You can now buy a Louis Vuitton bag at La Maison Simons for the first time, though the bag won’t be new. Simons has partnered with two second-hand luxury retailers to carry a selection of merchandise in the Edito departments in four Simons stores as well as on Simons.ca.
SIMONS PARTNERSHIP WITH LXRANDCO & VSP CONSIGNMENT IS FIRST FOR CANADIAN RETAILER
Simons struck a partnership with luxury resellers LXRandCO and VSP Consignment on the initiative, which last week saw new collections rolled out at Simons’ stores at Place Ste-Foy in Quebec City, downtown Montreal, Square One in Mississauga, and at CF Rideau Centre in Ottawa.
Bag and accessory brands carried at those Simons stores as well as online include Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Prada, Hermès, and others. Women’s apparel brands include names such as Versace, Sonia Rykiel, John Galliano, Miu Miu, Saint Laurent, and Jean Paul Gaultier, among others.
SCREENSHOT OF SIMONS WEBSITE FEATURING VINTAGE ACCESSORIES AS PART OF LXRANDCO COLLABORATIONSCREENSHOT OF SIMONS WEBSITE FEATURING VINTAGE ACCESSORIES AS PART OF LXRANDCO COLLABORATION
Prices for some of the products found online are still in some instances into the thousands of dollars. An orange Hermès Birkin bag is priced at $18,995, while a Louis Vuitton ‘Sac Shopping’ can be had for $1,495. Some of the designer apparel is more reasonably priced. A vintage Oscar de la Renta dress is priced at $395, a Sonia Rykiel lace-up dress is priced at $295, and a Christian Lacroix jacket can be had for $375 on the website, for example.
Publicly traded LXRandCo was founded in Montreal in 2012 and operates concession spaces in Canada at 11 Hudson’s Bay stores in the Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg markets. In the United States, LXRandCo operates locations at 11 Century 21 store locations — all are set to close with the recent bankruptcy of Century 21 which will result in its stores shuttering this fall.
VSP Consignment, which operates a physical store in Toronto as well as an e-commerce site, was founded in 2013. The retailer describes itself as the only large-scale resale company in Canada for luxury/premium fashion, with a ’sister store’ in Calgary called Vespucci which spans more than 10,000 square feet. For Simons, VSP Consignment curated an archive of fashions from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, and early 2000s.
SCREENSHOT OF SIMONS WEBSITE FEATURING VINTAGE WOMEN’S APPAREL AS PART OF VSP CONSIGNMENT COLLABORATIONSCREENSHOT OF SIMONS WEBSITE FEATURING VINTAGE WOMEN’S APPAREL AS PART OF VSP CONSIGNMENT COLLABORATION
INTRODUCTION OF VINTAGE APPAREL PART OF SIMONS ECO-FRIENDLY INITIATIVE
The introduction of vintage clothing and accessories is part of an eco push on the part of Simons, which is on trend. Some brands carried at Simons have an eco-slant as part of the retailer’s ‘Vision’ initiative including products with recycled fibres, organic cotton and linen, natural dyes and other characteristics. CEO Peter Simons said in 2018 that he wanted to make his stores ‘net zero’ in terms of energy usage, which was first achieved with the retailer’s Galeries de la Capitale unit in Quebec City. Electric car charging stations were also installed in stores such as the Londonderry Mall Simons unit which opened in 2017.
The Edito departments at Simons stores were already known for carrying luxury brands, none of which were second-hand. Big names at Edito include Balmain, Moschino, Chloé, Dries Van Noten, Issey Miyake, Marni, McQueen, Nina Ricci, Vivienne Westwood, and others. In the spring of 2020, Simons was said to have had issues with credit insurance for deliveries and as a result, designer merchandise from Edito departments was moved online for clearance. As of this week, new designer products appear to have been added online at Simons.ca for the fall.
Simons was in a challenging financial situation which was made worse by store closures due to COVID-19. Peter Simons said in the summer that the retailer had regained profitability and that vendors would be paid on time. Among other challenges included Simons losing Canada Goose as a brand, with Simons selling millions of dollars of the pricey parkas annually.
The Quebec City-based large format fashion retailer is unique in the way it does business. Stores across Canada are architecturally unique and are unlike anything in North America. The majority of products carried in Simons’ stores are in-house labels, while the retailer also carries a range of mid-priced and luxury brands.
The ‘high-low’ shopping environment is said to result in higher sales for the in-house brands — after seeing a pair of $1,000 pants, the $79 version looks much more appealing for many. Carrying luxury brands also elevates Simons in the eyes of consumers, and there’s no retailer like it in the United States.
Simons was founded in Quebec City in 1840 and operates 15 stores across the country. Its first store outside of Quebec opened in October of 2012 at West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton. Simons now operates stores in the Vancouver market (Park Royal in West Vancouver), Edmonton (West Edmonton Mall and Londonderry Mall), Calgary (The CORE), Toronto (Square One in Mississauga), Ottawa (CF Rideau Centre and Promenades Gatineau), Montreal (downtown, Galeries d’Anjou, CF Carrefour Laval, Promenades St-Bruno), Sherbrooke (Carrefour de l’Estrie), and Quebec City (Place Ste-Foy, Galeries de la Capital and a standalone unit in Old Quebec City).
Stores average about 100,000 square feet and feature fashions for men, women and kids as well as for the home. A limited selection of footwear is available in stores — and unlike a department store, Simons lacks beauty departments.
EXTERIOR OF NEW VUSE STORE ON TORONTO’S QUEEN STREET WEST. PHOTO: JESSICA FINCH
Imperial Tobacco Canada has opened a new retail store in Toronto that offers adult consumers a full-range of VUSE vapour products with the possibility of other stores opening in the future in other Canadian centres.
“The opening of our first VUSE store in Canada is an important component of our harm reduction strategy and an integral part of our goal to reduce the health impact of our business by offering a greater choice of less risky products to adult consumers,” said Ralf Wittenberg, President and CEO at Imperial Tobacco Canada.
“We have come a long way but there is still significant progress to be made. Health Canada’s acknowledgment of vaping as a less harmful alternative to cigarettes is indicative of the shift we’re seeing around the world. This global movement among public health authorities is still unknown to most smokers, and that is where our efforts must be placed: creating the necessary awareness among adult smokers to make the switch.
“As technology advances and social attitudes towards reduced risk products change, we believe that embracing the principles of harm reduction can play a key role in helping Health Canada achieve its goal of reducing Canada’s smoking rate to less than five per cent by 2035. We are particularly proud to be opening this store during these difficult times. This one location has the potential to have a positive impact on thousands of smokers in Toronto, and we look forward to opening VUSE stores in other Canadian cities when and where regulations permit.”
INTERIOR OF VUSE STORE WITH INTERACTIVE CUBE. PHOTO: JESSICA FINCHINTERIOR OF NEW QUEEN STREET WEST VUSE STORE IN TORONTO. PHOTO: VUSE
Mathieu Nadon, Head of New Generation Products for Imperial Tobacco Canada, said the company is on this quest of transforming tobacco into building a better tomorrow.
“Up to now we were building our brands through traditional retail mainly and online and we decided to start our own retail space with this opening,” he said.
“The store will offer a full range of our VUSE vapour products. It will host future alternative products if we decide to enter into new space but really it’s all about offering less risky product of our Imperial Tobacco Canada portfolio to adult consumers in Canada.”
Toronto was chosen as the store location because it is the largest city in Canada. The store is on Queen St W.
“We’ll see how this one goes and if we’re able to secure good locations we will definitely be looking for more locations elsewhere in Canada.”
