Dive Brief:
- Target’s Cat & Jack children’s apparel brand will debut on Thursday in most of Canadian retailer Hudson’s Bay’s 82 physical stores, along with the retailer’s online store, the companies said in an announcement last week. Hudson’s Bay will put “a dedicated Cat & Jack experience in every store,” the retailer said.
- The move puts a popular Target-owned brand back into Canada nearly a decade after the retailer closed all of its big box stores and withdrew from the country. That move came after less than two years of operation following a failed attempt to expand its retail footprint beyond the U.S.
- Hudson’s Bay President and CEO Liz Rodbell said in a statement that Cat & Jack will be a key part of the retailer’s assortment. “Now more than ever, parents are looking for stylish and durable clothing that is also affordable for their families,” Rodbell said. “We're listening to customers, and are very focused on delivering an assortment that is relevant and reflects what Canadian families are looking for.”
Dive Insight:
The Cat & Jack assortment at Hudson's Bay will feature tanks, T-shirts, shorts, pants, and dresses, including denim and fleece pieces. Sizes range from 4 to 14 with prices from $7 to $35, the retailers said.
“As we continue to expand this established area of our business, we're pleased to work with Hudson's Bay to offer our popular Cat & Jack kids brand to Canadian shoppers in all Hudson's Bay stores and via TheBay.com,” Bill Foudy, Target’s president of owned brand sourcing and development, said in a statement.
Cat & Jack has grown to a $3 billion brand since its 2016 launch. It now sells over 300 million units annually, Jill Sando, Target’s chief merchandising officer of apparel and accessories, said during a recent earnings call. According to Target, that would equate to over eight items sold for every child under 12 years old in the U.S. Sando said Cat & Jack drives repeat trips and sales, especially during recurring times like back-to-school and throughout the year as kids grow up into larger-sized clothing.
Sando also said Cat & Jack compliments Target’s young adult-focused Wild Fable brand. Both Cat & Jack and Wild Fable, which launched in 2018 and added a swimwear offering last year, are among the largest brands in the segment, according to the Target executive.
Recent launches have grown Target’s owned brand portfolio to over 50 labels. They include the introduction of Giggelscape, a new toy brand offering stuffed animals, books and games for $20 or less. The retailer also recently relaunched Up&Up, its home essentials label, and it also introduced Dealworthy, a new low-price brand.
