Montreal-based men’s fashion retailer Ernest has unveiled a new store concept after filing for creditor protection last month. The new storefront at the Montreal Eaton Centre is a refresh of the brand which is expected to be rolled out into other locations.
The Montreal Eaton Centre Ernest location spans just under 2,500 square feet and features high ceilings in an airy space with wood accents and a contemporary feel. The store is located on the street level of Montreal Eaton Centre next to the recently opened Samsung and facing a new concept Pandora store as well as Uniqlo which opens on October 23.
Men will find a wide range of suits as well as sportswear and footwear. Tailoring is available with Ernest’s personalized customer service. The store features a wall dedicated to shirts.
The new store’s location is intended to be closer to the office towers of downtown Montreal, which are beginning to see some workers return. Ernest had two stores downtown further west, including a unit operating at 1199 Sainte-Catherine Street West a couple of blocks from the recently completed Holt Renfrew Ogilvy store. The future of the 1199 Sainte-Catherine storefront is uncertain — Ernest says that it is still in negotiations with the landlords and that it will most likely close as the lease expires amid a challenging retail environment. Foot traffic is also said to be a concern given construction on Ste-Catherine Street.
INTERIOR IMAGES OF ERNEST’S NEW CONCEPT STORE IN MONTREAL. PHOTOS: MAXIME FRECHETTE
1 of 6
Foot traffic from the Time Out Market food hall was another attraction to the Montreal Eaton Centre according to an Ernest representative. The Market opened in November of 2019 and is expected to again be a traffic generator following COVID-19 mandated shutdowns in Quebec.
Earnest filed for creditor protection in September and used the opportunity to renegotiate some leases. The company has 40 stores (33 branded as Ernest, six under the Jonathan banner and one under the Anthony banner, all of which are located in the province of Quebec except for one unit in Moncton, New Brunswick. No jobs were lost with the filing and only one store on Ste-Catherine Street in Montreal shuttered as a result.
The retailer says that it is holding off on future expansion plans for the time being as it watches the industry and COVID-19. In a more favourable time, Ernest could expand into the Ontario market.
Ernest was founded in 1958 in Montreal by Ernest Iarrera with a store on Ste-Catherine Street East. The concept expand into Quebec Cit in 1991. The founder’s son and daughter now run the operations and Ernest is still family owned.
As with most things during the pandemic, the traditional festive marathon, which has hinged on Black Friday & Cyber Monday deals, door crasher events, special promotions, and impulse buys, is being rethought in 2020 to meet today’s customer needs for the holidays in an environment of ongoing uncertainty.
To help retailers in Canada, who are already gearing up for the season, have the latest global and Canadian retail insights so they can build on the new opportunities to uniquely delight their customers this year, Retail Council of Canada will hold a ½ day online event, the Retail Holiday Shopping Forum on October 20, 2020. The session will be packed with practical information to ensure it is a well spent 3 ½ hours during a very busy time of the year.
Speaking at the forum will be influential retailers and industry insiders like Tal Zvi Nathanel, Founder and CEO of SHOWFIELDS; Luc Dumont, Vice President, Research and Innovation at Leger; Lee Jeyes, Senior Director, Store Process and Innovation at Walmart Canada; Matt Mackenzie, James Gott, Ciff Grevler, Partners at the Boston Consulting Group and more powerhouse speakers.
Key takeaways from the Retail Holiday Shopping Forum will include:
How to plan for success in the current retail landscape
Expectations of today’s consumer
How to prepare for the inevitable ecommerce explosion
Preparing staff and customers for a successful holiday season
And more
View the agenda. Retail Council of Canada is still adding speakers and content so check back often.
Registration for this timely educational opportunity is completely free for RCC members and $49 for non-members.
Anyone interested in participating in this highly informative ½ session can do can by registering here.
Retail Council of Canada also has a Holiday Resource for Retailers webpage which also lists other great tips and tools for retailers as they rethink their holiday 2020 planning and marketing approaches.
The federal government announced Friday some major new changes to support businesses in Canada that have been hit hard, and on the verge of collapse, due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Those changes include:
The new Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy, which would provide simple and easy-to-access rent and mortgage support until June 2021 for qualifying organizations affected by COVID-19. The rent subsidy would be provided directly to tenants, while also providing support to property owners. The new rent subsidy would support businesses, charities, and non-profits that have suffered a revenue drop, by subsidizing a percentage of their expenses, on a sliding scale, up to a maximum of 65 per cent of eligible expenses until December 19. Organizations would be able to make claims retroactively for the period that began September 27 and ends October 24;
A top-up Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy of 25 per cent for organizations temporarily shut down by a mandatory public health order issued by a qualifying public health authority, in addition to the 65 per cent subsidy;
The extension of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy until June 2021, which would continue to protect jobs by helping businesses keep employees on the payroll and encouraging employers to re-hire their workers. The subsidy would remain at the current subsidy rate of up to a maximum of 65 per cent of eligible wages until December 19;
An expanded Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA), which would enable businesses, and not-for-profits eligible for CEBA loans—and that continue to be seriously impacted by the pandemic—to access an interest-free loan of up to $20,000, in addition to the original CEBA loan of $40,000. Half of this additional financing would be forgivable if repaid by December 31, 2022. Additionally, the application deadline for CEBA is being extended to December 31. Further details, including the launch date and application process will be announced in the coming days. An attestation of the impact of COVID-19 on the business will be required to access the additional financing.
