Canadian Retailer - Store 2014 - 14

STORE 2014 AWARDS OF DISTINCTION

DISTINGUISHED RETAILER OF THE YEAR

TAILORED FOR SUCCESS

Canadian retail icon attributes continued growth and success
to an intimate understanding of its customers and a penchant
to be the best
BY SEAN C. TARRY
WHEN it comes to great Canadian retail success stories, few Retailer of the Year award, he spreads the accompare to that of Harry Rosen. And when it comes to the in- colades around.
nate ability to build on the existing successes of a Canadian
"It's the company's award, our people's
retail icon, Larry Rosen must surely lead the way.
award," he says. "We run a ship here where
The high-end men's clothing specialist, opened by brothers there are a lot of very big retail thinkers-
Harry and Lou in Toronto's Cabbagetown in the mid-fifties, is some young and some that have been with
currently celebrating its 60th anniversary. Known around the us a long time-who make a huge difference
world as one of the very best men's clothiers anywhere, the to our success. I'm proud of the team we have
store has thrived through economic recessions, the ebb and here-a team of good people that really make
flow of men's fashion trends and styles, the advent and prolif- great things happen."
eration of modern technology, and everything that the indusThe company remains hard at work in an
try or anything else has been able to throw at
the company over the past six decades.
"We're in the business of assisting men develop
Through the years, the company has
grown to operate 16 stores in 8 major Can- a confident personal image. We understand
adian markets, employing over 700 associ- and advise our clients and earn and keep their
ates. But, how has it managed to do this in
loyalty and trust by continuing to provide good
the face of such stiff competition and everevolving consumer tastes and demands? advice and quality merchandise."
As Larry Rosen, Chairman and CEO of the
- LARRY ROSEN
company, and the recipient of Retail Council
of Canada's (RCC) 2014 Distinguished Retailer of the Year effort to continue expanding its presence,
award, explains it, "we succeed by always understanding the with plans for a 33,000 square-foot flagship
essence of our goal".
store in Montreal, a 24,000 square-foot flagLarry explains that the goal-to assist and guide men to- ship store in Toronto's Sherway Gardens, an
wards the clothing that helps best represent them-was laid extensive enlargement of its Pacific Centre
by his father as the foundation of the business when the first store, and other improvements across the
store opened, and was one that he learned through 25 years country. And the men's clothier continues to
of experience working within the company.
study and monitor the world markets, how
"What my dad started in the '50s was based on understand- men are dressing and the styles that resoning and learning about his customers and educating them ate with them, how retail is working around
into the value of building a great wardrobe," he says. "He al- the globe, and continuously incorporates its
ways said that Harry Rosen doesn't sell clothing. And we still findings into its plans...all with a desire to redon't. We're in the business of assisting men develop a confi- main on top.
dent personal image. We understand and advise our clients
"Our position in the country," explains
and earn and keep their loyalty and trust by continuing to Larry, "is to have the best menswear store
provide good advice and quality merchandise."
wherever we're located. We're not going to be
Larry speaks of the value of having had a mentor like his second place to anybody. And if we continue
father in his life early on to learn the ins and outs of the busi- to understand and serve our customers as we
ness. And when it comes to accepting RCC's Distinguished do, we'll continue to achieve this goal."

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