Canadian company BarterPay is announcing a partnership with the Retail Council of Canada (RCC) that will bring the RetailBarterPay trading platform to businesses across Canada. It’s part of an effort to support retailers at a challenging time amid lockdowns and consumer concerns.
Hamilton-based BarterPay is now providing retailers with access to a wide variety of goods and services without needing to use cash by trading excess or slower-moving inventory at no discount all through the RetailBarterPay platform. This can be in the form of hard goods or services that are monetized into BarterPay Barter Credits (one BarterPay Barter Credit equals one Canadian dollar for valuation, accounting, and tax purposes) which can be exchanged for any goods or services offered by other businesses who are also on the BarterPay network. BarterPay Barter Credits are recognized as a cash equivalent by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
“Retailers across Canada are entering the most challenging retail environment ever experienced. Many are showing incredible creativity in how they are rethinking their businesses. RetailBarterPay is an excellent complement to retailers’ efforts as it allows them to tap into their existing idle inventory at full margins to re-invest into other areas of their business where they need products and services right now, says Diane J. Brisebois, President and CEO Retail Council of Canada. “And, retailers will also have the confidence of knowing that by working through RetailBarterPay, the transactions are recognized at a dollar for dollar value by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). BarterPay offers a highly innovative and timely solution to today’s marketplace realities.”
Upon activation, Retail Council of Canada members will receive a $175 bill credit, compliments of RCC, special promotions as well as access to interest-free BarterPay Small Business Barter Loans.
“This partnership brings a unique opportunity for RCC members to conduct smart business using barter,” says John Porter, BarterPay Founder and CEO. “During a time when cash is scarce, it’s imperative that retailers adopt new ways to do business that improve their cash flow. Our user-friendly bartering system makes it easy for retailers of any size to barter their way to a better bottom line and at the same time, deliver more impact in the community. In addition, RCC’s RetailBarterPay members have the option of donating Barter Credits in exchange for a charitable receipt administered by The BarterPay It Forward Foundation, the company’s charitable wing.”
Rendering of the exterior of CF Polo Park and new EQ3 store. Rendering: Cadillac Fairview
Unique Winnipeg-based furniture retailer EQ3 is set to open a close to 44,000-square-foot flagship store at CF Polo Park in Winnipeg in part of the retail space formerly occupied by the mall’s Sears store.
Due to open in the fall of 2021, it is part of the overall redevelopment plan for the popular southern Manitoba destination shopping centre.
Josh Thomson, SVP of Development at Cadillac Fairview, said the owner of shopping centres across Canada is currently in the process of redeveloping the Polo Park Area which will include office space and additional retail opportunities.
“As part of this redevelopment, we are also in the process of considering residential development in the area. This represents an incredible opportunity to increase density at the premier shopping district in Winnipeg, especially at a time when cities across Canada will be looking for opportunities to spark economic activity as we plan for long-term recovery from the pandemic,” he said.
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Map of CF Polo Park Shopping Centre. Photo: CF Polo Park
Map of three levels of CF Polo Park Shopping Centre. Photo: CF Polo Park
At CF Polo Park, Sears vacated its store in December 2017. The store was 260,000 square feet — 80,000 on main level, 80,000 on upper level, and 100,000 in the basement, which included an underground truck court.
Cadillac Fairview says redevelopment will cover 160,000 square feet, focusing on the main and upper floor of the former Sears store, however substantial work is being done to clean up the basement for future uses. The project will primarily include large non-major users (spaces over 15,000 square feet) as well as office uses.
“The entire exterior façade has been removed, and is being replaced with curtain wall glazing and other architecturally stunning materials such as metal panels,” said the shopping centre owner.
Work began in November 2018, and it will be completed this Summer.
The flagship EQ3 will be located on the lower level. On the upper level, 41,000 square feet will be taken by a large international company, still to be announced, for office use. Cadillac Fairview continues negotiations with some other prominent global brands for the other space.
“Given the major loading and truck court previously built by Sears, we would like to explore logistic uses if possible, among other retail uses,” said the company.
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Rendering of the exterior of CF Polo Park and new EQ3 store. Rendering: Cadillac Fairview
Rendering of the exterior of CF Polo Park and new EQ3 store. Rendering: Cadillac Fairview
Mark Letain, President of EQ3, which was initially formed by the Winnipeg-based Palliser company, said the retailer is excited about opening its new concept and flagship location at CF Polo Park.