“Canadian businesses and workers have shown tremendous resilience in adapting to the challenges posed by the global pandemic. With the country now in the second wave of this virus, our government knows businesses and workers need continued support. We were there to help businesses when the COVID-19 pandemic began, and we will continue to give them the support they need. As we get through this difficult situation, we will keep taking action to support our businesses, protect jobs, and keep Canadians safe and healthy,” saidChrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) said it welcomes the announcement of a new rent relief program as well as extensions and expansions of the CEBA loan program and the wage subsidy (CEWS) for small businesses impacted by COVID-19.
“We are particularly pleased the government has delivered on CFIB’s three major recommendations for rent support, ensuring the program is independent of landlord participation, continues for the months ahead and provides support to businesses with revenue losses on a sliding scale,” said Laura Jones, CFIB’s executive vice-president. “The additional 25 per cent coverage for businesses facing closures due to public health orders is also good news.”
PEDESTRIANS WALKING PAST RETAIL OUTLETS ALONG STEPHEN AVE IN AUTUMN, CALGARY, ALBERTA. STEPHEN AVE IS A FAMOUS PEDESTRIAN MALL IN DOWNTOWN CALGARY. PHOTO: VIEWFINDER – STOCK.ADOBE.COM
It said rent relief is critical to the future of many Canadian small businesses. The government’s original Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program was deeply flawed and left too many businesses without the help they badly needed. When it ended at the end of September, 47 per cent of small business tenants needed rent relief but were not able to access it. With only 30 per cent of firms back to normal revenues, it is more important than ever that small businesses have support to cover their fixed costs such as rent, said the CFIB, but it added it is disappointed that the government has not created a retroactive pathway to access funds for businesses that met the 70 per cent CECRA revenue loss criteria from April to September, but whose landlord chose not to apply.
“Many businesses have taken on tens of thousands of dollars in new debt to stay afloat during the last six months and they should not be left to deal with it with no help,” said Jones.
Dan Kelly, President of the CFIB, said it is pleased the government has agreed to expand the CEBA loan program by $20,000 with an additional $10,000 forgivable in the days ahead.
“CEBA has been a critical lifeline to many small firms and offers the benefits of flexibility to be used for several purposes,” said Kelly. “But far too many very small firms have slipped through cracks in the program. Firms with business bank accounts still do not have access to the program despite repeated promises from government. And those without payroll still struggle to have access to the program due to the restrictive conditions and giant administrative delays. This needs to change.”
He said it is good news that the government will maintain the wage subsidy at a maximum of 65 per cent until December 19.
“This will help small firms know how much help this critical program will deliver in the months ahead to allow them to determine how many staff they can afford to hire, retain or call back,” added Kelly.
“With fears of a second wave leading to further business closures, it is absolutely critical that the federal and provincial governments find ways to provide full economic supports for affected firms. These new federal measures need to be followed by extended commercial eviction protection and additional provincial supports as the Quebec government has announced in recent days. No firm should be forced into bankruptcy due to an order to close their doors from government.”
Karl Littler, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs at the Retail Council of Canada, said the new CERS program shares features with the CEWS wage subsidy program – in that they both provide for a sliding scale of support, calibrated based on revenue loss and, as with CEWS, will be continued until June 2021.
The following elements were not mentioned in Friday’s announcement and have instead emerged in discussions between RCC and senior officials, he said:
“Notably, the CERS program looks like it will extend to a greater range of rental settings and to companies of greater size levels than was the case with the previous CECRA program. We understand that the former limitation to enterprises with under $20 million of annual revenue will be dropped and that a cap of $300,000 in total assistance on a go-forward basis will be imposed instead.”;
“RCC also understands that the subsidy will apply to locations with up to $75,000 of gross monthly rent, up from $50,000 of gross monthly rent under the CECRA program. Further, we understand (but do not have formal confirmation) that locations with gross monthly rent of over $75,000 may still be eligible for support on that first $75,000. This is obviously a critically important issue and we will be seeking further clarification.”
David Lefebvre, Restaurants Canada Vice President, Federal and Quebec, said the organization commends the government for “committing to act on one of our top recommendations to make rent assistance accessible directly to commercial tenants.”
“We appreciate the continued efforts of Minister (Mary) Ng (Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade)to champion the needs of small and medium sized businesses like restaurants, who are a critical load-bearing pillar of communities across the country,” said Lefebvre.
Michael Smith, co-founder of Save Small Business, said Friday’s unveiling of the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) will be welcome news for main street businesses owners across Canada. The federal government has finally acted on what Save Small Business and other organizations have been saying for months: small business tenants need a better, more inclusive rent relief program that they could apply to directly. An estimated three-quarters of landlords, mainly small and mid-sized players, simply didn’t apply to CECRA because of poor design even though their tenants were eligible for the program, he added.
“It’s also important that there’s now a sliding scale of support based on revenue decline given the previous eligibility threshold of 70 per cent was too high. CERS will also provide support to property owners on their mortgage payments which will be helpful to many landlords,” said Smith.
“We’re encouraged by the longer-term signalling of the rent subsidy through June 2020 and the commitment to provide additional targeted support for those businesses ordered to close. This is very important because it will help small business owners have greater confidence they’ll be able to cover their major fixed costs and get through the pandemic, even if operating at reduced capacity, with lower than usual sales, or if required to close to protect public health.
“Unfortunately CERS doesn’t address some outstanding issues caused by CECRA: an estimated 300,000 small business owners were eligible for CECRA and another 200,000 that would have benefited from some rent support during the April to September period. These small businesses will receive no retroactive financial support under CERS. This is an equity issue given tenants whose landlords applied to CECRA would have had 75 per cent of rent subsidized for up to six months. The expansion of CEBA and the $10,000 forgivable loan increase doesn’t come close to addressing the fact that main street businesses have been forced to take on an average of $135,000 in new debt since the start of the pandemic.”
