Sephora at CF Richmond Centre. Photo: Geetanjali Sharma
Multi-brand beauty retailer Sephora announced this week that its Canadian division would dedicate 25% of its brand offering to BIPOC-owned brands by 2026. It’s an additional 10% to The Fifteen Percent Pledge which began in the U.S. last year.
Sephora Canada says that its pledge is driven in part by the fact that 22.3% of Canadians identify as visible minorities, which the company says makes visible representation within its brand offering more important than ever in this country. Sephora says that about 12% of its brands are currently owned by those who are Black, Indigenous or otherwise deemed a person of colour.
By 2022, Sephora says its goal is for 15% of its beauty brands to be BIPOC-owned. It’s likely that the retailer will meet that goal. The company says that it has an ongoing action plan in place for increasing BIPOC representation in its brands including supporting BIPOC-owned brands in achieving Canadian compliancy, which has already played a crucial role in enabling expansion into Canada as well as aiding Sephora’s newest Accelerate brands with the resources and information they need to expand beyond the United States.
Sephora Canada’s localized commitment to the Fifteen Percent Pledge is part of the retailer’s ongoing efforts of creating an inviting beauty experience that reflects its longstanding company values of championing diversity, inclusivity, and inspiring fearlessness. (CNW Group/Sephora)
The Fifteen Percent Pledge is a non-profit organization based in the United States. It advocates for the equitable and intentional distribution of wealth and opportunity for Black-owned businesses and people in the workforce, as well as urges retailers to commit at least 15% of their shelf-space to Black-owned businesses.
In June of last year, Sephora was the first major retailer to take the pledge which included evolving its 2021 Accelerate incubator programming to be dedicated exclusively to people of colour. Shortly after launching in the United States, The Fifteen Percent Pledge team’s mission extended into Canada in support of Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC)-owned businesses and BIPOC people in the workforce.
“We are proud to solidify our goal of reaching 25 per cent BIPOC-owned brands by 2026 as part of our new localized Fifteen Percent Pledge commitment,” said Jane Nugent, Sephora Canada’s Senior Vice President of Merchandising. “Ensuring greater representation within our prestige beauty brand offering that is reflective of Canada’s rich diversity is central to our mission of creating a more inclusive retail experience and sense of belonging for all.”
Sephora on Bloor Street in Toronto. Photo: Craig Patterson
“As we approach the one year anniversary of the racial justice protests last summer, we could not be more thrilled that Sephora Canada is taking the Pledge and partnering with us to drive equity across retail,” said Aurora James, founder of the Fifteen Percent Pledge.
“Being a proud Canadian, it’s exciting to see the Pledge continue to expand beyond the U.S. and have Sephora Canada be our newest partnership in my home country. Their commitment to increase their shelf space to 25 per cent BlPOC-owned brands is huge, and we are looking forward to working in lockstep with them to provide support and help them achieve this goal,” she went on to say.
Over the past year, Sephora Canada has also established a Diversity and Inclusion Council which it says is geared towards identifying actionable solutions and galvanizing change.
Sephora is also in a major expansion mode in Canada with plans to open nearly 50 more stores over the next three years, expanding the retailer’s footprint by about 60%.
Sephora at CrossIron Mills. Photo: Jessica Finch
Last week we reported that Canadian department store chain Hudson’s Bay had also signed on to the Fifteen Percent Pledge. As of this fall, at least 15% of all new brands purchased for its stores and thebay.com will be BIPOC-owned or designed. Hudson’s Bay is the first department store in Canada to commit to the Pledge.
More businesses are expected to announce commitment to the pledge in the coming weeks as the movement continues to take hold in Canada.
While the hospitality industry faces struggles due to closures mandated because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there continues to be a large demand for people looking to buy commercial and restaurant properties.
And currently there is a lack of inventory in that area.
Government support programs have kept many businesses alive, so to speak, in the sense that they haven’t closed their doors for good.
