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‘Localized’ Ecommerce Marketplace Launches in Canada with Ambitious Expansion Plans

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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A Calgary startup is connecting online shoppers to local products through a free-ecommerce marketplace to support local businesses during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new Local Shops platform has ambitions to expand in the future across North America.

“Search-engine results are dominated by global companies, so local suppliers of quality goods are crowded out of the marketplace,” said Ryan Corry, founder of Local Shops. “We want to change that.

RYAN CORRY. PHOTO: LINKEDIN

“COVID-19 has presented many challenges for businesses and simply getting online is not a cure-all solution. Right now, it’s easier to buy on Amazon than to source products locally.

“It’s a great time for this type of platform so we can really amplify the local businesses that are online and bricks and mortar within the community and just make it easy for consumers to find and support them.”

Local Shops is an online marketplace, which uses location-based technology to show shoppers products that can be found within their city. Consumers can easily discover and purchase local products, supporting area businesses and keeping money in the community.

“I’ve experienced the whole online boost of shopping and I’ve seen how many people are spending money from outside of Calgary and also how many people in Calgary are spending money outside of our jurisdiction as well,” said Corry.

“So the idea came to aggregate all of the local product listings in one place. Leverage the Shopify platform which so many people already use to pull the product listings and do that for every other e-commerce solution that’s available really. That way people can filter by their location. They can find all the same sorts of products you would find on Amazon or Walmart, if not better. And spend your money within your own community.

“I’ve already gone through the database of Shopify users in Calgary and Edmonton and other major cities and it’s unbelievable to see the diversity of products, and these are all the same types of things we’re buying on the worldwide web. By creating this environment, we’re also creating a competitive advantage back for local businesses. The same advantage they had for bricks and mortar when you’re a main street business in the 1950s. But with the creation of the worldwide web there’s no more competitive advantage anymore. Now the advantage is cash flow, SEO experts, and the size of your team, general relevance and the size of your advertising budget. So all of these small businesses who are online have to compete with these giants for first page of listings and it’s a total unfair environment to be successful locally and it takes years and years of hard work until your store finally generates that organic traffic.”

Corry said with Local Shops it’s a great opportunity for people getting into the online world for the first time, have that immediate engagement, start to make sales, and not have to worry about the painstaking task of being visible through Google.

Corry works in the tech industry and founded one of Canada’s largest onesie companies, UNI-Chillwear. Co-founder Serene Yew is the Technical Director at Pixeltree, an innovative Calgary tech firm.

SERENE YEW. PHOTO: LINKEDIN

“There’s been 146 per cent growth in online orders since April 21, with much of that revenue leaving our province,” said Yew. “Local Shops will change that, making it easy to find local goods and deliver them even faster.”

Local Shops features no sign-up fee for businesses and they can start selling their products within minutes. Local Shops has partnered with Shopify to enable product imports for merchants. Businesses who are not online, can upload their products directly to the marketplace.

“We’ve got an amazing opportunity at our hands here. We’re going to be working with another tech company and we’re leveraging their API (application programming interface) for on-demand delivery. That will be available in the U.S. first and Canada in 2021,” said Corry. “So the same way you’re able to order food through Skip the Dishes we’ll have that same sort of environment for local consumer goods. That will be a first of its kind type of environment and one we’re most excited about.

“And then we’re scaling to every major city. We’ll have a presence in every major city in Canada by the end of this month and also a presence in the U.S. I fully expect to be in all major cities within the year. An ambitious strategy.”

YOUTH MediSpa Opens its Doors in Toronto’s Historic Corktown

By
Jessica Finch
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YOUTH MediSpa Front Entrance at 79 Berkeley Street

YOUTH MediSpa has officially opened its doors in Toronto’s Corktown neighbourhood after a delayed opening due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Located at at 79 Berkeley Street, YOUTH positions itself as a luxe medispa “blending incomparable service with understated luxury” and promising a “modern twist on the traditional clinical medispa model,” according to its website.

The typical lineup of medispa treatments, such as dermal fillers, botox, facials, and a variety of exfoliant peels, are all available at YOUTH. However Toronto’s newest beauty and wellness hotspot has also broadened its profile to meet more specific needs.

As the world becomes increasingly nipped and tucked, and cosmetic technology advances, YOUTH is keeping up. A major attraction to the spa for many is its Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy. Perhaps the most advanced treatment on the menu at YOUTH — and cutting edge in the field of cosmetic medicine — Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, with its innovative and technical synthesis, has been able to naturally mimic the pre-existing hormones within both the male and female body — replacing or replenishing hormones that our bodies stop producing as we age or our health becomes compromised. For women, BHRT can help to deliver natural hormone solutions, especially in clients who are pre-menopausal or currently going through menopause.

Additionally, women who have PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome), Adrenal and Thyroid disorders, who are insulin resistant, and who experience osteoporosis or fibromyalgia can benefit tremendously from Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy. For men BHRT is just as effective in naturally restoring their testosterone levels in order to regain a healthy lifestyle, and reduce or eliminate issues such as hair thinning, breast tissue development, rapid weight gain, mood swings, hot flashes, insomnia, and erectile dysfunction.

YOUTH MediSpa Interior
YOUTH MEDISPA LOBBY AND STAIRS LEADING TO LOWER LEVEL. PHOTO: YOUTH
YOUTH MEDISPA LOBBY. PHOTO: YOUTH

Committed to providing comprehensive care, YOUTH is managed by a thoughtful and highly-skilled team of healthcare professionals with over 40 years of experience. Albeit small in number, each team member is an expert in their field, including renowned Plastic Surgeon Clinic Consultant Dr. Peter Bray. Dedicated to delivering care and support during all phases of client experience and interaction, YOUTH’s service offerings cater to the individual who desires a dynamic and customized cosmetic care under the supervision of a qualified medical professional.

