Canadian performance denim company Duer announced the opening of its third retail location in Calgary on July 2, 2020.
Selecting Calgary as the next location for a storefront was driven by an already-established customer base in the market. The 2,000-square-foot former Lululemon space is in Calgary’s retail and entertainment district (1708 4th Street SW). Due to COVID-19, the store will first open by-appointment-only, and safety precautions including masks and sanitizer will be on-site. While the retail landscape continues to be complex to navigate, Founder Gary Lenett is confident the demand for clothing that’s both versatile and functional will continue to grow.
“Expanding into Calgary has been on our radar for a couple of years,” said Lenett. “Although opening a new retail location in the current climate isn’t a simple task, it hasn’t clouded our enthusiasm.”
Design features in the Calgary location will include Duer’s indoor playground. The experiential approach originated at the Vancouver flagship store and grew from the desire to have customers experience the stretch, durability and comfort, characteristic of Duer’s products. The brand also has a store in Toronto.
News of the Calgary location is on the heels of the launch of NEXT by Duer, a quick response model with a goal to line up supply with demand and cut waste.
“Prior to the pandemic, our focus was on growing our retail business and we had a few markets in mind,” said Lenett. “We’re optimistic that after our Calgary store opens its doors, we’ll resume discussions of plans to expand South of the border.”
Photo courtesy Duer