But a day is coming in the future when support is no longer there and many opportunities will open up as a result of the mountain of debt many businesses built during the pandemic.
West Queen West – Photo by Dustin Fuhs
Mark Parmegiani
Ori Grad, Broker & Managing Director and Mark Parmegiani, Director of Commercial Sales and Leasing from CHI Real Estate Group, are hospitality business brokers who specialize in helping clients buy and sell restaurants.
Parmegiani said large spaces for night clubs and sit-down restaurants fell away during the pandemic, leasing activity went to near zero and deals fell apart, particularly in the financial district of Toronto.
“What really emerged is we had endless calls for restaurant spaces up to 1,500 square feet, direct entry into a restaurant of course, and patio spaces. So either used as a pure QSR (quick service restaurant) or a QSR with patio or a small space with patio.
Future Quick Service in the PATH – Photo by Dustin Fuhs
“That’s been kind of an ongoing trend and a hot property, especially in the suburbs but outside of the financial district. The financial district remains definitely in a lull compared to there.”
Grad said the market is starting to see some of the big real estate space come available.
“The government has stepped up big time in paying people’s rent. That’s a very important factor right now why there’s not mass vacancies all over the place. The government is paying up to 90 per cent of some businesses’ rent right now including wage subsidies,” he said.
Ori Grad
“I was really expecting last year I thought in August ‘oh man the ball’s going to drop. We were going to see mass vacancies’. But that didn’t happen. I thought it would be October/November. Now we’re in May and really while the government’s paying everybody’s rent there’s a huge lack of inventory out there right now and we have an awful lot of buyers, qualified buyers looking to buy restaurants but there’s very, very little available for sale right now.”
Many restaurants were struggling pre-COVID and the question is how are they going to fare when the doors open again.
“There are tough times ahead once the subsidies stop,” said Grad.
“We definitely expect way more inventory to come to market,” added Parmegiani. “It appears like the government is trying to push the subsidies long enough and then have other incentives and programs to reopen so that whoever is well-positioned to survive will survive and manage to squeak through with the revenues they are getting. For the rest, it really remains to be seen.
8 Scollard Street – Photo by Craig Patterson
“All of these restaurants are in buildings that are most likely owned by someone else who is the landlord and they are paying rent to. We looked at all the transactions for buildings with restaurants for the City of Toronto from 2019 to 2020 and Q1 of 2021 and it was really interesting to see a lot of buildings traded hands. It was almost 100 in 2019 but the same number of buildings traded hands in 2020 which we didn’t expect. And a lot of buildings we never expected to come to market came to market. The average price went up. The average price per square foot went up because we were seeing buildings trade on Queen Street that used to have restaurants.”
He said that from all indications the price per square foot for buildings that are under 3,000 square feet went from about $750 to over $1,000 on average in Toronto.
“It’s not that suddenly there’s a rush of bidders on these buildings and all values are rising but suddenly a lot more premium corner spots, corner buildings, they’re highly valued in commercial on Queen Street that have started selling. And you’ve never seen this come to market before because they were just too valuable and pulling in great rents and they had such high demand for them,” said Parmegiani.
Library Coffee on Queen West – Photo by Dustin Fuhs
Grad said there’s still not enough inventory out in the market.
“There’s still many more buyers out there than sellers, which also inflates the market on a supply and demand scale,” he said.
Some of the market trends in the industry include the growth of the ghost kitchen concept and the shift in desirable locations where buyers are looking at locations near condo developments and densely populated areas.
In the marketplace, CHI Real Estate offers clients a discreet listing service. It can sell a restaurant without the whole world knowing it’s for sale.
When businesses want to sell, Grad said they don’t want their staff and others to know for various reasons.
Image: CHI Real Estate Website
“What we do is very discreet. Most of the deals I do don’t hit the open market and I represent both parties because they want to keep discretion,” he said.