The company says multiple studies and academic journals have reaffirmed the less harmful nature of vaping products. Many health groups, including Public Health England, have estimated that vaping products are at least 95 percent less harmful than traditional cigarettes.
“In order for these vapour products to achieve their full potential, it will require the federal and provincial governments to implement a science and evidence-based regulatory framework — a framework that allows and supports the appropriate communication to adult smokers, ensures the availability of these products to adults who are looking for an alternative to cigarettes, and enforces the protection of youth from gaining access to these products,” it says.
INTERIOR OF VUSE STORE WITH INTERACTIVE CUBE. PHOTO: JESSICA FINCHINTERIOR OF NEW QUEEN STREET WEST VUSE STORE IN TORONTO. PHOTO: JESSICA FINCH
A select portfolio of Imperial Tobacco Canada’s vapour products will continue to be available at convenience stores.
“Obviously our store is a vape shop but we wanted to make sure it was beyond an ordinary vape shop so for any adult consumer - a smoker, a vapour - they would be able to discover our products like never before. That’s something we wanted to make sure we were able to offer - a one of a kind retail experience,” said Nadon. “We have immersive technology and expertise obviously with a VUSE flavour bar where you can navigate all the flavours and really understand the spectrum of choice that you have and we have a VUSE by you section where you can customize your device and really express yourself.
“That’s really a global store so if you go anywhere in the world you would see a similar store because VUSE is a global brand. That’s also a good thing. When we’re able to travel again consumers will recognize the brand and how it presents itself.”
When Mervyn “Red” Dutton, Reg Jennings, and Frank Kershaw formed Chinook Shopping Centre Ltd., little did they know 60 years ago that CF Chinook Centre would become one of Canada’s most productive malls and a retail destination for so many consumers from near and far.
The centre was originally designed as an open air shopping complex anchored by Woodward’s with opening day tenants including Holt Renfrew, Birks, Reitmans, United Cigar, and others. Before it became Chinook Centre, the centre was originally two different malls — Southridge and Chinook. The mall was designed with innovative escalators without steps. The centre featured 45 stores and services in its opening year. A branch of the Calgary Public Library anchored the centre when it first opened.
As CF Chinook Centre celebrates its 60th anniversary in Calgary, the Cadillac Fairview-owned mall continues to evolve, make changes, and deliver a premier shopping experience for local consumers and those from abroad.
OPENING DAY OF CHINOOK CENTRE, AUGUST 1960. MUSICAL PERFORMANCE FOR THE OPENING OF WOODWARD’S. PHOTO: WOODWARD’S FACEBOOK PAGETHE AREA IN THE 1950S PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION OF THE MALL. PHOTO: GLENBOW MUSEUM ARCHIVESCF CHINOOK CENTRE IN 1960. SIMPSONS SEARS (SOUTHRIDGE MALL) IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT THE TOP OF THE PHOTO. PHOTO: WOODWARD’S FACEBOOK PAGEIMAGE FROM THE CALGARY HERALD, AUGUST 13 1960 VIA NEWSPAPERS.COM
CF CHINOOK CENTRE CELEBRATES 60 YEARS WITH GENEROUS DONATION TO SENIORS SECRET SERVICE
“Since opening our doors in 1960, CF Chinook Centre has consistently maintained its position as a marquee destination in Calgary,” said Paige O’Neill, General Manager of CF Chinook Centre. “This can largely be attributed to our team’s unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional experiences for our guests and continue to help build a more inclusive, sustainable, and vibrant community.”
To celebrate the 60th anniversary, the Centre is doing a number of things. There’s an online contest where people can win gift cards as well as going through some fun trivia and taking a historical look at Chinook Centre. There are 60 facts online in honour of 60 years at Chinook.
“It’s a fun way to showcase the pre-opening in the 60s and 70s sort of following our 50th anniversary book that we put out and going beyond that for our 60th year. So there’s some fun stuff to do for customers that they can enter to win gift cards. We also have in the mall one of our hoarding walls to celebrate and just do some visuals of the old Chinook, the new Chinook. Going through the phases of time.
“Also the Chinook Centre team got together and voted on a charity to support for our 60th anniversary as well. The Seniors Secret Service was the recipient of $12,800 and that’s $200 per every person that works at Chinook.”
“We’re thrilled to celebrate six decades of operation. This marks an incredible milestone for our business and is a true testament to the strength and tenacity of our employees and our retail partners,” said Cam Gresko, Vice President of Operations of Cadillac Fairview. “We recognize we would not have attained this achievement without the support of our local community. Community is at the heart of our business, and it will continue to be a driving force as we look to maintain our legacy in Calgary.”
INTERIOR OF CF CHINOOK CENTRE SHOWING SPORTCHEK AND NORDSTROM. PHOTO: CADILLAC FAIRVIEW
O’Neill said the founders were visionaries in their time.
“I do believe that they felt that this property, this location within the City of Calgary, they were re-inventing retail and their long-term dreams and visions have come to fruition even more than probably what they anticipated at the time,” she said. “They were true visionaries.
“The fact that these gentlemen were able to do things on a handshake with themselves with retailers and when they sold properties and added properties it’s just a testament to hopefully how all of our developers are trying to work with clients today as well.”
CALGARY’S CHINOOK CENTRE HAS PERPETUALLY REINVENTED ITSELF OVER 60 YEARS
O’Neill said one of the keys to Chinook’s success for the past 60 years, besides attracting attractive retailers for shoppers, is the mall’s ability to continually reinvent itself and the reinvestment that owners have put into the property during that time.
Throughout CF Chinook Centre’s 60-year history, the shopping centre has undergone several redevelopments to continue matching shoppers’ expectations, as well as to evolve to meet ever changing consumer shopping preferences. CF Chinook Centre recently completed a major $101 million redevelopment project that includes: the new 61 Avenue S.W. pedestrian bridge, the revitalization of the centre’s Dining Hall to include 835 seats and feature 20 dining retailers (by GH+A Design), the South property redevelopment, and the welcoming of the first Saks Fifth Avenue in Western Canada to the shopping centre in February of 2018. Nordstrom's first store in Canada opened there in September of 2014. The centre which featured 45 stores on opening day now offers more than 250 stores and services.
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RENDERING OF SAKS FIFTH AVENUE AT CF CHINOOK CENTRE.
RENDERING OF SAKS FIFTH AVENUE AT CF CHINOOK CENTRE.
61 AVENUE S.W. PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE AT CF CHINOOK CENTRE.
61 AVENUE S.W. PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE AT CF CHINOOK CENTRE.
INTERIOR OF CF CHINOOK CENTRE. PHOTO: CADILLAC FAIRVIEW
INTERIOR OF CF CHINOOK CENTRE
Cadillac Fairview Unveils New $17M Dining Hall Revitalization at CF Chinook Centre (CNW Group/Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited)
NEWLY REFURBISHED DINING HALL DESIGNED BY GH+A DESIGN
“Continually reinvesting in not only Calgary but in the community and the retail environment along with all of these amazing in mall and exterior mall events and programs,” said O’Neill of the events which have included the Stampede Breakfast, the charity bazaar, the senior citizen teas.
“It has been a place where the community can come and visit and connect with people and that’s still happening today in different ways. Maybe not so much through COVID. But continually trying to come up with creative and energetic experiences customers and Calgarians can enjoy.”
Through every decade, Chinook Centre adapted to the environment and found creative ways to develop the mall into a social gathering place — truly becoming a city within a city. It has worked hard at creating a sense and atmosphere of community.
“These are very challenging times for a lot of our retail clients. But we recently opened Arc’teryx. Dyson opened (recently) with their own store. We have OVO which is Drake's brand that’s opening shortly. The Aritzia team are building this huge 'super centre' Aritzia which will have a cafe in it which opens off centre court. Lululemon is expanding into their location next door and they’ll be open by Christmas,” said O’Neill.