The economic landscape of 2019 was vastly different to that of 2020. The trade war between the US and China loomed large, and threatened to end the stability of the global financial markets. This naturally impacted GDP growth which declined quarter on quarter heading into 2020. Analysts at Deloitte anticipated GDP slowing to a crawl at 1.6% in 2020. We now know that the economy has been upended in an unprecedented way, what with the novel coronavirus destroying any hopes of a return to normalcy, any time soon. Consumer spending has contracted sharply, and uncertainty is the order of the day.
Prior to the outbreak of the pandemic, expectations of a 2.2% growth in real consumer spending were forecast. In these unprecedented times, it is exceptionally difficult to forecast the impact of the novel coronavirus on labor markets, wage growth, disposable income, and rising unemployment levels. Yet, even within this quagmire there is a degree of predictability with regards to certain trends. The Retail Apocalypse which began in 2010 has accelerated sharply in 2020. Tens of thousands of retail operations have shuttered their doors, owing to rising costs, declining footfall traffic, social distancing, and government-issued mandates to guard against the pandemic.
Meeting Customers Where They Shop
One of the most notable changes to take place in 2020 is the shift in retail industry trends where customers want to shop. There is no denying the rapid and unprecedented decline in the popularity of malls across the country. Once a staple of American retail enterprise, malls are trending towards persona non grata status for a variety of reasons. For starters, high fixed costs, limited market reach, and the decreasing popularity of shopping centers are a reality that retailers must contend with. Time.com writer, Josh Sanburn penned an op-ed titled, ‘Why the Death Of Malls is About More Than Shopping’, and he went to great pains to explain this phenomenon. Once a nexus of American social activity, malls no longer serve that role. Hundreds of thousands of jobs have been shed annually, as malls contend with declining footfall, increasing costs, and diminished sales.
This naturally lends to an entirely different set of thought processes around retail activity in the US, and elsewhere. Major brand names like JCPenney, Macy’s, Forever 21, Modell’s Sporting Goods, Pier 1 Imports, Dressbarn, Ascena, NY&C, Muji, Brooks Brothers, NPC International, Chuck E. Cheese, GNC, 24 Hour Fitness, Advantage Rent A Car, Neiman Marcus, Gold’s Gym, True Religion, and at least 100+ others in 2020 alone have filed for bankruptcy owing to the effects of the Retail Apocalypse. For many of these retail operations, there simply was no other alternative save for bankruptcy and liquidation. When multiple stores in a chain are unprofitable, divestiture from poorly performing units is the standard operating procedure. Whether it’s Chapter 7 bankruptcy, or Chapter 11 bankruptcy, many of these retailers had no choice.
Specific Case Studies: Modell’s Sporting Goods and Pier 1 Imports
Modell’s Sporting Goods is a 131+ year-old staple in American retail sporting goods apparel. It has an established presence across the north-east, and beyond. Brand awareness, market penetration, and industry-leading dominance are features of this brand. However, declining sales and profitability [exacerbated by current market conditions] rapidly led to an untenable situation with the company. According to industry reports, this sporting goods retail operation filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in March 2020, and then requested an extension owing to the devastating effects of the novel coronavirus on proceedings. The company ran 134+ retail outlets, and was put up for sale after operations shuttered. Retail E-Commerce Ventures (REV), under the stewardship of investor-entrepreneurs Tai Lopez and Alex Mehr acquired the company’s assets for $3.64 million.
Their motivation behind the purchase was simple: ‘Sporting goods is a great vertical to be in, and Modell’s is a well-known and beloved brand in that vertical.’ [Alex Mehr CEO of REV]. With social media icon Tai Lopez revolutionizing the retail industry, along with his millions of followers, Modell’s Sporting Goods has undergone a dramatic reconstruction with an e-commerce makeover. By meeting customers on their turf, Lopez and Mehr believe that the Modell’s brand can be salvaged, and ultimately prove to be profitable in a big way. Now, customers are able to purchase all their favorite sporting goods online. The shift from traditional retail operations to bricks and mortar is well and truly underway. Modell’s is one such example of how that transformation is playing out in real time.
Making the Case for Pier 1 Imports
Pier 1 Imports is another iconic brand in the US which recently announced that it was going out of business. Once again, the brains trust behind REV, Alex Mehr and Tai Lopez were front and center. They are of the opinion that the future of retail is e-commerce. In February 2020, Pier 1 Imports filed for bankruptcy and closed all of its retail outlets as the novel coronavirus was battering the global economy. At the time, REV [Retail E-Commerce Ventures] outbid its competition and purchased Pier 1’s virtual assets for a price of $31 million. REV now boasts an impressive portfolio of assets, from distressed retail brands that have been transformed into e-commerce success stories. These include Dressbarn, the Franklin Mint, Linens N Things, Mentor Box, ESR Holdings, Knowledge Society, and The Book People, et al.
The lesson learned from the changes in the retail industry are clear: Consumers are taking their business online and businesses that fail to heed this call will be relegated to the annals of history, along with the dinosaurs.
Salesforce Industries Summit showcases how the customer relationship management company is delivering innovative, purpose-built solutions to help companies go digital fast. Now, Salesforce is rolling out a new industries-specific product portfolio to its customers, focused on delivering value, ROI, and speed. On October 14, get on your path to growth with retail and consumer goods-specific innovations
Join the virtual Retail & Consumer Goods Channel. You’ll get an in-depth look at how retail & consumer goods organizations are designing digital-first experiences, reimagining best-in-class customer service, and leveraging the latest technologies to achieve faster time-to-value.