“It’s a service I’ve been doing since I started this – the discreet listings. Almost exclusive listings. Just more private and we bring buyers with discretion.
“The people buying buildings are buying them in great locations in areas that are the most distressed like Queen Street, down on King. They’re betting on the future. And there has been, in the background with this pandemic, there have been huge lease deals that have been executed by restaurant groups around this country. So people are betting on large developments like you see by the number of condo development applications that are still going into the city. They’re pouring in if you take a look at what’s happening right across the board. People are making large bets that we’re coming back and we’re coming back really strong.”
End-to-end solution autonomously manages safe and accurate occupancy levels and entryway communications
Guelph, Ontario – May 18, 2021 – Melitron Corporation, in partnership with Axis Communications and ICON Media, introduced today a People Count Kiosk Solution that provides retailers with a simple and highly reliable way to automate the process of safely and accurately managing occupancy levels in compliance with regulatory requirements such as COVID-19 and fire safety measures.
The digital occupancy management solution creates a seamless entryway experience for retailers, with automated stop/go messages based on user-defined occupancy thresholds, and digital content and advertising during periods of lower occupancy to highlight a retailer’s health and safety measures, or in-store promotions, for example.
It is currently in use at its flagship location at The Samsung Experience Store at Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto.
“We are providing a People Count Kiosk Solution that brings together the best in the industry, with the proven AXIS People Counter technology from Axis Communications, ICON’s retail expertise in digital communications and advertising, and Melitron’s durable digital signage and kiosk systems,” said Mike Turner, President and CEO at Melitron. “Retailers can rely on this all-in-one solution to create a welcoming digital experience for shoppers that ensures safe and accurate occupancy levels in-store.”
Melitron, which is making its mark in the digital signage and kiosk industry as the leading provider of outdoor digital menu boards and signage at top drive thru restaurants across Canada, designed and manufactured the indoor/semi-outdoor kiosk. The kiosk stands at just over 64 inches in height and features a bright, crisp Samsung 32 inch high definition display, dent and scratch resistant powder-coated finish that can handle the wear and tear of high traffic areas and commercial cleaners, and customizable in colours and graphics to align with a retailer’s storefront design and brand. It is also portable with “tilt and engage” hard rubber wheels for smooth maneuverability, making it easy for retail staff to position the kiosk safely in front of the store entrance during store hours.
The solution comes complete with software and services, including Axis Communications’ highly reliable technology – AXIS People Counter including software, analytics and video-based IP camera; Samsung MagicINFO content management system (CMS) with Datalink; and ICON’s media management services, including entryway kiosk and camera installation and setup, content design, customer support, and 24/7 network monitoring.
For more information about the Digital People Count Kiosk Solution, including a video of the kiosk in use at The Samsung Experience Store, visit www.melitron.com/digital-signage/peoplecount.
About Melitron
Melitron is a designer, manufacturer, and contract manufacturing services provider of durable enclosure systems for electronics and electro-mechanical products, including a Melitron-branded fully customizable line of indoor and outdoor digital signage and kiosk solutions. For more information, visit www.melitron.com.
About Axis Communications
Axis enables a smarter and safer world by creating network solutions that provide insights for improving security and new ways of doing business. As the industry leader in network video, Axis offers products and services for video surveillance and analytics, access control, intercom and audio systems. Axis was founded in 1984 and has its headquarters in Lund, Sweden. For more information about Axis, visit www.axis.com.
About ICON
ICON is a North American leader in the visual communications industry headquartered in Toronto, Canada with offices in New York and Montreal. ICON Media, a division of ICON, specializes in display graphic solutions, digital signage and content creation. For more information, visit www.icondigital.com.
TopShop at Hudson's Bay on Queen Street (April 2021) - Photo by Dustin Fuhs
UK fast-fashion brand Topshop and Topman will be exiting all Hudson’s Bay stores in the fall after a 10 year run in Canada. The move comes after the administration filing of Topshop in the UK and its subsequent acquisition by ASOS which was finalized in February. All Topshop and Topman retail spaces in Canada will be shuttered by September 30, 2021 as a result.
