Close X
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
ADVT 
National

If The Shoe Fits: Amazon Chases Fashion With Canadian Clothing, Shoes Section

11 Jun, 2015 12:24 PM
  • If The Shoe Fits: Amazon Chases Fashion With Canadian Clothing, Shoes Section
TORONTO — Amazon.ca wants shoppers to say "Yes" to the dress, along with the shoes and the jacket.
 
The online retailer launched a new section on its Canadian website on Thursday devoted to clothing and shoes for both men and women.
 
It's the latest move by the Seattle-based retailer to grab a bigger share of the Canadian consumer dollar as it bulks up offerings that already include a wide array of non-perishable grocery items, electronics and housewares.
 
In the new section, Amazon carries brand names like Levi's, French Connection, Speedo, Timberland and Puma — with 1.5 million new items stocked altogether. Many of the most popular brands are already stocked by Hudson's Bay Co. (TSX:HBC), which will almost certainly become one of Amazon's biggest competitors in the area.
 
More fashion lines will be added in the future, said Alexandre Gagnon, country manager of Amazon.ca.
 
"Ultimately we want to have the biggest offering possible for our customers, so that list, hopefully, will be constantly evolving and growing," Gagnon said.
 
Amazon isn't chasing a particular segment of the market either, Gagnon added, unlike the influx of high-end U.S. department store chains like Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue, which are setting up shop in Canada.
 
"It's less about a specific kind of customer, but rather us having the biggest breadth of selection, the best experience from a delivery standpoint and offering good value for customers."
 
Amazon's clothing section will stock items shipped from both its distribution centres and through the Amazon Marketplace, a platform integrated into the company's website that lets individuals and small businesses sell and ship their own goods.
 
The combination of the two platforms could make it confusing for Canadian shoppers at first.
 
Depending on the specific item, clothing prices can range wildly based on who's selling the item.
 
For example, an UltraClub Men's Classic short-sleeve shirt was listed on Thursday for between $27 and $106, depending on the size and colour and the seller of the item.
 
Prices can also fluctuate based on availability, unlike traditional retailers who generally keep a fixed value on clothing items regardless of size and colour.
 
Other retailers should be worried about Amazon's dive into the fashion world, partly because they've built a reputation for cutthroat competition, said retail analyst Doug Stephens
 
"Amazon has the tendency to take really big bets on categories," he said. "They'll wilfully, and sometimes it seems gleefully, lose money just to make a point."
 
Amazon touts itself as having "Earth's biggest selection" of products. That, along with its low-overhead business model that operates through supply centres, rather than expensive bricks and mortar stores, means it frequently wins price wars.
 
Other Canadian fashion retailers have been ramping up their online presence in recent months, including both Hudson's Bay and Sears Canada (TSX:SCC), which are giving their websites a facelift in hopes of keeping pace with consumer expectations.
 
Still, department stores will almost certainly feel the biggest squeeze from Amazon's aggressive discounts.
 
"They're not as ruthless and competitive in price as Amazon can be and they're not as convenient, so it really leaves them vulnerable," Stephens said.
 
Amazon "seems to be fully focused on disrupting everybody and putting an awful lot of people out of business."
 
The web retailer also hopes to vault one of the common hurdles for clothing retailers online: the dreaded hassle of returning clothes through the mail.
 
Amazon says it will offer free shipping and free returns on eligible items to ease the worry of trying on clothes that don't fit.

MORE National ARTICLES

Submissions For 2015 Dhahan Prize For Punjabi Literature Open Now

Submissions For 2015 Dhahan Prize For Punjabi Literature Open Now
Following the success of the inaugural Dhahan Prize, submissions are now open for the world’s signature prize in Punjabi literature. 

Submissions For 2015 Dhahan Prize For Punjabi Literature Open Now

Canada-Wide Warrant Issued For Repeat Sex Offender Who Didn't Return To Halfway House In Vancouver

Canada-Wide Warrant Issued For Repeat Sex Offender Who Didn't Return To Halfway House In Vancouver
Police say Marcel Parent is a two-time federal offender who has served time for various offences including sexual assault, armed robbery and forcible confinement.

Canada-Wide Warrant Issued For Repeat Sex Offender Who Didn't Return To Halfway House In Vancouver

Shooting of auxiliary officer in Alberta raises safety concerns

Shooting of auxiliary officer in Alberta raises safety concerns
ST. ALBERT, Alta. — The shooting of an auxiliary RCMP officer in Alberta on Saturday is raising questions about whether more could be done to protect the safety of such officers who don't carry firearms.

Shooting of auxiliary officer in Alberta raises safety concerns

Baird says Palestinians made mistake pursuing Israel at international court

Baird says Palestinians made mistake pursuing Israel at international court
Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird reaffirmed Canada's opposition Monday to a Palestinian attempt to pursue war crimes charges against Israel at the International Criminal Court.

Baird says Palestinians made mistake pursuing Israel at international court

Power Restored To Thousands After Harsh Weather Causes Outages Across B.C.

Power Restored To Thousands After Harsh Weather Causes Outages Across B.C.
VANCOUVER — The power is back on in homes across British Columbia after harsh weather and strong winds left thousands in the dark.

Power Restored To Thousands After Harsh Weather Causes Outages Across B.C.

B.C. Civil Liberties Group And John Howard Society Sue Over Solitary Confinement

B.C. Civil Liberties Group And John Howard Society Sue Over Solitary Confinement
VANCOUVER — The B.C. Civil Liberties Association and the John Howard Society of Canada are suing the federal government over the use of solitary confinement for prisoners.

B.C. Civil Liberties Group And John Howard Society Sue Over Solitary Confinement