noting in a survey from this spring that 47% of Canadians reported that they are cleaning more now since the pandemic.

Specifically, the Dyson V15 Detect™ Total Clean is described as being the brand’s most powerful and intelligent vacuum yet. It is capable of illuminating dust particles with its new laser dust detection technology, and sensing, sizing and removing microscopic dust for scientific proof of a deep clean. Retail Insider recently put the product to the test with great success. The Dyson V15 Detect Total Clean is available in Dyson Demo Stores in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary and online at DysonCanada.ca for $949.99. 

Key features of the Dyson V15 Detect Total Clean include: 

  • Laser dust detection: Dust particles invisible to the eye are illuminated with a precisely-angled green laser integrated into a Fluffy cleaner head. This laser is said to be safe for humans and pets. 
  • Measures and reacts: using Acoustic Dust Sensing technology, it measures microscopic dust particles and displays the size and number on the LCD screen on the device. The piezo sensor can automatically increase suction power across different floors and dust amounts.  
Image: Dyson
Image: Dyson
Image: Dyson

The Dyson Omni-glide™ introduces an innovative omnidirectional cleaner head that is said to effortlessly glide in all directions, picking up small and large debris along the way. The device costs $499.99 and is also available at the Dyson Demo Stores in Canada as well as online. Features include:

  • Gliding effortlessly in all directions: it floats and manoeuvres around obstacles using the omnidirectional soft roller cleaner head which has two motorized soft rollers to pick up everything from large debris to fine particles on hard floors. Easily moves forwards, backwards and even sideways.  
  • Reaches further under furniture: A new in-line format allows the machine to lay flat on the floor, so it’s easy to clean under low furniture.  

Dyson opened its first Dyson Demo Store at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre in 2017 and the retail space was profiled in Retail Insider after we attended the opening. In January of 2020 just before the pandemic, Dyson unveiled its second Demo store at CF Pacific Centre in Vancouver. A Calgary location at CF Chinook Centre opened shortly after. 

Image: Dyson at CF Pacific Centre

The Demo stores are designed to encourage people to pick up, test, and understand Dyson technology. Interactive demonstrations bring to life the science at the heart of Dyson machines. Dyson Experts are on-hand to provide advice and support on everything from improving air quality at home to achieving hair salon styles independently.

Dyson technology is about transformation with increasingly advanced technology launching every year. We’ll continue to follow the company and its retail expansion in Canada which could include more Demo Stores. 

Amazon Prepares to Bring Employees Back to Canadian Offices and the Impact on Downtown Retail: Interview

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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Amazon Canada office in Toronto - Photo by Dustin Fuhs

Investment in local communities is an important part of retail giant Amazon’s success story in Canada.

For example, 30,000 Canada-based third party sellers from all 13 provinces and territories – many of which are small and medium-sized businesses – grossed more than $1 billion on Amazon.ca in 2019, growing 40 per cent year-over-year.

Tamir Bar-Haim

But the company also has more than 4,300 corporate and tech employees in its tech hubs in Toronto and Vancouver – employees who support the local businesses in their communities.

“We have three offices in Toronto on Bremner, on York Street and Scotia Plaza and several offices throughout the downtown core in Vancouver,” said Tamir Bar-Haim, site lead at Amazon’s Toronto Tech Hub and Managing Director and Head of Global Expansion for Amazon Advertising.

He said Amazon has valued being present in those local communities and its employees, prior to COVID, were integral in supporting local businesses operating near those tech hubs such as restaurants and retail outlets.

“With our teams largely working from home over the last year plus, the opportunity to get back into the community and fill these vibrant spaces has been one of the things our team members are most looking forward to,” he said.

“Amazon has invested over $11 billion into the economy in Canada since 2010 across our corporate offices, fulfillment centres and more. And the ripple effect there has helped create a lot of jobs in the community. That includes 67,000 jobs in other companies across hospitality, physical retail, etc..

Amazon Canada Office in Toronto – Photo by Dustin Fuhs

“We actually recently surveyed our employees in Toronto just to ask them what are you looking forward to visiting most once the restrictions list? Taverna Mercatto is a great Italian restaurant that’s right at the bottom of our Bremner office. iQ Food is another great lunch spot. Pilot Coffee is another good one that’s a favourite of mine. For us, meeting customers in some of these local community locations is probably one of the best parts of working at Amazon right downtown in the core and that’s certainly what our employees are most looking forward to in terms of getting back to the office.”

