The fashion industry's next generation of global brands are being led by a totally different type of organization. Ones not led by speed or a designer name, but rather led by purpose and a tribe of consumers that subscribe to that purpose and serve as daily brand ambassadors.
MONTREAL (PRWEB) November 22, 2021
Montreal-based Frank And Oak is closing 2021 with a strong push to grow its global retail footprint within and beyond its existing North American borders, with stores opening in Kitsilano, British Columbia, Chicago, Illinois, and Shanghai, China. The organization’s 2021 Q4 retail expansion sets a foundation for an aggressive 2022 growth plan that includes additional retail partner opportunities, advanced e-commerce efforts in China, and brick and mortar stores in new US and Canadian markets.
Since acquiring Frank And Oak in 2020, Unified Commerce Group has led with a focus on building growth while driving profitability and preserving the brand’s ethos. What began as a cult favorite brand among male consumers in the tech and startup community quickly developed into a leader in the sustainability and purposeful living retail space. The new leadership leaned on its communicative community and initiated its future-forward efforts by investing in Frank And Oak’s consumer experience from a product offering perspective, while retaining the brand’s purpose-driven mission. 2021 has seen the brand successfully expand its category assortment to women’s intimates and sleepwear, along with men’s and women’s swimwear. These new growth categories are expected to contribute to 5% of Frank And Oak’s sales in 2022.
As part of this new chapter, new retail locations will leverage Unified Commerce Group’s newly launched IOP, allowing the stores to be used as fulfillment centers among other digitization capabilities. Stores with the platform will include the newly-opened New York and Chicago stores, along with the 3,600 square foot Canadian flagship in Kitsilano, British Columbia set to open November 24, 2021 and the first store outside of North America in Shanghai, China set to open December 1, 2021.
The global appetite for the brand has contributed to its growth, but it’s also its local Canadian roots and purpose-led mission that makes Frank And Oak so beloved. Its expansion naturally comes with a refocused dedication to its overall impact, conducting business in a better and more responsible way, with an increased focus on the people, product, and planet that contribute to the brand’s heartbeat. By the end of 2021, 75% of Frank And Oak’s products will be designed with more sustainable materials than before, including low water/low pesticide fibers, such as Kapok, and recycled fabrics and trims.
“The fashion industry's next generation of global brands are being led by a totally different type of organization. Ones not led by speed or a designer name, but rather led by purpose and a tribe of consumers that subscribe to that purpose and serve as daily brand ambassadors,” says Frank And Oak President, Dustin Jones.
About Frank And Oak
Combining style, design and technology since it was founded in 2012, Frank And Oak offers collections of clothing and accessories for men and women that are thoughtfully designed and well suited to the lifestyles of its customers. Present on the web and in 11 boutiques across Canada, the brand provides a personalized online experience to hundreds of thousands of members, surpassing its role as a retailer to reinvent the customer experience. Inspired by ethical thinking and with an eye to the future, Frank And Oak upholds the values of equity, diversity and inclusion and works to promote them in its communities. Frank And Oak is certified B Corporation®, meeting the highest standards of social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability in the industry.