Craig Patterson

From The Desk: Strategic growth, pricing resilience and retail real estate shifts

Craig Patterson -
Canadian retail sees real estate consolidation, disciplined pricing, and growth in discount sectors amid cost pressures and shifting consumer demand.

Primaris Raises $200M With More Than $1B in Canadian Mall Acquisitions Under Negotiation

Craig Patterson -
Primaris is raising $200 million in new equity while negotiating more than $1 billion in potential mall acquisitions. The financing adds capacity as the REIT continues buying major Canadian shopping centres from institutional owners and expanding its national portfolio.

Bloor Street Retail Update: New Stores, Flagships and Major Changes Reshape Toronto Luxury Corridor

Craig Patterson -
Toronto’s Bloor Street is seeing another wave of retail change, with RH, Delysées and Tiffany arriving, Holt Renfrew evolving, Harry Rosen relocating and major redevelopment projects moving ahead.

TryCanadian.ca Launches as Consumers Search for Canadian Alternatives to U.S. Brands

Craig Patterson -
TryCanadian.ca launches with more than 900 companies, helping shoppers find Canadian alternatives to U.S. brands as buying habits shift.

RCC Names Walmart and SC Johnson Executives Inaugural Sustainable Leaders of the Year

Craig Patterson -
Retail Council of Canada names Walmart’s Kathleen McLaughlin and SC Johnson’s Fisk Johnson its inaugural Sustainable Leaders of the Year.

LEGO Expands Canadian Store Network with Three GTA Locations

Craig Patterson -
The LEGO Group is increasing its Canadian store network by 25% this fall, adding three Greater Toronto Area locations in what the company describes as its largest Canadian retail expansion in more than five years.

Maple Leaf Foods Revives Yves Veggie Cuisine After Brand Was Discontinued

Craig Patterson -
Maple Leaf Foods is bringing Yves Veggie Cuisine back to Canadian grocery stores after acquiring the plant-based brand following its 2025 discontinuation.

Intimissimi and Calzedonia Launch Canadian Expansion with First Stores at CF Sherway Gardens

Craig Patterson -
Intimissimi and Calzedonia will open their first Canadian stores at CF Sherway Gardens, as a broader expansion gets underway.

Liminal Assembly Expands LoiterFEST as Forgotten Spaces Become Social Destinations

Craig Patterson -
Toronto-based Liminal Assembly expands LoiterFEST across multiple cities, turning forgotten malls and transitional spaces into destinations for community, nostalgia and exploration.

Canadian Small Businesses Grapple With Late Payments and Rising Debt

Craig Patterson -
Daryl Ching of Vistance Accounting says Canadian SMEs are facing cash-flow pressure from late payments, inventory, tariffs and growing debt.

Premier Protein Expands Canadian Retail Assortment as Protein Demand Grows

Craig Patterson -
Premier Protein is expanding its Canadian retail assortment across Costco, Walmart, Amazon and grocery as parent BellRing Brands pursues wider distribution.

Fraud Is Costing Canadian Merchants More Than They May Realize

Craig Patterson -
The financial impact of fraud extends well beyond a lost transaction. Konek can help Canadian retailers build trust into the payment experience from the start.

How to Manage Peak Season Risks: Safeguard Profits and Customer Loyalty When Shipping Volumes Surge

Retail Insider -
Join Retail Insider and UPS Capital Canada on October 7 at 11:00am ET for a free webinar on peak-season shipping risks, and protecting profits.

Mercedes-Benz Refreshes Holt Renfrew Studio With Paul & Shark and New S-Class

Craig Patterson -
Mercedes-Benz has refreshed its Holt Renfrew Studio in Toronto with a new Paul & Shark residency, the Canadian debut of the 2027 S-Class, and an immersive 140 Years of Innovation experience.

Nearly 4 in 10 Canadian Shoppers Are Using AI for Shopping: Salesforce

Craig Patterson -
Salesforce says 39% of Canadian shoppers have used AI for shopping as product discovery, retail marketing and e-commerce begin to change.

Retail Accessibility Can Shape Sales and Customer Loyalty, Says Pamela Shainhouse

Craig Patterson -
Pamela Shainhouse explains why accessibility in store design, staff training and ecommerce should be part of the customer experience for Canadian retailers.

Harry Rosen’s Bloor Street Flagship Enters Final Days After Nearly 40 Years

Craig Patterson -
Harry Rosen’s landmark 82 Bloor Street West flagship closes September 12 after nearly 40 years, ahead of its move to a new Yorkville store.

Brunello Cucinelli to Open at Fairmont Château Whistler as Oxford Elevates Luxury Retail Mix

Craig Patterson -
Brunello Cucinelli will open at Fairmont Château Whistler as Oxford Properties elevates the resort’s retail concourse with additional luxury brands expected.

Miniso Expands MINISO LAND in Canada as Retailer Shifts to ‘Quality First’ Growth

Craig Patterson -
Miniso is opening its second Canadian MINISO LAND at CF Toronto Eaton Centre as the retailer shifts its global expansion strategy toward larger, more productive stores.

MEC Deepens Investment in Trail Running as Category Gains Momentum

Craig Patterson -
MEC is expanding its trail running business with a broader product assortment, Canadian brands, staff expertise and new community programming across Canada.

Canadian Retailers Keep Expanding as Staffing Gets Leaner

Craig Patterson -
Canadian retailers continue opening stores as employment data weaken. Suzanne Sears explains leaner staffing, part-time hiring, wages and changing retail jobs.

From The Desk: Canadian Retail Navigates Expansion, Consumer Shifts, and Supply Challenges

Craig Patterson -
This week in Canadian retail: store expansion, shifting consumer spending, tariffs, supply chain pressures, loyalty strategies and key industry developments.

Lululemon Cuts Store SKUs by 15% as Retailer Slows Expansion

Craig Patterson -
Lululemon is cutting store SKUs by 15%, testing localized assortments and slowing net expansion while continuing to invest in Canadian stores.

Pilgrim Plans Canadian Expansion After Oshawa Store Opening

Craig Patterson -
Pilgrim CEO Robert Hayes discusses the jewelry brand's Canadian expansion plans, new Oshawa Centre store, suburban performance, growing wholesale network and the increasing role of piercing services.

Lululemon Canada Sales Fall 11% as Outlook Weakens

Craig Patterson -
Lululemon's Canadian revenue fell 11% in Q2 as traffic and product challenges intensified, with the retailer warning of deeper declines ahead.
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