Holt Renfrew has been investing over $400mn to renovate and expand stores across Canada as it builds the world's leading curation of luxury apparel and beauty brands. The renovation and expansion of Holt Renfrew key stores was covered initially in the IGDS Weekly 23; in this edition further information on the investment are featured together with some pictures for your reference. The transformation of Holt Renfrew includes Holt Renfrew Ogilvy in Montreal, with a phased opening through 2020, as well as Toronto's 50 Bloor Street West flagship store and a 10,000 sq ft. (929 sq mt.) expansion at Toronto's Yorkdale location, both scheduled to be completed in 2020. Holt Renfrew is also making significant investments in new technologies that will improve and enhance customer interaction and support robust online capabilities.

The two-year, 40,000 sq ft. (3,716 sq mt.) expansion of Holt Renfrew Vancouver is nearly complete. The store now includes a renovated women's footwear area that has tripled in size and an expanded beauty hall, personal shopping and men's department. Holt Renfrew Vancouver now has over 75 vendor shops from some of the world's leading luxury brands. In Montreal, the store will expand to over 250,000 sq ft. (23,226 sq mt.), making it the largest Holt Renfrew in Canada. The store is adding an expanded beauty hall, leather goods shop and an enhanced women's footwear department. Holt Renfrew Ogilvy will also add a main-floor CHANEL presence and in-store shops. Holt Renfrew's Toronto flagship store at 50 Bloor Street West will be updated with an expanded and newly renovated women's footwear department opening as early as winter 2018. The flagship Toronto store will also include an expanded beauty department and women's leather goods area. Once complete, the store will also include an expanded men's department, repatriated from 100 Bloor Street West, which will grow by 55% compared to the stand-alone store and provide a more seamless shopping experience with an increased offering of the world's best brands.

Holt Renfrew Yorkdale will grow by 10,000 sq ft. (929 sq mt.) to 129,000 sq ft. (11,985 sq mt.). Customers will have the opportunity to enjoy an expanded personal shopping service with an additional two personal shopping suites and an expanded "world of" Gucci shop. Holt Renfrew is updating its entire online presence, including various categories being made available for purchase through ecommerce. These new technologies will be integrated into existing customer touch points, including the Holt Renfrew magazine.