EQ3 began as a wholesale concept in 2001 as an opportunity to sell modern furniture. The concept was well received in the market. In 2005, the first store opened in Winnipeg. Currently, there are 17 locations — 12 in Canada (Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Burlington, the Greater Toronto Area, Ottawa, and Quebec) and five in the United States (San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Connecticut).
Winnipeg is where the company does the manufacturing of its upholstery product line.
Letain said the target date for opening in CF Polo Park is in September.
“Our store in Winnipeg is very close to the Polo Park mall right now. But it’s a standalone on the edge of the parking lot of the Polo Park. When Sears basically went out of business in that space, I began conversations with (Cadillac Fairview) about getting a 15,000-square-foot space within that space,” said Letain. “But it seemed at that point they were looking for more of an anchor tenant to take up more space.
“We decided that given where our product line is headed and where we want to go in the future with deepening into our product line and extending our product line let’s try a larger format prototype. We’ve seen that work with Restoration Hardware and folks like that. So we decided to do it in our home city.”
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Exterior of CF Polo Park under construction in late 2020. Photo: Winnipeg Free Press
Exterior of CF Polo Park under construction. Photo: Cadillac Fairview
Exterior of CF Polo Park under construction. Photo: Cadillac Fairview
Exterior of CF Polo Park under construction. Photo: Cadillac Fairview
Exterior of CF Polo Park under construction. Photo: Cadillac Fairview
Letain said the company’s biggest store right now is about 18,000 square feet with the average footprint being about 11,000 square feet.
Letain said CF Polo Park is the major destination mall for not only Winnipeg but for the entire region. The strongest lifestyle and luxury brands are located in that mall.
“When you look at the mall rankings for performance and sales per square foot, it typically always ranks in the top 10. It really is super regional. Not only does it draw in from Winnipeg but folks are coming from out of town and even other provinces. Northern Ontario or Saskatchewan,” he said.
“We believe it’s a destination mall and for us we think it’s great exposure for the brand and the right place and the right time to try this new larger format store.
“We really want to use this store to highlight our brand and inform people of our brand. A lot of folks don’t know we’re a made-in-Manitoba story. Some people don’t know we’re actually Canadian. So we really want to highlight our roots and we also want to highlight in that store this idea of buy local. Not only are we going to represent our own product line there which is made in Winnipeg, our upholstery line, but we’re also going to feature products that are made from other local manufacturers and we’re working on that and we’re really excited about that. We also want to highlight Canadian designers.”
French Luxury Fragrance and Candle Brand ‘Diptyque’ Expanding Into Canadian Market
Pricey Paris-based fragrance and candle brand Diptyque will be making moves into the Canadian market this year with plans for multiple locations after securing a brokerage for the expansion. Diptyque is seeking boutique-sized storefronts on urban streets and shopping centres and is part of a direct-to-consumer expansion for the brand.
Diptyque was founded in 1961 by interior designer Christiane Gautrot, theatre set designer Yves Coueslant, and Desmond Knox-Leet, a painter. The brand, which sells fragrances, candles & home, skincare, and home decor, has stores globally as well as an expansive distribution in upscale retailers. Prices can be steep — candles are typically priced in the $50-$100 range depending on size, with some more expensive ones approaching $500. Diptyque fragrances are typically well over $100 and a room spray was priced at $92 on a Canadian retail website.
Exterior of Diptyque store in Paris. Photo: Diptyque
The company is seeking retail spaces in malls and on streets. Mall locations will ideally be in the 600-700 square foot range with street front stores occupying as much as 1,000 square feet. Jeff Berkowitz of Aurora Realty Consultants is the contact for the Canadian expansion.
In the United States, Diptyque has more than 20 stores in major markets with a mix of street and mall stores in upscale locations. Some stores are on luxury streets while others are located a bit off the beaten path in trendy places close to affluence. The next two US locations to open will be in the Los Angeles area at The Palisades and The Grove retail centres.
Diptyque candles. Photo: Diptyque
Diptyque products. Photo: Diptyque
Given where Diptyque is located in the United States, one might expect the brand to look at locations for stores in Toronto at the Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Bloor-Yorkville, and possibly the ‘West Queen West’ area. In Vancouver, Diptyque might be at home downtown on or near Alberni or Robson Streets, Gastown or even West 4th Avenue in Kitsilano. In Montreal, Diptyque could be interested in addresses such as Rue de la Montagne between the Ritz and Holt Renfrew Ogilvy, Sherbrooke Street West in Westmount, Old Montreal or possibly Avenue Laurier which has a compelling retail mix near wealthy households.
