*new la maison valmont location inside saks fifth avenue, cf sherway gardens. photo: la maison valmont*

By Jessica Finch

Upmarket Swiss cellular skincare brand Valmont has opened its first Canadian retail boutique inside Saks Fifth Avenue at CF Sherway Gardens in Toronto. It's the second retail presence for Valmont in Canada following the opening of a standalone store in Vancouver in 2017.

The boutique's design features hardwood walls, a lounge-inspired sitting area with gold accents, and featured art pieces by Spanish street artist El Bocho. This concept is unique to Valmont’s shop-in-shop and is unlike other vendors within the shared Saks space.

SLIDESHOW (swipe)

LA MAISON VALMONT PRODUCTS. PHOTOS: LA MAISON VALMONT

The Valmont boutique features a comprehensive selection of the brand’s product lines in both skincare and fragrances. Included is Valmont's prestigious Swiss Cellular Cosmetics with global anti-aging products and treatments, with its bestseller being the Prime Renewing Pack. Product categories range from ‘hydration’ to ‘energy’ to ‘perfection’ for Valmont's extensive collection of high-end serums, creams, cleansers, and elixirs.

Fragrances feature prominently in the new space with one dedicated wall housing collections that include Storie Veneziane, Palazzo Nobile, and Collezione Private.

In 2017 Valmont opened its first standalone Canadian store at Vancouver’s upscale Oakridge Centre. Globally Valmont’s first two La Maison Valmont locations opened in early 2016 in Berlin and in Hong Kong, followed by a boutique in Tokyo. Valmont’s Oakridge location sits at 1145 square feet across one level and was the fourth La Maison Valmont location to open globally.

A Valmont spa location and retail space in Montreal opened in 2007 at 446 Sainte Hélène St and shuttered in late 2019 according to Maxime Frechette. A dedicated Valmont space at Holt Renfrew Ogilvy in Montreal features a seating area.

SLIDESHOW (swipe)

NEW LA MAISON VALMONT LOCATION INSIDE SAKS FIFTH AVENUE, CF SHERWAY GARDENS. PHOTOS: LA MAISON VALMONT

Valmont has been available at Saks Sherway Gardens since the store opened in March 2016, but this month saw the introduction of Valmont’s first concession 'retail boutique' in the country. This recent addition to Saks Sherway Gardens is part of an extensive plan to expand Valmont’s presence in the Canadian market, according to the company. In 2017, the brand was working on a five year plan, testing and perfecting the La Maison Valmont concept in Vancouver in the mean time.

Originally founded by husband-wife team Didier and Sophie Guillon in 1985, La Maison Valmont has been dedicated to helping both men and women master the visible signs of aging by perpetuating the expertise of Swiss cellular cosmetics. With treatments that guarantee long-lasting results, Valmont has been able to grow its brand internationally with great success, despite the substantial price tags often in excess of $600 per item.

View this post on Instagram

Storie Veneziane by Valmont, the Venitian Stories: 3 collections of fragrances unveiling 3 olfactory journeys. Stay tuned. #storieveneziane #fragrances #palazzonobile #collezioneprivata

A post shared by Valmont Official Account (@valmontcosmetics) on Feb 9, 2020 at 6:52am PST

View this post on Instagram

Did you know, that Deto2x Cream’s revolutionary texture changes over time, recreating a fresh foam daily to offer the skin a healthy dose of oxygen every day. #valmont #valmontcosmetics #skincare #limitededition #detox

A post shared by Valmont Official Account (@valmontcosmetics) on Jan 10, 2020 at 6:15am PST

The brand is distributed across Canada in upscale retailers, including Holt Renfrew and, of course, Saks Fifth Avenue. It is also widely available in upmarket spas across the country.

Sherway Gardens houses a beautiful 143,200-square-foot Saks store, which opened in February 2016. Spanning three floors, it includes an 18,500-square-foot food hall operated by Pusateri’s Fine Foods and a 5,500-square-foot Beaumont Kitchen restaurant that is operated by Oliver & Bonacini.

According to the Retail Council of Canada’s most recent Shopping Centre Study, sponsored by Engagement Agents, CF Sherway Gardens is the eighth most productive shopping centre in Canada by annual sales per square foot. It is surpassed by a handful of other centres including the Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto, CF Toronto Eaton Centre, and CF Pacific Centre. Cadillac Fairview operates malls marked by 'CF'.

SLIDESHOW (swipe)

SAKS FIFTH AVENUE, CF SHERWAY GARDENS. PHOTOS: ALEX REBANKS ARCHITECTS

In January, Retail Insider spoke with Cadillac Fairview’s Executive Vice President of Operations Salvatore Iacono as part of a Cadillac Fairview mall examination. He said “we made massive investments in the properties that we decided to focus on…For example, at CF Sherway Gardens in Toronto, we invested in excess of $500 million, completing the project about three or four years ago.” Saks Fifth Avenue was part of this project.

The Retail Council of Shopping Centre study also examined shopping centre site intensification. CF Sherway Gardens will also see the addition of eight residential towers in the next three to five years. Due to be constructed on land surrounding the mall that is currently used for parking, offices and a hotel are also planned for the area. The buildings will range from 28 to 33-storeys, with a public park for residents to enjoy. While Cadillac Fairview’s proposal does not impact the existing shopping mall, future renovations to the mall can be anticipated, as can new retailers as some have recently exited.

Jessica Finch is a writer and editor based in Toronto. She holds a BA in English and Psychology and is a graduate of Ryerson University’s Publishing program. She has extensive managerial experience in the food service industry, and is interested in exploring innovations within this sector and other retail environments. Email: jessica@retail-insider.com

TODAY’S TOP HEADLINES