Most employees in the Canadian locations will be offered jobs elsewhere according to Hudson’s Bay. “We have been able to secure transfer opportunities within Hudson’s Bay for the majority of impacted associates,” the retailer said in a statement.
Amid a flurry of press, the Hudson’s Bay Company announced in the spring of 2011 that it had secured the franchise rights to open Topshop and Topman shop-in-stores in Canada as well as standalone storefronts. A subsequent roll-out of shop-in-stores was launched as part of an effort to drive foot traffic into Hudson’s Bay department stores.
Yorkdale TopShop: Photo: Alex Rebanks Architects
1 of 6
Photo: Alex Rebanks Architects
Photo: Alex Rebanks Architects
Photo: Alex Rebanks Architects
Photo: Alex Rebanks Architects
Photo: Alex Rebanks Architects
Photo: Alex Rebanks Architects
Topshop opened its first Canadian shop-in-store in 2010 temporarily at retailer Jonathan and Olivia on Ossington Avenue in Toronto. Following the partnership announcement with HBC, the first large Topshop/Topman storefront in Canada opened in Hudson’s Bay at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre in October of 2011, spanning about 15,000 square feet over two levels. A rollout of larger Topshop stores followed for several years in major markets. The rollout continued with some Bay stores seeing separate smaller Topshop and Topman department areas added rather than fully branded shop-in-stores.
A substantial amount of space in some Hudson’s Bay stores will have to be repurposed as a result of the Topshop/Topman closures this fall. The largest of the spaces is in Vancouver, which in October of 2012 saw the opening of a 33,000 square foot combined Topshop/Topman space on the concourse level of the historic downtown Vancouver Bay flagship store. Millions of dollars was invested to create a new street front entrance on Granville Street for Topshop as well as new escalators leading downstairs from the street. The Vancouver Topshop was the largest international location globally for the retailer when it opened at the time.
A flurry of construction activity will be seen in malls across the country this fall/winter following the closures of Topshop and Topman. At Yorkdale in Toronto, Topshop and Topman occupy prominent frontage in the mall that includes black branded walls and display windows created especially for the franchised shop-in-store. Similar large storefronts at Square One in Mississauga and CF Chinook Centre in Calgary will also have to be repurposed following Topshop’s exit.
Topshop/Topman at Yorkdale in 2011. Photo via HBC
In 2011, then CEO Bonnie Brooks said that there were plans for about 50 Topshop locations in Canada as part of a signifiant shakeup for Hudson’s Bay stores in Canada. Brooks was hired by HBC owner Richard Baker to increase sales in Bay stores which included new retail partnerships while at the same time dropping hundreds of underperforming brands. Topshop alone was expected to increase sales in Bay stores by about 10%. Baker said at the time that Topshop was expected to sell about $700 a square foot in its spaces, an impressive number considering that sales at most Bay stores were less than $200 per square foot in most departments.
Other partners added to Bay stores at around the same time included Kleinfeld Bridal at the Queen Street Bay flagship, restaurants such as Bannock, a revamp/expansion of luxury fashion department ‘The Room’ in Toronto and Vancouver, and the addition of Burberry and Coach shop-in-stores among other initiatives. Hudson’s Bay was also said to be in talks with Japanese fast fashion retailer Uniqlo to open in Bay stores as well as upscale US-based department store Bloomingdales’s, and neither partnership materialized. Baker did manage to acquire US luxury retailer Saks Fifth Avenue which opened two Toronto stores in 2016 as well as a location in Calgary about two years later.
