The popular Maine-based L.L. Bean brand, partnering with the Toronto-based Jaytex Group, will open its first standalone Canadian store in 2019 in the Toronto area. It is the latest international brand to enter the Canadian market. In addition, the company already launched a Canadian e-commerce site and is selling its products this holiday season at 24 Canadian retailers, such as Sporting Life, Hudson’s Bay, MEC, and SportChek. Canadians can now buy the iconic ‘Bean Boot,’ plus the brand’s clothing for men and women, backpacks, and outdoor gear.
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According to CEO Steve Smith, the company already has a strong customer base in Canada, and its cold weather gear and focus on the outdoors fits perfectly with Canadian needs. The company has had three years of flat sales and is refocusing on its outdoor roots.
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Founded in 1912 by Leon Lemonwood Bean, the company still operates its original flagship store in Freeport, Maine, which has been open 24 hours a day since 1951, with few exceptions. The retailer also runs a network of stores in the U.S. and Japan and plans on opening 20 stores across Canada over the next 10 years.
Known for its liberal return policies, where they gave a 100% money back guarantee on purchases without a receipt, in February 2018, the company started limiting returns to one year of purchase and now require proof of purchase.
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Source: Retail-Insider.com