Season 3, Episode 6: Brick-and-Mortar Retailers Continue to Expand in Canada Despite Pandemic [Podcast]

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This week, Craig and Lee discuss how increased leasing activity, including new stores for Diptique, EQ3 and Uniqlo signal confidence in physical retail.

The Weekly podcast by Retail Insider Canada is available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

Discussed this episode:

  1. Cadillac Fairview to Redevelop Former Sears at CF Polo Park in Winnipeg Including EQ3 Flagship
  2. BRIEF: Diptyque to Enter Canada with Stores, Prada Opens Montreal Women’s Boutique, including:
    • French Luxury Fragrance and Candle Brand ‘Diptyque’ Expanding Into Canadian Market
    • Hudson’s Bay Shutting Oakridge Centre Store Until 2024
    • Uniqlo Announces 2nd Montreal-Area Store Opening Date
  3. Luxury Candle Brand Opens Beautiful 1st Retail Space

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Background Music Credit: Hard Boiled Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

1 COMMENT

  1. Hi .. wondering if you have any information in when Uniqlo will open a store in Calgary. I have been to many Uniqlo stores in UK, Hong Kong, China, Korea, US …. Etc and I do like their offerings.

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