Topshop started as a brand extension of the Peter Robinson department store chain in London in 1964 and sold women’s fashions by young British designers such as Mary Quant and Stirling Cooper. Topshop was spun off as its own store and in 1978, the men’s division called Topman was also launched. Topshop owner Arcadia Group went into administration (bankruptcy protection) in November of 2020 and ASOS acquired Topshop in February of this year. ASOS said that it was planning on closing all of Topshop/Topman’s stores while taking the brand online through ASOS’ channels.
Grand opening of the Vancouver Topshop in 2012 featuring a dedicated Granville Street entrance. Photo: HBC
TopShop at Hudson’s Bay off Granville Street in Vancouver (July 2021). Photo: Lee Rivett.
Prior to the bankruptcy, Topshop/Topman operated over 500 stores globally with about 300 of those being located in the UK. Topshop entered the US market in 2007 and had 11 large flagship stores in major cities. In the spring of 2019, the US division filed for bankruptcy and all of its stores subsequently shuttered.
A source told Retail Insider that Hudson’s Bay was unable to come to an agreement with ASOS which led to Topshop’s pulling out of Canada’s Hudson’s Bay stores. Another source told Retail Insider that ASOS may offer Nordstrom the opportunity to carry the Topshop and Topman lines in its Canadian stores as is the case currently in the United States. We were not able to confirm this information by press time.
Retail Insider reached out to the Hudson’s Bay Company for comment for this story. A spokesperson for the retailer confirmed Topshop’s exit and noted that there are exciting youthful initiatives in the works for the retailer including the addition of new brands to its stores.
“Hudson’s Bay is growing its millennial and Gen Z offering through elevated brands and in-store experience,” the company said in a statement. “We have already introduced brands like Mango, Good American, Sweaty Betty, ALC, AFRM and Ganni, and are working to launch dozens of new, relevant brands and are anticipating an incredibly compelling fall line-up.”
TOPSHOP on CF Chinook Centre’s main level. Photo: Jessica Finch
“From denim to active to contemporary fashion, we are curating an assortment that reflects sustainability, size inclusivity, and quality from both Canadian and international labels. In stores we are transforming and expanding the footprint these brands and others will occupy, through dedicated, curated spaces. While we continue to shape our offering for style-seeking millennials and Gen Z, Hudson’s Bay will exit Topshop by October 2021.”
“Additionally, the launch of Marketplace earlier this year has also enabled us to move quickly in response to trends and customer demands. We are continuously onboarding new sellers that align with our brand missions to help Canadians live their best style of life. In a matter of days we are now able to deliver more new and emerging brands, including Canadian designers and businesses, that resonate with our customers. In just weeks, more than 300 new brands have already been added to thebay.com“.
HBC also provided a quote from a senior executive for this story. “We know that style-seeking millennials want brands that meet their standard of quality, inclusivity and fashionability,” said Laura Janney, SVP Apparel, Hudson’s Bay. “We are fostering strong relationships with brands from all over the world, and building an assortment that offers trend-right, contemporary fashion, some of which Canadian customers will only find at Hudson’s Bay.”
TopShop at Richmond in March 2021 by Ritchie Po
“As the fifth largest e-comm business in Canada coupled with a national network of stores, Hudson’s Bay has the most comprehensive premium fashion offering in the country. We are able to work with big brands as well as nurture new and emerging designers to provide a sense of discovery, with a focus on key drivers like sustainability, diversity and local.”
As we inch towards a more normalized economy, the focus will now be on how we can make people feel more comfortable about going out and about again. Our economy needs it, our food service desperately needs it, but it is not going to be easy.
In a recent survey, conducted in mid-May by the Agri-Food Analytics Lab and Angus Reid, 60% of Canadians are either fine with going to a restaurant, or are willing to do so, although cautious. Still, 40% intend to continue to avoid restaurants. So, in essence, two out of every five Canadians are not even thinking of going to a restaurant. Some of that group will tolerate curbside service or delivery, but many just do not want to take a chance.