“YOUTH is a celebration of life and as such, has been created to empower people at every stage of life, said Michelle Mag-Iba, Partner and Clinic Director, YOUTH MediSpa. “We are so happy that Toronto has embraced our vision, and we invite prospective clients of all age groups, gender identities, races, and ethnicities to enjoy a complimentary consultation. We’re incredibly blessed to be able to help people discover the very best version of themselves.”

The lower east side medispa includes nine treatment rooms across 3,100 square feet and three floors in a beautiful building located right on the corner of Berkeley and Adelaide. With each room carefully designed and fitted to serve a specific treatment — and fully equipped with state-of-the-art technology — YOUTH is meticulous in ensuring every patient's needs are met in a comfortable and convenient manner. The space was designed by renowned hospitality and retail design firm 1982 Design, and ambient lighting, minimalist decor, and walls filled with contemporary art make for a modern and welcoming environment.

In a city where new spa, salon, and medispa concepts open frequently, it appears that the range of services is ever-evolving and staying competitive means staying ahead of the trends. With men’s hair restoration therapy, IPL therapy, vaginal rejuvenation, and Platelet Rich Plasma treatments also available at YOUTH Medispa, it’s plain to see that YOUTH has approached the Toronto medispa landscape with guns blazing.   Since reopening after the COVID-19 shutdowns, YOUTH has enjoyed great success. “We’ve been really busy since opening a few weeks ago,” said Mag-Iba, “people in the neighbourhood are so excited. It’s a great community for YOUTH to start its journey in.”

Even COVID-19 regulations and mandates haven't slowed YOUTH down, as the medispa quickly rejigged its ground-floor layout to allow for guests to enter through one door and exit through another at the opposite end of the building once it was given the go-ahead to reopen its doors. “We’ve been very thorough in ensuring people feel comfortable and safe at YOUTH. All staff wear masks and have their temperatures taken daily. We think we’ve done a really great job at adapting to the circumstances and our clients seems really happy.”

Three things are evident from YOUTH’s growing success amid a global pandemic. Firstly, if done correctly and thoughtfully, a business can prosper despite the current economic climate. Secondly, for the right price, it is possible to enhance almost every inch of our bodies — even down to our molecules. And lastly, no matter the state of the world, Torontonians still want to look and feel their best.

The Emotional Connection of Grocery Shopping for Canadians

By
Retail Insider
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PHOTO BY ANDREA PIACQUADIO FROM PEXELS

By Nicholas Reichenbach

As people who “consume”, we have an emotional connection or at least an emotional reaction to the concept of shopping in a store or even buying online, something we want or need. We are, after all, people conditioned to consume. It’s the nature of capitalism: that we purchase products we like or need, produced by others, and keep the economy chugging along.

Not being able to patronize some of our daily shopping experiences, while in COVID lockdown, has had effects on our emotional connection to the act of consumption, that may or may not be immediately apparent, but have resonance.

Pre-COVID-19, the sentiments we associated with grocery shopping were wide-ranging: a trip to the grocery store could feel like a chore. Shopping for meat or fish could lead to a feeling of inspiration to cook something new. Strolling down the natural foods or international foods aisle could be a treasure hunt and bring joy or surprise. Finding that a favorite fruit or vegetable is in season can lead to elation when you find them at the earlier than expected.

But during COVID, shopping for so many became a dreaded, emotionally-charged experience focused on personal safety and speed. Then for some, it evolved into a lesson in compassion: seeing the anxious grocery employees deal with also anxious and sometimes angry and frustrated shoppers. Seeing these store employees risking exposure every day to help us buy food, made many of us realize it wasn’t just about filling our carts in the least amount of time possible.

But we’re now heading back to some level of normalcy when it comes to shopping for food and household necessities. And we can properly evaluate our emotional and psychological connection to that shopping experience.

What changed for us because of the shopping dynamic? What changed for good, and what will continue to change? Here are some things I hope we as consumers, manufacturers, marketers – really, people – will remember.

The value of the grocery store treasure hunt. During COVID, our urgency to get in and out of the grocery store, or us sending a proxy to shop via services like Instacart, changed our relationship with the “treasure hunt.” Even the most utilitarian of grocery stores cater to the treasure hunt, whether it’s the introduction of new products or a suggestion from someone at the fish counter that some fresh fish just arrived. We enjoy the hunt because it appeals to our curiosity and sense of discovery. Even if we spend less time in the grocery store because we’re having groceries delivered, or buy certain products through a brand’s website or Amazon, we need to remain curious about all the new items in the grocery store. It’s educational, of course, but also a point of human connection when we share something we discovered and like, with someone else in our lives. It’s how the demand for a product is created and how brands are built.

Finding the positive in new shopping habits formed during COVID. For some, the idea of a stranger selecting their fruits and vegetables became the norm. I have a friend who swears by farmers’ markets and insists on selecting all of her fruits and vegetables by hand. And during COVID, she placed that responsibility into the hands of strangers and realized that what they selected versus what she might select, were barely indistinguishable. And at the heart of that, is trust. Feeling you can trust an anonymous service provider found through an app, to make sure that fresh, beautiful food arrives for you or your family, is a great feeling that can feed positivity.

