By Julia Marchionda

*GOOP MRKT IN AUSTIN, TX PHOTO: GOOP VIA FACEBOOK*

‘goop’ Announces 1st for Canada ‘goop MRKT’ Retail Space in Yorkville: Toronto is about to get “goop”ed. Gwyneth Paltrow’s well-known lifestyle brand will bring its pop-up MRKT concept to Yorkville’s Hazelton Hotel in a Canadian first. goop will open its doors on June 7th, 2019 bringing with it goop’s favourite items in clean beauty, wellness, luxury fashion, and curated home essentials. The boutique will be open through to September 22, 2019.

Canada is a special place for goop as it was the first international market in which the brand launched its e-commerce platform. Melanie Ramer, goop’s VP of Retail, says that she hopes that Torontonians and those visiting the city will love and enjoy all that the goop MRKT has to offer.

goop MRKT Toronto will live in a 1300 square-foot pop-up space in The Hazelton Hotel at 118 Yorkville Avenue, “inspired by the energy” of the Yorkville neighbourhood. “Creating the right tone for the pop-up has been an interesting process, a coming together of the psyche of what Toronto is all about with the strong personality of the goop brand,” said George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg of international design firm Yabu Pushelberg, who designed the space. Adding, “If the goop customer lived in Toronto, she would feel differently and live differently than the one in New York or Los Angeles. Each city and each context is unique, and that is the challenge, and the fun.”

*yorkville’s hazelton hotel, location of goop’s first toronto mrkt*

Known for featuring items hand-picked by the goop team, or even Gwyneth herself, the Toronto retail space will feature a selection of items specifically chosen for Toronto’s goop customer. The shop will feature a Canada-specific edit of pieces from brands like: La DoubleJ, ATM, La Californienne, Mosser Glass, and Tata Harper to name a few. One will also be able to shop goop’s private label collection of apparel and activewear, G. Label and G. Sport respectively.

The goop MRKT Toronto marks the first time the company is executing its full-scale pop-up concept in the city. In 2017, goop executed an abridged version of the MRKT concept in Pop-In@Nordstrom at in Vancouver and Toronto.

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goop’s NANTUCKET POP-UP STORE ALL PHOTOS: goop VIA FACEBOOK

Massive 1-Million Square Foot Distribution Centre Opening in Montreal: TVA Nouvelles reports that the largest distribution centre in Canada has been announced for a location in Greater Montreal. Two logistics companies, Drakkar and Wiptec, will invest about $150-million to build a 1-million square foot distribution centre that will create an estimated 1,000 jobs.

The intention of the new distribution centre is to allow small and medium-sized retailers to have the infrastructure to allow them to compete with bigger online players such as Amazon and Walmart. The state-of-the-art tools and logistics offered in the new facility aren’t typically available to smaller retailers.

Wiptec already operates a distribution centre in Sherbrooke, and manages the distribution of several major companies such as Davids Tea and Sports Experts in Quebec.

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You can’t get more Canadian than cottage country, and we couldn’t be more excited to launch our second store, in Port Carling. Hopson Grace Muskoka opens Saturday, May 18th, so if you’re in the ‘hood, drop by and say hi. 📷 via @roof_topper

A post shared by Hopson Grace (@hopsongrace) on May 9, 2019 at 9:41am PDT

Toronto Retailer Hopson Grace to Open Seasonal Store in Muskoka: Cottage country, say hello to your new favourite tableware and home accessories store! Hopson Grace is set to open their second location in scenic Muskoka this weekend on May 18th, 2019. Hopson Grace lovers will be able to find many of the same unique brands, exclusive to the retailer’s Rosedale-Summerhill location, in addition to shatter-free dinner and glassware and other items perfect for all your favourite cottage activities.

“From residents to cottagers and tourists from around the globe, Muskoka has established itself among the world’s most iconic summer retreats,” explains Martha Grace McKimm, Co-Founder. “We’re excited to become a part of its vibrant community.”

The store at 103 Maple Street in Port Carling is designed to meet the growing demand for Hopson Grace’s curated collection of items like earthenware from Costa Nova, Portugal and Matouk beach towels. Shoppers in Port Carling will be able to find Mad et Len, a range of scented candles made in the Provencal mountains of France, exclusively at Hopson Grace’s Muskoka store.

In a world where anyone can buy absolutely anything at any time, it can be very overwhelming to be a shopper today. Andrea Hopson and Martha Grace McKimm, co-founders of the innovative lifestyle concept, have switched the focus from excess to edited, taking on the role of the merchant and truly curating items that speak to their consumers. Hopson Grace continues developing and executing unique retail concepts, and the Muskoka store follows the opening of their “shoppable” apartment at their Rosedale-Summerhill location.

Roots Launches Experiential Initiative with Roots x Travelzoo Partnership: Roots, maker of Canada’s most recognizable sweats, has collaborated with travel deal publisher, Travelzoo to bring us vacation packages inspired by the iconic Canadian brand. True Nature Escapes gives Canadians a chance to inject some spontaneity into their summer with the same love for the outdoors we know and love from Roots.

