Recently, Toronto-based brand, Nobis, opened their first North American store on trendy Queen St. West in Toronto. In fact, for the hot outerwear brand that sells primarily through wholesale, it is their only branded store, outside of a stand-alone in the Marais area of Paris. Yet, what could have been and should have been an ultimate flagship, one that was unique and proprietary to Nobis and launch them as a bona fide retailer, fails to deliver! The power of a flagship Regardless of the sector, successful retailers know that their retail locations need to be anything but ordinary. And that[…]
Why off-site team shops make sense
Recently, while wandering through the Toronto Eaton Centre, I discovered nestled there among national and international retailers, a Toronto Blue Jays store. Even though the store launched last August, not being a sports fans per se, nor a frequenter of that part of the mall, I was unaware of its existence. Spotting it, I was intrigued. Typically, stadiums and arenas are the domain of team shops, but here in the foremost shopping centre in downtown Toronto, it was a surprise – but somehow a pleasant surprise. The Jays Shop is the first such team shop in Toronto, neither located directly[…]
“The Organized Mind” and Simplicity in retail
We are all suffering from information overload. Yet, on a daily basis overcome with data, extraneous facts and information, we are expected to make numerous decisions from the merely insignificant to the most critical. In his New York Times bestseller, The Organized Mind, cognitive psychologist and neuroscientist, Daniel J. Levitin effectively drives home this very point. And understanding that this is the state of mind of customers is essential for retailers. More than ever before it is time for simplicity in retail. The Organized Mind Levitin’s book, The Organized Mind puts things into perspective – life is complicated! Referencing[…]
Apple’s “Start something new” embraces core customer across channels
Just as 2014 came to a close Apple launched their latest campaign, “Start something new”. Not only is it a departure from their typical approach, focusing instead on what can be done with their products rather than on the products themselves, but it seamlessly carries the message across online and in-store channels. And the concept itself brilliantly exemplifies the brand virtues, to customers, particularly leading-edge hard-core Apple customers. “Start something new” Launched initially in Japan in late December, then across other international markets in early January including Canada and the U.S., the campaign features a curated collection of commissioned[…]
YNOT Cycle: More than mass customization
Mass customization remains one of the prominent buzz words in the retail industry. For retailers, responding to customers’ wants with customized products at reasonable prices, has become paramount in engaging customers and building a loyal following. What local on-line and now bricks-and-mortar retailer, YNOT Cycle delivers, is more than mass customization. They deliver customized hand-crafted products, made locally – and with a bricks-and-mortar store that speaks to the very essence of that offering. The era of mass customization Across retail sectors, from M & M’s personalized candies to the Nike ID program, mass customization is just one more tool in a[…]
New Anthropologie store: From neglected church to lifestyle temple
Just before Christmas, a new Anthropologie store opened – another outpost in Toronto, for the popular American retailer of clothing and housewares. The location: a 19th century church in the heart of Queen St. West that has been respectfully renovated and converted into a cathedral of fashion – or perhaps more accurately a lifestyle temple. Go west Queen St. West The location in itself, is one on the leading edge of the gradual westward creep of national and international retail chains, along Queen St. West. Over the past two decades, gentrification has been changing the face of retail along[…]
Retail Flagship? Roots misses opportunity
For retailers, a retail flagship is an opportunity to make a big statement by creating a unique and elevated brand experience – one not found in the rest of their chain. Often the largest store in the chain and located in a prominent location, it can offer something unique, whether it be the full line of merchandise, exclusive merchandise or a more upscale merchandise mix. When well-conceived, spectacular design, engaging customer experience and innovation meet to bring the brand to life in a relevant and resonating way for the customer: think Prada in Soho and Saks on Fifth Ave in[…]