The importance, for brands, communicating to consumers with all of our packaging. I’m not talking about nutrition facts and boldly-colored messages of lower calories. I’m talking about messages of positivity and optimism, shared in subtle ways, that help manufacturers connect to consumers over time, on an emotional level. For Flow Alkaline Spring Water, our multipack waters include simple messages like “Time to Shine.” When we designed the boxes, we did so because we wanted to charm our consumers in a tiny way. And during COVID, when our direct-to-consumer business spiked, we found that a simple message was as connective as any expensive marketing campaign we’ve run. It’s so easy to give someone a little smile when they take your product home or open the delivery box. And we realized, not enough brands send a simple, happy or positive message on their packaging. It’s a small detail that makes a big difference for a newly engaged consumer who has been revisiting their brand choices this past summer.

Nicholas Reichenbach

Nicholas Reichenbach is the founder and CEO of Flow, a sustainably packaged spring water company.

A seasoned executive & serial start-up, investor and consumer product entrepreneur, Nicholas has built a robust track record, founding, creating and building multiple businesses in the consumer goods, social media, internet/mobile technology, entertainment and hospitality space; Flow ( a socially responsible water company), Mindfull INC (an organic Food & Beverage company), Rabbit (a leading social video chat platform venture-backed by Google Ventures, CrunchFund and other leading VCs), GuestDriven (a leading start-up in hospitality/hotel SaaS with clients such as Thompson, Hyatt & Intercontinental), Magmic Games (Voted top 10 mobile social game & app publisher having produced over 300 games from Guitar Hero mobile to NewYork Times Crosswords) and Bplay( One of the largest mobile smart phone direct-to-consumer mobile content storefront that powered At&t, Verizon (Alltel), U.S. Cellular, Rogers Wireless and R.I.M Blackberrys, worldwide).  Now with Flow, Nicholas has disrupted the water category by building a sustainable product in eco-paperboard package, built on the power of mindful positivity.

Earlier in his career, Nicholas produced music concerts across North America, founded one of the first ringtone publishing companies and invested and co-founded numerous startup’s in disruptive new media & mobile technologies in US, UK, Sweden and Canada. 

Ray-Ban Opens 1st Standalone Store in Canada

By
Craig Patterson
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Entrance of new Ray-Ban store in CF Toronto Eaton Centre. Photo: Craig Patterson

Upscale sunglasses and eyewear brand Ray-Ban has opened its first standalone storefront in Canada at CF Toronto Eaton Centre in downtown Toronto. It marks a milestone for Ray-Ban which for years has been distributed in other retailers in Canada, and is one of a handful of international brands that will have entered the Canadian market by opening standalone stores in 2020.

CF TORONTO EATON CENTRE LOCATION IS CANADA’S FIRST STANDALONE RAY-BAN STORE

The CF Toronto Eaton Centre Ray-Ban store is located on the mall’s second level in a retail space measuring just over 650 square feet. The store features Ray-Ban’s signature red signage as well as a branded interior housing hundreds of pairs of sunglasses and frames. The new store is located between storefronts for Laline and Johnson & Murphy, across from the mall’s Aritiza store.

Until last week, Ray-Ban was only carried in Canada at multi-brand retailers. That includes Sunglass Hut, Hakim Optical, Sport Chek, Pearle Vision, LenseCrafters, and other chains — not to mention a wide range of independent retailers specializing in optical goods. Ray-Ban’s direct-to-consumer move into standalone stores as well as a transactional Canadian website is a trend being seen by many other brands, some of which are pulling out of multi-brand retailers to open corporate stores.

At the same time, given the limited number of corporate standalone Ray-Ban stores in the United States, multi-brand retailers are likely to be an important sales channel for Ray-Ban for years to come.

CLICK IMAGE FOR INTERACTIVE CF TORONTO EATON CENTRE FLOOR PLAN

More Ray-Ban stores could open in Canada. A store representative said that the CF Toronto Eaton Centre location would be a test store for the brand. A consistent flow of customers despite the COVID-19 pandemic is an indication that the standalone store model could be a success for Ray-Ban in Canada. In the United States, Ray-Ban operates standalone stores in major cities in a mix of malls and street-front locations.

Ray-Ban is headquartered in Milan Italy, though it was founded in the United States. In 1929, US Army Air Corps Colonel John A. Macready worked with Rochester NY-based medical equipment manufacturer Bausch & Lomb to create aviation sunglasses optimized for pilots. In 1936, anti-glare lenses were introduced and in 1938, the company created impact-resistant lenses which were redesigned with metal frames for the patented Ray-Ban Aviator. Other styles were released in subsequent decades including the ‘Olympian’ which was worn by Peter Fonda in the 1969 film Easy Rider. In 1999, Milan-based Luxottica Group acquired Bausch & Lomb’s Global Eyewear Division for US$640 million.

Over the past five years, Canada saw a record number of international brands enter the market by opening retail stores. Between 2017 and 2019, more than 110 brands opened their first stores in Canada. This year will see the fewest of any year in recent memory due to the COVID-19 pandemic, though we’re aware of several more that we’ll be announcing in the coming weeks.

Off-White Opens Unique Vancouver Pop-Up [Photos]

By
Helen Siwak
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EXTERIOR OF VANCOUVER OFF-WHITE POP-UP. PHOTO: OFF-WHITE

Luxury shopping aficionados are elated that Holt Renfrew has relaunched pop-up shop installations on the walkway between CF Pacific Centre and the third floor of Holt Renfrew in Vancouver. Kicking-off in the 2,000-square-foot space is an exclusive Off-White c/o Virgil Abloh pop-up that is sure to bring shoppers back downtown.