It will feature four 30 minute episodes highlighting dynamic speakers and compelling customer stories including:
A fireside chat with PepsiCo’s Dan Moisan, Chief Commercial Officer, PepsiCo Latin America
Consumer Goods Clouds’ newest innovations
How RMDY Growth Corp accelerated distribution growth across channels by going digital
Reimagine the customer experience for today’s digital shopper
Bring your questions to the live ‘Ask the Expert’ sessions, where you’ll join product and industry experts to get answers to your most relevant product adoption, best-practices, and how-to questions.
Get on the fastest path to digital transformation for the retail & consumer goods industry.
Upscale home furnishings retailer ELTE is looking to hire a sales associate in Toronto. The highly respected retailer operates a store and café at 80 Ronald Avenue in Toronto’s Castlefield and Caledonia area. To apply for the position, please contact Suzanne Sears of Luxury Careers Canada at: best-retail-jobs@live.ca.
Retailers looking to post positions with Luxury Careers Canada may also contact Suzanne Sears or Craig Patterson at: craig@retail-insider.com
For over 100 years, our mission has been to inspire our customers’ through beautiful product and design. At ELTE, we look for individuals who are excited to continue our family tradition of creating beautiful spaces in our customers’ homes while providing them with an excellent in-store experience.
WHO YOU ARE:
You have the entrepreneur spirit and an eye for design. You believe in building strong, lasting relationships with others, and much of your success has come from your ability to connect with people through your work experience waitressing, serving, in customer service, or in sales.
You are looking for a full time work opportunity. Providing excellent customer service is your passion. Work life balance is important to you and something you value in your next role. When people speak about you, they make special mention about your exceptional grit and gumption. You love to win, you thrive in a team environment and You are always looking to grow.
ATTRIBUTES OF THE PERFECT SALES ASSOCIATE
Passionate about our products
People person with a customer service, serving industry or sales background
Polished and professional with an understanding of our clients and high-end Luxury
Problem solver with high standards of customer service
Promotes and embodies the Elte brand
Proficient communication skills
Projects enthusiasm and energy
Personal style, fashionable
WHAT YOU DO (among other things)
Quality sale over quick sale, thorough engagements with customers
Consistently walk the showroom floor actively engaging with clients
Provide an elevated service experience for each client by identifying needs, providing information and quick follow up for a seamless interaction
Create quotes and sales orders reflecting the wants of the customer
Foster client relationships for repeat business and to develop a self-sustaining network of clients
Insatiable desire to learn so you can improve on the sales floor
Maintain a high level of store maintenance
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?
Excellent earning potential
Amazing Hours & Work/Life Balance
Comprehensive group benefits
Beautiful Work Environment
Opportunity for growth and development
If you are interested in this career opportunity, we’d love to hear from you. ELTE thanks all applicants who apply, but also those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and ELTE Accommodation Policy, accommodation will be provided in all parts of the hiring process. Applicants need to make their needs known in advance.
*Retail Insider has partnered with Luxury Careers Canada to support the industry. For more information, contact Craig Patterson at: craig@retail-insider.com
It’s often been described by those who have experienced it as a feeling of drowning. Its effects can be debilitating, rendering some completely and utterly helpless, skewing perspective, and sending senses and faculties of mind whirling uncontrollably. It’s a leading cause of disability in Canada. And yet, our understanding of mental illness, the anguish endured by those who suffer from any of its many forms, and the triggers in society that cause the hurt in so many is still not well understood by the general public. For this reason — to help support the mental health of all Canadians and continue to expel the stigma of mental illness — Henry’s Foundation is bringing the issue into focus through its dedicated work and the launch of its #uncapturedmoments campaign.
Founded in 2019 by the Stein family, and supported proudly by fourth generation family-owned and-operated creative retailer Henry’s, the Henry’s Foundation is a Canadian registered charity with a mandate to raise awareness around the issues and impacts of mental illness and, through charitable donations, help to support the efforts and initiatives of its national and regional partners aimed at addressing and improving the mental health of Canadians.
“Mental illness is something that touches everyone, either directly or indirectly,” says Amy Stein, Executive Director of Henry’s Foundation, adding that the issue of mental health is something she and her family feels passionately about. “It might be a neighbour who’s affected, a friend, co-worker or a family member. The statistics related to mental illness and the number of Canadians negatively affected by it are staggering. We want to make a positive impact on those who are suffering and help to lessen the severity of its effects and repercussions. Our objective is to continue advancing our work so that the positive impact that we make for those suffering from mental illness is long lasting and to expand its understanding with all Canadians.”
Making a Difference
The statistics related to mental illness that Stein refers to are, indeed, staggering. According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), it’s estimated that in any given year about one in five Canadians experience the effects of mental illness. And, as individuals grow older, those numbers only increase, with at least 1 in every 2 people in the country having experienced a mental illness at least once in their life by the age of 40. What’s more, the many forms of the disorder do not discriminate, impacting everyone of all ages and backgrounds.
One of the ways in which Henry’s Foundation is already making its intended impact is through the many partnerships that it’s formed with mental health organizations across the country, including Kids Help Phone and Jack.org, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation in Vancouver, Douglas Foundation in Quebec, and the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia. By way of charitable donations, Henry’s Foundation helps to support the initiatives and programs offered by its partners, helping to forge a community of assistance and support for those in need, and a unified voice around the obligation to provide them with the proper help.