At the provincial level, Ontario stands out as the one region where most consumers will continue to avoid restaurants. A total of 51% of Ontarians intend to continue to avoid restaurants for the time being. The most confident province is Quebec, where only 27% of consumers are not willing to go to a restaurant yet. That is almost half of the Ontario rate. Percentages of people wanting to avoid restaurants in Manitoba and the AtlanticProvinces are high, but both places are in the middle of their worst waves of COVID to date.
Statistics Canada is telling us that the accommodation and food service sector is hiring about 74% of the number of employees it had before the pandemic started, back in March 2020. Revenues are at 76% of the levels we saw before the pandemic. The sector is facing significant challenges but not so much that Canadians should underestimate the sector’s resiliency. It will recover, no doubt, but it will also need some help.
While the vaccination campaign is progressing well, COVID variants are really making our vaccination efforts a race against time. Most Canadians will think about safety and their health before thinking about having a meal on the patio with family and friends. But living in fear is a terrible thing, and restaurants offer the perfect escape for when Canadians are willing to go out again, while taking proper precautions.
Many provinces and municipalities have provided financial assistance and support to accommodate restaurants in pursuit of more cash flow, as well as the funds to create new outdoor space to serve patrons safely in place of indoor dining. On the other hand, the federal government has made it quite clear it does not intend to do much for food service, at least not directly. Supporting the private sector without any intervention for non-profit organizations or crown corporations has not been a popular option for Ottawa since the start of the pandemic. The airline situation was a perfect example.
In the United States, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund opened its portal this week, allowing hard-hit restaurants, bars, food trucks and more to apply for $28.6 billion U.S. in grants. This fund will provide some assistance to make dining establishments safer. A massive amount compared to what our own operators here have received.
Restaurants in The Annex (May 14th, 2021) Photo by Dustin Fuhs
Now that we all see an end to the pandemic, sort of, we need to think of ways to get people going out and about again. A recent survey suggests that many Canadians have gained weight since the start of the pandemic, essentially due to our even more sedentary lifestyles. If people are fearful of places like restaurants, our economy and small businesses will struggle. Over the past six months or so, people will be out no matter what; the pent-up demand for social gatherings will be a strong influence. But restaurant operators will need to make their patrons feel safe.
Depending on how things progress over the next 12 months, incentivizing Canadians could also play a key role and would send a more reassuring message. For example, tax credits could be granted for patronizing restaurants and hotels, as well as frequenting gyms, yoga classes, and other well-being services. The Canadian economy lost 207,000 jobs in April, and our unemployment rate went up again. Supporting small businesses and the service sector will be key for a strong sustainable economic recovery. Given the flexible nature of many of these professional opportunities, the majority of these jobs are occupied by women, those most hard-hit by the pandemic.
Many will want to stay home for safety, and we need to respect that, but others still will need that extra nudge after a year and half of hibernation. It is a different market out there, and governments can play a role by being more positive and reassuring, while keeping everyone as safe as possible.
ShopNK founder Natasha Koifman with an assortment of Cire Trudon candles. (Photo credit: Renata Kaveh)
In the last year, the homebody economy has grown exponentially with consumers spending more time at home, transforming their living environments into a place of sanctuary. A recent McKinsey study notes that consumers are expected to continue to make substantial investments in their domestic life, with 30% planning to splurge on home items after the pandemic. The ShopNK Drop005 is positioned as a simplified edit of spring/summer lifestyle essentials designed to help customers feel more connected and inspired in their living spaces.
Curated by Natasha Koifman, NKPR President and ShopNK Founder, the new launch features a thoughtful assortment of exclusive partnerships with Canadian designers including Nora Voon (Noda Designs) and Rosa Halpern (By the Namesake) as well as limited-edition products designed to elevate the customer’s daily rituals and experiences. The site will also now carry some of Koifman’s favourite international brands that can be found throughout her home, from 100% flax linen bedding by Australian textile company, Bed Threads, to luxurious scents by French candlemaker, Cire Trudon.