The Vancouver Capsule collection opened to the public this month and will be gone by October 1st. The exclusive collection is presented in a re-designed space that aims to embrace “sophisticated, modernity” using fixtures comprised of materials such as welded mesh and white osb – complemented by fuchsia metals, fluffy baby blue seating, and sprawling logo carpet.

The corridor is a continuous sequence of different materials and designs – large-scale windows are (in true Virgil Abloh style) dominated by a huge Off-White neon logo.

The Vancouver Capsule Collection runs the gamut of west coast casual chic and includes classic hoodies, tees, denim, and jackets. Accessories include logo beanies, a Jitney bag, and a shoulder bag but with special edition baby blue, black and metallic silver print colourways that embrace Off-White’s classic logo.

The Vancouver pop-up is a partnership with local luxury streetwear retailer Feuille, which operates a standalone store across from Holt Renfrew at 565 Howe Street.

Established in 2013, the Off-White label has not been without controversy as it continues to seek to define the grey area between black and white as a colour, often with Abloh’s controversial ‘3% Design Rule’ bringing him to legal loggerheads with other designers and his fans. Most recently, the Abloh designed Louis Vuitton Spring 2021 Collection and the Marc Jacobs/Van Beirendonck ‘reference’ may bring the largest legal challenge to date.

  • OFF-WHITE SHOE DISPLAY AT VANCOUVER POP-UP. PHOTO: OFF-WHITE
  • OFF-WHITE SHOE DISPLAY AT VANCOUVER POP-UP. PHOTO: OFF-WHITE

Off-White in Vancouver

The Off-White store in Vancouver launched in an obscure location in the laneway between the 1000 blocks of Alberni and Robson Street in April 2018. An ambitious undertaking that spans an impressive 4,300-square-feet over two floors.

The unique site was chosen by Off-White’s founder and creative director, Abloh, for its proximity to wealthy shoppers and the presence of youth culture. The interiors are spacious with the design executed by Vancouver-based design firm Cutler.

Off-White in Toronto

North America’s first Off-White store opened in Toronto in early 2017, measuring about 2,400-square-feet on a single level at 83 Yorkville Avenue. That boutique is part of a partnership with local multi-brand retailer CNTRBND which will soon be announcing another Toronto storefront.

Cherre and Spacelist Announce Partnership to Integrate Commercial Real Estate Listing Data into Real Estate Data Platform

By
Retail Insider
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This partnership will enable mutual customers to easily connect CRE listing data across the U.S. and Canada with other key real estate datasets for strategic decision making

 Cherre, the award winning real estate data management platform, today announced a new data partnership with Spacelist, the leading commercial real estate listing platform in Canada. By joining Cherre’s growing partner network, mutual customers will be able to easily connect Spacelist’s real-time listing data with other important real estate datasets to support analysis and decisions around properties and markets under consideration.

Spacelist is a free platform for real estate professionals and prospective tenants to search billions of available square feet. Spacelist also provides comprehensive listing data for all asset types, including listings coming on and off the market, across the US and Canada.

“We see tremendous value in combining our robust market data with other relevant datasets to which Cherre’s clients have access,” said Steven Jaffe, CEO of Spacelist. “Whether they’re integrating public or private data with Spacelist’s, there’s massive opportunities to gain actionable insights from additional visibility into united datasets.”

Cherre seamlessly connects disparate real estate data into a single-source of truth, empowering companies to instantly explore all their connected data. Cherre has the largest real estate knowledge graph in the world and enables customers to uncover granular insights, automate workflows, and build models and visualizations.

“Commercial real estate listings and market fundamentals are important indicators in determining trends and demand for real estate,” said L.D. Salmanson, CEO of Cherre. “This partnership will make it easier for our mutual customers to include Spacelist’s dynamic listings content into their proprietary data lake for a full picture of market activity and strategic decision making.”

About Spacelist
Founded in 2012, Spacelist’s mission is to make commercial real estate more accessible and efficient. Spacelist brings all of Canada’s and the US’s commercial real estate listings together in one place, making it easier than ever to find great space for your business. For more information, please visit: spacelist.co.

About Cherre
Cherre is the leader in real estate data and insight. We connect decision makers to accurate property and market information, and help them make faster, smarter decisions. By providing a unique “single source of truth,” Cherre empowers customers to evaluate opportunities and trends faster and more accurately, while saving millions of dollars in manual data collection and analytics costs. Cherre launched in 2016 and is located in New York City.

Luxury Careers Spotlight: Meet the Manager, Cartier Bloor Street in Toronto

By
Retail Insider
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EXTERIOR VIEW OF CARTIER ON BLOOR STREET WEST, TORONTO. PHOTO: GOOGLE

Retail Insider and Luxury Careers Canada

French luxury brand Cartier has operated on Toronto’s prestigious ‘Mink Mile’ for decades, and currently operates a beautiful storefront in The Colonnade at 131 Bloor Street West. Store manager Ryan Kenny spoke to Retail Insider and answered a few questions below.

Cartier is currently hiring for a Seasonal Sales Associate position and for more information, contact Suzanne Sears at Luxury Careers Canada. Luxury Careers Canada recently launched as part of Best Retail Careers International Inc. Employers can submit their jobs here.

RI: How did you get attracted to retail as a career?

