If you’ve ever strolled through the colorful streets of a Mexican town, you know that shopping here is more than just a transaction—it’s an experience. On a recent trip to San Pancho, a delightfully small and vibrant town, I found myself enchanted by its unique retail charm.

People Are Willing to Pay for Experiences: Lessons from Taylor Swift's Impact on Toronto

Taylor Swift just wrapped up her epic Toronto shows, and wow, do we have some tea to spill! 🫖✨

Fans flew in from across Canada—and beyond—paid dearly for tickets, dressed to the nines in sparkles, and swapped friendship bracelets like pros. In today's retail landscape, one thing is clear: people are willing to pay for experiences.

No one does festival season quite like Montreal! We thought you might get inspired with these shots from the recent Fringe Festival.

If you are a pop-up, this is your season to shine. And if you are a bricks-and-mortar retailer on the streets of a festival, there are considerations for you too.

This blog is all about things to think about as a pop-up.

If you saw our blog on "E-Commerce Reality Check: Unveiling the True Impact of Online Sales in Canada," you might be ready for the second half of the story. if you didn’t catch it find it here.

Why Do We Still Want in In-Person Retail Experiences?

It turns out we are still humans who crave human-to-human contact. In fact, since the pandemic, we are craving it more than ever!

There are four components to what we love about it, and we offer some ideas on how you can work with that.

Every time we present this fact, we get the same reaction.

Disbelief!

A gasp!

So, let’s try it right here….. right now…… ready?

Everyone shopping online you say?

During the pandemic, we all got cozy with our screens, clicking away like there was no tomorrow. But here's the kicker: in Canada only a measly 6% of all retail sales happen online. Surprised? You're not alone. Even at the height of the online shopping frenzy, it only reached 10%.

Retailers aren't just the businesses lining your streets; they're the pulse of your community, the essence of what makes your business improvement district shine. They're the ones who add that special touch, that make your story unique so that locals and visitors alike fall in love with your area time and time again.

Get ready for an exciting ride because 2024 is poised to bring a burst of magic to our beloved indie stores. We're immersing ourselves in a realm where brick-and-mortar establishments reach new levels of coolness, digital enchantment adds a touch of magic, collaborations become the go-to power moves, and personalized shopping experiences steal the spotlight.

Not everything that takes our breath away at Christmas has to be red and green!

The environment at Little Bird Patiserrie is as sweet and fresh as their mouth watering patisserie's!

Not everyone is the Remai Modern! Saskatoon’s captivating museum of modern and contemporary art.

Their current installation in their lobby is mesmerizing and an insta lovers dreamI I found I could not stop watching it.

A captivating window is like giving your customer(and your community) a gift before they even walk in.

Who could resist this beautiful Anthology window in Saskatoon Saskatchewan!

Lisa and were chatting about how the last quarter can often catch us by surprise. Is it the same for you? 

One minute you are catching the warm autumn breeze, savouring summer. And the next, you are thrown full force into the twirl and swirl of fall. All systems go! 

For most retailers, fall is the big season, the make it or break it season, and yet it can be easy not to treat it that way. Slipping and sliding into being reactional, rather than intentional in the final few months. 

Can you smell that? It's not just the falling leaves, it's the sweet scent of pumpkin spice mania in the air! Get ready to dive into a world of spicy goodness that goes way beyond lattes and candles. Yep, you guessed it – there are some seriously awesome lessons you can learn from the pumpkin spice hype. Let's spice things up!

Since everything is better in threes, here is the third installment of our 'all about windows' blogs.

Regularly Refresh and Reinvent.

Pop your window.

Pull me in or push me away… that is the power of a good window display… And you have a nano second to do it.

The art of compelling window displays isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s your store’s magnetic introduction, your signature introduction into your curated world.

In this three-part series, we will explore why less is more, how to make your windows pop, and how regularly refreshing them will not only bring in sales but build your brand.

In our bustling modern world dominated by multi-store chain retailers and e-commerce giants, it’s easy to overlook your importance as an independent retailer to your local community. 

We are open!!

We have all the feels….. and nothing compares to the thrill of turning the sign to open and throwing open the doors!