Venerable B.C. department store Army & Navy is preparing for its biggest revenue day of the year April 27, when it holds what owner Jacqui Cohen calls “Canada’s largest shoe sale.”
Women and men line up around the block at some of Cohen’s six large department store locations for the event, which helps the company generate approximately $1 million in total sales during the day.
Some shoes will also be available at Cohen’s new express-style store in the Dominion Building at 207 West Hastings Street (See “Army & Navy opens first express outlet” – BIV Daily News; April 11).
“It’s our Christmas,” Cohen told Business in Vancouver.
“The biggest thing about it is that there are designer names such as Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein and all these fancy labels at great bargain prices.
“The reason they line up around the corner is that we have so much selection and the shoes are so cheap. A lot of women wait all year and buy all their shoes at the shoe sale. It’s an average of 80% off regular retail.”
The most expensive shoes sell for $39.99.
Cohen said she has “not yet” decided to tear down her company’s longtime hub store in the downtown eastside to make way for development.
Two Army & Navy department stores are in Edmonton.
The remaining three are in New Westminster, Langley and Calgary.
Cohen’s next big event will be on June 4, when she hosts the Face The World fundraiser at her waterfront home in Point Grey.
Last year that event raised $1.2 million and featured Diana Krall, Elvis Costello and Nickelback lead singer Chad Kroeger among 240 attendees, each of whom paid $1,500 to attend the soiree. (See “Cohen’s Face the World raises $1.2 million” – BIV Daily News; June 8, 2010).