RK: I began my retail career in a small rural Ontario farming town at the age of 15. At the time I did not expect retail to guide my college experience and to offer so many incredible life experiences. The people I met stimulated my personal growth and eventually I decided I wanted to be that person for others. I really enjoy the human aspect of retail, the getting to know people and sharing in celebrations. It has always been a passion of mine.

RI: You have been with Cartier over eight years. What is it about this brand that inspired you to spend so much of your career with them?

RK: Great question! I will credit Cartier for taking a chance on me however, I own my personal development. This is a company that has encouraged me to follow the path I wanted to take within the brand and respected that I had many interests (and many more to come). The inspiration is within, you have to make your own path. Cartier has encouraged me and pushed me to challenge myself and for this I am grateful. You’ve heard the quote “people leave leaders, not companies”, this is very true in my experience. I have had the incredible opportunity to have multiple mentors and have felt supported through my journey.

RYAN KENNY

RI: When did you arrive at Cartier on Bloor Street? What are the unique challenges of working on Bloor Street vs a mall setting?

RK: I actually began my career with Cartier on Bloor Street close to 9 years ago. I trained with some amazing people before opening the Yorkdale boutique shortly after. From Yorkdale my career as a Retail Coach began and I supported multiple US and Canadian boutique leaders. My career eventually landed me in NYC as the Cartier Learning & Development Manager.

I believe that all challenges are great opportunities. In retail it’s a constant dance regardless of a mall or street setting. We all have unique challenges.

RI: What do you think Bloor Street retailers need to do to best recover from their COVID losses of foot traffic?

RK: The appointment setting that we are now offering has been very well received by our clients. It’s allowing us to support them in the best way possible while we navigate through these new times. I want to work in a happy and fun environment and that’s the experience I want for my guests. It’s not easy right now, we all have to be flexible when we can and keep the client and cleanliness top of mind at all times.

RI: You have a strong background in Learning and Development with Cartier, a sector many retailers dropped in the last few years. What advice do you have for retailers who are faced with retraining staff post COVID?

RK: I was fortunate to move to New York City and support so many incredible initiatives with Cartier, from The Mansion opening to press tours, to building High Jewelry trainings. I believe the L&D roles are even more vital now than in the past. Retail has changed, shopping trends are changing dramatically, this category is essential to help guide brands through change because change is hard. My advice would be to listen to your people, one person can do anything just not everything. The people you employ have ideas, they come from different backgrounds, and as active citizens in your boutique they should have a voice. We really are all in this together. 

LUXURY CAREERS CANADA

RI: What makes you successful with one of the world's foremost brands? What advice do you have for younger retailers who aspire to work with Cartier? Why should candidates consider a career with Cartier?

Genuine curiosity and a desire to learn has been the key to my success. I have a keen interest in Cartier, I am curious about the brand history and how to make every day processes and experiences better and I’m not shy to voice my opinion. In this arena you have to be intrigued by people, Cartier is for me, is a people first environment both internally and externally, I am very much aligned with this philosophy.

My advice for those aspiring to work with Cartier, you have to have passion – people FEEL your passion, it resonates with those around you, but it has to start with you.

Cartier has growth opportunities, and a commitment to training and education. It is a brand with deeply-rooted history and is constantly evolving.

For employers looking to work with Luxury Careers Canada, contact Suzanne Sears at Luxury Careers Canada (best-retail-jobs@live.ca) or Craig Patterson at Retail Insider (craig@retail-insider.com).

Position Title:  Seasonal Sales Associate, Cartier

The story of Cartier is founded on audacity and passion. For more than 170 years we have embraced a bold, pioneering spirit that continues to inspire our teams across all Métiers from our boutiques to our workshops and corporate offices. Our 7,500+ colleagues of 90 nationalities are united by a shared independent spirit and commitment to excellence, striving to continuously enrich our Maisons heritage by pushing the boundaries of creativity. 

OUR MISSION

As an Ambassador of the Maison, the Seasonal Sales Associate assists with sales during the holiday season and achieves and exceeds sales targets as directed by management.  He/she ensures a unique client experience throughout all touch points.  He/she is also an active participant in the daily operations of the boutique.  

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Sales Achievement:

·       Provide sales support to the boutique during the holiday season

·       Achieve and/or exceed the monthly sales target, as directed by management.

·       Ensure that each client receives outstanding and exceptional customer service by providing a friendly environment which includes greeting and acknowledging every customer, maintaining outstanding standards, solid product knowledge and all other components of Customer Service before, during and after sales client

·       This includes after sales clients if a Cartier after-sales dedicated area/staff is not available

·       Adapt approach according to the client needs and motivations

·       Negotiate and handle objections with ease

·       Assist and support after sales clients in accordance with Maison values.  Act as a referent and provide recommendations that will provide an exceptional client experience

Client Relationship Management:

·       Consistently and accurately capture client data for follow-up and relationship building, effectively utilizing the tools that are available

·       Appropriately resolve client issues/concerns and escalate as needed to Management

·       Partner with Management to develop a plan to support, and participate in in-store and offsite events and networking 

Daily Boutique Operations:

·       Understand and comply with all security and operational policies and procedures for the Group, Maison and boutique

·       Assist with daily set-up and breakdown of the boutique, and communicate on any maintenance issues

·       Assist in the merchandising and daily maintenance of displays and back-stock

·       Actively participate in daily and annual inventories and cycle counts to prepare and ensure a successful audit   

·       Assist with special projects, as needed (i.e. price changes, supporting back office responsibilities, etc.)

