Simons celebrates 10 years in Ontario
- Simons is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of its first Ontario store in Mississauga, as well as the Ottawa CF Rideau Centre location, marking significant milestones in its expansion outside Quebec.
- Founded in 1840, Simons has a rich history of sourcing exclusive fashions and supporting Canadian artists, reflected in its unique store designs and partnerships with local art communities.
- The retailer emphasizes exceptional in-store customer service, offering tailored assistance, on-site alterations, lingerie fitting specialists, and complimentary gift wrapping to enhance the shopping experience.
- Simons features exclusive private label collections and designer brands, continually updated to reflect current trends and seasonal styles, including back-to-school and autumn fashion, activewear, and home décor lines.
Popular department store Simons is celebrating several major milestones this year, including the 10-year anniversary of the opening of its first store in Ontario, at Mississauga Square One.
In looking back at a successful decade, the storied Canadian fashion retailer is celebrating the loyal community that has supported its mission to bring unique and innovative styles to Canadians, from coast to coast.
Bringing a distinct style to Ontario
Tracing its origins back to 1840, when the son of a Scottish immigrant decided to open a shop for dried goods and assorted wares in Quebec City, Simons has grown alongside Canadians. From trips back to Europe in the late 19th century to pick out the latest goods to launching exclusive in-house fashion brands like Twik in the 1960s, Simons has always focused on how it can best serve its clients.
The opening of the Mississauga store in 2016 signalled the company’s move into Ontario and was quickly followed by the opening of the Ottawa CF Rideau Centre location, which is also celebrating its tenth anniversary. The store’s historic façade and entirely glass top floor stand out in the heart of Ottawa. Inside, a sculpture by Shayne Dark and a partnership with the Ottawa Art Gallery highlighting the work of regional artists have inspired customers to get creative and make bold fashion choices.
Meanwhile, the CF Toronto Eaton Centre and Yorkdale Shopping Centre locations are celebrating their first full year of serving shoppers. Both stores embody Simons’ tradition of featuring Canadian artists alongside exclusive collections, which is rooted in the company’s belief that “fashion is one of the most powerful forms of self-expression,” according to Simons CEO Bernard Leblanc.
To thank customers that have continued to walk through Simons’ doors and support a Canadian brand that creates world-class retail experiences, Simons is running several in-store events during the last two weekends of September.
Customer service that goes above and beyond
Helping people find and develop their style has always motivated Simons to elevate the shopping experience. By gathering exclusive international collections, fashionable in-house designs and national brands under one roof, then pairing it with extraordinary customer service, every customer can enjoy an elevated shopping experience while searching for their perfect pieces.
When you shop at Simons, you get so much more than small-talk at the register. Attentive customer service means its expert team are always available to answer any style questions or find the right size for that statement piece.
Simons maintains a team of tailors at each of its stores so any alterations can be made quickly and precisely. Menswear associates are also on-site to help pick the right shirts, jackets and pants while women’s lingerie specialists can help find the perfect bra-style and size in the privacy of the Miiyu section.
If you are shopping for someone special or a celebratory occasion, Simons can help you mark the moment with its complimentary gift-wrapping services. Just ask in-store for one of Simons’ iconic green boxes.
How to have a fashionable fall
Simons’ locations are designed according to style zones that feature unique, stand out pieces from the season’s hottest trends, whether you are looking for trend-forward streetwear or modern classics, activewear or youth fashion.
Across these zones, shoppers will find many stylish private labels. Each of these brands are available exclusively in Simons and offer their own distinct identity, with a thoughtful mix of fashion must-haves pieces and everyday essentials. Highlights include Contemporaine for timeless and sophisticated womenswear and Le 31 for classic menswear, while Twik and Djab offer a wide array of everyday youth styles inspired by current streetwear and fashion trends. Keep an eye out for Icône for women, which offers cutting-edge styles with bold designs for fashionistas who aren’t afraid to stand out and i.FiV5, for men and women in search of elevated activewear. The Simons Maison line brings that same level of style and sophistication to your home, with an exciting line of home décor items, from fun seasonal decorations to must-have pieces for every room of the house.
No matter the season, the buying teams at Simons continually evolve these collections to reflect current trends, its customers’ changing needs and a commitment to style, quality and value.
Stores are currently featuring back-to-school, autumn workwear and art deco home styles. Deep, rich colours, textured fabrics, statement jewelry pieces and bags adorn shelves, helping you picture the fall vibes you want to capture in your style. If you are looking to go more casual, a trending collection of turtlenecks and polos in earthy tones and barrel and baggy low-rise jeans made with organic cotton await you.
Don’t forget to stop by Simons’ Edito department, where you can find big names like Ganni, Stella McCartney, Vivienne Westwood, Paul Smith, AMI, Isabel Marant, Paloma Wool and many others. In-store staff are experts at navigating the dozens of designer brands Simons features across women’s and men’s clothing and accessories, so be sure to ask about any hidden seasonal gems.
To learn more about the anniversary activations and to start your shopping experience online, visit Simons.ca.
This story was created by Content Works, Postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of Simons.