Accessories-lovers will have one more reason to shop north of the city come springtime, when a brand new Coach factory store opens at Cookstown Outlet Mall.
It will be the retailer’s fourth factory store in Canada, and the closest one to Toronto, located about 40 minutes north of the city. This will likely take some of the heat off of the Niagara Falls outlet store, which sometimes attracts such large crowds that shoppers have to wait in long lineups just to get into the store.
The Coach craze seems to get bigger every week, with women around the world desperate to get their hands on a bag covered with the brand’s notorious C logo. I’m amazed at how many women I see on a daily basis carrying the luxury bags, which start at about $200 for a small purse. But clearly, not everyone pays full price. Most Coach-bag-carrying women I know purchased their bags on discount from one of the retailer’s factory stores, which suggests that there will be plenty of business for the new location in Cookstown.
Retail sales data hint that the Canadian market could support plenty more Coach stores, and not just those offering discount prices. The Retail Council of Canada’s latest Retail Conditions Report shows that luxury retailers have been beating all other sales categories, with many reporting double-digit growth in the past few months.
With more shoppers willing to splurge on themselves, Coach has picked a good time to expand. The world’s obsession with this brand might not last forever, but while it does, the prospects for this retailer just keep getting better.
Retail Realm 