JOB PROFILE

Education:

·       College degree preferred

Required Experience:

·       2 to 5 years of previous experience in luxury retail, service or hospitality environment

Technical Skills:

·       Ability to work in a fast-paced retail store environment

·       Computer and internet Savvy

·       MS Office experience required, SAP knowledge preferred

Personal Skills/Abilities:

·       Additional language skills are a plus

·       Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are required

·       Strong understanding of Customer Service needs and Customer (internal and external) priorities

·       Strong attention to detail with the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and with precision

·       Being a genuine Maison Ambassador

·       Uphold Cartier image by maintaining professional demeanor at all times and be an Ambassador for the Brand

·       Self-Starter with Team-Player approach

·       Must be available to work retail hours including weekends

Don’t Want to Save the Restaurant Industry? Fine, but Use it to Save the Canadian Economy

By
Sylvain Charlebois
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CHEF WORKS IN RESTAURANT KITCHEN WITH OPEN WOOD FIRE BEHIND HIM

So far, up to 25% of restaurants in the country have now closed for the season and perhaps for good. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce expects 60% of restaurants to close permanently by November. Even if such a forecast may be a little excessive, as the lazy, hazy days of summer end, fear of failure for many establishments is surging.

60% OF RESTAURANTS FORECASTED TO CLOSE BY NOVEMBER DUE TO COVID-19

According to Statistics Canada and other reports, revenues across the industry are at about 65% of what they were pre-COVID. Numbers are showing how resilient some of our operators are. Many have found ways to bring some great innovative food to our doors in lieu of just waiting for us to show up. Since June though, many of us have showed up, but the Fall is now upon us. In other words, patio season is almost over this year in many parts of the country. Most would have noticed how patios expanded throughout our towns and cities. Cities allowed for more flexibility, including parking lots, sidewalks, and streets. Chances are, in weeks to come, we will see more patio heaters keeping patrons warm as operators try to extend the busy season the best they can. Unfortunately, that can only go so far in Canada.

Many of us will have noticed how menus are offering fewer choices to visiting patrons, while prices have gone up in order to help operators make a half-empty restaurant profitable, or close to it. We are clearly seeing signs of a very weakened industry. In fact, over the last few months, many meals served in the industry were actually “sponsored” by Sysco Foods or Gordon Food Services, major hospitality suppliers. Many restaurants are taking 90 to 120 days to pay bills. That’s 4 months, a sign credit ratings are skydiving in the sector. At some point, vendors will pull the trigger and more will close. Based on some information received by credit bureaus, approximately two out of every five meals are currently paid within 90 days. Financial pressures are felt across the board.

SURVEY SHOWS MORE THAN 1/2 OF CANADIANS WILL RETURN TO RESTAURANTS AFTER SECOND WAVE

Fear of COVID-19 is certainly one factor keeping people away from the industry. According to a survey conducted in August, more than half of Canadians are planning to return to restaurants after a second wave. The economy itself will also be problematic. Many people’s professional situations have changed since the start of COVID-19. Recent labour data shows that the Canadian economy is still a million jobs short of February statistics, prior to COVID-19. However, the scariest statistic has to do with telecommuting. Almost a quarter of Canadians are currently working for an employer who is considering allowing more of their staff to work from home after the pandemic. We are already seeing how this shift can be devastating to downtown cores across the country. People are not coming into work as they prefer to stay home, and when we are home our behaviours toward food are very different.

Before the pandemic, approximately 38% of our food budget was dedicated to food consumed outside the home. We are likely at 25% right now, if not a little less. The bulk of our money is spent at the grocery store to get us busy in our own kitchens. And chances are, we are not going back to 38% any time soon. It will take years, not just months for things to return to ‘normal’. Ottawa’s reluctance and clear discomfort to use the hospitality industry as a means to get our economy back on a recovery path will only continue. By using restaurants and hotels as bait, incentivized consumers will buy more than just a meal or hotel stay. They will buy clothing, purchase furniture, and use more services to boost the overall economy. The best way to get an economy going again is to get to Canadians’ wallets by way of their stomachs. It’s as simple than that.

New Brunswick is helping its hospitality industry recover by providing an incentive to its citizens. The Explore NB Travel Incentive program was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to stimulate the tourism industry. It allows New Brunswickers to apply for a 20 per cent rebate on eligible expenses made while taking a vacation that includes a paid overnight stay in the province between July and September. The results appear to be quite compelling. Restaurants and hotels are busy, as they should be. This is a brilliant move to help support our tourism industry; however, neither the Federal government nor other provinces have pursued this economic stimulating program. For this coming Fall and harsh Winter ahead, the industry needs all the help it can get.

Hospitality has always been a challenging industry to work in. In the best of times, 80% of restaurants close within 5 years. COVID-19 has made things more trying for the sector. The bloodbath we are currently witnessing will only continue. To the disappointment of many customers, some great culinary institutions across our great land have made their closures very public in recent weeks. Everything from cherished local family restaurants to immigrant families who have created jobs and expanded Canadian cuisine are closing their doors after years and years of business. It is heartbreaking to see. It is quite unfortunate policymakers are not taking notice of the losses in a sector that plays an important role in our economy.

Luxury Brand FENDI Opens 2 Boutiques in Montreal [Photos]

By
Craig Patterson
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EXTERIOR OF NEW FENDI WOMEN’S BOUTIQUE IN HOLT RENFREW OGILVY. PHOTO: MAXIME FRECHETTE

Italian luxury fashion brand Fendi has opened two impressive boutique spaces at Holt Renfrew Ogilvy in Montreal. It’s part of an expansion for Fendi in Canada which has included several concession openings within Holt Renfrew stores.

