News 5
Influx, expansion of international chains in Canada shows no signs of slowing
TORONTO - When Nelia Belkova moved from the U.S. to Canada, she
was initially disappointed that many of her favourite brands were
nowhere to be found north of the border.
Less than a decade since the style blogger's arrival, the retail
landscape has changed dramatically, and most of the chains Belkova
missed - such as Bath and Body Works and Victoria's Secret - have
established storefronts in Canada.
Those U.S.-based retailers have plenty of company thanks to a
flurry of new arrivals in 2011 vying for the Canadian consumer
dollar.
J. Crew, Express, Marshalls and Intermix all flocked north to
set up their first bricks-and-mortar locations in Canada. The
Hudson's Bay Co. acquired Canadian franchise rights for Topshop and
Topman, opening the first location for the British fast-fashion
chains in Toronto in October.