The Diptyque brand was introduced to Canada via wholesale channels, with retailers such as Holt Renfrew, Nordstrom, and Saks Fifth Avenue featuring the brand in Canadian stores. The multi-brand retailers are expected to retain distribution despite the direct-to-consumer brick-and-mortar expansion, given the success of the brand and the importance of that channel. Diptyque has not yet launched a Canadian website, though it would be expected to do so once its expansion is confirmed as early as fall/winter 2021.
Interior of new Prada store in Montreal’s Holt Renfrew Ogilvy. Photo: Maxime Frechette
Prada Unveils Women’s Fashion Boutique Concession at Holt Renfrew Ogilvy in Montreal
Italian luxury brand Prada recently opened a boutique space for women on the third floor of Holt Renfrew Ogilvy in Montreal. It joins a Prada bag and accessory boutique on the main floor of the store as well as a women’s footwear boutique concession on the second floor and a men’s concession on the fifth floor.
Interior images of new Prada store in Montreal's Holt Renfrew Ogilvy. Photos: Maxime Frechette
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Plans for a Miu Miu boutique (owned by Prada), also on the the third floor of Holt Renfrew Ogilvy, have been put on hold according to Retail Insider’s Montreal correspondent Maxime Frechette.
Prior to closing in the summer of 2020, the former Holt Renfrew store at 1300 Sherbrooke Street West also featured a Prada boutique space in its store. Prada operates standalone flagship stores in Toronto at 131 Bloor Street West and in Vancouver at 1099 Alberni Street. Prada operates concessions at Holt Renfrew in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal, as well as at Saks Fifth Avenue in downtown Toronto which is dedicated to bags and accessories.
Exterior of The Hudson’s Bay store in The Oakridge Centre. Photo: The Oakridge Centre
Hudson’s Bay Shutting Oakridge Centre Store Until 2024
Hudson’s Bay is shutting its Oakridge Centre store in Vancouver on Wednesday, March 24, as the shopping centre sees an incredible multi-year redevelopment that will create a new city centre for Vancouver. When the shuttering of the rest of the mall was announced in the summer, Hudson’s Bay said that it was planning on keeping its store open indefinitely despite the rest of the mall being shut until the project is finished in 2024.
Rendering of newly-renovated Oakridge Centre. Rendering: Oakridge Centre
When the store reopens in three years as planned, it will be in a new space north of the existing store spanning about 142,000 square feet over two levels. The new store will aim to meet the needs of future shoppers with enhanced digital elements with in-store displays tied to the company’s expanding website offerings. It’s part of HBC’s plans to modernize its operations while shifting focus to online channels — though at the same time, the future of the department store business with 88 stores is uncertain and we’ll report back with updates as they become available.
A clearance sale at the Oakridge Bay store is ongoing.
Interior of Brioni store that is set to leave Holt Renfrew Ogilvy. Photo: Maxime Frechette
Brioni Exiting Holt Renfrew Ogilvy, Off-White Comes to the Store
A sales associate at Holt Renfrew Ogilvy in Montreal informs Retail Insider that the Brioni space in the store will be shuttering due to low sales. It is not yet known what will replace it on the 40,000-square-foot, fifth-level men’s store that opened in the spring of 2019. The pricey brand has yet to gain significant traction in Canada with limited distribution that includes the Holt Renfrew Men store at 100 Bloor Street West in Toronto and at Holt Renfrew in Vancouver — it appears that Harry Rosen dropped the brand recently after carrying it in the Vancouver and Montreal stores.
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Off-White presence within the men's department. Photo: Maxime Frechette
Off-White presence within the men's department. Photo: Maxime Frechette
Off-White presence within the men's department. Photo: Maxime Frechette
The Row presence within the men's department. Photo: Maxime Frechette
Luxury brand The Row is also said to have exited Holt Renfrew Ogilvy’s men’s floor. At the same time, Virgil Abloh-designed luxury streetwear brand Off-White now has a presence on the men’s floor for the first time, adding to an already robust designer offering.
Exterior of Uniqlo store. Photo: Uniqlo
Uniqlo Announces 2nd Montreal-Area Store Opening Date
Popular Japanese retailer Uniqlo has announced that its second Montreal-area store, located at at CF Carrefour Laval, will open on Friday, March 26. The 20,000-square-foot store, replacing a Renaud Bray book store, follows the opening of a 40,000-plus-square-foot, downtown Montreal Uniqlo storefront at the Montreal Eaton Centre.
