Vancouver home to 3 of Canada's top 10 luxury retail zones

Vancouver is one of Canada’s top two luxury shopping capitals, according to a recent study by Toronto-based luxury lifestyle consultancy WINSTON Collective.

Vancouver houses two of Canada’s top 10 luxury retail nodes, with the downtown Alberni Street ‘Luxury Zone’ ranking second in the study. The study also noted that shopping centres are increasingly housing luxury brands, a particularly American phenomenon, sometimes at the expense of traditional upscale high streets. Vancouver is no exception, with two of the city’s three luxury nodes being in malls.

WINSTON Collective’s three Vancouver luxury nodes include the following:

Alberni Street ‘Luxury Zone’ (between the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver and Shangri-La Hotel) – 20 free-standing luxury branded boutiques,
Pacific Centre/Howe Street – 7 free-standing luxury boutiques, 9 luxury concessions
Oakridge Shopping Centre – 4 free-standing luxury boutiques, 1 luxury concession

The study noted that Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre spearheaded the luxury mall phenomenon in Canada, now boasting 15 free-standing and eight concessioned luxury brands. Vancouver’s Oakridge Shopping Centre will also see more luxury brands as it continues to overhaul and upscale.

Brian Winston, Founder and Principle of WINSTON Collective, discussed the topic of luxury retailing in Vancouver with Vancity Buzz.

Winston explained how Vancouver’s affluent fashion-forward Asian residents and tourists create business for luxury brands, and how our city is poised for even more luxury retail growth as the city grows and tourism numbers continue to increase.

Also, Winston noted that his firm is working with a number of top luxury brands to open Vancouver locations, as well as in top markets such as Toronto, Calgary and Montreal.

WINSTON Collective’s 2015 Top 10 List of Canadian luxury retail nodes

Bloor Street West/Yorkville, Toronto (23 free-standing luxury brands, 11 concessions)
Vancouver ‘Luxury Zone’ (21 free-standing)
Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Toronto (15 free-standing, 8 concessions)
Downtown Montreal (4 free-standing, 13 concessions)
Pacific Centre/Howe Street, Vancouver (6 free-standing, 9 concessions)
The CORE, downtown Calgary (10 concessions)
Oakridge Shopping Centre, Vancouver (5 free-standing)
Sherway Gardens, Toronto (5 free-standing)
Chinook Centre, Calgary (3 free-standing)
West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton (2 free-standing)

The entire study, including the full ranking and list of brands with addresses, can be found Winston Collective Study.