With the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, all of the Amazon employees in Canada who worked in a role that could be done at home were encouraged to do so. At some point, with the guidance of health and government authorities, employees will be returning to the office environment.

“There’s no set dates at this point. Like many other businesses we’re watching the situation very closely and waiting to see when some of the public health guidelines start to lift,” explained Bar-Haim.

He said Amazon’s business has grown tremendously over the last several years and its employee base has increased and it’s a very important part of the retailer’s business to invest and give back to the communities that it serves.

“Just during the pandemic we’ve donated millions of dollars to causes that support right now needs like hunger, homelessness and disaster relief. We’ve given to 248 different non-profit organizations just in the last year and I’m really proud of how we’ve contributed back to the community,” said Bar-Haim.

“When we look at small and mid size businesses they’ve always been a core anchor of Amazon’s business. Just last year we released our first SMB impact report for Canada and it showed that Canadian SMBs sold more than 60 million products in Amazon stores in the 12-month period  . . . that’s up from 35 million products a year prior.

“We continue to support small businesses in a number of different ways both directly through our employees, through our giving to charitable endeavours but also just enabling small and mid size businesses to grow and reach customers all around the world.”

The company will also continue to invest in its tech hubs.

The Post, Vancouver. Rendering: QuadReal

“We found that both Toronto and Vancouver there’s just phenomenal tech talent. The workforce is diverse. It’s well-educated. There’s incredible universities that train some of the brightest minds and we just found that these folks are a great fit for Amazon where they have a terrific opportunity to build their careers but also work on global projects that can impact customers around the world,” said Bar-Haim.

“We’re certainly growing quite a bit across those hubs. We have more than 1,600 open roles available today. Our focus right now is Toronto and Vancouver.

“When the public thinks about Amazon, they don’t often realize quite how much we’ve invested in our technology hubs both in Toronto and in Vancouver. The fact that we have so many talented employees – 4,300 across these two sites – we’re not only building and servicing products in Canada but actually building global solutions for scale. We think that’s really unique and we’re really proud of it and it’s important to keep our great Canadian talent here at home and challenged and given opportunities to grow and develop.”

Bar-Haim said the company has spent a great deal of time internally reflecting on what the future of work is going to look like for Amazon.

“The future vision for us looks to be a model that balances both the flexibility for our employees to work from home but paired that also with the opportunity for regular in-person collaboration at our tech hubs,” he said. “We very much believe in the benefits of in-person interaction and we think it’s important as we innovate for our customers that we put our employees in a position they can brainstorm, they can collaborate, they cross-pollinate different ideas.

“And our employees have been very receptive to that.”

Mackage Poised for Continued Growth Following Appointment of New CEO: Feature Interview

By
Sean Tarry
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Image: Mackage (Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto)

Throughout the course of the past 16 months or so – a time that is already being referred to as the ‘pandemic period’ – a myriad of tales of both triumph and disaster have unfolded within the Canadian retail industry. The landscape is filled with them, stories of heartache and closing sales, and of innovative thinking, shifts and pivots that ensured survival during these times of challenge. And then there are the rare examples of brands that have not only survived the impacts of the pandemic, but are coming out of it, on the other side, stronger and positioned better than ever for continued growth. One of those brands is Montreal-based luxury outerwear retailer Mackage. And, underscoring its intention to further expand its reach and presence is the company’s unveiling of New York City fashion veteran Tanya Golesic as Chief Executive Officer.