“It is challenging times but we do have new clients joining us and we do have existing clients reinventing themselves moving towards success. It’s really a testament to retail and how they can survive.”
IMAGE VIA NEWSPAPERS.COM
THE NEW WOODWARD’S AND HOLT RENFREW STORES AT CHINOOK CENTRE IN CALGARY IN 1960. PHOTO: GLENBOW MUSEUM ARCHIVESIMAGE VIA NEWSPAPERS.COM
FUTURE PLANS CALL FOR MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT ON CF CHINOOK CENTRE PROPERTY
Future plans call for mixed-use development on the CF Chinook Centre property.
“We’ve had numerous conversations with respect to how Chinook could still evolve on the site itself. We’ve been working with the City of Calgary on future plans for development on the site which could include hotel, or office tower, open air space. We also own the land across the street where the Scotiabank is and again plans in place for perhaps a condominium tower with retail and restaurants on the bottom to go along with the beautification of 61st Avenue that the city did a couple of years ago,” said O’Neill.
“Those are still out there but they’re not in the books for the next little while. But again this is one of those properties that we’re fortunate gets reinvested in and people look to the future as to what that could look like. With this challenging environment it probably won’t happen in the very near future but the plans never die.”
A new Uber Eats#FarmFresh initiative has been launched in Toronto to help restaurants offset the cost of their fresh ingredients while also supporting local farmers and producers.
Uber Eats has partnered with 100km Foods Inc. to give qualifying restaurant partners access to up to $1,000 in credits to purchase fresh ingredients from local farmers and create signature #FarmFresh dishes available exclusively on Uber Eats. These special #FarmFresh items will be prominently displayed on the app, encouraging customers to discover new farm-to-table favourites.
UBER EATS SUPPORTS LOCAL AGRICULTURE WITH #FARMFRESH INITIATIVE
The launch of #FarmFresh in Toronto is a global first for Uber Eats in support of local agriculture.
“We created #FarmFresh, a global first for Uber Eats, because our Canadian customers are so passionate and conscious of their food choices and how eating fresh, local meals can support both restaurants and farmers,” said Lola Kassim, General Manager, Uber Eats Canada.
“Through incredible partnerships like this one with 100km Foods Inc. and dedicated restaurants that are prioritizing locally-sourced foods, we’re hoping to expand #FarmFresh initiatives to even more communities.”
As founders of Toronto-based 100km Foods Inc, Grace Mandarano and Paul Sawtell have seen firsthand the impact of the pandemic on their local farmer and restaurant partners alike.
“When COVID hit and restaurants were mandated to close, the customer base that was built over the last 12 years vanished overnight for our network of farmers,” they said. “The #FarmFresh initiative with Uber Eats provides a welcome boost for both restaurants and local farms alike, and Uber Eats customers get some delicious dishes to choose from made from the freshest and best quality ingredients Ontario has to offer.”
The company began in 2008 with its wholesale operation and it launched its retail operation in response to COVID with direct to consumer and home delivery this summer.
The company is a local food distributor connecting small and medium size farms to urban markets. Traditionally that was directly to restaurants but now it delivers to individual homes as well.
“Uber approached us. They connected us through a mutual chef friend and what they were looking to do was support small independent restaurants obviously who are struggling extraordinarily right now and local producers that are also definitely feeling the COVID pinch as well,” said Sawtell, who is also the company’s CEO.
“The chef recommended that they connect with us because that’s exactly what we do. We connect farms and chefs. They approached us with this initiative that they wanted to support restaurants by providing them with credits to purchase from local farms and if that was something we would be able to help facilitate. Of course, this is right up our alley. This is exactly what we do. So we thought it was a great opportunity not only to support struggling restaurants but the farm side as well.
“Less has been talked about by how producers have been impacted but many of the local farmers that traditionally supplied a restaurant they saw their revenue astronomically decline as well. So they’ve been struggling to find other markets for their products or planting less. Just the unpredictability of everything is a real challenge especially in agriculture that you have to plan way far in advance to be able to harvest and meet demand for markets and in this case a market that disappears. So it was a win, win, win for all we felt and we are happy to participate.”
RECENT OFA SURVEY SHOWED 88% OF FARMERS HAVE SUFFERED FINANCIALLY DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC
A recent Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) survey found that 88 percent of farmers said that their farm has suffered negative financial impacts due to COVID.
“We care deeply about the ingredients we use in our menu and love working with 100km Foods Inc. to source fresh foods and support local farmers whenever we can,” said David Cherry, co-owner of Lady Marmalade. “Uber Eats is giving us an opportunity to help more Torontonians discover amazing dishes made with locally-sourced ingredients while also thinking about the dedicated farmers that are putting food on our tables.”
Sawtell said the initiative is actively looking for new participants and it’s a great opportunity for local restaurants to support and offset their cost of goods and create dishes that are featuring local farmers while supporting local farmers along the way.
“There’s lots of room for growth. We just launched and this program runs through the end of November. So we’re hoping to get a lot more participants,” he said.
There is a V-shaped recovery underway in retail sales, according to the latest data from Statistics Canada. How things are playing out varies among the main retail sectors however, and retail life is still not back to the pre-pandemic business as usual.
Total Canadian retail sales were down 3.4% year-over-year for the 3 months ending July 2020, but this is a significant improvement compared to recent results. The above chart shows that the 3 month average retail sales growth rate (orange line) is now heading up the second leg of the V, and is likely to cross into positive territory in another month or two. The underlying 12 month trend (green line) has now turned upward as well, but so much damage has been done that it may not get back to zero growth for the year 2020 overall.
Food & Drug
Retail sales growth in the Food & Drug sector actually got a boost from COVID, as these stores remained open for the most part. This trend appears to be continuing for now, but it’s difficult to see it going on indefinitely.
Sector retail sales were up 8.8% year-over-year for the 3 months ending July. The 3 month trend (orange line in the chart) continues to be strong, and the underlying 12 month trend (green line) may be on its way to record levels. Some of this might actually be a permanent gain at the expense of the restaurant industry.
At supermarkets & other grocery stores retail sales were up a strong 12.2% year-over-year for the 3 months ending July. Convenience stores and specialty food stores, which had a slow start to 2020, have rebounded with year-over-year sales increases of 13.8% and 11.2% respectively in the latest 3 month period.
Health and personal care stores also may be coming around. After a few rough months, their retail sales now appear to be heading in the right direction with a gain of 1.1% year-over-year for the 3 months ending July.
Store Merchandise
The Store Merchandise sector demonstrates a classic V shaped collapse and recovery and is now on the upstroke side. What is unpredictable however how it can come back. There’s likely to be some permanent loss to e-commerce as more consumers have discovered online shopping recently. The sector’s retail sales were down just 0.6% year-over-year for the 3 months ending July, a much better result than in recent months. In July alone, retail sales were up 7.3%, and this appears to be a good indication of where things are headed.
General merchandise stores weren't as badly affected by COVID, particularly as compared to mall-based specialty retailers. Also, this group includes combination stores that are partly in the food business as well some large retailers that may be more developed in e-commerce. The general merchandise group's retail sales were up a healthy 11.5% year-over-year for the 3 months ending July.
Clothing and clothing accessories stores however have had a rough time, and there have been a number of bankruptcies and store closures among their ranks. While many other retail types have gotten on the road to recovery, retail sales were still down a huge 36.1% year-over-year for the 3 months ending July.
There were mixed results for other retailers in this sector. Sales at furniture and home furnishings stores were down 10.9% in the period, but building material and garden equipment & supplies dealers gained 6.4%.
