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Women's Clothing Stores in Canada - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Christian Perdomo Christian Perdomo New York, United States Last Updated: September 2024 NAICS 44812CA

Revenue

$8.8bn

2024

$8.8bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

69,208

Businesses

4,916

Wages

$X.Xbn

Women's Clothing Stores in Canada industry analysis

Canada's Women's Clothing Stores has seen moderate growth, driven by rising consumer confidence and improving economic conditions. However, traditional brick-and-mortar stores increasingly feel pressure from e-commerce giants and the surge in direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands. As more shoppers turn to online platforms for their fashion needs, retailers have had to innovate continuously to maintain their foothold. Women's clothing stores' revenue has hiked at a CAGR of 2.4% over the past five years and is expected to total $8.8 billion in 2024 when revenue will hike by an estimated 3.4%.

Trends and Insights

  • E-commerce's boost has hit traditional retailers hard. The shift towards digital strategies, global reach, personalized experiences and innovative selling options in e-commerce has significantly decreased foot traffic in physical stores, forcing many to restructure or close their businesses.
  • Tops are the most profitable item for women's clothing stores. Despite a drop in market share, their lower price, versatility and quicker wear-out rate lead to more frequent purchases.
  • Ontario attracts women’s clothing stores with its large pool of shoppers. Being Canada’s most populous province, it offers high-traffic areas for retailers, boosting potential sales.
  • Internal competition among women’s clothing stores is largely driven by brand image, quality, price and customer service. To maintain a competitive edge, retailers dedicate substantial resources to elevate brand awareness, promote their products and ensure top-notch customer service.

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 2.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $8.8bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Traditional retailers struggling amid acceleration of e-commerce

  • Over the past five years, traditional brick-and-mortar retailers have faced intense competition from online retailers, direct-to-consumer (DTC) and department stores, forcing many to close down.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Women's Clothing Stores in Canada
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Economic recovery will spur growth in Canadian Women's Clothing Stores industry

  • The anticipated economic recovery and a steady increase in per capita disposable income will drive higher consumer spending on high-margin women's clothing products over the next five years, stimulating industry growth and profitability.

Biggest companies in the Women's Clothing Stores in Canada

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Reitmans (Canada) Limited
567.4
8.3
1.5
Groupe Dynamite
396.9
N/A
N/A
YM Inc.
383.4
15.6
4.1

To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Women's Clothing Stores in Canada
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Tops , Bottoms and Dresses. Tops is the largest segment of the Women's Clothing Stores in Canada.

Trends and Insights

Tops have a shorter life-span than other clothing items

  • Tops encompass a wide range of items, including blouses, t-shirts, tank tops and sweaters. These are essential wardrobe staples, which means customers frequently return to update their collections or replace worn items, leading to steady, repeat business.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Retailers specializing in women's wear often include various categories like juniors' clothes, misses' clothes, plus-size fashion and maternity wear. Many retailers also offer accessories and other apparel items, including those typically associated with the men's and children's clothing industry. These additional product lines are traditionally managed by industries like the Men's Clothing Stores industry in Canada (IBISWorld report 44811CA) and the Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores industry in Canada (IBISWorld report 44813CA).

What's included in this industry?

Selling women's dressesSelling women's accessoriesSelling women's suitsSelling women's bottomsSelling women's topsSelling women's outerwearSelling women's footwear

Companies

Reitmans (Canada) LimitedGroupe DynamiteYM Inc.

Purchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

FASHION-FORWARDFAST FASHIONPREMIUM DENIM

Industry Code

NAICS 2007

NAICS 448120 - Women's Clothing Stores in Canada

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

E-commerce's boost has hit traditional retailers hard. The shift towards digital strategies, global reach, personalized experiences and innovative selling options in e-commer...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Tops are the most profitable item for women's clothing stores. Despite a drop in market share, their lower price, versatility and quicker wear-out rate lead to more frequent ...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Ontario attracts women’s clothing stores with its large pool of shoppers. Being Canada’s most populous province, it offers high-traffic areas for retailers, boosting potentia...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each province in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each province in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Internal competition among women’s clothing stores is largely driven by brand image, quality, price and customer service. To maintain a competitive edge, retailers dedicate s...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Reitmans, a Canadian clothing store, went digital. They broadened their digital presence by launching an online platform, RCL Market, to boost consumer engagement and diversi...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Reitmans (Canada) Limited's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Groupe Dynamite's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of YM Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Reitmans (Canada) Limited, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Groupe Dynamite, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for YM Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Women's clothing stores in Canada must adhere to common labour and safety regulations. However, they aren't subject to many other specific or significant regulations.

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

High-margin upscale stores have outperformed others. Increased price competition from large e-tailers has forced many less profitable stores to close, highlighting a shift to...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Assets (2017-2022)
  • Liabilities (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Women's Clothing Stores industry in Canada in 2024?

The market size of the Women's Clothing Stores industry in Canada is $8.8bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Women's Clothing Stores in Canada industry in 2024?

There are 4,916 businesses in the Women's Clothing Stores industry in Canada, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Women's Clothing Stores industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Women's Clothing Stores industry in Canada has been growing at a CAGR of 2.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Women's Clothing Stores industry in Canada over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Women's Clothing Stores industry in Canada is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Women's Clothing Stores market in Canada?

The biggest companies operating in the Women's Clothing Stores market in Canada are Reitmans (Canada) Limited, Groupe Dynamite and YM Inc.

What does the Women's Clothing Stores in Canada include?

Selling women's dresses and Selling women's accessories are part of the Women's Clothing Stores industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Women's Clothing Stores in Canada?

The company holding the most market share in Canada is Reitmans (Canada) Limited.

How competitive is the Women's Clothing Stores industry in Canada?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Women's Clothing Stores industry in Canada.

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Canada include:

  • Statistics Canada
  • Industry Canada
  • Canadian Business Patterns

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.