Apparel and Footwear Specialist Retailers in Canada

PROSPECTS

Internet retailing takes sales from store-based retailers

Apparel and footwear specialist retailers struggled to post a positive performance in 2018; apparel and footwear internet retailing, on the other hand, posted a dynamic performance. Bricks-and-mortar stores, particularly attractive, experience-driven stores, are still important for apparel and can in fact help drive online sales as well as offline sales, but brands must also work to develop strong e-commerce capabilities.

Uncertainty ahead for childrenswear in apparel and footwear specialist retailers

2018 was a complicated year for childrenswear in North America. Gymboree Group, operator of 49 stores in Canada in 2018, declared bankruptcy in early 2019 following the holiday season.

The rising popularity of second-hand platforms

Canadian consumers are increasingly turning to second-hand purchases of apparel and footwear, for both money-saving and ethical consumption reasons. Kijiji and eBay are popular platforms for buying and selling such products, and online thrift shop ThredUp also began accepting sales from Canada in 2018.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

International luxury brands are entering Canada through freestanding stores

Canada has healthy interest in high-end department stores, including retailers such as Holt Renfrew and Saks Fifth Avenue. A growing number of luxury players across all categories, including apparel and footwear specialist retailers, have therefore been opening their own freestanding stores in Canada, often in addition to their presence in department stores.

Canadian Tire Corp invests in the refreshment of Mark’s Work Wearhouse

Mark’s Work Wearhouse, owned by Canadian Tire Corp, is the second largest retail brand in apparel and footwear specialist retailers in Canada. In late 2017, the company launched a rebranding of Mark’s Work Wearhouse with its “Well Worn” campaign, which continued through 2018.

The TJX Cos leads in 2018

Apparel and footwear specialist retailers was led by The TJX Cos in value terms in 2018. It was the only player to hold a double-digit value share in the channel.

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