Impressive portfolio of experience

Tanya Golesic headshot. (CNW Group/Mackage)

Golesic, who most recently served as President of the Americas for Jimmy Choo, joins the Mackage team during a time of real excitement and anticipation for the brand and will be looked at to lead the Montreal retailer to further success and international growth. Also serving as the Global Chief Commercial Officer at Canada Goose and holding previous leadership roles at Marc Jacobs International (LVMH), The Jones Group and Ralph Lauren, Golesic brings with her more than 20 years of global high fashion experience and a results-driven approach that Mackage’s Executive Chairman Patrick Elfassy hopes will “accelerate the brand’s current trajectory”. It’s a vast resume of experience and successes that elevate Golesic above many of her peers. However, when it comes to achieving at the highest level in retail, she says that there is no greater contributor than the team.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to have worked for some of the very best luxury brands in the world,” she says. “These opportunities have provided me with a significant amount of experience when it comes to understanding luxury brands, how they work and how they flourish. More importantly, however, is my commitment and ability to assemble the right team, bringing together people who work and collaborate well with one another toward incredible results. Mackage is obviously known for specializing in luxury outerwear, and with good reason. But, as the brand and our customers’ lifestyles evolve, we’ll continue to develop and introduce product extensions as we move forward. The team will be instrumental in allowing the brand to continue innovating and expand the world of Mackage, creating that aspirational context for our product.”

Brand community

Image: Mackage (Montreal St. Catherine Street)

Founded by Eran Elfassy in 1999, Mackage operates 25 physical stores throughout Canada and the United States, the United Kingdom, China and Japan, and is sold in over 40 countries around the world. It boasts an impressive selection of luxury outerwear for men, women and kids, as well as accessories including hats, scarves, gloves and handbags. In addition, the brand also operates a best-in-class ecommerce site, which allowed it to absorb the sharp shift in consumer behaviour toward online shopping and purchasing that was brought about by the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns and social restrictions. It’s a change in consumer preferences that Golesic recognizes as one of the most dramatic impacts of COVID-19 on the retail industry, adding that, as we approach a post-pandemic world, the emphasis for Mackage is going to be firmly on nurturing the sense of community that surrounds the brand and providing exceptional experiences, despite the channel that consumers engage with it on.

“One of the biggest influences of the pandemic was the acceleration of consumer behaviour toward online purchases,” she says. “Pre-COVID, many consumers were still hesitant to shop online. But, the circumstances of the past year-and-a-half have removed a lot of the traditional barriers to ecommerce. This shift presents huge opportunities for all brands because of the ease with which people are now shopping online. What it represents for Mackage is an opportunity to create aspirational digital experiences for the consumer who is much savvier now than they were prior to the pandemic. Today’s consumer is very much channel agnostic and will find what they’re looking for, leveraging the means that are at their disposal. As we move toward a post-pandemic world, the consumers’ omnichannel behaviour allows us to really focus on creating community and connection with our customers, wherever they are. We want people to get excited about visiting the brand’s physical spaces as well as engaging with us through digital channels.”

Creativity and innovation

Golesic goes on to explain that, in her estimation, there will be a return of footfall to physical stores as soon as people feel comfortable getting out again, and that many will act upon pent-up excitement to once more experience life. It’s an opinion that’s shared by quite a few of her peers as well as some watchers within the industry. And, if there’s any truth at all to the notion, then the opportunities available to retailers in every category to grow market share through differentiation are immense. Standing Mackage apart from its competitors, says the company’s CEO, is the continuous creativity and innovation with which the brand approaches its ever-evolving offering.

“We have some really incredible innovation around high warmth and ultra lightweight outerwear that we’re working on,” she says. “In order to cater to our customers, despite the climate and where they live, we’re experimenting with some really interesting, new types of fabrics. We’re also continuing our commitment to sustainability, leveraging sustainable materials and 100 percent recycled materials that will be launching within the next 6 months. We’re really excited to be including these new fabrics in some of our garments. And, we’re also going to continue launching new product categories and expanding our footwear capsule which we introduced last year. Everything that we do is done with the Mackage consumer in mind. We’re really excited to be extending our offering to them and continuing to look at ways we can further improve on it.”

Continued growth and expansion

It’s that commitment to continuously improve on excellence and enhance the customer experience that drives Mackage forward, says Golesic, adding that the company’s superior craftsmanship and creativity is the DNA that allows it to authentically hone its global luxury positioning and build on the incredible aspirational narrative that it’s developed through the years. It also allows the brand to continue carving out its own unique space within an incredibly competitive market and adding to its scores of loyal customers. And, according to Golesic, that’s exactly what the brand has planned for the months and years ahead.

