Target Canada: Won't You Be My Neighbour?

The brand new Target store in Guelph. Photos courtesy Target

After decades of rumours and months of teasers, today finally marks the day that Target opens its doors in Canada.  Stores in Guelph, Milton and Fergus will open to the public this morning with 24 Ontario stores slated to open by the end of the month.  Eventually Target plans to open between 125-135 stores across Canada.  For a look at all the brands and special collaborations you'll find in the Canadian Target stores, click here.

Are you seeing red this morning? If you do happen to go, please (please!) report back with comments, great finds, sticker shock tales, etc. in the comments section.  Merci babies, and happy shopping! x

P.S - How awesome is this new ad?!

It's Official: Zara Canada Online

Photo courtesy Zara

How do you make a Friday go from good to great?  How 'bout news of Zara's online shop, finally (finally!) coming to Canada.  If you live in Toronto, this might be exciting enough.  But imagine living in a world where there is literally no real shopping nearby, where a trip to Zara is a 2.5 hour (each way, on a good day) endeavour.  Add to that two toddlers in tow who, bless their hearts, just don't have the patience for scouring the racks, waiting in changeroom line-ups and don't understand the meaning of the words 'fierce', 'beyond' or 'must-have.'  Then imagine getting home and realizing something doesn't fit, which entails yet another full-day excursion back to Yorkdale just to arrange the exchange. It's exhausting. (Insert something about #firstworldproblems here) 

But no longer.  I reported the rumour last week but what was once a pipedream is now official:  Zara is coming online to Canada March 6th.  Yay, yay, yay. I could not be a happier girl today :) And if you do have little ones, you must check out the Zara Kids Spring '13 Lookbook on rlr mini today.  Now that's what I call hope for our future...

Happy weekend, peeps! 

xx

Sneak Peek: Target Canada Spring '13

Hitting the green carpet at Target's Spring '13 Preview (L to R): Nate Berkus, Sonia Kashuk, Giada de Laurentis, John Morioka, Kate Young, and Roots' Michael Budman and Don Green. Photos courtesy: Target Canada

The countdown is ON and as we all eagerly await the arrival of Target (squee!), the teasers are coming fast and furious.  Target Canada's Senior VP of Merchandising, John Morioka, along with VIP guests Nate Berkus, Michael Budman, Don Green, Sonia Kashuk, Giada De Laurentiis, and Kate Young were all on hand at last week's exclusive media event in Toronto to fête Target's Spring '13 collection, complete with models skating on an ice rink catwalk, and fun vignettes giving insiders an up-close-and-personal look at the store's food, home decor, cosmetic, apparel and accessories collections.  

In addition to Target’s ongoing partnerships with interior designer Nate Berkus, makeup artist Sonia Kashuk, Food Network star Giada de Laurentis, and designer Shaun White... Continue reading here...

Good Stuff: GAP Nabs INTERMIX

Photo: INTERMIX 

We love a good takeover, especially when it involves designer labels.  GAP Inc. just announced it has scooped up INTERMIX, a multi-brand luxury boutique based in NYC, for $130 million (aka. drop in the bucket)

INTERMIX - which has 32 U.S stores, 1 Toronto boutique, and an extensive e-commerce site - offers top luxury labels like Jimmy Choo, Chloe, Bottega Veneta, Valentino and Stella McCartney. Yum. Gap plans to expand INTERMIX’s network of stores, as well as improve and expand its e-commerce site - such great news for online shoppers like me.

“We’re thrilled to have found a partner that has the global scale and infrastructure required to support our vision for growth,” said Khajak Keledjian, co-founder of INTERMIX. “Gap Inc. shares many of our entrepreneurial roots, passion for innovation and customer experience. Together, we’ll continue to shape the future of retail by offering the most exciting fashion trends with the finest designers in the world.”

The acquisition will see the brand become part of Gap's impressive line-up of retailers, which already includes Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime and Athleta.  Does this mean INTERMIX will start having Friends & Family sales, too?  A girl can dream...