FENDI’S ‘NEW CONCEPT’ WOMEN’S BOUTIQUE FEATURES LATEST STORE DESIGN

Last week, Fendi opened a ‘New Concept’ women’s boutique on the street level of Holt Renfrew Ogilvy at 1307 Ste-Catherine Street. The 672-square-foot boutique houses Fendi’s iconic bags, leather goods, and accessories in one area. An adjacent area in the concession house women’s ready-to-wear clothing and footwear.

The women’s boutique showcases the brand’s latest store design which includes a facade, columns, and diagonal flooring in Italian Arabescato Vagli marble which Fendi says was inspired by the architecture of Roman churches. Ivory-coloured leather shelves are suspended by tubular structures in champagne metal, while marmorino walls add further character to the space. A curved sofa in light blue velvet and a handmade carpet with a geometric pattern features nuances from green to lilac. Handmade 3D plaster wall accents feature a textured FF logo designed by the late Karl Lagerfeld who was the designer for Fendi from 1965 until his death last year. On Tuesday September 9, it was announced that British designer Kim Jones was hired by Fendi to replace Lagerfeld. Jones will design Fendi’s women’s couture collection, women’s ready-to-wear and furs.

Fendi joins 10 other luxury brand concessions on the main level luxury hall at Holt Renfrew Ogilvy including Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Chanel, Dior, Tiffany & Co., Saint Laurent, Gucci, Prada, David Yurman, and Bottega Veneta. Fendi is the final piece of the puzzle for the luxurious new street level of Holt Renfrew Ogilvy which is unlike any other store in Canada. The historic Ogilvy department store building was expanded to about 250,000 square feet over six levels and is directly connected to the new Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences, featuring the priciest hotel rooms and condominium residences in the city.

FENDI UNVEILED READY-TO-WEAR MEN’S BOUTIQUE IN HOLT RENFREW OGILVY

Last week, Fendi also unveiled a new 527-square-foot men’s concession on the fourth floor of Holt Renfrew Ogilvy. The boutique carries the full range of Fendi men’s ready-to-wear as well as leather goods and accessories. While the main floor women’s Fendi boutique was designed to be ‘feminine’, the new fourth floor men’s boutique is said to have been designed with masculine shades of green and camel. Textured silver FF walls create a backdrop for forest green lacquer and cork shelving which accents the boutique’s carpet which is of the same green shade.

The fourth floor men’s store at Holt Renfrew Ogilvy is home to 25 luxury brand concessions, branded wholesale areas, and an expansive footwear hall. We featured the new 40,000-square-foot men’s floor in Retail Insider when it opened in the spring of 2019 — it’s the largest men’s department in the Holt Renfrew chain by far.

In late 2018, Fendi opened its first Canadian concession at Holt Renfrew in Vancouver in a concession space on the third floor. An accessory boutique on the main floor as well as a men’s space on the lower level followed. In January of 2019, Fendi opened a 3,000-square-foot ‘world of’ boutique on the main floor of the Holt Renfrew flagship store at 50 Bloor Street West in Toronto, carrying Fendi’s full line of apparel, bags/accessories, and footwear for both women and men. In the fall of 2019, Fendi unveiled an impressive 1,900-square-foot women’s boutique housing ready-to-wear, bags/accessories and footwear, at the Holt Renfrew store in Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre. That Fendi boutique features entrances facing the mall as well as from within Holt Renfrew, and a separate men’s Fendi concession is located a few steps away in a 600-square-foot space.

For some historical background, Fendi once had a licensed standalone boutique space in Canada. In 1996, multi-brand retailer Collections International opened a Fendi bag and accessory boutique at 1005 Alberni Street in Vancouver (corner of Burrard Street). The boutique operated there until the early 2000s. The space was joined by adjacent spaces and is now occupied by a very impressive Tiffany & Co. flagship.

The Fendi brand has been available in Canada for decades as a wholesale account at Holt Renfrew. More recently, luxury brands have demanded that they be able to operate leased concession spaces within multi-brand stores. Taking a page from sister retailers Selfridges in the UK, Brown Thomas in Ireland, and De Bijenkorf in the Netherlands, Holt Renfrew revised its business model several years ago to become a house of luxury brand concessions with limited specialty retail operations. What has resulted is a situation where Holt Renfrew has a broader depth of certain luxury brands than competitors Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom in Canada. That’s primarily because the brands carried at Holts are handling their own operations within the store.

Because Holt Renfrew carries Fendi’s entire apparel and bag/accessory categories, it’s less likely that Fendi will rush to open standalone stores where it has an operating presence in Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. That means landlords potentially miss out on opportunities in Bloor-Yorkville in Toronto, Alberni Street in Vancouver and on Rue de la Montagne in Montreal.

If Fendi is highly successful within its current Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver concessions, it could look to eventually open standalone units in the luxury areas of those cities — a situation that could leave Holts exposed. Already, partner brand Louis Vuitton exited the downtown Calgary and Edmonton Holt Renfrew stores while opening standalone suburban stores at CF Chinook Centre and at West Edmonton Mall. It was a hit to the productivity of the Holt Renfrew building in Calgary, and was the primary contributing factor to the closing of the downtown Edmonton Holt Renfrew store in January.

Industry insiders say that Fendi could look to eventually open standalone stores at the overhauled Oakridge Centre in Vancouver as well as the Royalmount project under construction in Montreal. West Edmonton Mall is also said to be a contender.

