TRURO - For the first time in its 155-year history, Stanfield's Ltd. has plans to open a full-fledged company store.
The new retail outlet, expected to open in early August, will be located in what used to be the menswear department in the former Margolians store on Inglis Place.
"We're going to have one place where you can go see what Stanfield's brand is all about," company president Jon Stanfield revealed on Friday, of the underwear and garment manufacturer's plans. "But most importantly to that is Stanfield's Ltd. is more than just the Stanfield's brand. So we are also going to feature our products from our subsidiary companies that we operate in the U.S. and Canada."
That means the store will feature everything manufactured under the Stanfield's brand plus other lines which are currently only available in the larger populated areas of Canada and the United States. Some of those brand names include Hot Chillys, Snow Angel and Polarmax.
"These types of things that a lot of people don't know that we do," Stanfield said. "So it will act as a bit of a destination for those consumers who want to buy Stanfield's. They are going to be able to go to one stop, be able to get whatever product they've been able to buy in the past. And at the same time they are going to be able to look to see what our company and what our brand really is. So that's the intention of that store."
As opposed to simply being another tenant at the revamped Margolians location, however, Stanfield is buying in as a group partner along with current building owners Zach Rafih, Greg Johnson and Paul Clark.
Stanfield said he gave a lot of consideration to the move before making the final decision but he is confident it will serve both Stanfield's customers and the company well.
"I think it is a different direction for the company. The important thing is for us to ensure that if you want to buy Stanfield's products than you can buy them. And I think in our hometown, it's probably been difficult for consumers to find exactly what they used to buy," he said.
"So it's important that, this is our hometown, this is the company's head office town and it's important that we exhibit the products in front of the consumer, whether they are at home or abroad. We think that this will be a destination attraction to people who are coming to the Truro area to make sure that they stop at the Stanfield's company store, which in turn will get more traffic in the downtown and help everybody."
Although the retail site will be undergoing extensive renovations, Stanfield said, some of the character that former Margolian's shoppers might remember from the old building will remain.
"There will be new flooring but we are not going to take the squeak out of the floors," he said.
And for those customers who shop at the company's factory outlet at Logan St., no worries, Stanfield said, it will also remain intact.
