Apparel Online India Magazine December 1st Issue 2018 | Page 12

RETAIL CURRENT THE LATEST NEWS HAVE YOUR SAY For the latest news on apparel and textile, make sure that you visit https://apparelresources.com/top-news/ Write to Apparel Resources, B-32, South Extension-1, New Delhi (110049), India or email: [email protected] MUJI to launch its largest store outside Asia in Toronto Japan-based global lifestyle brand MUJI has announced that it is all set to launch its largest store outside Asia by re-opening its original Toronto location later this month. The upcoming flagship store will mark the first for the brand in Eastern Canada. The retailer has tripled the size of the original store from 5,658 sq. ft. to 19,110 sq. ft. of space. Additionally, it will provide in-store customisation services, for the first time outside of Japan, including the Digital Fabric Printing Service that will enable shoppers to print a photo directly from their phone on to select Muji apparel and home fabric items, and the Laser Engraving Service, which will allow consumers to have letters engraved onto a selection of MUJI products. The company claims that the new outlet will stock MUJI Canada’s full range of products that include over 4,000 items like household goods, apparel and accessories. Toru Akita, President, MUJI Canada was quoted as saying in a press statement issued that, “During these four years since we expanded to Canada, we opened seven additional stores and gradually increased our range of products and services.” The company will showcase some of its most iconic products at the showroom. Reportedly, the Japanese retailer has said that it aims to open 20 stores in Canada but an official expansion plan is yet to be revealed. Macy's collabs with Facebook to help new labels enter bricks-and-mortar retail Facebook has collaborated with US-based retail chain Macy’s to open a small pop-up store in nine outlets of the retailer across the country for the upcoming holiday season. The pop-up store will bring about 100 brands to Macy’s stores which are hand- picked by the company from a pool of applicants who enrolled via Facebook. Reportedly, most of these top brands will be making their first appearance in the bricks-and-mortar segment. These brands specialise in various categories like apparel, accessories, home décor and others. The American retailer had previously elaborated ‘The Market @ Macy’s’ as a ‘turnkey 12 Apparel Online India | solution’, for businesses looking to foray into bricks-and-mortar retailing and cited that the collaboration with Facebook is an exercise in ‘retail provided as a service’, allowing both new and established brands to attract new customers. In a press statement issued, Macy’s elucidated that the partnership with Facebook DECEMBER 1-15, 2018 | www.apparelresources.com portrays the work done to offer unique brands, experiences and concepts that could fetch shoppers to stores, who increasingly prefer to shop online. Notably, to mark the opening of the upcoming pop-up outlets, a number of brands featuring at the Macy’s Herald Square, New York location will be seen in an ad campaign at NYC’s Grand Central Station. It is important to add here that this partnership is vital for both the parties, as Macy’s is trying to measure the potential of its stores. While Facebook is looking to make its mark in the retail sector. The pop-up stores will remain operational till 2nd February 2019.