New York City-based jewellery and watch brand David Yurman is investing in its Canadian operations as it renovates its only standalone store in this country which is located at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre. The luxury brand opened its Yorkdale store in late 2013 and has opened a temporary storefront nearby in the meantime.
Construction hoarding recently went up on the 1,625 square foot corner space located near several other leading luxury brands. The store’s interior will be updated to reflect the latest David Yurman store design which features high-quality materials with a look that reflects a serious luxury brand.
A temporary 2,250 square foot David Yurman boutique has opened in Yorkdale’s former Mulberry space — Mulberry exited the Canadian market last year which also included a store at 131 Bloor Street in Toronto. When David Yurman moves back to its original location at Yorkdale after renovations are done, the former Mulberry space will be split up so that adjacent luxury brands Cartier and Bulgari can both expand their existing Yorkdale stores which are said to do astronomically high sales.
Several of David Yurman’s Canadian concessions feature the brand’s new look at Holt Renfrew. That includes a 1,649 Yurman boutique at Holt Renfrew’s Bloor Street flagship store that opened last year on the main floor, featuring a range of women’s and men’s designs in dedicated areas. Last year as well, David Yurman unveiled a 1,200 square foot concession on the main floor of Holt Renfrew Ogilvy in Montreal.
In late 2016, David Yurman opened a 1,226 square foot concession at Holt Renfrew in Vancouver which at the time was the largest concession in the world for the brand. The Vancouver store was one of only five globally at the time to feature Yurman’s ‘high jewellery’ collection with some pieces exceeding $100,000.
David Yurman also operates concessions at Holt Renfrew stores in downtown Calgary and at Square One in Mississauga. The brand also has a shop inside of Nordstrom in downtown Vancouver.
When it opened in September of 2014, Nordstrom’s first Canadian store at Calgary’s CF Chinook Centre housed a David Yurman concession area, as did Saks Fifth Avenue’s downtown Toronto store which opened in February of 2016. Both of those Yurman shops have since closed.
Sources told Retail Insider that in 2018, David Yurman had been looking to open a standalone store at 100 Bloor Street West where the Ermenegildo Zegna store currently operates. An offer by Holt Renfrew to pay part of the construction costs while charging percentage rent for the lease with Yurman is said to have ended those talks.
Designer David Yurman founded his eponymous company in 1980, and in 1983 introduced his signature bracelet which propelled the brand. The bracelet features a twisted helix adorned with gemstones on its end caps, available at different price points depending on materials. Designs now include pieces for women and men that range from earrings to necklaces to gift items such as pens, as well as a line of timepieces and engagement rings.
The company operates numerous standalone stores in the United States as well as concessions and shop-in-stores in upscale department stores. Various upscale jewellery retailers also carry the brand in the United States and Canada.
