Renowned for its mild weather, dense rainforests and snow-capped mountains, Vancouver is one of North America’s eco-treasures. But many American retailers are tapping its potential as an economic jewel, as brands such as Nordstrom, Target and Victoria’s Secret set up shop across Canada, in search of new markets for growth.
In fact, no less than 20 major U.S.-based retailers have opened their first north-of-the-border stores in the past two-and-a-half years. This is to the delight of Canadian shoppers accustomed to a smaller selection of stores than their American counterparts (one reason many already shop U.S. brands online).
Fewer stores per capita, along with a stronger Canadian dollar and a faster recovery from the recession, have made cities such as Vancouver, Toronto and Quebec irresistible to U.S. retailers. According to a study by real estate research firm Colliers International Consulting, sales per square foot at Canadian malls were almost 50 percent higher in 2011 than sales per square foot in American malls.
Staging a successful entry into the Canadian marketplace – and that of growth markets such as China and Brazil – will be a recurring theme of this year’s International Retail Design Conference, September 17-19 at the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver.
In addition to sessions and roundtable discussions on adapting retail brands for international markets, the IRDC program includes optional, guided tours of Vancouver retail Tuesday morning, September 17, prior to the Opening Keynote.
If you won’t be arriving in time for the tours, you can easily explore on your own. The hotel is literally surrounded by retail – from stalwart Canadian brands such as Aldo, Harry Rosen and Hudson’s Bay Company, to newcomer brands from the U.S., Italy and more.
Here’s a sampling of inspiring retail spaces within walking distance of the Four Seasons Hotel.
HOLT RENFREW
737 Dunsmuir Street | Downtown
holtrenfrew.com
Connected to Pacific Centre by a crystalline sky bridge, the luxury brand’s 110,000–square-foot Vancouver store, designed by Janson Goldstein, is a feast of materials –pillowed glass, polished steel and aluminum, Macassar ebony and Greek marble. A must-see, especially at night.
PACIFIC CENTRE
701 West Georgia Street | Downtown
pacificcentre.ca
The Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver sits atop this urban mall, home to Canadian brands Aldo, Aritzia, Club Monaco, Harry Rosen, La Senza, Sport Chek and more, plus a number of American and international brands – just an elevator ride away.
TELUS
700 West Georgia Street | Downtown
telus.com
Toronto-based design firm Figure 3 created this sleek, nature-inspired concept for Telus, one of Canada’s leading telecommunications companies.
DAVIDSTEA
701 West Georgia Street | Downtown
davidstea.com
This five-year-old brand based in Mount-Royal, Quebec, has more than 70 stores across Canada and 15 to date in the U.S. Each stocks 150 types of loose leaf tea in color-coded tins, and educates shoppers at a glass tea bar.
CAYA
808 Davie Street | Downtown
thisiscaya.ca
This unique concept for Canadian telecom brand Telus is all about community, and design plays a key role. A “Giving Wall” in each store displays shareable customer photos taken in the Caya kiosk for a $2 donation to a local charity.
ORLING & WU
28 Water Street | Gastown
orlingandwu.com
This charming independent’s focus is European home furnishings, including artisan wallpapers showcased on the store’s walls. The owners’ vision was to evoke the look and feel of “Europe’s design driven shops, filled with hidden treasures and whimsy.”
SECRET LOCATION
1 Water Street | Gastown
secretlocation.ca
La-la land for design lovers, this lifestyle concept is part Store – with fixtures and materials as intriguing as the merchandise – and part Tasting Room – a cool and contemporary, white-on-white space warmed by a digital fireplace.
LULULEMON
1148 Robson Street | Downtown
lululemon.com
Of the Vancouver-based retailer’s four hometown stores, only this one is within walking distance of the IRDC hotel. A short cab ride away is the lululemon lab, where the in-house design team produces and sells its own exclusive line of clothing, along with lifestyle products curated seasonally by the lab team.
BRANDY MELVILLE
850 Granville Street | Downtown
brandymelville.ca
The Italy-meets-L.A. fashion brand is bringing its vintage, shabby-chic vibe to Canada, with four stores to date. Fabric-covered hangers, a rough-hewn wooden cashwrap and handcrafted wallcoverings lend an artful, cozy feel.
m0851
44 Water Street | Gastown
m0851.com
Montreal-based, this international lifestyle brand designs and manufactures its own leather goods, as well as furniture, fixtures and other store elements. Named for founder and creative director Frederic Mamarbachi (born in August, 1951), the brand plans to open 12 stores in China in 2013.
OLD FAITHFUL SHOP
320 W. Cordova Street | Gastown
oldfaithfulshop.com
You’ll think you’ve stepped back in time at this exquisite home goods shop in historic Gastown, Vancouver’s oldest neighborhood. Interior features include a cabin structure used for displays and a cashwrap made of mismatched, reclaimed wood, with a built-in “cabin” for the owner’s French bulldog, Jean Pierre.
JOE FRESH
540 Granville Street | Downtown
joefresh.com
Toronto-based Burdi Filek designed Vancouver’s first standalone Joe Fresh store: a cheery, two-level flagship with white walls and light-toned fixtures, keeping the focus on the clothing.
Oh, Canada!
American retail brands that have opened
or plan to open their first Canadian stores:
2011 Express • J. Crew • Marshalls • Zumiez
2012
Ann Taylor • Intermix • Kate Spade • Loft Microsoft • Qdoba • Tesla Motors • Tory Burch
2013
Big Lots • Target • Tumi • Victoria’s Secret
White House Black Market
2014 Chico’s • Nordstrom
Betsy Smith is principal at Betsy Smith Worldwide (Cincinnati), providing copywriting and consulting to creative businesses in retail, hospitality, interior and graphic design.