Automotive & Related
The Automotive & Related sector shows a particularly deep V shape. Retail sales seem to be on a path to recovery now, but there's still a long way to go. Sector sales were down an ugly 14.5% year-over-year for the 3 months ending July, although that's actually an improvement over recent performance.
Retail sales growth at new car dealers remains negative, down 15.6% for the period, but that's "less bad" than some of the results earlier in the year. Gasoline station sales were even worse, declining 24.5% in the last 3 months versus a year ago.
Automotive & Related is the main drag on total Canadian retail sales. If excluded, total sales would be down 1.0% year-over-year for the 3 months ending July instead of down 3.4%.
By The Numbers
Special Note: Statistics Canada revised historical data with the February 2019 release. Unadjusted monthly data were revised back to January 2018, while seasonally adjusted data were revised back to January 2015. Those keeping score should update their files. The analysis in this report is always based on unadjusted data.
The pace of Canadian retail e-commerce sales roughly doubled in Q2 2020 thanks to consumers switching to online shopping. For the 3 months ending July, sales were up 86.9% year-over-year. This is actually slightly off earlier results but still at a nosebleed level by any measure.
Overall, e-commerce represented about 4.9% of Canadian retail sales for the 12 months ending July 2020, including both pure play as well as brick & clicks stores. In July alone, e-commerce's share of total retail was 4.8%. Note that Canadian consumers may also buy online from foreign websites which is not captured in these numbers.
Location based retail is the same as that in the preceding "By The Numbers" table. It's what's normally reported as Canadian retail sales. Except that it isn't. Location based retail excludes another section called Non-Store Retailers (NAICS code 454), which includes electronic shopping and mail-order houses, which in turn is where (mostly) pure play e-commerce businesses are. For the 12 months ending July 2020, electronic shopping and mail-order houses had an estimated $18.4 billion in e-commerce sales.
But that's not the only source of e-commerce, as (mostly) bricks & mortar location-based retailers also sell online. For the 12 months ending July 2020, this group had an estimated $11.5 billion in e-commerce sales. With electronic shopping and mail-order houses, there's a grand total of $29.9 billion in e-commerce sales by Canadian operators. Note that this does not include foreign e-commerce purchases made by Canadian consumers, but it does include e-commerce purchases made by foreigners at Canadian operations.
For electronic shopping and mail-order houses, an estimated 90.3% of their sales are allocated to e-commerce. For (mostly) bricks & mortar retailers, it can be estimated that 1.9% of their total sales are attributable to e-commerce.
In the final section of the above table, (mostly) pure play operators (namely, under electronic shopping and mail-order houses) generated an estimated 61.6% of all e-commerce sales in Canada, while (mostly) bricks & mortar location-based retailers' share of e-commerce was 38.4%.
This analysis is updated monthly as new numbers are published by Statistics Canada. If you would like notification from Linkedin of when an update becomes available (and you've read this far), please connect with Ed Strapagiel on LinkedIn.
Parkland Corporation, an independent supplier and marketer of fuel and petroleum products and a leading convenience store operator, has acquired the licence for the exclusive use of the On the Run trademark in the majority of U.S. states.
And the company said the acquisition positions Parkland to expand On the Run across the U.S. to create a unified, North American convenience store brand.
Through this acquisition, Parkland has acquired, for a one-time fee, the perpetual licence for the exclusive use of the On the Run trademark in the majority of U.S. states. The deal includes an option to purchase the On the Run U.S. trademark together with the licence owner’s On the Run franchise business.
“We are excited to expand the On the Run convenience store brand across the U.S. and harness the advantages of our scale,” said Ian White, Senior Vice President, Strategic Marketing & Innovation at Parkland. “As we continue to advance our ambitious growth strategy, the time is right to create a unified, North American retail and convenience store brand. On the Run is an established retail brand that we can quickly and efficiently scale by leveraging the capabilities we have established in the Canadian market.”
Parkland has been building the On the Run convenience retail brand since 2016 across Canada. The company has between 1,800 and 1,900 gas station locations across Canada and there are about 300 On the Run stores. The concept has been successful for the company, winning the trust of customers and giving Parkland the opportunity to develop and expand its own product lines.
ON THE RUN
This has also given the company a really solid platform for growth in Canada and now across the U.S. Over the last few years, Parkland has acquired eight companies in the U.S. Now Parkland can start to harmonize its convenience and store offering across Canada and the U.S. and leverage many of the efficiencies and benefits of scale with an opportunity to build a super brand across North America while bringing in many of its own product brands.
“We were fortunate enough to acquire the rights to the On the Run brand and the associated franchise model and franchisee complement as part of the divestiture Imperial Oil made of their downstream assets,” said White. “So we acquired the exclusive right trademark. Since then, we’ve re-imagined, and re-imaged On the Run. We did a lot of consumer research. We heard from consumers where there were three important elements that we needed to address with the existing On the Run offer and brand image.
“One was that it was dated and it needed to be refreshed. So we had a look at the elements of the design elements of the logo and the interior and with the feedback from our consumers made some adjustments there. Two was the offer as well needed to be adjusted as folks started to shift towards more good for you food. Folks wanted additional branded options as well. Since then we partnered with a number of branded food partners. We’ve branded exclusively with a company called Triple O’s and we’ll be expanding the Triple O’s concept into Alberta. We recently launched a new branded food partnership with them in Calgary. It’s done very well. And we’ll be moving into Ontario in 2021.
“The other component was around the offer in general in terms of connecting the forecourt and the backcourt so the Canadian store with the gas facility. Our offer in Canada and the U.S. as well is having a strong reasonably relevant brand in our gas plants in the forecourt and what we’ve done is now with the On the Run purchase both in Canada and the U.S. we’ve allowed ourselves a consistent backcourt image offer that we can progress and scale and connect to our proprietary forecourts.”
White said Parkland’s goal is to grow its proprietary brand portfolio, exclusive to the company, while continuing to partner in markets as appropriate with major oil companies in supporting their brands.
“The On the Run business and offer now at a North American level will be exclusive to Parkland and will allow us to continue to build up that capability and continue to evolve the offer in real time as consumers sort of direct us,” said White.
In Canada, the company has plans for 1,000 On the Run locations. In the last three to four years, it has introduced 80 to 100 stores per year.
In the U.S., Parkland has a dealer-operated gas station business and a company-operated business. On the company side, it has close to 60 locations. The dealer operated is just under 300.
The company’s plan includes:
Expanding On the Run across the U.S. to create a unified North American convenience brand;
Capturing efficiencies through common brand collateral, product assortments, private label product ranges and operational continuity;
Opportunity to rebrand its existing U.S. convenience stores and efficiently incorporate the On the Run convenience brand to newly developed sites;
Greater optionality and a strong convenience store foundation for future U.S. M&A activities; and
Support the organic growth of its dealer business by providing an enhanced, bundled offer that combines a leading convenience store brand with multiple forecourt fuel brands.
“The On the Run retail brand provides a solid platform for our continued U.S. growth,” said Doug Haugh, President, Parkland USA. “Building on our existing On the Run brand image, product assortments and private label goods in Canada, we look forward to meeting the convenience needs of our U.S. customers under the On the Run banner. Our U.S. customers will enjoy enhanced interior and exterior rebranding elements, larger and brighter canopies and a variety of new product offerings, all backed by their same local and friendly service teams.”
In Canada, Parkland has several key gas brands - exclusive rights to the Chevron brand in Alberta and B.C., Fas Gas across the West; Pioneer in Ontario; and Ultramar in Ontario and east of Ontario.
The company also has a strategic partnership with Imperial Oil for the Esso brand - both company and dealer operated locations.
