Roots, Ardene and Simons join store closures in Canada amid Covid-19 outbreak

By

Jennifer Braun

Published
Mar 19, 2020

As the Covid-19 outbreak continues to accelerate, more brands and retailers announced on Wednesday that it would close its retail locations across the country. 

Joining brands like Aritzia, Lululemon and Canada Goose in a retail black out, more announcements have come from Roots, Ardene and Simons, to name a few. 

Simons

Quebec-based retailer Simons said it would close all of its store locations in Canada for an indefinite period. The retailer operates 15 store locations in the country including nine in Quebec, two in Ontario, three in Alberta and one location in British Columbia. 

In a statement from founder Peter Simons, the company has been taking a number of measures since February, including cancelling business trips and implementing heightened hygiene practices in its facilities to protect employees and customers. 

Roots

Toronto-based premium outdoor lifestyle brand Roots said it commenced store closures in most regions on Wednesday and expects the majority of its stores to be closed until March 31, 2020.

The company operates nine Roots stores in Canada and three in the U.S., as well as 61 Roots stores in Taiwan, 35 in China and one in Hong Kong.

Ardene 

Canadian retailer Ardene made the decision to close all of its retail stores across North America from now until March 31st due to Covid-19.

The company, launched in Canada in 1982, has over 350 Ardene locations across the country. It equally opened its first U.S. store in 2015 and now operates three U.S. locations. 

Furthermore, Ardene corporate teams will work remotely. The retailer also assured that retail employees impacted by the closures are being supported.

Indochino 

Vancouver-based made-to-measure menswear company Indochino said it would temporarily close its retail showrooms in the U.S. and Canada as of Wednesday until at least March 27.

The company operates over 50 showrooms across North America, as well as a location in Australia, where it made its premier launch last summer. 

The company said that during the closure, it will pay its employees for their scheduled hours.  

Arc’teryx 

Vancouver-based outdoor retailer Arc’teryx closed all its Canadian brand and factory outlet stores as of Tuesday evening, through March 31.

Earlier this year, it opened its largest store in Canada, in Victoria, B.C. The company currently operates 50 branded stores including ten in Canada. 

“During this time, our e-commerce channels will operate as normal and our employees will receive pay for all hours they have been scheduled to work,” Arc’teryx said in a statement. 

Little Burgundy

 

Canadian footwear and accessories retailer Little Burgundy equally announced that it would close its stores until March 28. 

Founded in 2008, Little Burgundy has over 36 stores across Canada selling brands like Adidas, Converse, Nike, Vans, Jeffrey Campbell, Herschel Supply and more. 

L'Oréal Canada 

L'Oréal Canada said its retail stores, which includes Kiehl's, NYX Professional Makeup and Atelier Cologne across Canada, as well as its Beauty Outlets sales in Toronto will be closing until further notice. 

In addition, the beauty company is taking specific precautions for its 1,300 employees across Canada, such as a travel ban; postponement of all major events, implementation of virtual meetings and an optional work-from-home policy.

Rudsak 

Montreal-based luxury outerwear label Rudsak is also shuttering its stores across North America until further notice. 

Rudsak has expanded rapidly in recent years, quadrupling its store footprint since 2010, and opening an average of four stores per year since 2012.

Today, the label operates over 30 stores in Canada, as well as a flagship store in New York, which it inaugurated last year.

At the time of this report, there are approximately 655 cases of Covid-19 in the country. Canada's Prime Minister Justine Trudeau has urged Canadians to practice social distancing.