“Our wonderful partners are critical in providing mental health services and support across Canada,” says Stein. “They are partnerships that have been deliberately and purposefully formed. These organizations are leaders in the areas of their focus, providing Henry’s Foundation with a great cross-section of partners offering services, research, and programs that empower at all ages across Canada. These partnerships are so important to what we do and helps us realize our goal to reach as many Canadians as possible.”
Breaking the Stigma
Mental illness, which can be seen by the unenlightened as an inconvenience of society, can manifest itself in numerous ways, resulting in complications that can lead to family conflicts, relationship issues, social isolation, discontented life, challenges with addiction, legal and financial problems, poverty and homelessness, amongst many other challenges. It also rears its ugliness through physical reactions that can result in a range of ailments, from a weakened immune system to heart disease and other medical conditions and, in worst case scenarios when the proper care is not provided, self-harm and harm to others, including suicide or homicide.
The presence of mental illness can be caused by a multitude of conditions and factors and be contributed to in a number of different ways, including those that are brought on and impacted by feelings of social anxiety and marginalization. And, despite all of the wonders of communication that social media platforms have bestowed upon us, the false representation of perfection in an imperfect world that the medium has helped cultivate and personify has bred a feeling of inadequacy and failure in many, lending to a demoralization of self.
“People generally only post the highlights of their lives on social media,” recognizes Stein. “But there is much more going on in the background of everyone’s ‘real’ life that nobody gets to see because those things never get posted. Everyone has a tough time getting out of bed some mornings. Everyone experiences difficulties maintaining friendships and relationships from time to time. Everyone struggles. Life isn’t perfect and has its ups and downs. We saw this as an opportunity to leverage social media to build a community with the message that ‘it’s ok NOT to be ok’ and to encourage the sharing of real moments that may not be our best.”
The Henry’s Foundation #uncapturedmoments campaign, launched in alignment with Canadian Mental Illness Awareness Week and World Mental Health Day, challenges people to use their photographic creativity to share their everyday moments, unfiltered, in an effort to shift the narrative and shatter the illusion of perfection that’s infiltrated social media. By uploading images of “uncaptured moments” to the Henry’s Foundation website, or by sharing them on Instagram with the hashtag #uncapturedmoments, anyone can participate in helping to eradicate the stigma of mental illness and show others that they are not alone. In addition, the campaign, which runs until Saturday, October 10, will generate a donation of 25 cents from Henry’s Camera for tags, comments or images submitted, with proceeds of the campaign going toward support of the services of its mental health organization partners. Donations can also be made online at henrysfoundation.com or by visiting any Henry’s retail location. A selection of images can be found on www.henrysfoundation.com/moments
Impact of Global Pandemic
Stein, who worked for Henry’s for 19 years serving in various roles on the corporate side of the company before starting Henry’s Foundation, also recognizes the ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted mental health and the need to provide the right support for those affected. Mandatory health measures and precautions, which have been directed toward advising people to stay home and avoid contact with others when possible, have resulted in increased feelings of anxiety and stress for many. In fact, 50% of Canadians have reported that the current pandemic situation has negatively impacted their mental health with an alarming 80% of the country’s workforce reporting the same, exacerbating an already prevalent and widespread issue.
“The pandemic has significantly impacted everybody’s mental health to some degree,” says Stein. “I think that’s the understatement of the year. Disruptions to our families and daily lives, the economy, the way we work and interact with people, has impacted everyone. And I think the things we’ve all been going through collectively have really emphasized the importance of our mental health and the fact that it needs to be made a priority now and moving forward, perhaps more than ever before.”
The critical role retailers and businesses play in supporting the health of their employees is also something that Stein addresses, pointing out their responsibility to do so.
“All businesses need to take it upon themselves to support the mental health of their employees. Those working in frontline customer service roles are experiencing a lot of anxiety. Some of them might be dealing with personal issues that employers may not be aware of. Employers need to listen to their employees, building relationships with them that are authentic, ensuring that they maintain regular communication, providing access to support resources. As leaders, we need to set an example, making sure that our employees feel supported and appreciated, giving back to the people and communities who have always supported us as a business”
Stein admits that it’s always been a part of the Henry’s Camera philosophy to give back to the communities it serves, and that the work being done by Henry’s Foundation is just another representation of the company’s vision. However, it seems to serve as an extremely important extension of its philosophy and vision, filling a vital role in a time of dire need. And, listening to the Foundation’s Executive Director vocalize her plans for the future, it seems the role Henry’s plays in supporting mental health will only continue to grow in significance
“We want to continue supporting our employees and their families across the country. And we want to continue to integrate and nurture a culture of mental health into the day-to-day operations at Henry’s, making it a priority in everything that we do as a company. But we also want to take our work and the positive change that we can influence beyond retail to reach every Canadian in need, and to continue working with our partners to help amplify the amazing work that they do in an effort to support the mental health of everyone from coast-to-coast across the country.”
It’s no secret that the retail industry around the globe is currently experiencing one of the biggest challenges in its history, caused by COVID-19 and the subsequent economic downturn that is challenging businesses’ cashflows and ultimately their existence. In order to prepare for the future and ensure survival, some companies began to innovate and adjust to the micro and macro-economic shocks that reshape the already competitive retail space.
A retailer of tomorrow must not only be connected with its customers and key stakeholders, it should also be agile and quick to adapt to the challenges and new regulations that are imposed industry-wide. From the booming e-commerce industry and shifting generational trends, to AI and machine learning CRM solutions, a successful retailer must be aware of the opportunities that those changes create.