More than 80 per cent of Canadians live within 15 minutes of one of the company’s locations. In the company’s last quarterly results, Parkland posted its 18th consecutive quarter of same store sales growth.
Canadian retail employees have dealt with uncertainty throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Questions about health and safety, as well as new workflows and regulations, have been on employees’ minds for months. Some of the most pressing among these are concerns over workers’ rights amid the pandemic.
In the face of changing hours and layoffs, you may wonder what legal protections you have. Governments at both the regional and national levels have enacted some new safeguards for employees.
If you understand these, you can know what to expect from your employer and take action if they infringe on your rights.
Health and Safety Rights
Every employed Canadian has the right to a safe workplace under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Amid the pandemic, that means your employer must adhere to new health and safety regulations. If you’re not an essential worker, your employer can’t require you to work as usual.
That said, if your employer has adjusted your work to fit new guidelines, you still have to work. Even if you’re concerned about the virus, you have to go in if your workplace adheres to COVID safety standards. Much of Canadian retail falls under the list of essential services, so you’re likely required to work.
You may be able to work from home amid the pandemic. While the law doesn't require employers to enable remote work, you may have a right to it. For example, if you have to stay home to care for your children, your employer has to accommodate remote work.
Employment Rights
One of the most pressing concerns facing retail employees right now is their employment status. Some major retailers like Reitmans had laid off as much as 90% of their in-store workers during the spring shutdowns. While your employer has the right to lay you off in most cases, you do have some extra protection.
In most provinces, workers have the right to extended job-protected leave under specific COVID-related concerns. For example, if you're in mandated quarantine or have contracted COVID-19, you can take advantage of this leave. These protections are similar to the Anti-Retaliation Ordinance in Chicago in the United States.
In all provinces, the government has extended the temporary layoff period for most employers. Your employer now has up to six months to recall you after a layoff.
Right to Information
The pandemic can be a confusing time. Thankfully, you have the right to some information. Part of the Occupational Health and Safety Act gives employees the "right to know." Under this provision, you have the right to get information about potential health risks from your employer.
Amid COVID-19, this could come into play if one of your coworkers contracts the virus. Depending on the size of your workplace, your employer may have to inform you if someone you might've come into contact with is diagnosed with COVID-19. If you contract COVID, your employer may have to tell your coworkers but must respect any privacy legislation.
Your employer also has to inform you about any regulatory changes. If new legislation affects your workflow, you have the right to know about it. These legal protections can help dispel some uncertainty you may face.
Know Your Rights Amid COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic can be a challenging time, but you have some legal protection amid the chaos. It's critical that all Canadian retail workers know their rights so that they can protect themselves from any further distress. Since legislation is continually changing, it's also crucial for employees to stay up-to-date.
If you think your employer has violated any of these rights, consult a legal expert. The pandemic hasn't been easy on anyone, but hopefully, this legislation will help minimize the damage.
Devin Partida
Devin Partida is a writer and blogger, as well as the Editor-in-Chief of ReHack.com
Hudson’s Bay Flagship Store in Montreal to be Downsized
The flagship Hudson’s Bay department store at 585 Ste-Catherine Street in downtown Montreal is expected to be downsized amid a sale of the iconic and historic 655,000-square-foot building. That’s according to a French language report last week in La Presse.
The article states that Hudson’s Bay will occupy three retail levels spanning 250,000 square feet on the ground floor, second level, and basement. The new owner will have the option of converting levels three through eight of the building into loft-like office space — something tech firms were keen to secure prior to COVID-19. A building application proposal is also in place for zoning approval to add a 300-foot tower at the back of the store, either for office or residential uses.
EXTERIOR OF HUDSON’S BAY IN MONTREAL WHICH IS DOWNSIZING. PHOTO: HUDSON’S BAY
The downtown Montreal Bay building opened in 1891 as a Morgan’s store, with an eight level expansion being added in 1923. A rather ugly extension was added at the back end of the store facing Boulevard de Maisonneuve in 1964. In 2016, Hudson’s Bay announced that Saks Fifth Avenue would open a 200,000 square foot store in the back-end extension though plans were subsequently shelved.
CBRE is said to be selling the Montreal Bay building as well as the Vancouver Hudson’s Bay flagship store at 674 Granville Street.
EXTERIOR OF MCARTHURGLEN DESIGNER OUTLETS SHOWING NEW RETAILERS SET TO JOIN. PHOTO: RITCHIE PO
McArthurGlen Designer Outlets in Vancouver Add Upscale Retailers
The McArthurGlen Designer Outlets at Vancouver International Airport continues to go upscale with the addition of several premium brands. That includes UK-based Burberry which will open its first outlet in Western Canada. Other brands either open or soon to open in the Vancouver centre include Max Mara, Blubird, Matt & Nat, Rossignol, and Tory Burch.
Other outlet stores recently opened at McArthurGlen in Vancouver include Aritzia and Herschel Supply Company, which is expanding rapidly with a series of retail partnerships across the country.
EXTERIOR OF MCARTHURGLEN DESIGNER OUTLETS SHOWING NEW RETAILERS SET TO JOIN. PHOTO: RITCHIE PO
The unique looking outdoor outlet mall, located just east of Vancouver International Airport, opened in 2015. The centre spans 240,000 square feet and is planning to add an additional 100,000 square feet of space.
While the Vancouver centre was positioned as a luxury mall, it still has only a handful of brands considered to be in the ‘luxury’ category. The Toronto Premium Outlets in Halton Hills is by far the most luxury heavy outlet centre in Canada with brands such as Gucci, Saint Laurent, Versace, Giorgio Armani, Jimmy Choo, Prada, Montblanc, Burberry, and others. Balenciaga recently opened and soon Moncler and Ferragamo will join them.
CLOSING RICHARD MILLE AND AUDEMARS PIGUET STORES IN MANDRAKE PLACE. PHOTO: CRAIG PATTERSON
Richard Mille and Audemars Piguet Stores Close in Toronto
Last year Toronto-based jeweller Louis Black unveiled separate boutiques for luxury watch brands Richard Mille and Audemars Piguet in Toronto, located on the second level of Mandrake Place at 135 Yorkville Avenue. Both boutiques were the only dedicated spaces for the brands in Canada. To visit the boutiques, one had to be taken upstairs by security to check out some watches priced into the six figures and higher.
Following the death of the owner of Louis Black this spring, the boutiques have closed. It’s unclear if either brand will return to Toronto in boutique form. In Vancouver, jeweller Birks operates a small Richard Mille boutique space at Birks’ downtown Vancouver flagship, and an opportunity may present for Birks to expand the line into Toronto — when we visited the Mille boutique in Toronto last year, almost every watch had been sold
SCREENSHOT OF KEEN’S WEBSITE SHOWCASING MASKS.
KEEN Footwear Keen on Charity
KEEN Footwear — a family-owned outdoor footwear, clothing, and accessories brand —is furthering its commitment to fighting COVID-19 but donating 100,000 masks and $100,000 worth of footwear to front-line workers and their families this year.
All part of its Together We Can Help initiative, the outwear brand has already converted its production line in its brand-owned factory to make the Harvest Mask, a stylish, comfortable and washable line of face masks made responsibly using upcycled material and contemporary styles to match other beloved KEEN footwear.
Since day one, KEEN has worked with non-profit partners, consciously constructing its products, providing grant funding to grassroots organizations, and activating communities and individuals to protect the places where we work and play. KEEN puts its values in motion to leave the world a better place, and the COVID-19 pandemic has been no different.