For those not wishing to enter the store, a click-and-collect service is being implemented. Between March 8 and March 23, customers will be able to order online and and pick things up for free prior to the store’s grand opening.
Map of CF Carrefour Laval with red arrow indicating retail space set to house new Uniqlo store.
The CF Carrefour Laval Uniqlo store will be the 15th location in Canada. Uniqlo opened its first store in Canada at CF Toronto Eaton Centre in Toronto, followed by Yorkdale. Uniqlo now operates eight stores in the Greater Toronto area, four in the Vancouver area, one at West Edmonton Mall that opened last year as well as the downtown Montreal flagship.
Exterior of Scarborough Town Centre. Photo: Scarborough Town Centre
Oxford Properties to Support Government Vaccination Efforts
Oxford Properties is continuing to support the fight against COVID-19 by donating space at Scarborough Town Centre shopping centre to host a Toronto Public Health COVID-19 vaccination clinic. By collaborating with the City of Toronto and Toronto Public Health, this clinic will help support the Canadian national vaccination effort and serve its local community.
Oxford has also joined the REALPAC initiative to donate space in convenient, accessible commercial real estate buildings with public transit and parking options. The vaccination centre at Scarborough Town Centre will be the second at an Oxford shopping centre. The first community vaccination clinic in an Oxford shopping centre opened at DIX30, in Brossard, Quebec, in January.
“Due to their size, accessibility and experience of our property management teams in safely handling thousands of visitors daily, our shopping centres can play an important role in getting the vaccine as quickly and safely to as many Canadians as possible,” said Bradley Jones, Head of Retail, Oxford Properties. “Supporting community vaccination efforts allows us to play our part in the collective response against COVID-19 and give back to the communities which we are so proud to serve.”
Further locations will be announced by municipal public health agencies in the coming weeks as part of larger community initiatives.
Exterior of Le Marché du Store. Photo: Le Marché du Store
Le Marché du Store Announces Increased Base Salary & Creation of 250 Permanent Jobs in Quebec
Le Marché du Store has announced that it is now guaranteeing a base salary of 15$ per hour to all its Design Consultants. This measure is part of a process to value careers in the retail industry, while the company announced at the same time the creation of 250 permanent full-time positions in the province of Québec, a 34% increase of its workforce.
“By guaranteeing a minimum wage of 15$ per hour, the average salary of our consultants increases to 40210$ per year, with commissions and bonuses. We want to provide stability to our current and future employees in order to demonstrate that they are building a true career,” says Zachary Shiller, in charge of all Quebec operations.
The stability of these roles is also demonstrated by the paid training program offered to all new Design Consultants, lasting from four to six months, as well as through career development programs offered in-house.
Le Marché du Store, which has seen tremendous growth in sales over the last four years (between 12 and 31% annually) is hiring people who will offer the famous Red-Carpet service within its showrooms and its Shop-at-Home service. 120 of these new permanent full-time positions are part of the online sales department, Head Office and plant, all located in Montreal. The company is also finalizing the upcoming opening of 3 new stores in the Greater Montreal area, creating about 30 jobs.
Candidates can submit their application by clicking here.
Thule, a global leader in products designed for an active lifestyle, will be opening its first-ever brand store in North America in downtown Denver, Colorado. This new retail store will offer U.S. customers a first of its kind shopping experience by showcasing all of Thule’s product categories in one space. The new Thule brand store will open in Summer 2021.
While Thule has several dedicated brand stores throughout Europe, Asia, and Latin America, this new store will be the first in North America. Much like the other brand stores, this retail experience will feature Thule’s well-known vehicle accessory products for bike, water, and snowsports, as well as award-winning products from their newer categories, including child carriers and strollers, premium luggage, innovative daypacks, hiking & backpacking packs, and durable rooftop tents.
Photo: Thule
Located in downtown Denver’s newest retail space, Basecamp at Market Station, the new Thule brand store will be conveniently situated among other top outdoor and active brands. The 1,600 sq. ft. space will offer visitors the ability to explore the entire breadth of Thule’s active lifestyle portfolio and build awareness of newer categories. “Now more than ever, consumers are focused on maintaining a healthy lifestyle and embracing the outdoors,” says Fred Clark, President, Region Americas, Thule Group. “We’re proud to be opening this new Thule store in Denver. This city has a large community of passionate outdoor enthusiasts and recreationists that perfectly aligns with the Thule brand.”
