In late 2022, Wellensteyn, the Norderstedt, Germany-based outdoor apparel company, announced plans to enter the Canadian market and in 2024, represented by Tony Flanz at Think Retail, the chain opened its first Canadian store at the Outlet Collection at Niagara in Niagara-on-the-Lake on Ontario’s Niagara Peninsula. The success of the 2,350 square foot store has shown that Canada is a promising market for the international company, and it is now planning to open another store in 2027. The Wellensteyn workwear for men was initially introduced in the 1940s and it was in the 1990s that it moved beyond the protective workwear and added a wide selection of jackets and outerwear for outdoor enthusiasts. Today, Wellensteyn is a global brand that caters to men, women and children with insulated winter jackets, lightweight transitional pieces and weather-resistant styles, as well as shoes, hats, scarves, belts, sunglasses, watches and other accessories, designed for both urban and outdoor lifestyles. The brand is carried in department and specialty stores as well as its standalone stores across Europe. Flanz notes that in Canada, the company’s primary focus is on outlet centres across Ontario, however the team will also consider select locations in Quebec. The preferred sites are about 2,000 square feet.
Think Retail, 5900 Cavendish Blvd., Suite 910, Cote St Luc, Quebec H4W 3G9 (Tony Flanz – 514/731-7936 tflanz@thinkretail.ca)
Wellensteyn International GmbH & Co. Norderstedt, Germany (www.wellensteyn.com)