EXTERIOR OF HUDSON’S BAY ON QUEEN ST IN TORONTO. PHOTO: HUDSON’S BAY
Hudson’s Bay Evolves Safety Measures by Introducing CleanSlate UV Sanitizers
As Hudson’s Bay continues to evolve, its in-store health and safety measures are evolving right alongside it. The company has announced the introduction of CleanSlate UV Sanitizers, an innovative technology that uses medical-grade UV rays to sanitize objects like cell phones, wallets, keys, and bank cards, in only 20 seconds.
The revolutionary tool will be featured at the key entry and exit points in select Hudson’s Bay locations across British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec.
“The health and safety of our customers and associates is at the forefront of everything we do, and we are continually looking at ways to enhance the in-store experience and build trust with our loyal customer base,” said Kerry Mader, Chief Customer Officer, Hudson’s Bay. “With the introduction of Canada’s fastest, most effective UV sanitizers in our stores across the country, customers can feel confident knowing that creating the safest possible shopping environment is our top priority.”
“We are incredibly excited to be working with Hudson’s Bay to provide this enhanced service that gives customers and associates the ability to quickly sanitize their mobile devices and other small items,” said Taylor Mann, CEO and co-founder of CleanSlate UV. “While we are all washing our hands more frequently, we still handle our cell phone continuously throughout the day. Keeping our devices clean helps keep our hands clean. This technology is a fast and easy way to reduce bacteria and viruses and help keep Canadians healthy.”
CleanSlate’s UV Sanitizers are simple to use and proven to be effective in eliminating at least 99.999% of harmful bacteria found on common handheld items. With touch-free device removal and no damaging chemicals, CleanSlate’s technology builds on Hudson’s Bay’s already existing safety protocols put in place to protect customers as they shop
IMAGE DEPICTING ECCO AND STACKT MARKET COLLAB. IMAGE: STACKT
ECCO Joining stackt market Lineup
Danish heritage brand ECCO, will be popping up at Toronto’s stackt market this fall to showcase their latest in footwear, leather technology, and contemporary design.
Stackt market — located right at the intersection of Front Street and Bathurst Street in Toronto’s downtown — will host the ECCO showroom from September 18th to October 29th. Immersing guests into the brand’s DNA, the pop-up promises an experimental and experiential space where innovative leathers meet high-tech craftsmanship.
Taking over unit 4-101, the 285-square-foot shipping container will take-on a Scandinavian feel, finished with soft hues of white, grey and gold, wooden accents, and sleek modern lines. Visitors will walk through ECCO’s AW20 curated lineup of fall and winter styles, with mounted displays of ECCO’s leathers giving a glimpse into the brand’s innovative, technical, and original manufacturing and design processes.
Located towards the back of the container is the ECCO x stackt Workshop which will house a selection of DIY ECCO small leather goods, which guests will have the opportunity to craft on their own. The “Illustrator Series” will take place each weekend from September 19th through October 24th. The ECCO x stackt Workshop will play host to a local illustrator, on-hand to customize the small leather goods. Carefully selected by ECCO, each artist will bring their unique style of illustration to the table.
The limited-edition Tannery Series 001 will also be launching and available for purchase at the pop-up. The unique and one-of-a-kind upcycled sneaker is constructed in recycled leather from ECCO’s tannery innovation labs.
To support their stackt neighbuors, ECCO has collaborated with Courage Cookies, Pearl & Bean, and Belgian Moon Brewery. ECCO is eager to embrace the cultural community that stackt market offers and share their Danish design roots of timelessness and modern functionality with the public. For a complete event calendar and dates of participating illustrators, visit ca.ecco.com/en/stackt.html
SUPPORT TORONTO FASHION
Toronto’s Fashion Industry Advisory Panel Launches #SupportTorontoFashion Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
Lead by City of Toronto’s Fashion Industry Advisory Panel (FIAP), the #SupportTorontoFashion campaign has been created to bring awareness to Toronto’s diverse, talented, innovative, and world-renowned fashion industry.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Toronto’s fashion industry employed 50,000+ people and contributed over $1 Billion in annual wages. And in the face of a global crisis, the industry has shown incredible resilience.
Over the next several weeks, FIAP is celebrating the Toronto Fashion Industry by shining a light on the people, brands, and institutions that comprise this sector, sharing their stories through daily posts on social media.
The campaign aims to:
Tell stories of the people, brands and institutions behind Toronto’s fashion sector - past and present
Celebrate the success of our fashion industry through the ages
Encourage Toronto consumers to learn, share, and shop local
Create an online conversation about Toronto’s thriving fashion industry through the #SupportTorontoFashion hashtag
With the support of Mayor John Tory and a panel of fashion industry veterans, the campaign is reaching out to the people of Toronto for extra support.
Like, and tag your peers in the comments on posts from our feed.
Share this graphic (also attached) and use the hashtag #SupportTorontoFashion on your social channels to show your support of the industry. BONUS: Tag Toronto fashion industry professionals, brands, institutions, storytellers - anyone local and deserving of a shoutout - when you share.
Post about Toronto people, brands, places and institutions in the fashion industry and tell their stories (or your own story!), using the #SupportTorontoFashion hashtag for a chance to be featured and profiled on our account.
FORWARD this email to your network - including students, professionals, fashion insiders, media and anyone you think might take an interest in the cause.
Brill Communications Hosts its First in-Person Media Preview Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
Abiding by COVID safety standards, boutique fashion and lifestyle public relations agency Brill Communications recently welcomed media guests into their Brill Bubble for a socially distanced event.
The event — which was the first in-person, multi-brand preview since the COVID-19 pandemic began — was a huge success and vitally important for an industry that is typically built on social interaction pillars like media dinners and showroom visits. Aptly named the ‘Brill Bubble’, the agency was eager to host something in-person for its brands and the media.
“We’re Zoomed-out,” says Desia Halpin-Brill, Founder and President of Brill Communications. “For being an industry that is so digitally-savvy, some things just don’t translate the same over a video call.”
Brill’s clients are mostly retail based and as they settle into the new normal, there is clear excitement surrounding the possibility of upcoming in-person events and launches introducing Fall/Winter collections.
“The PR industry serves as a good indicator of retail health and a socially distanced preview is a great way of getting in-person feedback that serves as a guide moving forward, a litmus test of sorts,” says Halpin-Brill. “Our historic three-story brownstone building located at 125 John street with a separate and private street entrance provided a starting point to executing a safe and socially distanced event.”
“We weren’t too sure what to expect when we sent out the invite to our media. However, we found the majority of people were super excited to attend and pining for some ‘mask-to-mask’ interaction –albeit with many new regulations and precautions.”
Keeping safety a top-priority, Brill Communications took all measures to create a space that felt comfortable and pandemic-appropriate. A Brill preview usually takes place over one day, but with social distancing and gathering limits top-of-mind, the Brill Bubble spanned across two days with appointments scheduled in half hour intervals. Upon arrival, each guest was given a custom Brill-branded mask made by Canadian designer Mayer Man and were directed to follow Brill Bubble markers on the floors to ensure a minimum of two-meter distancing at all times.
Hand sanitizer was offered at each brand vignette and surfaces were wiped-down after each guest passed through. While attendees are typically treated to F&B and grazing tables at a Brill preview, the agency opted for takeaway lunch boxes containing some local favourites, including Nadège sandwiches and Courage Cookies.
“While the future of in-person events is unclear, one thing is for certain: there comes a point when we need to accept and adjust to the new normal. Our industry has had many changes and hurdles to adapt to over the years and Brill Communications is confident that if safety procedures are implemented and followed, along with some creative branding, innovation, and COVID-friendly rituals, there is a way to continue regular industry practices while respecting new protocols and standards.