Photo: Thule
Thule will be working with longtime retail partner Rack Attack, North America’s premier rack specialty retailer, to facilitate staffing, point of sale logistics, and day to day management of the store. The dedicated staff will be trained in all categories and will be able to answer questions ranging from vehicle fits for their roof rack to finding the best accessory for their jogging stroller or which rooftop tent and hiking pack will be best for their next vacation.
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For more information, please contact:
Chris Ritchie, PR & Communications Manager E-mail: Chris.Ritchie@thule.com Phone: +617-435-2014
For more information on Thule products, visit: thule.com
About Thule
Thule is a global sports and outdoor activities brand established in 1942. Under the motto Bring your life Thule offers a wide range of premium products for active people worldwide that allows them to bring what they care most for – safely, easily and in style. With a sustainable mindset, Thule designs and manufactures roof racks and roof boxes, bike, water and winter sport carriers, luggage, laptop and camera bags, sports bags and backpacks and child-related products such as strollers, bike trailers, and child bike seats. The products are sold in more than 140 countries worldwide. Thule is the largest brand within Thule Group. thule.com
Retailu, an eLearning platform based in Canada, and One Voice One Team, a youth leadership non-profit, have teamed up together to ignite future leaders.
At the world economic forum in Davos this year, Teresa Carlson, Vice-President, World Public Sector and Industries, reported in discussion with Professor Schwab, “The world of the future is not capitalism, it’s the world of talentism,” in other words, capital is being superseded by human talent as the most important factor of production. Three of the top must-have conditions to address the skills gap include equal access to education, skills training, and committed leaders.
With the retail industry being one of the highest private employment sectors globally, COVID-19 closures forced many retail employees out of work, wondering what to do next with their skills.
With more retailers introducing curbside pick-up and store closures, we could see a challenging employment market as part-time jobs become more competitive than ever. With this new reality, will retail adapt their hiring practices away from brand profiles to a more equitable and inclusive mandate? And could retail become flooded with skilled workers out of work from other industries?
One of the many benefits of a part-time job in retail, with its flexible hours, has been the ability to gain employment without a skills certificate or formal education. Retail has traditionally been perceived as an uneducated career. However, many students who make up the mass employee population of first-time job seekers gain essential work experience and learn life skills in the retail sector. This benefits them as they move into other careers.
Skills learned in retail include working as a team, self regulation, service mindset, communication, managing conflict, dealing with people, problem-solving and leadership. One of the many disruptions of 2020 was the sheer amount of retail closures, which caused a lack of opportunity for first-time job seekers, namely students, to gain these valuable skills. The 2020 COVID-19 crisis will have a significant impact on this generation for sure. To what extent remains to be seen.
With many challenges facing the retail industry, hiring equitably and investing in people should not be one.
If “talentism” is the new world of the future, talent development should be top of mind for retailers. Retailers should be thinking through how to up-level their full-time employees’ skills, namely management with stronger leadership skills. The management population is responsible for hiring, training, and creating highly engaged teams that build brand loyalty. Furthermore, in this new retail era, individuals seeking to secure their chance in a highly competitive job market should also embrace this way of thinking.
Up-skilling yourself in a time of crisis is one of the best activities you can do. Online skill-building courses are a sure way for people seeking their first-time job to stand out amongst a pool of candidates. Supporting programs that focus on equal education and building leadership skills is just as critical. Committed leaders that embrace this beyond their own business are essential to the world of the future.
Over the past decade, innovation in retail tech has been a large part of the industry. Most executives have this as a primary consideration, especially with new innovative technologies that help retailers create personalized experiences and streamline operations and processes to save time and money. However, it is essential to remember that no matter what technology is being introduced, talent will continue to be a huge part of the equation for brands to recruit and retain consumers in the future. Finding innovative ways to invest in talent should become a primary objective.
At Retailu, we considered how to significantly impact the world and support the three pillars of equal access to education, skills training, and committed leaders. “Talentism” is an essential component of a successful retail experience, one that can not be undervalued. This is why we decided to partner with One Voice One Team, a non-profit organization providing youth with leadership workshops, assemblies, and community service programs to empower today’s youth for a better tomorrow; One Voice One Team is an excellent fit with Retailu because many retail first-time employees are students; some eventually even grow into managers that drive millions of dollars in sales for retailers. OVOT develops leadership skills, helps high school students find confidence and builds their hope and potential; the work OVOT is doing is important.
