FAO Schwarz comes to Canada with holiday pop ups at Hudson’s Bay Co.
The pop-ups represent the iconic brand's first physical presence in Canada
PHOTO: FAO Schwarz/Marga via Wikimedia Commons
TORONTO – Iconic American toy brand FAO Schwarz is coming to Canada with pop-up locations at Hudson’s Bay Co. stores.
The pop-ups will open at each of the Toronto-based department store chain’s locations, but only for the 2018 holiday season.
The spaces that will range in size from 27 to 111 square metres (300 to 1,200 square feet) will sell oversized plush animals, classic toy train sets and playmat replicas of the life-size piano that Tom Hanks danced on in the famous scene from the 1988 movie “Big.”
FAO Schwarz said the deal marks the first time the brand has had a physical presence in the country.
Asked if FAO Schwarz will consider bringing its own stores to Canada, the company’s chief merchandising officer David Niggli says the company is always considering opportunities and would never count the possibility out, but is focused for now on the HBC partnership.
HBC President Alison Coville couldn’t say whether the FAO Schwarz partnership could stick around after the holidays, but said HBC will look at expanding or doing it again, if it is a success.