WOMAN GROCERY SHOPS WHILE WEARING A MASK AMID COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Many months into the pandemic, we know more about this relentless virus and how it behaves and spreads. Using this limited, but growing, scientific knowledge, public health measures have kept us largely safe. Back in March, given the unknowns we needed to manage, the only solution possible was a complete lockdown. It came into our lives violently, enticing many to panic buy, thinking they would not be allowed to leave their homes for weeks, possibly months. As consumers, we behaved irrationally as we coped with many uncertainties.
Regrettably, over-buying food led to more food waste and added unnecessary pressure to the food supply chain. The food industry was also compromised by a food service sector that was almost completely idle for weeks. In addition, the livestock industry was hard hit by COVID-19. A total of twelve meat processing plants had to shut down, some for as long as a month, because so many employees contracted the virus. The Cargill plant in High River, Alberta, became a case study when it experienced the largest outbreak at one address in the country.
The weird and wacky quest for toilet paper aside, empty shelves where food belonged gave many a profound, heart-thumping fear of food insecurity. It became real for many people, likely for the first time in their lives. After all, North America has not experienced the famine, major wars, or chronic civil unrest seen elsewhere in the world over the last century. In the land of abundance and bounty, running out of food seems like something that happens elsewhere.
That was then. This is now. Though pictures of empty shelves led Canadians to believe our food system has its limits, it quickly became apparent that the shelves would continue to be stocked with food, however messy the process of getting it there. Panic slowly disappeared, allowing collective discipline and peaceful amenability to take over. Measures were put in place to keep people safe and responsible, and, a few weeks into the pandemic, rationing became an expectation. All measures were gracefully executed as consumers complied.
CANADA’S FOOD INDUSTRY DELIVERED IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE AMID COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Technologies and just-in-time procurement allowed the food industry to absorb the unprecedented shock back in March and April. In a stunning display, the food industry really delivered, using different assortment and packaging schemes to ensure shelves were stocked. We’ve all witnessed a beautiful miracle of collaborative spirit.
The industry also learned how to serve consumers who are physically unable to go to grocery stores as quarantines and self-isolation measures forced many to order online. Barely six months ago, it was almost impossible to get a grocery order delivered within eight days. Now, most markets offer great home delivery service and will deliver just about anything, including groceries, within two hours. This was almost unconceivable when this crazy year that is 2020 began. As a result of this pandemic, online food sales will triple the numbers seen in 2019.
The food industry and consumers also benefited from the decision to allow borders to remain permeable throughout the pandemic. Just a few decades ago that would not have happened, but cool heads prevailed and governments around the world quickly understood that closing the borders would only make matters worse. Canadians should feel comforted by the willingness to allow the borders to remain permeable.
STATISTICS CANADA REPORTS 700,000 PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED FOOD INSECURITY SINCE MARCH
While most Canadians will be food secure, despite higher food prices, this is not true for all Canadians. Poverty rates have increased under the pandemic, and Statistics Canada reports that an additional 700,000 people have experienced food insecurity since March. Let’s hope Ottawa has long-term plans for our financially vulnerable populations.
The pandemic has made life challenging, and, quite understandably, Canadians are on edge and a little restless going into the fall. But we do not need to panic. companies do learn, and it is highly doubtful an uncontrolled, mismanaged scenario will happen again.
The food sector has been preparing for a potential second wave for months now, and, though it may not be perfect, we should trust that food will remain available across the country.
EXTERIOR OF HUDSON’S BAY IN VANCOUVER. PHOTO: HUDSON’S BAY
For the first time in its 83 year history, luxury department The Room at Hudson’s Bay is carrying menswear in addition to a vast assortment of womenswear. The menswear collection recently launched in the renovated Vancouver The Room department with a point-of-view tailored to the Vancouver market.
VANCOUVER’S HUDSON BAY’S ‘THE ROOM’ FIRST TO CARRY MENSWEAR
“Discovery is at the core of The Room,” says Tyler Franch, VP, Fashion Director, Hudson’s Bay. “We have curated the collections to appeal specifically to the Vancouver market, while still highlighting The Room’s unique point-of-view; one that’s more forward-thinking and conceptual, with a strong representation of each designer’s brand DNA.”
TYLER FRANCH
Franch said in an interview that he’d toured retail concepts globally in places such as the UK, France, and South Korea and brought some of what inspired him to The Room at Hudson’s Bay. That included renovating the Vancouver space by creating a bold metallic environment including metal tread flooring, silver walls and ceilings. The ‘clinical look’ is meant to showcase the product and is unlike any retail space in Canada.
The Room, located on the second-floor of the Vancouver Hudson’s Bay store, is “retail theatre’ that is “elevated through visually-impactful storytelling moments like limited-time concept spaces, photo-worthy installations, and exciting pop-ups”, according to Franch. The first pop-up is a 10-brand South Korean designer showcase, featuring emerging brands, KUHO, Low Classic, Andersson Bell, and, exclusive to The Room, Yuul Yie. Overall The Room is intended to be an “Instagram-worthy” experience for visitors and the layout also allows for flexibility where things can be changed to keep shoppers coming back.
Franch brought menswear into The Room in Vancouver for the fist time to attract an expanded demographic into the 13,700-square-foot retail space which recently saw a renovation after its opening in 2011. New luxury menswear brands at The Room Vancouver include Balmain, Junya Watanabe, Moschino, Ann Demeulemeester, DSquared2, Vetments, ALYX, Marni, Maison Margiela, Lanvin, Solid Homme, J.W. Anderson, and others.
IMAGES OF THE ROOM IN VANCOUVER’S HUDSON’S BAY SHOWCASING THE INTENTIONAL CLINICAL DESIGN. PHOTOS: HUDSON’S BAY
“Vancouver was a major opportunity with a strong designer business,” according to Franch, who curated a localized assortment of brands for the Vancouver market. Men’s advanced contemporary brands as well as luxury brands are found at The Room in Vancouver, allowing for a broader price-point in an effort to attract shoppers. Some of the brands at The Room in Vancouver are not available elsewhere in Canada or even North America.
CONTEMPORARY & LUXURY MEN’S BRANDS AVAILABLE AT ‘THE ROOM’ ALLOWING FOR BROAD PRICE-POINT
Brands exclusive to The Room at Hudson’s Bay in Vancouver include apparel brands Act n°1, Anais Jourdan, Arizona Love, Awake Mode, Baum Und Pferdgarten, CASC8, Danielle Guizio, Deadwood, F_WD, Gauge81, Les Coyotes De Paris, Olivia Rubin, and Yuul Yie. Exclusive footwear brands include Chloe Gosselin, Kalda, Magda Butrym, Midnight 00, Nicole Saldana, Pwenille x Gia Couture, Rejina Pyo, and Superga x Mary K. Exclusive handbag brands include Ganni, Osoi, Rejina Pyo, and The Volon.
The Room in Vancouver is a substantially different experience than what one finds in The Room in Toronto, which relocated to the west side of the Hudson’s Bay flagship store on Queen Street in 2016 after a grand relaunch in 2009. The Room in Toronto is a larger space and currently only carries women’s fashions. Some of the gowns in the Toronto store surpass $15,000 each. The assortment of brands in the Toronto location is somewhat different than what’s found in Vancouver. Franch noted that the Vancouver market dresses differently than Toronto and brands were picked accordingly — and the Vancouver store was first to see the new Room renovation because of the adventurous fashion consumer in Vancouver seeking ‘novelty’.
The Room in Toronto is expected to see updates as well according to Franch, though at the moment menswear won’t be moving in. The fifth floor of the Hudson’s Bay flagship in Toronto features a men’s designer area with several of the same designers carried at The Room in Vancouver such as Balmain, Moschino, J.W. Anderson, Vetments and others. The upscale Toronto men’s department lacks the edgy aesthetics found at The Room in Vancouver however.