Partnering with OVOT will empower and build our future business leaders from the get-go, giving them a higher chance of success. Once a student leaves school and is thrust into the workforce, they will face many challenges; the current curriculum in schools needs to be updated; however, there are many challenges with this. Being pushed into a virtual world has caused seemingly tricky challenges for teachers trying to figure out how to keep teens engaged and motivated. While retail can provide many skill-building benefits, OVOT teaches high school students life skills that are not traditionally taught in the classroom.
The next decade of brands will need to provide training programs relevant to the new generation of retail workers.
Retailu will donate 50% of all membership sales through February to One Voice One Team to launch this ongoing partnership. Retailu’s goal is to help 400 youth in Winnipeg attend the OVOT program this year. In addition to this, Retailu is offering special pricing throughout February to access the programs. Everyone was hit differently by COVID; however, being committed to making change happen means we all need to step up and participate. Learn how to get involved HERE.
In the last year, retail and schools were hit hard by COVID and the resulting lockdowns. Many first-time job seekers could not secure their first retail job and gain valuable life lessons and skills. Anyone looking to up-level their skills can get involved and support Retailu to reach the goal while investing in themselves. It is not enough to just know about the issues we are facing today. We need committed industry leaders to step up and support local initiatives like this that need us. Retailers can get involved through sponsoring or buying courses for their staff. (A percentage of which will directly impact many youths. Starting in Winnipeg, which has more black and Indigenous youth who will significantly benefit from this kind of program)
An off-schedule podcast discussion with Tyler Yang, Chief Executive Officer at Vancouer-based Loa Skin. Craig and Tyler discuss the enterprise that he and his business partner, Spencer Angeltvedt, have expanded focusing on skincare with plans to expand the product into retailers in Canada.
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Judith & Charles new eco-sustainable coat. Photo: Judith & Charles
When discussing the highest-quality and most-adored women’s fashion brands in Canada, participants would be remiss not to include Judith & Charles among their conversation. Associated with the finest craftsmanship, a superior fit and style of elegant and essential taste, the Montreal-based womenswear brand has been excelling within the retail and fashion industries for more than three decades. By maintaining its commitment to consistently providing solutions to satisfy women’s wardrobe needs, it continues to cultivate a multitude of admirers, bolstering even further the already strong reputation it enjoys among its clients. In celebration of 30 successful years, and as a clever response to impacts that the COVID-19 global pandemic has had on its business, the brand recently made the decision to expand the range of products it offers to include outerwear, highlighted by a collection of 100 percent eco-sustainable coats which will be introduced in September 2021.
Loyal and Inspiring Customers
It’s a move that was a thoughtful one, according to the company’s President, Charles Le Pierrès. And it’s also one that he explains was inspired, at least in part, by the tremendous amount of support that the brand received from its customers shortly after the onset of the pandemic and the resulting store closures.
Judith and Charles Le Pierrès
“It was really quite amazing,” he says. “We received a lot of messages of support from the Judith & Charles community, urging us to focus and to remain strong through these challenges. It helped to remind us just how much our brand means to our customers and emphasized our obligation to them. I immediately increased my efforts, thinking of ways by which we could remain relevant during these very difficult times for the fashion and apparel industries while continuing to grow for the future.”
Adding High-Quality Value
Given that one of the mandates of the brand is to simplify the working woman’s life, facilitating confidence, strength, and comfort through its impressive line of businesswear, the task of remaining relevant during lockdowns and an emptying of urban office buildings seemed at first to be a monumental one. However, in thinking pragmatically about the needs of the brand’s loyal clients, Le Pierrès, who runs the business with his wife Judith, realized that although women may not be visiting their offices anymore or attending business meetings, they still want to get outside, and to look their best when they do. He describes the decision to expand the brand’s offering into outerwear as a bit of a reinvention of the company and an extension of its commitment to its customers.
“Though there have been many implications caused by the pandemic and resulting restrictions on business,” he laments, “For Judith & Charles, one of the more negative effects has been the decline in the need and reasons to wear suits and attire for the office. Because the numbers of people working in downtown cores across the country have been drastically reduced, along with social distancing protocols and the canceling of events and other gatherings, providers, and manufacturers of businesswear have suffered immensely. I knew that we needed to introduce something new to our offering. But the key was to create something that would complement what we already offer to our existing customers, adding value to our assortment, while maintaining the same high quality and style that they’re used to receiving from us. Once I developed the idea to produce a collection of winter coats for the brand, I quickly started to imagine the ways that we could not only grow as a company, but to do better as a company as well.”
