Montreal-based footwear and accessories giant ALDO Group has entered a new chapter in its digital journey through a strategic partnership with Shopify, shifting its global eCommerce operations to the Canadian commerce platform. The transition powers online storefronts for ALDO, Call It Spring, and Sperry, marking a major modernization of the company’s digital infrastructure as it pursues speed, scalability, and innovation in unified commerce.
The move reflects a deliberate pivot away from a heavily customized, maintenance-intensive system toward one designed for flexibility and future readiness. “We did a very bold move eight years ago when we evolved our eCommerce platforms to align with consumer needs,” said Gregoire Baret, Vice President of Customer Experience and Digital Product at ALDO Group, in an interview with Retail Insider. “That approach served us well, but today’s retail environment requires more agility and simplicity.”
Baret said the retailer’s previous system, built around what is known as a “headless and composable” architecture, had reached a point where it was too complex to efficiently maintain. “It was the right move at the time—it allowed us to connect store inventories, ship from stores, and offer omnichannel services,” he said. “But it became difficult to evolve and maintain. Technology should enable innovation, not slow it down.”
He explained that Shopify’s unified commerce platform offers a simplified ecosystem and faster deployment for new features such as payment options or checkout improvements. “Our first goal was to gain faster time to market,” said Baret. “We can’t spend months delivering updates. The second was to restore autonomy to our teams. Our marketing and merchandising departments can now manage more of their day-to-day operations without relying on IT.”
The emphasis on simplification, agility, and collaboration aligns with ALDO Group’s long-term strategy. “E-commerce stacks can easily become monsters of complexity,” he said. “Shopify enables us to keep things fast, agile, and focused on delivering better experiences.”
Canadian Collaboration
The partnership between ALDO Group and Shopify also represents a uniquely Canadian success story, bringing together two companies that have become international leaders in retail and technology.
“We love that Shopify is Canadian-based,” said Baret. “The platform was built by entrepreneurs who understand merchants and the realities of retail. That shared mindset matters to us.”
Shopify President Harley Finkelstein said the partnership symbolizes the future of retail. “Pairing legacy with innovation is a power move,” he said in a statement. “The ALDO Group has over 50 years of retail experience, and Shopify is building the future of commerce. I can’t wait to see what we’ll achieve together.”
Preparing for AI-Driven Retail
The adoption of Shopify’s ecosystem also positions ALDO Group for emerging technologies in artificial intelligence and data-driven commerce. “AI will play a key role in how retailers operate,” said Baret. “We’re focused on three main layers: consumer-facing experiences, merchant-facing analytics, and enterprise-level intelligence.”
He described how Shopify’s infrastructure enables “contextual and conversational commerce,” allowing customers to engage with products directly through platforms such as TikTok, marketplaces, or AI chat interfaces. “We want our products to meet consumers where they are,” Baret said. “Shopify allows us to bring checkout and purchase capabilities to those environments seamlessly.”
AI also supports decision-making behind the scenes. “Shopify’s tools make analytics more conversational,” he explained. “Teams can ask natural questions, such as how a category is performing, and receive actionable insights. It democratizes access to data.”
At the operational level, ALDO’s internal systems are already leveraging AI for forecasting and inventory optimization. “We use algorithms to determine the best product placement and shipping strategies,” said Baret. “It helps ensure the right item is at the right location at the right time.”
Reimagining the Store Experience
While the company’s digital platform is evolving, Baret noted that technology within ALDO’s physical stores continues to play an important role in delivering a consistent customer experience.
“In-store innovation remains core to who we are,” he said. “What began years ago as ‘endless aisle’ technology has matured into more practical, associate-driven tools.”
Each store associate now uses a mobile device to scan items, access inventory data, and make product recommendations in real time. “This not only enhances the customer interaction but feeds valuable information into our analytics systems,” Baret explained. “It helps us understand demand patterns and improve our inventory management.”
He said the long-term goal is complete unification between online and in-store channels. “Whether a customer is shopping online or speaking with an associate in a store, it should feel like one continuous experience,” Baret said. “That sense of continuity is essential to unified commerce.”
A New Chapter in Canadian Retail
For ALDO Group, the shift to Shopify also reflects a strategic repositioning for the future of retail.
“After more than 50 years in business, we still have an entrepreneurial mindset that seeks to innovate and simplify wherever possible,” said David Bensadoun, CEO of ALDO Group, in a statement. “Shopify’s platform lets us bring that mindset to our eCommerce offering, enabling quick adaptation to a constantly evolving retail landscape.”
The project was developed in collaboration with CQL, a Shopify Platinum Partner, alongside ALDO Group’s in-house engineering team. The new sites also integrate advanced search and merchandising tools from Bloomreach to enhance personalization and product discovery.
Baret described the move as a turning point for the company. “It’s not a U-turn, but a change of course,” he said. “We’re moving from a fully customized system to one that’s pre-built and proven, so we can focus our energy on innovation that drives customer value.”
He added that what’s ahead for Shopify gives ALDO confidence in the long-term decision. “The roadmap we’ve seen is very promising,” said Baret. “It confirms we’re investing in a platform—and a partnership—that’s ready for what comes next.”
