Mark’s Expanding Retail Brand Partnerships with Launch of Columbia Sportswear Shop-in-Shops [Interview/Photos]

Canadian retailer Mark’s, part of the Canadian Tire Group of Firms, has introduced a new store-in-store thought with Columbia Sportswear in retailers across the region.

The SIS thought will open up to begin with in eight Mark’s areas. 

“Canadians do the job and play outside the house year-round via drastic weather ailments, and they need to be ready for anything at all Mother Nature throws at them,” stated PJ Czank, President of Mark’s. “Columbia is a main brand in heat and cold weather clothing and footwear, and this partnership will aid us satisfy our customers’ out of doors wants although furnishing a exceptional and customized shopper practical experience that compliments the communities we serve across Canada.”

The Mark’s Shaughnessy site in southwest Calgary has opened in about 1,600 square feet and was chosen as the initial SIS due to the fact of the city’s proximity to the Rocky Mountains and the energetic out of doors way of living of its local citizens. In 2023, Mark’s will also start 7 other improved SIS spots in the adhering to cities:

• Langley, BC
• Airdrie, AB
• Edmonton
• Saskatoon
• Thunder Bay
• Ottawa
• Charlottetown, P.E.I. 

Each individual SIS area will aspect an expanded assortment of Columbia products and solutions like Columbia’s proprietary thermal reflective heat systems, together with a variety of women’s, men’s and kid’s apparel, footwear and add-ons. The shops will assortment in measurement from 800 to 1,600 square feet, with dedicated item authorities on hand to assistance shoppers find the acceptable gear to match their requires.

“As section of our journey to expand the enchantment of the Mark’s model, there is individuals who typically would not believe of shopping at Mark’s,” mentioned Czank, introducing the retailer thought it could enchantment to a broader spectrum of Canadians by providing certain partnerships with top models these as Levi’s and Columbia and Timberland.

“About two years ago we opened a shop-in-store (area) in partnership with Levi’s and it’s been pretty prosperous. And this partnership with Columbia is generally our plan to acquire it to the up coming degree.

“We’ll get started with the eight to start with – the types we’ve got planned – and then as we open up new outlets if the room permits we’ll look to do these store-in-store ideas with Columbia for just one since it is a primary brand.

“We’re having into the kids’ apparel with Columbia mainly because we assume it will be another option for us to increase the enchantment of the manufacturer. In this first store, there’s an expanded kids’ assortment as well. So we’re pretty psyched about that mainly because it’s a single of the firms we have not historically long gone into. Investigation displays us that consumers who would want to store at Mark’s would want to be equipped to get winter season clothing for young ones.”

Czank claimed the company’s mission is to retain Canadians warmer, dryer, safer and extra snug. Columbia turned a purely natural lover for Mark’s. 

“We’ve been doing business with Columbia due to the fact 2014. This is just a purely natural extension. It’s a well-beloved model.”

Mark’s at the moment operates 384 retailers across the region. 

“We’ve been really steady. We closed a couple of the underperforming suppliers and we just consolidated them into even larger keep formats. We’re on the lookout to open up about 6 new stores by the end of 2023. Two of them will be normal Mark’s retailers and 4 of them we’re likely to be making an attempt out some thing new but it is a minor early to get into the details nevertheless,” stated Czank.

“As the colder weather settles into Calgary and other metropolitan areas throughout Canada, it’s the best time for us to expand our romance with Mark’s,” mentioned Dave Brulé, Typical Supervisor at Columbia Sportswear Canada. “Led by our new Omni-HeatTM Infinity reflective technological innovation, Columbia has built our status on building new innovations in warmth, and we’re looking forward to guaranteeing that everybody can delight in the outside this wintertime.”

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