“At Mackage, we want to take our customers on a journey with us and to bring back the sense of discovery, escape and excitement that is such a significant component of retail. It’s been a very challenging past 16 months that we’ve all endured. And we believe that its time to dream again and time to tap into and enjoy everything that makes retail great. We’re really looking forward to the opportunities that are ahead of us with respect to delivering these experiences to our customers and to continue expanding the brand and introducing it to key international markets. It’s an exciting time to be a part of Mackage, and we’re all really looking forward to further growth throughout the months ahead.”

Related Retail Insider Articles

Welcome To Swob, The Platform Helping Companies Hire Faster

By
Retail Insider
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Image: Swob

With Canada getting back to business, opportunities for employment are booming and Swob — an award-winning recruitment platform— is making looking for a job easy and hiring even easier.

“There are many people looking for work now that businesses are back up and running.”, says co-founder Alexander Florio, “Swob is not only helping job seekers get hired faster, but we’re helping employers hire faster as well.”

Alexander Florio

The free app, created specifically for job seekers, is available for download via the Apple Store or Google Play (also available as a desktop option). The app works like a dating app in that job seekers can scroll through part-time, full-time & seasonal employment opportunities and swipe right for those they wish to apply for and swipe left on those they don’t. Users simply create a profile, upload a resume, and identify their location — like how you would with a dating app — and then are matched with a wide range of jobs in retail & food service from which to choose.

“The idea for Swob came from my brother, Alexander, who was frustrated with the process of applying for jobs and felt there should be an easier way.” says Founder Stephanie Florio, “At the time he was using a dating app, and thought of merging the process of job hunting with the functionality of dating apps. The feedback we received on the idea from both employers and students inspired us to launch the business — we had discovered a problem and created a solution.”

Stephanie Florio

For employers, Swob makes recruiting more cost-efficient and less time consuming. While most job boards charge per click and deliver subpar candidates, Swob’s built-in filters ensure that companies are presented with only the most qualified candidates. With monthly, annual, or pay-as-you-post options, employers are also provided with features that ensure their jobs are showcased in front of thousands of qualified users in their area. While the app is strictly utilized by job seekers, employers can get started by heading to the Swob website to begin posting job opportunities.

The pandemic has not only produced an influx of Canadians looking to return to work, but it has also created an uprise in virtual culture, and Swob is the app that’s helping job seekers find work and employers hire faster.

To learn more, visit www.swobapp.com and start simplifying your talent searches! HAPPY HIRING!

Image: SWOB

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

Canadian Retail News From Around The Web For August 4th, 2021

By
Retail Insider
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Canadian Retail News From Around The Web

Top Stories: National

Central/Eastern Canada News

Western Canada News

Brief: Celine Exits Nordstrom Yorkdale, Uniqlo Expanding at Metrotown

By
Retail Insider
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Urban Outfitters Opens at The Amazing Brentwood in Burnaby

Urban Outfitters at The Amazing Brentwood in Burnaby BC (July 2021).
Urban Outfitters at The Amazing Brentwood in Burnaby BC (July 2021). Photo: Lee Rivett.

American-based clothing retailer has opened a new location in BC.

Read More about Urban Outfitters New Store

Burberry Renovating Yorkdale Storefront in Toronto

Burberry Pop-Up at Yorkdale Shopping Centre (July 2021) – Photo by Dustin Fuhs

UK-based luxury fashion brand opens pop-up in high-traffic location during renovation.

Read More about Burberry at Yorkdale

Celine Exits Nordstrom Yorkdale Ahead of Standalone Flagship Opening

Celine fashion boutique (former and current) at Nordstrom Yorkdale. Photo: Craig Patterson

Luxury French fashion brand recently shut its women’s fashion boutique at Nordstrom at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre.

Read More about Celine at Yorkdale

Uniqlo Expanding Metropolis at Metrotown Storefront Near Vancouver

Photo: Waders via Skyscraperpage.com

Popular Japanese retailer expands by taking the former Microsoft location.

Read More about UNIQLO’s Expansion

Candyland Pop-Up Opens at Bayview Village in Toronto [Photos]

Image: Bayview Village – Candyland

Pop-up experience curated by NYC-based “by robynblair” to stay at the luxury mall to the end of the year.