What’s interesting is that luxury brands such as Fendi are saying that their Canadian sales are higher now than at this time last year. Certainly not all retailers in Canada can boast the same. People with money are staying in Canada and spending it here to treat themselves. Some very prominent Canadians are visiting and spending money in local destinations as opposed to other countries. What is resulting is a boom to some areas attracting visitors and locals spending big dollars.

The completion of Holt Renfrew Ogilvy in Montreal marks a milestone in what was intended to be a decade-long ‘superstore’ construction strategy for the Holt Renfrew chain. In 2007, Holt Renfrew relocated its Vancouver store into a much larger space at CF Pacific Centre which now spans more than 190,000 square feet. In 2009, Holt Renfrew relocated its Calgary store into a 150,000 square foot building once occupied by Eaton’s. In 2012, Holt Renfrew doubled the size of its Yorkdale store in Toronto which currently measures about 130,000 square feet. In 2016, Holt Renfrew opened a 140,000-square-foot store at Square One in Mississauga. While growing its fleet of stores, Holt Renfrew closed smaller units in Ottawa, Quebec City, Winnipeg, and Edmonton.

The 190,000-square-foot 50 Bloor Street West flagship Holt Renfrew store in Toronto is undergoing a renovation as well, which includes a soon-to-be-completed facade as well as three overhauled retail levels. We’ll be reporting on this within a couple of weeks when the facade and display windows are finished, and provide some details on the next steps in that store’s transformation.

French Fashion Brand ‘ba&sh’ Opens Impressive Montreal Flagship Store [Photos]

By
Craig Patterson
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EXTERIOR OF NEW BA&SH STORE ON MONTREAL’S SHERBROOKE STREET. PHOTO: MAXIME FRECHETTE . PHOTO: MAXIME FRECHETTE

French women’s fashion brand ba&sh has opened its second standalone Canadian store in Montreal’s affluent Westmount area. The impressive two-level space is the first to feature an in-store cafe as well as a second level mezzanine intended for events.

NEW MONTREAL BA&SH LOCATION FIRST TO FEATURE IN-STORE CAFE

The Montreal ba&sh store is located at 4932 Sherbrooke Street in a 3,300-square-foot space. That includes a street level spanning about 2,300 square feet, as well as a 1,000-square-foot second level. The main level includes a cafe in a partnership with Montreal-based Pastel Rita — the decor in the ba&sh store was inspired by the St. Laurent Blv. Pastel Rita location. The mezzanine level is intended for special events and is otherwise not accessible to the public.

The stretch of Sherbrooke Street in Westmount where ba&sh is located is also home to upscale retailers such as WANT Apothecary, Zadig & Voltaire, L’Occitane, Aesop, Maska Mode, James Perse, Sarah Pacini, and others. Westmount is a wealthy enclave in the city of Montreal with about 20,000 residents. Annual household incomes and real estate prices are among the highest in Canada, with Westmount being home to many prominent millionaires and even several billionaires.

INTERIOR OF NEW BA&SH STORE ON MONTREAL’S SHERBROOKE STREET. PHOTO: MAXIME FRECHETTE
  • INTERIOR OF NEW BA&SH STORE ON MONTREAL’S SHERBROOKE STREET. PHOTO: MAXIME FRECHETTE
  • INTERIOR OF NEW BA&SH STORE ON MONTREAL’S SHERBROOKE STREET. PHOTO: MAXIME FRECHETTE

This spring, ba&sh opened its first Canadian store at the base of the Hazelton Hotel at 118 Yorkville Avenue in Toronto, spanning about 1,300 square feet on one level. Jeff Berkowitz of Aurora Realty Consultants represents ba&sh in Canada and negotiated both lease deals on behalf of the retailer.

CANADIAN BA&SH ECOMMERCE WEBSITE SET FOR 2020

As part of its Canadian direct-to-consumer expansion, a dedicated Canadian ba&sh e-commerce website will be launched later this year as well.

In the fall of 2019, ba&sh launched its Canadian wholesale expansion in a partnership with the Hudson’s Bay Company to open ba&sh shop-in-stores inside Hudson’s Bay locations in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. Holt Renfrew also carries the ba&sh line at its stores in Canada. In Toronto, ba&sh opened a pop-up space at the Yorkville Village shopping centre in Toronto in a partnership with local retailer TNT and it remained open until the new 118 Yorkville Avenue store opened to the public for two days in March of this year (before shutting temporarily along with other retailers because of COVID-19).

The ba&sh brand was founded in Paris by two best friends, Barbara Boccara and Sharon Krief, in 2003. The name ‘ba&sh’ is a hybrid of their first names. The brand, described as being a hybrid of “rock and roll and bohemia” focuses on feminine clothing that is also comfortable. Collections include ready-to-wear, bags, accessories and footwear. The price-point is in the ‘contemporary’ range with dresses generally in the $400-$1,000 range, blouses costing in excess of $300, bags priced over $500, and shoes priced into the hundreds of dollars depending on style.

The brand’s international expansion was made possible in part by a significant investment by LVMH. In the United States, ba&sh opened a US headquarters about two years ago and the company currently operates more than a dozen stores in the country. Department stores in the US carrying ba&sh include Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s and Neiman Marcus. ba&sh also has stores in countries globally as well as wholesale distribution in various multi-brand retailers.

More ba&sh stores are expected to open in Canada. Given the brand’s exposure in the Vancouver market through Hudson’s Bay and Holt Renfrew, British Columbia could be in line for at least one standalone ba&sh storefront.

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