Stephanie Bleau

Canadian consumers are resilient and love to shop for apparel - and I am definitely one of them! Last year, Canadian apparel's sales growth outpaced the overall sector performance. Despite economic challenges like inflation and high interest rates, the Trendex North America report reveals that Canadian consumers have not shied away from refreshing their wardrobes, particularly in the women’s and luxury segments. 👗 Women’s apparel surged ahead with significant gains across all categories, while luxury apparel grew by approximately 10%, bolstered by increased tourism and expanded high-end retail spaces at places like Yorkdale and the Mink Mile. Interestingly, e-commerce saw a slight decline in the apparel segment, as consumers favoured the in-person shopping experiences. As we look ahead, the market is expected to continue growing in 2024, albeit at a more moderate pace. It’s a dynamic time for Canadian retailers, who must balance between traditional and digital realms to cater to evolving consumer preferences. #RetailTrends #FashionIndustry #ConsumerBehavior #SustainableFashion #LuxuryRetail #CanadianEconomy #MarketInsights 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gg4KP5wS

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Purpose doesn’t have to be a zero-sum trade off between activists and investors – it can be a generative force for brands. Join our Co-founder and CEO Rosemarie Ryan next week at Collision Conf in Toronto where she'll preview insights from our Generative Business Project that equips leaders with a path to purpose-powered growth. The conversation with Peter Himler will zero-in on how brands can create commercial success and positive impact when they put purpose into practice. Learn more and get your tickets to Collision using the link below ⤵ https://lnkd.in/euVTNmUv #collisionconf #collision2024 #toronto #conferences #events #purpose #growth #executiveinsights #ceoinsights #generative #generativebusiness

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Hey everyone, it's day 7 of our finance update series. Today, we're looking at how foreign investment is impacting Canada, how AI is changing natural gas production, and the future of drug development with generative AI. Stay tuned for clear insights into these exciting topics, helping you understand the changing financial landscape. Let's dive in and explore together! #FinanceUpdates #ForeignInvestment #AINaturalGas #GenerativeAI

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Exciting news from &OR Collective: Canadian Business has spotlighted the brand as one of Canada's top innovators of 2024. It's a major nod to the teams efforts to flip the script in fashion, focusing on innovation through the supply chain without sacrificing style or comfort. Big shoutout to Canadian Business for the recognition and to everyone who's added &OR into their style rotation. Your support fuels our drive to keep pushing boundaries. Here’s to continuing to innovate and redefine what fashion can be. #CBInnovationAwards #CanadianBusinessInnovationAwards #Innovation #BusinessExcellence

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Really looking forward to this discussion - Eric Morris and Ivan Pehar have rare and uniquely informed insights on harnessing data and I can’t wait to get into it with them! #data #digitaladvertising #advertising

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An insightful discussion was had yesterday at Retail Council of Canada’s RCCSTORE ‘24 between Meaghan Brophy and Ryan Webber on a panel moderated by Chris Riegel. Strategies to unlock opportunity in the fast evolving world of retail media were discussed, as was the importance of using a full-funnel approach to reaching customers at every stage of the shopper journey. #RCCSTORE24 #retailmedia #walmartconnect #walmartconnectcanada

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🌐 Breaking Barriers in E-Commerce with AI! 🌐 Are you ready for a transformative shift in online shopping? University of Toronto's own Parham Aarabi has spearheaded the development of PRE (Predictive Responsive Engine), a cutting-edge AI model designed to enhance e-commerce accessibility for individuals with color vision deficiencies. 🔹 AI-powered analysis of user interactions 🔹 Tailored optimizations for inclusive visual engagement 🔹 Seamless browsing for the 8-10% of users affected by color blindness Why does this matter? With PRE, businesses not only foster accessibility but also tap into a significant market segment, enhancing user experience and loyalty. Let’s champion a digital realm where inclusivity is not an option but a standard. 🌟 Your thoughts? How can we push the boundaries of digital inclusivity even further? #InnovativeNest #AIInnovation #InclusiveDesign #DigitalInclusion #TechForGood #EcommerceAccessibility #UniversityOfToronto #DigitalTransformation #UserExperience #AccessibleTech #MachineLearning #EcommerceSolutions #MarketInclusion #ConsumerExperience #TechAccessibility #InclusiveEcommerce #UserCentricDesign Excited to see how we can all contribute to this revolutionary change! Let's discuss! 🚀

