Coach becomes latest U.S. retailer to enter Winnipeg market
By: Geoff Kirbyson
LADIES (and sometimes gentlemen), get ready to loosen those purse strings.
Coach, a U.S.-based retailer of high-end handbags, wallets and shoes, will open its first Winnipeg store at the end of next month at Polo Park Shopping Centre.
Billed as an "affordable luxury brand," Coach targets women in the 30-to-50-year-old demographic who want to treat themselves with purses and accessories.
Rebecca Marsh, district manager for Coach's central Canada operations, said the testosterone set has also been known to darken its doors.
"We can get men out of trouble," she said with a laugh.
"A happy wife means a happy life. Every woman wants a Coach bag. We make women feel great."
Patti Page, retail manager at Polo Park Shopping Centre, said the mall is excited about bringing another new retail outlet to Winnipeg.
"It's a great boost for us as well as the city that these types of prestigious tenants are enthused about the Winnipeg market. We believe there is a pent-up demand in Winnipeg for affordable luxury brands like Coach, and they will really complement our mix of fashion retailers at Polo Park," she said.
Other big-time retailers that have moved into Polo Park recently include Forever 21, a hip California-based clothing outfitter geared towards the 12-to-35-year-old female demographic, and Godiva Chocolatier, which reportedly had its best-ever store opening in Canada three weeks ago.
Marsh said Coach opted for Polo Park because the mall has many retailers it considers to be at its "level," such as Sephora and Apple.
"We want to be partnered with them," she said, adding Coach was also eager to come to Winnipeg because none of its direct competitors, such as Michael Kors, have entered this market yet.
Marsh is in town this week to hire managers and sales associates for the store, which is scheduled to open Sept. 30. It will be the company's 24th Canadian outlet.
Regional malls rely on a large trade area and the more they can distinguish themselves from the competition, the more reason there is for consumers to travel reasonably long distances to shop at them, said John Winter, a Toronto-based retail analyst.
"Big malls are good at egocentric merchandise. You see how it will match with your view of yourself. You try on these different items in a climate-controlled atmosphere. It's easy to make a (buying) decision because they're all in one place," he said.
Independent stores are a dying breed in major malls, Winter said, primarily because of the high rents malls can charge.
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