Retail Insider has in the past reported on a Concord based premium retailer, OriginalLuxury Inc., that currently carries a number of extravagant brands that were not widely available in Canada in the past including a notoriously rebellious Philipp Plein from Switzerland, a classic and chic Zilli from France, and highly-popular and growing Slowear group of brands. In order to learn more about the company’s success and its approach to maneuver through these difficult times, we spoke with Husan Aripov, managing partner of OriginalLuxury, to see what tools and tactics could be employed by other Canadian retailers facing the same issues.
OriginalLuxury Inc. is a premium retailer of exclusive (mainly European) brands that was founded in 2018 to cater to the Canadian market. In a short period of time, the company became an official distributor for a number of high profile brands, including Artioli, Faliero Sarti, Billionaire, Philipp Plein, Barba Napoli, Incotex, Zilli, and more. It is worth noting that some of those brands were not present in Canada before, or were represented in very small variety. Zilli, for example, is one of the oldest and most sought-after ultra-premium menswear brands, that caters to the most affluent clientele. This approach of targeting niche brands allowed OriginalLuxury to position itself among premium retailers very well, without directly competing with them.
Although the company is mainly focusing on e-commerce sales through its own platform, this year it has opened a “by appointment-only” showroom for OriginalLuxury clients to be able to see and try the products on before making a purchase. “We strongly believe that COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way individuals eat, go out, and most importantly shop” says Aripov. “You do not want to go to a crowded mall, or a store during a pandemic – simply because the associated risks outweigh one’s desire to go shopping. As a result, customers are shifting towards online shopping across all product segments, which puts even more emphasis on ensuring quick and high-quality production of content for e-commerce platforms”. OriginalLuxury was lucky enough to create its own subsidiary, Stylephotos.ca, that acts as an in-house photography and videography studio.
StylePhotos helps other retailers across Canada to create outstanding photo and video content at a reasonable price, something that is so needed in today’s economy. Retailers are always stuck in a “loop” of buying new collections three or four times a year, and the faster their order gets online the faster they will make money. “At StylePhotos we were able to create a system that allows for consistent and streamlined process to take place — something that never existed in product photography before,” said Husan.
Being in e-commerce industry themselves, allowed the young and innovative start-up to tailor their service offering specifically for every client. “Our photo-studio is not managed by photographers,” said Aripov, “it is run by business-minded individuals who look at cost-saving for clients first”. We believe that this mindset is the key factor that allowed StylePhotos to partner with the largest Canadian retailers, while offering the same service to small companies and individual entrepreneurs.
For OriginalLuxury, staying focused on customer service, having a limited and carefully-curated brand portfolio, and constant innovation allowed the company to survive the ravaging effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. These factors are also relevant to other retailers, who are looking not only to survive, but to succeed at a time, where odds are not in their favour.
EXTERIOR OF NEW LOUIS VUITTON FLAGSHIP AT YORKDALE SHOPPING CENTRE. PHOTO: MICHAEL MURAZ
LVMH-owned French luxury brand Louis Vuitton opened a flagship store at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre on Friday of last week. The impressive store spanning nearly 10,000 square feet features a first-in-Canada LED facade that changes colour as well as artwork and a unique selection of Louis Vuitton product for women and men. The standalone store is part of a bigger investment by Louis Vuitton in the Canadian market as the company continues to open standalone stores.
The Yorkdale Louis Vuitton spans 9,800 square feet, with an interior retail space spanning about 6,500 square feet, according to the company. The store is located in a prominent corner location in the mall near several other luxury brands. The Yorkdale flagship houses ready-to-wear clothing for men and women as well as bags, accessories, jewellery, travel items, fragrances, and footwear.
YORKDALE LOUIS VUITTON WILL FEATURE EXCLUSIVE PRODUCT & PRE-LAUNCHES OF UPCOMING COLLECTIONS
Given the clustering of luxury brands at Yorkdale which brings in high-end shoppers, the Louis Vuitton store will feature exclusive product and pre-launches of upcoming collections and capsules.
Louis Vuitton’s first ‘high jewellery’ collection pre-launched in the Yorkdale store around ‘Vivienne’, Louis Vuitton’s house mascot. Other luxury retailers at Yorkdale were said to be showcasing their own pricey jewellery collections after seeing what Louis Vuitton was showcasing in its store over the weekend. On its opening day, the Yorkdale Louis Vuitton store is said to have run up nearly $500,000 in sales — an impressive sum given the COVID-19 pandemic.
Other collections in the Yorkdale Louis Vuitton store include the women’s ready-to-wear ‘SINCE 1854’ capsule collection, the men’s Louis Vuitton LVÇ capsule collection in collaboration with Japanese artist Nigo®, and the unisex LV Volt jewelry collection.
LOUIS VUITTON WOMEN’S ACCESSORY AND BAG DISPLAY. PHOTOS: MICHAEL MURAZ
1 of 4
A bespoke offering at the Yorkdale store includes a selection of Louis Vuitton’s most exceptional hand-crafted hard-sided trunks, exotic leather goods, and pieces from the Louis Vuitton Objets Nomades collection. Customization and personalization is also an important part of the store experience, including an on-site hotstamping service which offers clients the opportunity to personalize a variety of leather goods, and a fragrance engraving service which allows for the customization of an assortment of fragrance bottles within the Les Parfums Louis Vuitton collection.
