J. Crew looking for first Canadian location

J. Crew looking for first Canadian location

And J. Crew isn’t the only American retailer looking to open or expand in Canada. The Gap is opening 10 outlet stores, Victoria’s Secret will open four 10,000-square-foot mega-stores, and Bath and Body Works will double its presence. The reason: according to the Wall Street Journal, it’s because the U.S. market is over-saturated, and it’s too difficult to expand in Asia, where laws, shopping habits and body sizes are too different.

Canadians, by contrast, know American brands and share similar taste and body types. Canadian sales have held steadier through the global downturn than those in the U.S., and the market is less built up… Still, it’s not foolproof. Canadians tend to be slower, steadier shoppers than Americans, with a preference for higher-quality goods and more interest in outdoor looks.

We were always told “slow and steady wins the race.” Despite our sluggishness, J. Crew will expand slowly north of the border and open 10 to 15 stores—a few of which, we assume, are sure to be in Toronto.

U.S. apparel retailers map an expansion to the north [Wall Street Journal]
Retailers want to open stores in Canada, where things feel safe [New York]