IMAGES OF THE ROOM IN VANCOUVER’S HUDSON’S BAY. PHOTOS: HUDSON’S BAY
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(PRNewsfoto/Hudson's Bay)
(PRNewsfoto/Hudson's Bay)
The Hudson’s Bay website has also expanded to include more pieces from The Room. That includes women’s apparel and some footwear styles. Franch said that the website would be expanded and ‘elevated’ further in the spring of 2021.
MONTREAL WOULD BE OBVIOUS CHOICE FOR NEXT ‘THE ROOM’ DEPARTMENT
Other Hudson’s Bay stores could also be in line for The Room departments, though Franch wouldn’t confirm anything during the interview. Montreal would be an obvious choice given the size of the city, and the downtown Montreal Bay store is said to be getting a substantial renovation which will include downsizing the store to about 250,000 square feet over three levels from its current 655,000-square-foot footprint.
High-end retail competition in downtown Vancouver is fierce, and the stakes are high. In recent years, Holt Renfrew and Nordstrom have expanded their designer offerings which have taken a bite out of sales at Vancouver’s Hudson’s Bay. Nordstrom opened its luxury-heavy Vancouver flagship store in September of 2015 across the street at CF Pacific Centre in a building once occupied by Eaton’s. At the same time, Holt Renfrew expanded its Vancouver store to more than 190,000 square feet to carry many of the world’s leading luxury brands in a hybrid concession model. Brands themselves have been opening standalone stores in Vancouver when not being carried in multi-brand retailers. The Room will also likely see a boost when luxury multi-brand retailer Leone closes its doors forever this fall.
Franch explained that The Room’s assortment in Vancouver features fewer ‘first-line’ designers such as Gucci and Prada. That could give Hudson’s Bay an edge in attracting customers seeking something not available elsewhere.
IMAGE OF THE ROOM IN VANCOUVER’S HUDSON’S BAY SHOWCASING THE INTENTIONAL CLINICAL DESIGN. PHOTOS: HUDSON’S BAY
IMAGE OF THE ROOM IN VANCOUVER’S HUDSON’S BAY SHOWCASING THE INTENTIONAL CLINICAL DESIGN. PHOTOS: HUDSON’S BAY
The current location of The Room in Vancouver was unveiled in September of 2011 on the store’s second floor — the beautiful space launched with a splashy opening party and carried brands that included Mary Katrantzou, Erdem, Balmain, Roland Mouret, DSquared2, Alaia, and others. Former Hudson’s Bay Company VP Nicholas Mellamphy was the brainchild of The Room’s relaunch which began with an overhaul of The Room at Toronto’s Hudson’s Bay flagship on Queen Street in the fall of 2009. In 2013, the Hudson’s Bay Company planned to launch The Room at its downtown Montreal Bay flagship store as well as at the former Lord & Taylor store on Fifth Avenue in New York City, though neither materialized. Mellamphy operated and bought collections for The Room until his departure from the Hudson’s Bay Company in early 2016.
‘THE ROOM’ CONCEPT BEGAN 83 YEARS AGO IN TORONTO’S QUEEN STREET SIMPSON’S FLAGSHIP STORE
The Room’s history at the Queen Street Hudson’s Bay flagship spans more than 83 years. Until 1991, the Queen Street building was branded as a Simpson’s department store that in years past was a chain operating in several markets across the country. The luxurious St. Regis Room at Simpson’s carried some of the world’s leading luxury couture brands over the years, catering to Toronto’s carriage trade. Marjory Steele joined The St. Regis Room as a buyer’s assistant in 1962 and became the couture buyer in 1971, followed by Director in 1984. She brought in many new collections from global designers and was called the ‘first lady of fashion’ until her death in 1999.
The St. Regis Room concept at one time operated in Simpson’s stores in Toronto, Ottawa, London, Halifax, and Regina. In Montreal, the Salon Vendome department operated in parallel housing various luxury brands over the years.
The Room at Hudson’s Bay in Toronto, January 2020. Photos: Craig Patterson
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In Vancouver in 1998, the Hudson’s Bay Company introduced a St. Regis Room department to the northwest corner of the store’s third floor — it was only the second St. Regis Room department for a Bay store at the time. Designers in the Vancouver St. Regis Room included Thierry Mugler, State of Claude Montana, Ungaro Collection, Yves Saint Laurent Encore, Oscar de la Renta, Jean Muir, and others. The Room ultimately wasn’t successful in Vancouver and was shut down in the early 2000s. Vancouver was a different city in many ways in the late 1990s and today it has a much bigger fashion market, particularly because of a growing brand conscious Asian demographic.
IMAGE: THE VANCOUVER SUN, JUNE 9, 1998 VIA NEWSPAPERS.COM
The Hudson’s Bay building in Vancouver has a long history of carrying women’s luxury fashion brands, and was the first store to introduce high-end shopping to Vancouver. In 1948, the Vancouver store’s upscale department ‘The Mirror Room’ opened featuring some of the world’s leading luxury brands at the time. That included names such as Schiaparelli, Balmain, Balenciaga, and Christian Dior. Competitor Eaton’s, then located on West Hastings Street, introduced high-end brands in its ‘French Room’ in 1950 including the likes of Balmain, Jacques Fath, Lanvin, and Balenciaga.
In the fall of 1972, the Mirror Room relaunched at the Vancouver’s Bay store with boutique spaces for brands Lanvin, Ungaro and Givenchy. The Givenchy Nouvelle Boutique, according to newspaper reports at the time, featured branded carpeting with the ‘HG’ logo. Other brands carried in the Mirror Room included Jean Patou.
NEWSPAPER CLIPPING FROM THE VANCOUVER SUN ON DECEMBER 6, 1972. IMAGE VIA NEWSPAPERS.COM
In the 1980s, the Vancouver Mirror Room housed brands such as Missoni, Jean Claude Poitras, Krizia, Aquascutum, and in 1991 a Mr. Jax boutique opened which signalled a lower price point than in years past. Competitor Eaton’s, again, went on the offensive by stocking brands such as Escada, Kenzo, Tiktiner, and Sonia Rykiel in the 1980s. The small Holt Renfrew store at CF Pacific Centre also brought in competing brands, as did several multi-brand retailers that operated in Vancouver in years past.
Between 1985 and 1988, Hudson’s Bay also operated a Gucci accessory boutique on the main floor of the Vancouver store. Upscale menswear designers were also carried in the store’s ‘Hudson Room’ department. Browns Shoes once operated leased spaces for women and men within the Vancouver store with some upscale brands such as Manolo Blahnik and Bally of Switzerland.
NEWSPAPER CLIPPING FROM THE VANCOUVER SUN DATED AUGUST 31, 1985. IMAGE VIA NEWSPAPERS.COM
The Room’s update in Vancouver will aim to draw shoppers from competitors Nordstrom and Holt Renfrew, both of which have seen considerable success in Vancouver. The Vancouver Holt Renfrew store at CF Pacific Centre was the top performer in the chain for the past several years, and the Nordstrom store in the same mall was also the company’s top performer until at least last year. Affluent shoppers visiting Vancouver’s Hudson’s Bay store will also likely shop in other departments such as the main floor handbag hall featuring upscale brands such as Coach and Kate Spade, as well as the fifth floor men’s store housing several notable upscale brands. The overall retail design and brand matrix of The Room at Hudson’s Bay in Vancouver will make it a destination for visitors from Vancouver and beyond. Franch said that he and his team will be continuing to innovate in Vancouver as well as in the Toronto store — it will be interesting to see what happens next next to The Room concept at Hudson’s Bay.