Read More about Candyland at Bayview Village

RetailU Partners with One Voice One Team to Champion Youth Employment in Retail

Get Yo’ Life – One Voice One Team Academy

Canadian eLearning platform has partnered with Ontario-based non-profit to offer internships with Canadian retailers with a program called “Get Yo’ Life”.

Read More about Retailu’s New Program

Related Retail Insider Articles

Uniqlo Expanding Metropolis at Metrotown Storefront Near Vancouver

By
Craig Patterson
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Photo: Waders via Skyscraperpage.com

Popular Japanese retailer UNIQLO is expanding its first location in Western Canada at Metropolis at Metrotown in Burnaby, east of Vancouver. The store opened in October of 2017 to fanfare and was profiled in Retail Insider. 

The 20,630 square foot Metrotown store occupies two levels in the mall, facing onto the mall’s ‘Grand Court’. The store will annex an adjacent 6,200 square foot space formerly occupied by a Microsoft Store that shut last year on the ground level of the mall — Microsoft shut all of its stores globally last year. 

UNIQLO’s Metrotown store includes a corner retail space formerly occupied by Ben Moss jewellers, as well as two adjacent spaces. UNIQLO’s lower level includes part of the space formerly occupied by Home Outfitters. 

The Metropolis at Metrotown UNIQLO is the company’s third Canadian store, following the opening of two stores in 2016 in Toronto. In September of 2016, UNIQLO opened its first Canadian flagship, spanning 33,400 square feet, at CF Toronto Eaton Centre. A 30,000+ square foot Yorkdale Shopping Centre UNIQLO store subsequently opened in October of 2016, in the mall’s Nordstrom-anchored expansion wing. 

Jeff Berkowitz of Aurora Realty Consultants represents UNIQLO as broker in Canada. 

Return of CFL Games Good for Retail After Missing Last Season: Interviews

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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Image: Edmonton Elks Field

The return of the Canadian Football League after missing last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be a boon for teams selling their merchandise through their own stores and online as well as retail outlets throughout the country.

And one team, in particular, has been experiencing the sales boom – the newly-named Edmonton Elks, who this season changed their name from the long-standing Eskimos.

“There’s a rhythm to managing sports teams and it has to do from going season to season. You play a season and then there’s an off season and you have to put together all of your sponsorship, your tickets, all that kind of stuff. It’s the same in hockey . . . You get into a real rhythm. Everybody does but the pandemic blew that up big time,” said Allan Watt, Executive Director, Marketing for the CFL team in Edmonton.

“We’re starting a season, and really starting a league, for the first time in two years.”

Watt said the football club has been “unbelievably pleased” with the response to the brand change right from the beginning.

Image: Edmonton Elks

“We had merchandise on day one and it turned out to be a beautiful day. It really captivated everybody. It looks good on hats. It looks good on T-shirts. It looks good on hoodies and that’s our business. It looks good on golf-shirts and all down the line,” he said.

“There are at least 15 people all the time in our team store and of course online sales are more than mirroring that. As rebrands go for a sports team in Edmonton, maybe even in Canada, it’s been very successful.”

Watt said the retail aspect of the business is very important to the football club.

“The beautiful thing about the Canadian Football League is that it’s reliant on people to buy tickets and then when they buy tickets if they like your hats, your T-shirts, the uniform that you wear, then they’ll buy merchandise,” he said.

“And we’ve been very fortunate that way. There’s a lot of green and gold around Edmonton and our fans all over the place. So the merchandise component to what the Edmonton Elks do is very important and when we do our end-of-the-year locker room sale –  just like any other retail location at the end of the season we have stuff that we can mark down – it’s so big we have to have it at the stadium.”

Like many CFL clubs, the Elks have a retail store at the stadium but on game day there are stores, and kiosks, throughout the stadium as well as mobile units outside the stadium.

“People are hungry for our product,” said Watt, explaining the demand in the market due primarily to the brand change.

“For us, the January to July period was more than we could have expected and in July to August numbers are very good. We’re very pleased with the way things have turned out and we haven’t played a game yet. When people see it, when they get here and some of them will not have been to a sporting event for two years, and I’m sure this is the same in Calgary, Winnipeg, Regina and elsewhere I think there will be a thirst that needs to be quenched and we’ve got the product to do it.”

