Ralph Lauren Corp. is expanding its business in Canada with a digital commerce launch and its first store in the country, the company announced Wednesday.
The company already had a wholesale and outlet presence in the country. The new store, located in Toronto, is part of the company’s strategy to build a “comprehensive omnichannel ecosystem expansion” in its top 30 cities globally. It plans to open more Ralph Lauren stores in Canada in the coming years.
The announcement comes after the company reported a 10% revenue decline in North America in its most recent quarterly earnings in August. At the time, Ralph Lauren attributed that to wholesale timing shifts and inflationary pressures on its “value-oriented consumers.” Sales in Europe and Asia offset this loss, and the company’s overall revenue remained steady at $1.5 billion for the quarter.
The Canadian expansion is part of the company’s “Next Great Chapter: Accelerate” plan, which it announced in 2022, per the release. That plan references targeted expansion in North America, Asia and Europe.
The company has 12 outlet stores in Canada and a wholesale presence in several retail stores, including Hudson’s Bay, Sporting Life and Harry Rosen, per the release.
“Ralph Lauren’s ethos of timelessness and authenticity has inspired and connected with our Canadian consumers for decades, and we’re excited to bring a more holistic expression of our brand to Canada,” Bob Ranftl, regional CEO for North America at Ralph Lauren Corporation, said in the release. “We look forward to serving our consumers throughout Canada with enhanced and elevated experiences that reflect our luxury lifestyle point of view.”
The store will include a mix of the men’s Purple Label and women’s collection, as well as Polo Ralph Lauren men’s and women’s. It will offer private styling appointments as well as alterations, repairs and made-to-measure tailoring.
Along with the storefront, Ralph Lauren also announced a new e-commerce website for Canada, RalphLauren.ca, set to launch Oct. 11. The website will include Ralph Lauren’s full portfolio of brands, including Purple Label, Ralph Lauren Collection, Polo Ralph Lauren, Double RL and Lauren. This includes men’s, women’s and children’s apparel, accessories and footwear and some home items, according to the release.
