Sustainable lifestyle brand Allbirds is opening its first ever Toronto store, and second location in Canada on August 10th. Located in the heart of Yorkdale Shopping Centre retail complex, the store spans 2425 square feet and was designed with the brand's sustainable values in mind.
The retail space was brought to life alongside local builders and subcontractors, with details like natural wood, custom try on chairs and uniquely shaped mirrors featured throughout. Each element and fixture in the store also displays its carbon footprint, "a first for the fashion and footwear industry and a hallmark to Allbirds' approach to sustainability."
In addition to green-certified materials, Energy Star rated appliances and a waste reduction design model that reuses existing infrastructure, the store will monitor its energy usage. Its most outstanding features include a storefront made from fully recyclable aluminum and renewable walnut plywood.
Founded in 2016, Allbirds is dedicated to making sustainable products using super natural materials designed for everyday life. "With an already established digital presence we are excited for the potential for Allbirds in this market. The Canadian consumer has demonstrated that they love the Allbirds brand and suite of products that embody our promise of super natural comfort. Canadians and Torontonians alike show empathy for the natural world, enthusiasm for natural materials and have a strong connection to our purpose, which makes this an important place for us to build our community," said Allbirds Co-Founder and Co-CEO Tim Brown.
"Toronto is an important market for Allbirds, so it was a natural evolution for us to decide to plant roots here. In 2018, we tested the market with a Queen Street pop-up and it quickly became clear that our Toronto consumer had an appetite for a local brick-and-mortar store. We are excited to offer a new way for our Toronto customers to experience Allbirds – a city that melds so well with the Allbirds lifestyle - casual, comfortable and an epicenter for health and wellness. The Toronto store will bring the community together, acting as a home-base for run clubs, artists, culinary ambassadors and all fans of the brand."
Sustainable Canadian Retail Expansions
The Toronto Allbirds Brick-and-Mortar Store is Eco-Friendly
Trend Themes
1. Sustainable Retailing - Allbirds' eco-friendly Toronto store design, energy-efficient technology usage, and carbon footprint display introduces sustainable retailing trend.
2. Digital to Brick-and-mortar Expansion - Allbirds' opening of its first brick-and-mortar store in Toronto following a successful in Toronto pop-up tests introduces a trend of digital-to-physical store expansions.
3. Health and Wellness Lifestyle Brands - Allbirds' new Toronto location and emphasis on wellness in its product line align with a growing trend of health and wellness lifestyle brands.
Industry Implications
1. Sustainable Fashion Industry - Allbirds' eco-conscious approach, from store design to product materials, offers opportunities for disruptive innovation in the sustainable fashion industry.
2. Retail Industry - Allbirds' success with digital sales and the expansion to brick-and-mortar stores introduces innovative opportunities in the retail industry for businesses looking to merge e-commerce and traditional storefronts.
3. Athletic Footwear Industry - Through Allbirds' emphasis on wellness in their product line and the company's connection with fitness communities in Toronto, there are opportunities for innovation in the athletic footwear industry for creating more sustainable and comfortable products.