The Yorkdale Louis Vuitton store is hard to miss for those passing by. A grand facade is wrapped with an illuminated two-storey LED screen that feature animations of Louis Vuitton’s monogram flower motif in ever-changing colours. The facade is punctuated with dramatic double-height display windows which showcase product from the store in a busy area of the mall. The facade alone is said to have cost in excess of $1-million to build.
LOUIS VUITTON FLAGSHIP MEN’S READY-TO-WEAR. PHOTOS: MICHAEL MURAZ
1 of 4
Louis Vuitton Yorkdale - Toronto, ON
Louis Vuitton Yorkdale - Toronto, ON
Louis Vuitton Yorkdale - Toronto, ON
Louis Vuitton Yorkdale - Toronto, ON
The store is split up into men’s and women’s areas, with two separate entrances. The women’s entrance at the corner of the store features a double-height atrium with a skylight and canopy of Concertina Shades by Raw Edges from the Louis Vuitton Objets Nomades collection which hangs over the top. The men’s entrance at the south end of the store facing into the mall features a sweeping wooden ceiling leading into the more masculine space. The men’s and women’s sections are separated by a retail space including the ‘travel room’ which is decorated with a luggage-tag wall in locally inspired colours, as well as a watches and jewelry display featuring a backlit mesh screen.
Columns throughout the store are wrapped in emblematic Louis Vuitton leathers with stitching, while floors are finished in limestone and oak wood.
Local artists created pieces for the new store. Canadian artist Rebecca Bayer created a bespoke ceramic tile art piece, with wall art inspired by Toronto-based street artist BirdO. Sculptural tables were created by Floris Wubben, rounded chairs were created by Pierre Paulin, petrified wood tables were designed by Andrianna Shamaris, and a display table was created by Carlo Mollino, and seating from the House’s archival collection.
LOUIS VUITTON FLAGSHIP FACADE LIT UP IN AN ARRAY OF COLOURS CREATED BY LED SCREEN. PHOTOS: MICH...
1 of 3
Louis Vuitton Yorkdale - Toronto, ON
Louis Vuitton Yorkdale - Toronto. Image by Michael Muraz
Louis Vuitton Yorkdale - Toronto, ON
A large sculpture of cherries by Japanese artist and Louis Vuitton collaborator Takashi Murakami serves as a whimsical centerpiece, while a Tiles La Samaritaine art piece adorns the space as well. Seating in the store is from Louis Vuitton’s archival collection.
Toronto-based dkstudio designed the Yorkdale Louis Vuitton store.
OTHER RETAILERS MOVED TO MAKE ROOM FOR LOUIS VUITTON AT YORKDALE
To make room for Louis Vuitton, retailers at Yorkdale such as Tumi, Spring, and Indochino relocated while Thomas Sabo shut its Yorkdale store several months ago. Italian luxury brand Mr. and Mrs. Italy is located next door, and across from the new Louis Vuitton is Ladurée, Sephora, and Zara. Other nearby luxury retailers include Saint Laurent and Richemont Group’s clustering of jewellery and watch brands. The hall southward, toward the recently opened Furla store, will also be positioned to house luxury retailers, according to sources at Yorkdale’s landlord Oxford Properties. Already, hoarding is up for Canada’s first standalone Thom Browne store and an Italian brand will soon be announced for the space next to Louis Vuitton’s men’s entryway. Recently the former Links of London space across from the new Louis Vuitton was leased to a luxury beauty and fragrance brand which will open its first Canadian storefront next year.
RED ARROW INDICATES THE LOCATION OF LOUIS VUITTON FLAGSHIP IN YORKDALE
Louis Vuitton has operated a 4,000-square-foot concession at Yorkdale’s Holt Renfrew store for about a decade, and the boutique will remain open. Sources say that the Yorkdale Holt Renfrew Louis Vuitton concession was the highest-selling Louis Vuitton location in Canada last year with sales “well above $40 million a year”, outperforming larger standalone Louis Vuitton ‘Maisons’ on Bloor Street in downtown Toronto as well as on Burrard Street in downtown Vancouver. Holt Renfrew will likely see less revenue in 2020 and 2021 at Yorkdale given the expansive assortment in the standalone unit in the mall — part of Holt Renfrew’s business model is to provide leased space to luxury brands while collecting a percentage of sales as rent.
LOUIS VUITTON YORKDALE FLAGSHIP WOMEN’S ENTRANCE. PHOTO: MICHAEL MURAZ
LOUIS VUITTON YORKDALE FLAGSHIP WOMEN’S AREA. PHOTO: MICHAEL MURAZ
CHANGING ROOM. PHOTO: MICHAEL MURAZ
CHANGING ROOM. PHOTO: MICHAEL MURAZ
Louis Vuitton also recently made a major investments in Vancouver where it operates a 10,000-square-foot ‘Maison’ flagship at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver facing onto Burrard Street. At the nearby Holt Renfrew store, Louis Vuitton expanded the men’s concession to house ready-to-wear clothing as well as footwear, bags, and accessories. A women’s ready-to-wear boutique was added on the third floor of Vancouver’s Holt Renfrew store several months ago — both are firsts for Canada for Louis Vuitton and Holt Renfrew. A Vuitton bag and accessory concession on the main level luxury hall at Holts is also quite large and last year was said to sell more bags than the standalone Vuitton flagship with a 730 Burrard Street address.
