Today marks the grand opening of Kleinfeld Bridal‘s first Canadian location, which is on the seventh floor of Toronto’s flagship Hudson’s Bay store. The first of its kind in the world, the 20,000+ square foot Kleinfeld also features a Maison Birks jewellery shop-in-store, specializing in diamond rings. Kleinfeld could open in other Canadian cities, if its Toronto location is a success. Given that it has already booked over 2,000 appointments, we may expect Kleinfeld to open more locations in Canada.
Kleinfeld became known thanks to the hit TLC television series Say Yes To The Dress. Its 35,000 square foot Manhattan store is currently its only other location.
Characterized by natural light and modern interiors, Kleinfeld’s Toronto store has skylights and an outdoor terrace. The store features wedding gowns, accessories, jewellery and shoes. The company employs wedding consultants, fitters, stylists, seamstresses and its own concierge. Kleinfeld’s partnership with Hudson’s Bay is a brilliant move, as Hudson’s Bay boasts Canada’s largest gift registry.
Kleinfeld carries some of the world’s priciest designers, including Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Naeem Khan, Dennis Baso, and Alberta Ferretti. Its Canadian website lists a total of 31 wedding dress designers. Gowns cost well into the thousands, though its Canadian website doesn’t provide prices for its featured dresses.
The store carries about 800 size-10 samples, as well as over 50 plus-size designs. Brides book 90-minute appointments where they can consult with experts, try on dresses and view themselves in ‘twirling stations’ in the store. Significant alterations are usually required for wedding dresses, hence the limited range of sizes.
A Maison Birks concession is also featured at Kleinfeld, and is Birks’ first bridal counter outside of its own stores. Primarily carrying engagement rings and wedding bands, its focus is on Canadian diamonds. The concession reflects Maison Birks’ new store concept that features modern interiors.
Kleinfeld’s Manhattan store earns about $1000 per square foot per year. If Toronto’s salon achieves similar sales, it could become the most productive floor space in the Queen Street flagship Hudson’s Bay, surpassing per-square-foot sales of its cosmetics department, TopShop, and its luxury women’s department ‘The Room‘.
Kleinfeld’s success in Toronto indicates possible other Canadian locations. According to its Twitter account, Kleinfeld has already booked over 2,000 appointments. Kleinfeld locations could therefore follow within Hudson’s Bay’s flagships in Montreal and Vancouver, according to sources familiar with the company.