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camberX keeps your digital transformation moving forward by using intuitive, personalized, plans of action for each individual involved in the project. Book a demo call to see the difference this platform can make for you and your organization as you navigate change! #camberX #digitaltransformation #changemanagement

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Day one at the Connected commerce forum in Toronto. Great takeaways include:   We’re going to see a lot more focus on celebrating the every day like Minor stones vs. Major Milestones - antiquated ideologies and expectations are being challenged   Gen Z’s are sustainable however their actions don’t align because they can’t afford it   Champion truth and transparency and link purpose to product truth    The intersection of technology, consumer behaviour, and innovation in shaping modern businesses and industries   Speak to consumers in culturally relevant ways - Think Multi generational homes, other languages outside of English - Identify ways we can connect better with consumers   Pressure on consumers is intense even with decelerating inflation. Just over 25% of items purchased in grocery are private label in Canada   In-store advertising is one of the next frontiers in the retail media sector - Consumers who are exposed to all three instore channels spend more and can drive up to 23% more sales Staying tuned for more great content today including Stéphane Crevier and Rebecca Lyttle talking about how FOP legislation will impact the Omni channel strategy.

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Quebec Real Estate Market Returns to Strong Growth in First Quarter Between the first quarter of 2023 and that of 2024, median prices in the Montreal CMA varied between +4 per cent and +6 per cent. A 5 per cent gain in the median price of a single-family home was observed, and now stands at $553,250. The median price for condominiums was $395,000, up by 4 per cent. Plexes sold at a median price of $740,000, a 6 per cent increase. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/giHEeX2T

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What happened in the world of eCommerce recently? 1. New HomeSense store in Oakville? - What's better than one Oakville store? Two, obviously. TJX Canada has confirmed this. 2. Toronto-based jewelry retailers' multi-brand jewelry store - The brand is L'ORO and guess what? Two other separate spaces for watch brands Roger Dubuis, and IWC Schaffhausen are also coming up! 3. What did La Maison Simons do? - They are expanding gloriously into Toronto and taking over vacant Nordstrom spaces. 4. Which cities sank in the Startup Genome's 2024 rankings? - Toronto and Vancouver did not perform so well while Montreal, Calgary, and Ottawa rose. 5. Ecommerce fulfillment platform Great Vision and Canada's Cargojet - A $116m deal has been signed between the two. Great Vision operates in China and Canada. #ecommercenews #canadanews #ecomx #startupnews #toronto #vancouver

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Canadians are tightening their wallets amidst rising prices and inflation. Budget-savvy shoppers are shifting from luxury buys to everyday essentials and gravitating towards lower-priced retailers. 📉🛒 What does this mean for retailers? Caila Schwartz Director of Consumer Strategy & Insights at Salesforce, shares insights from our Q1 Shopping Index with Retail Insider: https://lnkd.in/gg_SuJe6

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Explore how Canadian fashion influencers leverage platforms like ByTheLook to shape global fashion trends, blending style, technology, and commerce. #CanadianFashionInfluencers #ByTheLook

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How to Start a Business in Canada as a Foreigner in 2024 🌍🇨🇦 Starting a business in Canada as a foreigner in 2024 can be a rewarding venture, offering access to a robust economy and a multicultural society. However, navigating the legal and bureaucratic landscape can be challenging. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you get started. 🔗 Read More: For detailed insights and step-by-step instructions, visit our website. https://lnkd.in/dBdYUQqG Key Highlights: 🌟Immigration Options for Starting a Business in Canada 🌟Determine Your Business Structure 🌟Steps to Start a Business in Canada Arrange an initial private consultation with MICS Global to explore your needs and receive personalized insights. We look forward to connecting with you! 🌟🚀 #MICSglobal #GlobalMobility #BusinessInCanada #GlobalEntrepreneurs  #CitizenshipByInvestment #ExpandYourHorizons #MICSdifference #InvestmentOpportunities #GlobalResidency #immigration #immigrationlawyer #InvestmentMigration #SecureYourFuture #GlobalOpportunities #FinancialFreedom 

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In a recent online interview with ME +ai : A Marketing Education Community’s Liz Oke, Sonia Carreno, President of the IAB Canada, spoke about the profound influence of AI on marketing and marketing education. Read the full article here: https://hubs.ly/Q02tswSV0 #News #AI #Marketing #Interview #education

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