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have a long history of retail success with fans across the country purchasing all sorts of things with the Rider colours and logo.

Image: Saskatchewan Roughriders

Mark Habicht, Director of Retail Operations and Licensing for the Riders, said game day is such a big component of the club’s retail operations.

“That was really the piece that hurt so much last year,” he said. “Quite easily it can be a fifth of our sales and sometimes even a quarter of our sales on game days alone especially when you lead in and come out of the game. We’re finding especially over the years that on a Friday game the Wednesday, Thursday, Friday lead up can be really, really strong and really important to that game.

“And of course if you win or have a really good showing, the next couple of days afterwards can be really important. So you really have that peak that is the game day where kind of the doors get blown off in terms of sales. But the lead in and lead out are so important and I think more so than ever. People are getting more organized, they’re getting more savvy and they’re doing their shopping a couple of days in advance. That was what was really missing last year.”

Because of the pandemic, the online store became so important in the past year, with more than half of the business online.

“It was an all-time record for us online and we’re certainly looking to keep that momentum going,” said Habicht.

The football team has its main store which is about 5,000 square feet at the stadium. But it also has a game day store in the south end zone and four kiosks around the stadium. There’s also a trailer used out front of the stadium for fans to walk up and buy. In the past, it’s also had a pre-game party in the park next to the stadium that houses an outdoor kiosk.

“Certainly we try and make it as easy as possible to knock down all the barriers on game day so people have opportunity to get what they need in time for the game or during the game,” he added.

Lawrence Berger, Co-Founder and Partner at Ames Watson and Chairman of FanzzLids Holdings which is the owner of sports retailer, Lids, said sales have been strong for the North American retailer as professional sports opens up with fans in attendance.

Lids at Avalon Mall – January 2021 (Photo Crombie REIT)

“We are hopeful that they will continue to be strong . . . People are just super excited to get out whether it’s to a concert or to a game or as we’ve been (used to) in the fall to tailgates and all that kind of stuff. That is going to drive a lot,” said Berger.

“If you’re returning to a hockey game or an NFL game and it’s been two years, and a college football game, people have real pent up demand. They want to buy new stuff. They want to buy new hats. They want to buy new jerseys. They want to buy sweatshirts and all that kind of stuff.

“The other part of what’s going on is I think our society has just become much more casual because of COVID. When I talk to my lawyer, or when I meet my lawyer, now he’s often wearing a hoodie with his favourite sports team on it. That didn’t happen before COVID. He was always wearing a suit. That general casualness with people wearing a hat on a Zoom call or just wearing jeans and a hoodie or T-shirt that also plays into the increased demand.”

While people have been engaged and sales have been strong, Berger said he doesn’t believe the retailer yet has a good sense of it. For the North American retailer, that important gauge of sales, will come when the National Football League starts up again.

“Football is the biggest sport in North America in terms of dollars. People go to stadiums. People tailgate. All that kind of stuff. That will be really interesting,” added Berger.

“I think we’re just at the very front end of fans rushing back into the arenas . . . I think the NFL as a league and anyone who is selling NFL stuff is anticipating it being very, very strong.”

RetailU Partners with One Voice One Team to Champion Youth Employment in Retail

By
Retail Insider
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Get Yo' Life - One Voice One Team Academy

RetailU, a Canadian eLearning platform has partnered with Ontario-based non-profit One Voice One Team to offer internships with Canadian retailers with a program called “Get Yo’ Life“.

Created in response to the current state of retail vacancies, the industry is facing a gap in part-time staff.

“We have never seen this many openings for part-time workers.” said April Sabral, Founder of Retailu. “Even more alarming is the pool of candidates that want to work in retail post covid. Usually, we would have students applying for their summer jobs, but unfortunately, this has not happened in 2021.”

“In addition, most retailers have not yet adopted an easier way to find candidates as the youth of today’s communication does not match the tech of sending in a resume and completing a lengthy application online,” Sabral shared. “This process is archaic at best, something has to be done. This is where retailu, in partnership with One Voice One Team, have stepped up to solve this pressing problem.”

Youtube video

“We felt it was paramount that we created something where youth were able to see possibilities and develop skills that will allow them to succeed in work and life, while offering retailers the opportunity to fill employment gaps within their companies,” said Founder of One Voice One Team (OVOT), Orlando Bowen.