Eco-Sustainable Collection
Hence, the new 2021 collection of Judith & Charles eco-sustainable winter coats was born. Produced using high-quality biodegradable fabric that’s free of harmful poly-fluorinated chemicals, the impact of the products lifecycle is significantly reduced. And, considering the fact that Judith & Charles specialize in the creation of investment pieces for the working woman’s wardrobe — stylish garments made with preserving quality — the decision to leverage more environmentally sustainable and friendly materials seems to be a perfect fit for the brand and what it represents. In addition, the down fill used in the making of the coats is recycled, reclaimed from used cushions, bedding and other items that cannot be resold. And, all of the packaging and accessories included with each coat is also 100 percent sustainable. It’s a product that Le Pierrès is extremely excited about, and one that he says represents yet another step forward for the brand concerning its commitment to its customers as well as the environment.
“Sustainable practices in fabric and garment manufacturing have been important for quite some time,” he says. “And the importance that companies place on their individual environmental impact continues to increase as we move forward. It’s always been something that we’ve taken very seriously. But it’s an area where we knew that we could make improvements, to do more as a company and a brand in order to reduce our fashion footprint and help create a better tomorrow for everyone to experience.”
Difficult Time for Apparel Retail
The decision to expand the brands offering through the inclusion of outerwear represents a bold statement by Judith & Charles during an extremely difficult time for the retail and fashion industries. According to Statista, the Canadian apparel market experienced a significant decline in retail sales as a result of the pandemic and associated restrictions, with year-over-year sales in Canadian apparel retail decreasing by 52 percent and 86.8 percent in March and April 2020, respectively. Further, marketing intelligence company, Trendex, which specializes in the monitoring of the Canadian apparel sector, has estimated that total retail apparel sales decreased 28 to 32 percent for the whole of 2020, with luxury apparel sales dropping an estimated 16.8 percent, adding that it expected the pandemic to result in 10 to 15 major apparel chains either closing or drastically reducing their retail footprint. Le Pierrès has plans to do neither, and hopes that the company’s pivot will reap dividends, helping it to withstand the impacts of the pandemic and positioning it for further growth.
Judith & Charles Store at 55 Avenue Road in Toronto. Photo: Judith & Charles
Despite its innovative thinking, however, Le Pierrès admits that the brand, like most others, has been challenged over the course of the past year, coping with government-imposed restrictions and drastically reduced traffic to stores. Operating ten locations across Canada, he says that there have been some ups and downs during the pandemic. The company has been forced to reduce its number of employees and the hours required by staff to service its stores. It’s also suffered what the company’s President describes as “huge” wholesale cancellations from some of its larger retail partners, putting further strain on its operations and forcing price markdowns in efforts to sell mounting unsold inventories. In addition, its proud tradition of being locally-produced has also come under pressure. As a result of the shuttering of Canadian factories, Judith & Charles have been forced to move some of its production outside of the country. Le Pierrès stresses the importance that the brand has always placed on keeping production local in order to support the Canadian economy, adding that it is doing everything it can to bring full production home as soon as it’s possible to do so.
Focus on the Customer
In light of these challenges, or perhaps in spite of them, Le Pierrès describes the past year as a time that the company has embraced as an opportunity to focus even more on their customers, shifting to meet their continued needs and finding new ways to engage with them. He says that it’s provided a bit of a learning curve, but is one that he believes the company has risen to with success.
“As soon as we had to close our stores during the first lockdown, we realized that we had to find a way to continue communicating with our customers, to keep them engaged with our brand and products,” he says. “We have increased our efforts on social media and with the distribution of our newsletter in order to achieve this. We’ve also introduced a virtual shopping tool and have customer care representatives and store managers available to address any questions or concerns that our customers might have concerning any of our garments. We’ve always enjoyed strong relationships with the Judith & Charles customer. But we’ve used our current situation as an excuse to strengthen those relationships further and to gain an even deeper understanding of their desires and preferences to continue enhancing the service we provide.”
Evolution of the Business
Another way in which the brand responded to store closures and a lack of footfall to its physical locations was through its accelerated omnichannel efforts. In order to meet continued demand for its product, demand reflected in a 45 percent growth of the company’s ecommerce sales, it ramped up its delivery and curbside pickup options. It’s all part of what Le Pierrès describes as a further evolution of the brand and the business, and a willingness of Judith & Charles to not necessarily welcome the challenges of its time, but to face them head on nonetheless.
