SPOTLIGHT ARTICLES

Kit and Ace Opens Largest Store at CF Toronto Eaton Centre

News Craig Patterson -
Kit and Ace opens its biggest store at CF Toronto Eaton Centre, marking a key step in the brand’s Canadian retail expansion strategy under Unity Brands.

The Limits of Chatbots in Customer Service Today

News Retail Insider -
Despite rapid AI growth, most customers still prefer real people over chatbots for support—especially with complex or sensitive issues.

Nations Experience Launching Major Entertainment Concept in Toronto

News Craig Patterson -
Forever Young Entertainment opens this month at Centerpoint Mall, bringing immersive food and family fun from Nations Fresh Foods to North Toronto.

Roots opens flagship location in Vancouver (Photos)

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The innovative store concept has been thoughtfully customized to perfectly suit the unique character of this new flagship Roots store in Vancouver

Laura Canada Celebrates 95 Years with Store Expansion

News Craig Patterson -
Laura Canada celebrates 95 years with new store openings, a national ad campaign, and digital innovation. CEO Josh Fisher shares insights on the brand’s future.

Square and Live Nation Canada announce partnership

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Every minute saved in line is another memory made at the show, says Square

Homegrown loyalty surges among Canadian consumers

News Mario Toneguzzi -
83 per cent of Canadians say buying local evokes a sense of national pride,

Canadian businesses want tax system to drive investment and resilient economic growth: KPMG

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The KPMG survey of 250 business leaders identified comprehensive tax reform as a top three priority for the federal government to increase business competitiveness.

Couture for a Cause Returns to Yorkville with $100K CAMH Goal

News Craig Patterson -
Couture for a Cause returns to Yorkville with an extended runway, top designers, and a $100K goal to fund a hair salon at CAMH.

From Border Blues to Local Boom: Tourism Spending Outlook: TD 

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Tourism spending in Canada is expected to grow in the modest range of 2-4% in 2025, says TD Economics

DoorDash awards over $300,000 in grants to black-owned restaurants

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Restaurants will receive over $10,000 each, in addition to a one-year membership for Restaurants Canada, courtesy of DoorDash, which will further connect culinary professionals with insights and resources that can help their business thrive.

Montréal number one business destination in the Americas for 8th year in a row

News Mario Toneguzzi -
With 103 major events meeting the UIA's criteria in 2024, Montréal significantly outranked its closest rival, Washington, D.C., with 71 events.

DUER opens 1st standalone store in Victoria, expanding West Coast retail presence (Photos)

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Recently, DUER announced the launch of DUER Europe alongside an ambitious retail expansion plan across North America.

Mondetta Appoints Retail VP to Lead Modern Ambition Expansion

News Craig Patterson -
Mondetta Clothing has appointed Georgi Gvakharia as VP of Retail to lead its first brick-and-mortar rollout, starting with its Modern Ambition brand.

Ramen Arashi Langford Announces Official Grand Opening: July 9

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The Ramen Arashi journey began in Banff eight years ago, founded by Kentaro and Yuji—two Japanese chefs who wanted to bring authentic ramen to Canada.

Truman to bring 3 Marriott International brands to Calgary

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Annually, Truman expects the development will contribute over $120 million in GDP from hotel operations and an additional $111 million from visitor spending, generating nearly $76 million in government revenues

RONA gives away ad space to support local trades businesses

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Through this initiative, RONA said it will be giving valuable ad space to nine businesses in Ontario until July 20.

Alberta investing in Indigenous tourism (Video)

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Through Travel Alberta’s renewed agreement with Indigenous Tourism Alberta, Alberta’s government is investing $6 million over three years to support Indigenous-led tourism.

Canadian retailers taking the world by storm: CBRE

News Retail Insider -
With many companies frozen by uncertainty and tariff fears, CBRE believes now is a good time for retailers to make a move.

Rimrock Banff to join Emblems Collection: A New Era of Mountain Luxury in North America

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The addition of Rimrock Banff, Emblems Collection marks the beginning of Emblems’ presence in North America, setting the stage for further growth in the region.

Worksmith Acquires Progress Retail in Retail Tech Merger

News Craig Patterson -
Worksmith acquires Progress Retail to unify facilities management and workforce enablement for multi-location retail operations worldwide.

Fiducia Demands Reform at Calgary Co-op Over $440M Risk

News Craig Patterson -
Fiducia Infrastructure calls for urgent board and leadership reform at Calgary Co-op amid $440M liability, failed investments, and governance concerns.

TikTok’s economic impact in Canada

News Mario Toneguzzi -
TikTok said it not only delivers entertainment - it powers economic growth for 613,000 Canadian small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) using the platform, and the Canadian economy at large. 

American Express survey: 71% of business travelers see travel as positive

News Mario Toneguzzi -
According to new research from American Express Canada, younger employees are approaching business travel differently than their Gen X and Boomer counterparts. 

Boost for Restaurants Canada’s Consumer Dining Index

News Mario Toneguzzi -
In May, 31% of Canadians reported purchasing dinner from a restaurant at least once a week, up from 24% the year before, said Restaurants Canada.