Bowen shared that youth who complete the “Get Yo’ Life” program will walk away with valuable key principles like resiliency skills, prioritization skills and authentic leadership skills that will not just position them to secure an internship, but it will also position them to find success in developing a clear career path in life.

The One Voice One Team organization started as a summer camp in 2005 and was incorporated into a non-profit organization in 2008.

Sabral met with the team from OVOT in late 2020 with a common goal of connecting youth with opportunities in retail. The initial conversation has evolved into a program that provides retailers with the opportunity to sponsor youth to go through the OVOT program and then give the youth attending an internship with the retailer.

Ardene, the Montreal-based fashion brand, was the first retailer to get involved in sponsoring a “Get Yo’ Life” retail internship.

Ardene at CF Richmond Centre.
Ardene at CF Richmond Centre. Photo: Geetanjali Sharma

“We have partnered with OVOT and retailu on the Get Yo’ Life program because we have always had a culture of giving back.” An Ardene representative shared.”Helping build life skills such as goal setting, adaptability, mindfulness, and gratitude are all aligned with our values, and we are proud to support the OVOT team and retailu as they make this a reality for young people across Canada.”

The first group of approximately 45 youth in Ontario is being sponsored through the “Get Yo’ Life” program. After successful completion, selected participants will be offered an internship at an Ardene location.

“With 40 years of experience in the retail market, Ardene is no stranger to evolving alongside and supporting young people.” said the Ardene representative. “But with so many changes brought on by COVID, and with rising mental health issues, we know that more needs to be done.”

In addition to its head-to-toe offering of apparel, footwear and accessories for women and men, Ardene’s corporate culture has become known for its mental health advocacy. In 2018, Ardene launched its first mindfulness program for stores in partnership with Brain Spa, an innovative organization that seeks to bring mindfulness-based leadership to the workplace.

The “Mindful Moments” program has since grown significantly to include a suite of mental health and mindfulness trainings companywide, in partnership with the likes of LifeWorks and others.

Most recently, the company named its Head of People and Culture, Fil D’Urbano, as Chief Mindfulness Officer, and is a 2021 nominee for the Retail Council of Canada’s Excellence in Retailing Award for its Mindfulness programs.

The opportunity to partner with an organization like Ardene was important to Sabral, who has shared the story on how she started as a PT sales associate in her book ‘The Positive Effect’. After leading organizations like Banana Republic, Starbucks, Apple and as a Vice President of DAVIDsTEA, she created Retailu.

The organization features masterclass style on-demand courses from industry leaders like:

  • Thurston, former VP of Intermix;
  • Solange Strom, former CEO and Founder of L’Occitane in Canada;
  • Meghan Houle, Executive recruiter and
  • Darlene Huff, Former Country manager for David’s Bridal and Disney Store

For more information concerning the ways that your business can partner with Retailu for this program and provide opportunities, reach out to April @ info@retailu.ca

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

Burberry Renovating Yorkdale Storefront in Toronto

By
Craig Patterson
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Burberry construction hoarding at Yorkdale, photo: Craig Patterson

UK-based luxury brand Burberry is renovating its storefront at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre. The Burberry store is expanding its footprint and has a temporary location in the CONCEPT space at Yorkdale that has held numerous pop-ups since 2017. 

Burberry was one of the first luxury brands to open in Yorkdale’s original ‘luxury wing’ that extends northward from the main entrance of Holt Renfrew. The Burberry store will see a refresh after seeing tens of millions of dollars in annual sales prior to the pandemic. The store is located between Tory Burch and a new Alexander McQueen storefront that will open later this year.

Burberry is temporarily housed in Yorkdale’s CONCEPT space and after Burberry moves back into its former space, there’s a possibility that CONCEPT could be converted to a Burberry children’s store according to a source familiar with the situation. At the moment, the temporary Burberry store features a unique forest-like facade and branding that is eye-catching. 

Burberry also operates standalone stores in Vancouver, Calgary and in downtown Toronto, as well as concessions in Holt Renfrew stores and stock at Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom in Canada. 

Burberry Pop-Up at Yorkdale Shopping Centre (July 2021) – Photo by Dustin Fuhs
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