In Montreal, Louis Vuitton opened a replacement store at Holt Renfrew Ogilvy in the spring. The concession is located in a corner space on the main floor of Holt Renfrew Ogilvy, facing both Ste-Catherine Street West as well as Rue de la Montagne. In Toronto, Louis Vuitton opened a 2,650-square-foot accessory concession on the main level of Holt Renfrew’s 50 Bloor Street West store in November of 2018, replacing a smaller location nearby within the flagship store. It was part of an overhaul of the main floor of Holts, which has become something of a luxury brand mall with several significant luxury boutiques operating within. Nearby at 150 Bloor Street West, Louis Vuitton operates an 18,000-square-foot ‘Maison’ which spans two levels.
Louis Vuitton once operated a 2,500-square-foot boutique at the Cascade Plaza shopping centre in downtown Banff, Alberta. The boutique opened in 1996 and closed in May 2011.
Louis Vuitton is one of the world’s top-selling luxury brands, with sales well surpassing $10 billion annually. Top rivals include Chanel and Gucci, with Hermes also seeing billions of dollars a year in sales. At least one more standalone Louis Vuitton store is said to be coming to a major Canadian city and we’ll update readers when more details are available.
EXTERIOR OF HAMMAM SPA ON THE CORNER OF KING STREET AND PORTLAND STREET, DOWNTOWN TORONTO.
Less than a year after adding a brand-new 13,000-square-foot location to its lineup, Hammam Spa has renovated its original King Street West location.
Despite the recent COVID-19 closures, Hammam Spa went ahead with its scheduled refurbishments — totally overhauling the King and Portland hotspot.
The 7,000-square-foot spa has been in business for almost 15 years and, pre-COVID, serviced roughly 900 guests a week. The spa sits just below ground level on the busy downtown Toronto corner. Upon entering, you are greeted with a staircase that leads you down to the front desk and the spa retail offerings. The area is warm and cozy — a not-so-subtle hint for what’s to come.
Hammam Spa is designed to be a modern interpretation of traditional Turkish bath. It seamlessly transports you to Eastern Europe with soft music, aromatic smells, a cozy tea room (with treats such as baklava, Turkish delight, and dried fruit), and full-service, Turkish-inspired treatments. Guests are given robes and sandals to enjoy while they spend time relaxing in the various parts of the spa. Under normal circumstances the steam room would be available, however, due to COVID-19, it is closed temporarily.
1 of 6
RECEPTION ENTRY AND RETAIL OFFERINGS IN NEWLY-RENOVATED KING STREET HAMMAM SPA. PHOTO: HAMMAM SPA
MANICURE STATION AT NEWLY-RENOVATED KING STREET HAMMAM SPA. PHOTO: HAMMAM SPA
TURKISH BATH SUITE AT NEWLY-RENOVATED KING STREET HAMMAM SPA. PHOTO: HAMMAM SPA
COUPLES MASSAGE ROOM WITH BATH AT NEWLY-RENOVATED KING STREET HAMMAM SPA. PHOTO: HAMMAM SPA
BATHROOM DECOR AT NEWLY-RENOVATED KING STREET HAMMAM SPA. PHOTO: HAMMAM SPA
CHANGING ROOMS AT NEWLY-RENOVATED KING STREET HAMMAM SPA. PHOTO: HAMMAM SPA
Hammam’s website invites you to “discover a place where ancient traditions create a modern retreat, where nature’s beauty works in harmony with your own, and where renewal and growth are elementary”. Hammam is designed to host and indulge guests in a range of transformative treatments inspired by age-old rituals, with services ranging from intensive facials — many of which use the SkinCeutical skincare line — to luxury massages, high-end manicures and pedicures, a variety of detoxifying wraps, and lavish Turkish baths.
Hammam uses its own, in-house brand, Céla, in many of its treatments. Céla — which launched in 2017 — was born of Hammam Founder, Celine Tadrissi’s, love of skincare and natural ingredients. Céla came to be in the back room of the King Street spa and was largely a product of trial and error — created with Hammam clients in mind and perfected due to their feedback. “I played around with ingredients and guests would give me feedback on the different concoctions. Finally I developed the perfect blend of ingredients to service my clients’ needs,” says Tadrissi. The range of oils, creams, and scrubs pays homage to Canada and the extensive abundance of northern botanicals housed within its borders. Today Céla is available for purchase in both Hammam locations.
In addition to Hammam’s traditional services, the newly renovated King Street location will be offering its full Hammam Medical Aesthetics menu. In partnership with SkinCeuticals, Hammam will offer medical-grade facials, potent chemical peels, and injectable options, all with the gilded polish that has become synonymous with Hammam Spa.
RANGE OF CÉLA PRODUCTS. PHOTO: CÉLA
The Hammam tea room provides an opportunity for the relaxation to perpetuate after a treatment. Designed with hand-painted murals on the walls and intricate wooden bucket chairs that envelop you as you sit, Hammam’s tea room is always stocked with tea and Turkish treats. The colour palette of deep greens, navy blues, greys, and burnt oranges create a tranquil space to lounge in. Hammam’s tea room was created to provide a space for people to rest either before or after their treatment and it is the perfect space for silent reflection or group interaction, says Tadrissi.
The space — similarly to Hammam Spa in Bayview Village — was designed by Antonio Tadrissi, Celine’s husband and the President of Prototype Design Lab. Antonio is an internationally celebrated artist, recognized for his work in architecture, interior design, and industrial designs. Prototype Design Lab is a multi-platform design studio and workshop based in Toronto.
Hammam has navigated the COVID-19 pandemic to the best of its ability and was more than ready to be reunited with clients once Ontario spas were allowed to reopen to the public. With all mandated rules and regulations being followed diligently within the spa, Hammam is a safe space for those who wish to relieve some of the inevitable 2020 stress.