Canada’s internal trade barriers finally coming down: CFIB (Video)

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The CFIB is Canada's largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with 100,000 members across every industry and region.

Cineplex CEO Ellis Jacob to retire at year end 2026

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Cineplex is a top-tier Canadian brand that operates in the Film Entertainment and Content, Amusement and Leisure, and Media sectors.

Loblaw: Local produce to ease food inflation this summer

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Canadians have historically seen some relief at the register on fresh products in the summer, said Loblaw.

IKEA Canada marks ongoing Indigenous Reconciliation journey (Photos)

News Mario Toneguzzi -
IKEA continues its commitment to building positive and respectful relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people through its Indigenous Reconciliation Strategy.

A new era of stadium retail: Vidir’s Merchandise Vending Machine

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Vidir Solutions is a global leader in automated storage and retrieval systems, specializing in high-density storage solutions that maximize space, efficiency, and safety.

Holt Renfrew CEO Sebastian Picardo to Step Down

News Craig Patterson -
Sebastian Picardo will leave Holt Renfrew after five years as CEO, marking a major leadership change for Canada’s leading luxury department store chain.

Levi’s Launches at Holt Renfrew with Canadian Pop-Ups

News Craig Patterson -
Levi’s launches at Holt Renfrew with curated pop-ups and premium denim assortments as the heritage brand strengthens its position in the Canadian market.

A roundup of data from Statistics Canada

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Statistics Canada said GDP edged down in April.

Canadians Want Local but Shop by Price, Says PwC Report

News Craig Patterson -
PwC’s 2025 consumer report shows a growing divide between Canadians’ desire to buy local and the economic reality shaping their grocery choices.

Shania Twain Stars in Clearly Canadian’s First Campaign in 34 Years

News Craig Patterson -
Shania Twain headlines Clearly Canadian’s nostalgic return with a bold new ad campaign, its first in over 3 decades, spotlighting Canadian pride and heritage.

Gather Packaging Gives Retailers Control with Local Bag Production

News Craig Patterson -
Gather Packaging by Luv2Pak helps Canadian retailers reduce risk and elevate brand experience through local, high-quality paper bag manufacturing.

Luca Faloni to Open First Canadian Store on Bloor Street

News Craig Patterson -
Luxury menswear brand Luca Faloni is set to open its first Canadian boutique on Toronto’s upscale Bloor Street later this year.

This Canada Day, shop local: CFIB

News Mario Toneguzzi -
New CFIB data shows that since the start of the trade war, nearly four in ten (39%) small businesses have seen increased sales of Canadian/locally made products – especially in the retail (44%), hospitality (43%) and wholesale (41%) sectors.

GEE Beauty Launches at Holt Renfrew Bloor Flagship

News Craig Patterson -
GEE Beauty celebrates 20 years with a high-profile launch at Holt Renfrew’s Bloor Street flagship, expanding its luxury beauty presence in Canada.

asmodee Canada Launches Consumer-Focused Rebrand

News Craig Patterson -
asmodee Canada unveils a bold new brand identity aimed at connecting directly with players, supporting retailers, and expanding its presence in the growing tabletop games market.

Couche-Tard ends fiscal year with steady growth despite pressures

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Couche-Tard is a global leader in convenience and mobility, operating in 29 countries and territories, with close to 17,000 stores, of which approximately 13,000 offer road transportation fuel.

Decathlon closing 5 stores in Greater Toronto Area

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Decathlon Canada is considering options for quicker, more efficient service in the GTA, including wholesale distribution, new strategic partners and smaller format stores.

Rimowa Opens Yorkdale Boutique Amid Canadian Expansion

News Craig Patterson -
Rimowa opens a new store at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre as part of its luxury expansion strategy in Canada. The boutique features exclusive products, personalization services, and in-house repairs.

EPAM Global Loyalty Report reveals key consumer trends: Personalization, rewards, and AI drive engagement

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Only 20% of consumers actively use more than three loyalty programs, proving most programs struggle to stay relevant, according to EPAM.

Retail Real Estate Veteran Tony Flanz Reflects on Industry Evolution, Personal Milestones, and Think Retail’s Boutique Edge

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Tony Flanz has been in the real estate industry since 1989.

JD Sports Opens Canadian Flagship on Robson Street

News Craig Patterson -
JD Sports opens its first Canadian flagship on Robson Street, with plans to expand to 17 more stores across the country by the end of 2026.

Canadians Cautiously Embrace AI in Customer Service

News Craig Patterson -
New Salesforce data shows Canadians are open to AI if it improves service speed, but trust and transparency remain crucial for adoption.

IKEA halves restaurant prices to side with customers amid cost-of-living pressures

News Mario Toneguzzi -
In many IKEA markets around the world, the price of restaurant meals will be halved Monday through Friday, and children will eat for free.

From cheques to biometrics, how we pay continues to evolve

News Retail Insider -
From cheques to biometrics, payments in Canada are becoming faster, safer, and more seamless as Mastercard advances digital and contactless technologies.

From Ceasefire to Crossroads: How the Iran-Israel conflict may reshape global supply chains

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Global supply chains are once again in the spotlight.
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