With exclusive rights to the brand in Canada, Hudson’s Bay — who recently rebranded with a new logo and name — will open a 20,000-square foot Kleinfeld flagship in early 2014. Brides will now have access to expert bridal consultants and the same scope and breadth of designer gowns available at the New York Store.
“This is a thrilling day for our team at Kleinfeld,” says Ronald Rothstein, Co-Owner of Kleinfeld Bridal in a press release. “We are the largest luxury bridal retailer in the world and look forward to bringing the finest selection of exclusive designer wedding gowns to Hudson’s Bay.”
Along with dresses, Hudson’s Bay already popular bridal registry will be expanded to offer brides an unmatched addition to its current line of gifts, home and lifestyle products. A wise move given the current Canadian wedding industry is worth an estimated $750 million.
But what of the dresses themselves? If you ever watch the show then you’ll probably know that wedding gowns range from $2,000 to $30,000, however, in Canada they’ll start closer to $1,500. Kleinfed’s most expensive gown was an $80,000 custom-made one, making the targeted $1000 in sales per square foot completely attainable (in contrast, Hudson’s Bay generated a mere $133 per square foot in 2011).
Still, as the betrothed prepare to lace themselves into fitted Kleinfeld bodices, this is what I really want to know: Will the new Canadian partnership come with its own pack of cameras waiting eagerly for a shopper to say yes to that dress? Gawd I truly hope so. ‘Till TV ratings do them part.