“The business of retail is unpredictable at the best of times, in particular the business of fashion and apparel retail. It’s always been this way. Obviously, the current climate has posed some extraordinary challenges for Judith & Charles and the rest of the industry to step toward and overcome. But that is what retail is all about – adapting and innovating to continue meeting the needs of the customer in order to grow and succeed. It’s what we have planned for the near-term and beyond, focusing on our product and the extension of our outerwear collection, and constantly raising the bar concerning improvements to our brand and the experience that we provide to our valued customers.”
Well-known Calgary commercial and residential Realtor Grace Yan is throwing her hat into the ring to become the city’s next Mayor in the October municipal election, Retail Insider has learned.
“It is my belief that public service is a responsibility that we all share and we should all be willing to contribute our time and best effort toward the well-being of the community in which we live, work, and play,” said Yan, who will officially launch her campaign in the coming days.
“Muhammad Ali said it well, ‘Service to others is the rent you pay on earth’.
Having lived in the City of Calgary for over 40 years, and having worked in the business sector for 20-plus years, I am aware of the needs of the community, the resources available and am aware of the public concerns that face our city.
“My service to our community began 20 years ago sitting on various boards, having achieved the Distinctive Women of Canada, Women of Inspiration — Inspire Award and Mount Royal Alumni Achievement Award Nominee. My commitment is to serve the citizens of our great city and contribute to its growth and prosperity; I will support public safety, encourage the continued improvements of city infrastructure, support marketing efforts of arts and entertainment, and encourage new economic development while supporting our local business.”
Calgary City Hall. Photo: The City of Calgary
Yan said she wants to work on improving communication between the city administration and the citizens of Calgary.
“With respect, grace, and humility I pledge to help the citizens of Calgary by promising to work wherever and whenever possible to keep Calgary the best city to live, work, learn, and play. I have traveled the globe and from all of this, I have developed an image of Calgary as fulfilling a noble and resilient role as the defender of freedom and growth in a challenging time — and of the people of Calgary as confident, courageous, and persevering. It is with this image that I begin my campaign,” said Yan.
Yan was born in Manila, Philippines and moved to Calgary in 1980. She is a successful commercial broker at Coldwell Banker MC Commercial. She also has 20 years of Paralegal experience and is a former President of the Alberta Association of Professional Paralegals. She is a Notary Public and Commissioner for Oaths in and for the Province of Alberta. Grace has been Board of Directors for many organizations including past NAFTA Alberta Director for Alberta Association of Professional Paralegals.
Yan is a trained A.F.L.C.A. fitness instructor and is an accomplished pianist under the former direction of Dr. M. Munn in the Royal Conservatory of Music at Mount Royal University. She is an accomplished artist specializing in abstract expressionism and has been commissioned by various private collectors with works displayed in several law firms in Calgary including a major international law firm. Yan prides herself as being a philanthropist donating to many charitable organizations including B+ Foundation.
Yan has won many different awards during her career including Distinctive Women of Canada 2016 and 2017, Women of Inspiration — Inspire Award, Miss Jetset International 2016 and 2017, and Mount Royal University Alumni Achievement Nominee.
“I support Grace Yan in her Mayor for Calgary candidacy because she is a true leader and is mindful of today’s economic challenges. She has shown upstanding citizenship and involvement in supporting the community and supporting businesses and the growth of the economy,” said Kent Leong, Owner Melrose Café / Infinite Restaurant Group.
Calgary skyline
“Calgary needs a new approach from our Mayor. Our city needs to attract more business and keep our business and property taxes lower. Grace Yan is a business minded professional who supports our community. Grace understands Calgarians and she has a plan to deal with all the issues ranging from road safety to the unacceptable 30 percent downtown vacancy,” said Coldwell Banker Mountain Central Owner, Rob Vanovermeire.
Yan said various groups and business owners have approached her, telling her that Calgary needs new leadership at city hall and asked if she would step up to the plate and run for Calgary’s top political job.
“I’m here for the people and by the people,” she said.
“My biggest accomplishment has been the ability to have the opportunity with my skills and my background to really help with leadership, business development for the city, and actually create a whole new Calgary. If we were going to rebuild a Calgary, that’s taking from the old. The old clearly is not working. So we need to create a new Calgary and create a Council that will work together, not against each other, so that we all achieve success.”
Yan said many citizens believe the state of the economy is the key issue facing the city these days.
Yan believes Calgary needs to attract international recognition and that is an essential part of the new Calgary.
