Saks: A new age of retail theatre

Celebrating Chinese New Year at Saks Fifth Avenue

At the end of February my girl friend Sara, owner of Poor Little Rich Girl boutique on Yonge Street, and I took a trip to New York City. We saw the sights, ate some great meals and generally had a good time.  After spending some time shopping at Saks Fifth Avenue, I’ll admit I did all the shopping, we walked outside in the hopes of finding a cab to whisk us back to our hotel.  That’s when the windows stopped us dead in our tracks.  Chinese New Year had just taken place the week before, and in my opinion Saks had created a perfect visual display to represent the holiday.  

Is this the end of the 40% off sale?

Image courtesy Gerard Stolk

Who doesn’t love a good sale?  I for one am definitely a frequent sale shopper.  I honestly can’t remember the last time I splurged and paid full price for a piece of clothing or a pair of shoes.  Each and every week it seems like some store somewhere is having a sale.  However, those days look like they may be coming to an end.

The Washington Post reports that a number of retail companies are looking to scale back on their frequent promotional sales.  Since the economic recession of 2008, retailers have used 30%, 40% and even 50% off sales as a way to drive business into their stores and onto their websites.  Liz Dunn, chief executive of retail consultancy Talmage Advisors, was quoted as saying “it’s become such a normal and pervasive thing for certain retailers to be on sale every day of the week.”  Unfortunately for retailers these constant promotions directly affect their bottom line and result in lower profit margins.

Pink Tartan Fall 2015: On Cloud Number Nine

Inside the fashion week tent

 

World MasterCard Fashion Week wraps up today with shows from Jaan Choxi, The Wild North, 3.Paradis, Stephen Caras, and Mikael D.  On Monday March 23, 2015 I had the pleasure of attending the Pink Tartan Fall 2015 runway presentation.  Although it’s barely spring in Toronto, I had a great time getting a first hand look at some of the trends that we’ll be seeing in the magazines and on the street for fall.

I’ve been a Pink Tartan fan for a number of years now.  Designed by Kim Newport Mimran, Pink Tartan makes great apparel that can easily take you from work to the weekend and back again.  One trend that stood right out for fall 2015 was fur.  Whether it was a cropped purple fur jacket, a stole thrown over the shoulder, or a chic vest, fur was all over the Pink Tartan runway.  After watching the show I’ve decided that I definitely need to add a fur scarf to my wish list.  I was looking for one this past winter, because I was freezing, but couldn’t find the right piece.  Here’s hoping there will be lots more selection come September!

My favourite looks from Pink Tartan Fall 2015

Aqua, Salt and So Much More…

Aqua Boutique – 421 Park Av. Boca Grande, Florida

During my time in Boca Grande I had the chance to pop into one of my favourite apparel and accessories boutiques and chat with Stephanie Salas, the boutique manager, about the store and her thoughts on independent retailing.

Founded by Emily Wheeler eight years ago Aqua carries a great assortment of mid to high-end women’s apparel and some really amazing jewelry. In addition to Aqua Emily owns two other boutiques just across the street. Salt, which carries gift and accessories, is very similar in look and feel to Aqua and Before + Again. Based out of St. Louis Mo, Emily’s Before + Again shop is the first freestanding boutique for the brand in the United States . Traditionally the brand has been sold online through it’s website and other independent retailers.

What I love about Aqua, is that it’s different from most of the other apparel retailers on the island. Boca Grande retailers tend to skew on the more traditional and preppy side of the fashion spectrum, however, Aqua is definitely more contemporary minded and fashion forward. Despite its fashion forward nature Aqua caters to a large swath of clients. According to Stephanie they have everyone from 15-year-old girls, to their mother and grandmothers shopping in the store. This is part of what makes Aqua unique, they try to have something for everyone and want all their clients to feel comfortable shopping in the store.

Greetings from Boca Grande

The south end of the island.

You’ve never heard of Boca Grande? I’m not surprised.  Boca Grande is a tiny town located on Gasparilla Island in southwest Florida about two hours south of Tampa. During the first half of the Twentieth Century the island and town were a major port for shipping phosphate, however, today the island is home to a number of seasonal residents and is known for its Tarpon fishing tournaments.

My grandmother and I hanging out at the beach.

Welcome!

Welcome to The Independent Retailer!  My name is Chelsea Heney, and this is my first foray into the world of blogging.  To be honest I thought about starting a blog years ago, but couldn’t quite land on an idea that felt unique.  My ultimate goal is to create a space that doesn’t look and feel like a million other blogs.  Wether or not I succeed is an entirely different story.

You could definitely say that I am obsessed with retail.  I have a degree in Retail Management, and I work for Hudson’s Bay as a Group Sales Manager.  When I first started working in retail I did so because I loved fashion.  I still love fashion today; if you spoke to my husband he would tell you that I enough clothes to last for this lifetime and the next.  But beyond fashion I really love the business of retail.  Which is why I’ve decided to devote this space to my favourite independent retailers both in Toronto and abroad.

Independent retailers are a group of creative, driven and passionate people, and I hope that you enjoy getting to know them a little better through the upcoming interview and profiles on this blog!

All the Best,

Chelsea