The experts at Travelzoo cabin-tested Roots’ new summer collection and have paired their favourite pieces with the different getaways. Rock your Roots Salt and Pepper dress at Muskoka, Ontario’s Sherwood Inn or throw on your favourite Roots Cooper sweatshirt and Burlington cargo shorts to explore Tsa-Kwa-Luten Lodge in Quadra Island, British Columbia. Roots and Travelzoo are hosting a True Nature Escapes contest to help everyone escape and reconnect with nature for summer 2019. To see details and enter for your chance to win, click here.

An extension of Roots’ newly launched “True to Our Nature” brand platform, the curated experiences will provide consumers with the opportunity to truly live the Roots life. The collaboration with Travelzoo comes not too long after MEC’s announcement of their branded travel experiences, MEC Adventures. Where the travel extensions differ is in their destinations; Roots has chosen to focus on encouraging travel within Canada whereas MEC offers international adventures like a cycling tour of Vietnam and base camp trek of Mount Everest.

In our recent coverage of Roots’ national and international expansion, President & CEO Jim Gabel, discussed how consumers are looking to connect with brands and become part of the brand community. The True Nature Escapes are very much aligned with the “True to Our Nature” branding and will surely give interested Roots shoppers the chance to become part of the Roots brand community.

Roots is the latest brand to create experiences outside of its stores. In January, Vancouver-based MEC launched MEC Adventures, which is a curated international travel program that is designed with a focus on outdoor activity and responsible tourism. We may see more brands partner for out-of-store experiences, which retailers say drive sales both to physical stores as well as online.

*fjällräven’s new calgary store photo: fjällräven*

Fjällräven Opens 1st Calgary Store: You could open the closet of any hipster or traveller and find at least one piece from Fjällräven, whether it be one of the brand’s Canadian winter-approved parkas or their recognizable Kånken backpack. The Swedish heritage brand continues its expansion in the Canadian market with their newest store at 130-815 17th Avenue SW in Calgary.

Sustainability is at the core of Fjällräven’s way of thinking, the company is constantly innovating and coming up with new ways to develop the business in a way that can be upheld long-term. The company maintains their ethics at all stages of development throughout design, material selection, and production. The popular Swedish brand does not simply employ sustainability as a marketing ploy, their Arctic Fox Initiative takes funding from the sale of select Fjällräven products and puts them towards projects that preserve and protect flora, fauna, and outdoor life.

The new Calgary store will offer services that allow customers to customize products for them like in-house tailoring and on-site waxing to make their items waterproof. Shoppers will be able to browse the full range of Fjällräven products that will be sure to excite any outdoor enthusiast. Retail Insider profiled the brand’s Queen Street flagship that opened last year, and other store locations can be found in Vancouver, Victoria, Banff, and Montreal.

Etsy Announces ‘Etsy Awards’: Attention Etsy shop owners! The go-to marketplace for unique and creative goods, has announced their first-ever Etsy Design Awards. In its inaugural year, the global competition will recognize the work of exceptional creatives from all around the world. Etsy has long been a platform that empowers their creators and provides an opportunity for people to grow their business and strengthen communities.

The “Etsies” marks the first time that the marketplace will formally recognize and acknowledge their top-tier creatives. An expert panel of judges will determine the very first “Etsies” winners; this panel includes people like: actor and writer Dan Levy, interior designer Sophie Robinson, and Etsy’s own Dayna Isom Johnson to name a few. The group of tastemakers and entrepreneurs will award one Etsy Design Grand Prize winner as well as five other winners in featured categories. The award categories include: Inventive Décor, Signature Style, Festive Celebrations, Earth-Friendly, and Creative Collaborations

Eligible Etsy sellers can submit their application before May 28th, 2019 at 11:59 pm EST at EtsyDesignAwards.com for a chance to win $15,000 USD, a dazzling trophy, and a bundle of marketing and business prizes. The winners will be revealed in September 2019.

Staples Announces National Hiring Day: If you thought Dwight Schrute made a mistake leaving Staples to go back to Dunder Mifflin, you can visit any of their 305 stores across Canada and say so with résumé in-hand. On June 1st, Staples will be holding their first ever National Hiring Day as they search for passionate associates to join their team and help them gear up for back-to-school season.

"As The Working and Learning Company, Staples Canada is committed to providing opportunities to work, learn and grow in a new and exciting retail environment," says Wanda Walkden, Chief Human Resources and Talent Officer. "On June 1, whether you are looking for a part-time opportunity or a full-time leadership role, all are welcome to visit one of our stores to learn more and apply."

The job opportunities are plentiful as Staples has over 1,000 part-time and full-time openings across their retail stores, fulfillment centres, and tech and copy hubs. You could even get hired on the spot (pending a successful background check)! Successful candidates will join over 10,000 associates; the company has retail stores in every province with a Home Office in Richmond Hill, On and regional offices in Laval, QC and Burnaby, BC.

All 305 stores across Canada are participating in National Hiring Day; visit careers.staples.ca to find a store near you or get social by following @StaplesCanada on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.