“I love visiting Paris and being inspired by cultivated design and curated scents,” says Koifman. “So, being able to partner with international brands like Cire Trudon is very exciting.” In addition to candles, ShopNK offers chic bracelets from French jewelry house RedLine Paris, pioneers of the diamond on a string concept. Throughout history and cultures, the red string has been worn as a representation of protection, strength, and connection. “I never remove mine,” she says.
“The home is where the heart is, and the place we’re spending more time than ever before. Being thoughtful about the things we surround ourselves with and giving back to our communities has never been more important,” says Koifman. “From hand-crafted acrylic coasters to my favourite cozy robe to limited edition art pieces, we’ve collaborated with amazing brands to curate our must-haves for the home that will bring joy, comfort and inspire us all to live more intentionally.”
The Kashwére Signature Shawl Collar Robe—also featured on Oprah’s Favorite Things!—is part of ShopNK’s collection of At-Home Spa Day must-haves. In line with Koifman’s signature #AllBlackEverything aesthetic, the Chenilla-knit robe pairs perfectly with black faux fur slippers from Sleeping With Jacques, also available on the site. An assortment of loose leaf tea blends—L’Amour, Zen and Energy—and bath blend from L’Artisan Muse rounds out the ultimate tranquility capsule.
“We all know by now that wellness starts from within,” says Koifman. “Which is why it’s important to make the time to truly slow down, unplug and mindfully connect to ourselves as best we can. When we reground and recharge, and really listen to our body, we come back to our lives more focused, balanced and ready for anything.”
Of notable mention is a collaboration between both Canadian, female-driven brands, ShopNK and Sympli. Drop005 includes the clothing brand’s popular Mandarin Linen Collar Shirt in a black colourway that is exclusive to ShopNK. Charitable proceeds aligned with this collaboration help to fund G(irls)20, an organization designed to help cultivate female leaders.
As with all previous drops, ShopNK empowers the buyer to think philanthropically about their purchase and will donate a portion of sales to their selected charity at checkout. Customers can also add virtual one-on-one mentorship sessions to their cart, with exclusive access to leading entrepreneurs across different industries. 100% of mentorship proceeds will go back to the organization of the buyer’s choice. “I reached out to some dear friends who share similar philanthropic values,” explains Koifman.
New to the ShopNK roster of mentors are Suzanne Boyd (Editor-In-Chief of Zoomer Magazine), Mandy Rennehan (Blue-Collar CEO™, founder of Freshco.ca), Christopher Wein (Chief Operating Officer of Lanterra Developments and President of Lanterra Construction Management), and Trang Trinh (Founding Director & CEO of TREC Brands).
Drop005 is available to customers across North America for a limited time. On the heels of this home-themed launch, Koifman will be announcing a major partnership in a similar space later this summer.
Mood-boosting tea blends and handcrafted acrylic coasters by Noda Designs. (Photo credit: Renata Kaveh)ShopNK’s leather-wrapped “Gratitude” candle emits a blend of smoky leather and earthy oak moss. (Photo credit: Renata Kaveh)This black colourway linen shirt by Canadian, female-driven brand Sympli is exclusive to ShopNK.
(Photo credit: Renata Kaveh)L’Artisan Muse tea blends available in L’Amour, Energy and Zen. (Photo credit: Renata Kaveh)The Signature Shawl Collar Robe by Kashwére paired with faux fur slippers from Sleeping with Jacques. (Photo credit: Renata Kaveh)
Special Edition 31: Interview with DUER Jeans Founder Gary Lenett on Canadian Retail
Gary Lenett, co-founder of Vancouver-based DUER, speaks to Craig about how he founded the brand, his vision for the future of retail as well as advice for entrepreneurs.
The Weekly podcast by Retail Insider Canada is available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.
Subscribe, Rate, and Review our Retail Insider Podcast!
