RETAIL INSIDER: ROCHE BOBOIS CONTINUES CANADIAN EXPANSION WITH NEW TORONTO STORE
Roche Bobois, the renowned French luxury furniture brand, has opened its second store in Toronto to mark the brand’s 50th anniversary in Canada.
This new space, in the Castlefield Design District, a go-to spot in the city for interior designers, spanning an impressive 4,742 square feet, is set to redefine the luxury furniture shopping experience in the heart of the city, said the retailer.
Pierre Berardo, the General Manager at Roche Bobois – Director of the USA and Canadian subsidiaries, said the company now has eight locations in Canada, including seven corporate stores and one franchise in Quebec City.
Recent openings include the store in Toronto’s Castlefield Design District and takeovers in Vancouver and Calgary.
There are three showrooms in Montreal, one in Quebec City, two stores in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary.
He said the company has been expanding in recent years by opening new showrooms or by taking over new franchises.
By opening a second store in Toronto, Roche Bobois aims to extend its reach to a broader audience while further solidifying its position as a premier destination for luxury furniture in this major Canadian city.
“We are planning to open in Royalmount in Montreal, which is also a big investment and a big move for us,” said Berardo.
“What we believe in Toronto is that it’s a bit, maybe not like New York, but definitely it has the potential to have more than just one showroom. To give you an example, in Manhattan, just Manhattan, we have three stores. We are the only furniture brand with three stores in Manhattan. We believe that Toronto is two maybe three showrooms in order to really cover the whole potential of this market. Because, as I’m sure, you know, Toronto, it’s a lot of traffic.”
He said many furniture brands are located in the area the retailer has opened its latest store in Toronto and it’s also close to the Yorkdale Shopping Centre.
“Definitely a lot of designers shop in this area. So I will say an affluent area, plus a designer’s destination, makes really the perfect mix to open a location,” he added.
Berardo said the Canadian market is similar to the U.S. with different provinces and different markets.
“But if you take, for example, Toronto, I’ve been living in New York for 15 years. It gives me really a vibe of New York with very strong energy. It’s very hard to find a room in an hotel where you don’t have noise in the morning because everything is under construction, where you look the number of skyscrapers, residential condos, residential units that have been building. It’s very impressive,” he said.
“And so Toronto, for me, it’s like a small New York, or little more, like an energy like New York. This is what it gives me. As far as Toronto, it has a very strong economy, a lot of headquarters real estate, which is still doing pretty well. So all those KPIs are very good for us. Because really, in the furniture business, we follow the stock exchange and we follow the real estate. If real estate does well, if the Stock Exchange does well, we as a business, we also, as an industry, we also do pretty well.
“On the other hand, you have Montreal, which is a bit different, but still also very wealthy, with a lot of wealthy areas, more than construction, a lot of local companies. The Quebec companies that are are very well established and developed in Montreal, which gives a very, I would say, a strong economical foundation. And we have a very steady business. And for us, for example, Canada has been being a very good business for the last three, four years, since COVID during the pandemic time, but also after that, when the USA is a bit more challenging for the last year, year and a half.
“We strongly believe in the Canadian economy, I would say the foundations allowing us to generate more business.”
He said the brand used to only have a street presence in France before COVID.
During the pandemic, shopping centres took a hit.
“And so we had opportunities in 2021, 2022 to get some strategic locations in malls. And so we have, for example, in the US in California and in New Jersey, we are in malls. And then, as I mentioned, in Royalmount,” added Berardo
Centrally located just a few miles from Yorkdale’s high-end mall, the new Roche Bobois store is easily accessible for customers throughout the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and beyond, including King City, Vaughan, Markham and Woodbridge.
The retailer said visitors to the new Toronto showroom will discover a curated selection of Roche Bobois’ best-selling pieces and iconic collections, including timeless favourites such as Mah Jong, Aqua, Lift, Bubble, Furtif and Astréa. The store also offers unparalleled customer service. From personalized 3D design consultations to state-of-the-art digital tools such as connected screens and tablet stands, every aspect of the shopping experience has been crafted with the discerning customer in mind.
Designed by Jacqueline Hopfer, head of Roche Bobois’ design department in Paris and daughter of the iconic Mah Jong sofa designer, the retailer said the space exudes elegance and sophistication. From the striking plant wall to the sleek suspended ceilings and intricate wooden claustra, every element has been meticulously curated to create an immersive environment.
Roche Bobois is a French brand that ranks among the world’s leading premium furniture and décor brands. Roche Bobois aims to celebrate the French Art de Vivre through its creativity, expertise and environmental responsibility. In each of its 260 showrooms/stores worldwide, Roche Bobois offers creative and original collections designed in collaboration with renowned designers and leading fashion houses.