Jeremy Reitman, a stalwart of the Canadian womenswear scene who guided Montreal-based Reitmans Ltd. through the so-called retail apocalypse, has died.
The company announced the death of its chairman and CEO in a brief statement on Sunday, saying the entire company mourns for him.
B次元官网网址淭he board of directors, management team and employees of the company extend their deepest sympathies to the Reitman family.B次元官网网址�
Reitman was also a loving father, stepfather and grandfather, according to an obituary published on the website of a Montreal funeral home.
B次元官网网址淎 passionate golfer, skier, Moishes regular, toastmaster and philatelist, Jeremy was also a strong supporter of Israel and Jewish causes and a most devoted friend,B次元官网网址� reads the notice, which did not specify his age.
B次元官网网址淛eremy will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by his many nieces, nephews, cousins and all who knew him.B次元官网网址�
The obituary says Reitman died peacefully in Florida on Saturday. It says he was an alumnus of Dartmouth College, McGill Law, Westmount High School and Camp Kennebec.
He was also the grandson of Reitmans Ltd. founders Herman and Sarah Reitman. His brother, Stephen Reitman, serves as chief operating officer.
Jeremy Reitman was head of the 93-year-old family business for a decade, serving as president before taking over as CEO and chairman. He steered the company through a rapidly changing retail landscape, contending with an influx of U.S. competitors who set their sights on the Canadian market and the rise of e-commerce. Amid the ruins of Canadian retailers, Reitmans is one of the few domestic chains still standing, though it is shrinking.
When he took control, the company was growing, from 854 stores in 2004 to 968 in 2011. Today, there are 587.
In 2011, the company announced that it would close its Cassis stores, which were geared towards women over 40. Three years later, it said it would also shutter Smart Set locations, which had targeted young urban professionals.
Five separate banners remain, including Reitmans, Penningtons and Addition Elle, the latter two brands focused on the plus-size market.
With an eye to the rise of Lululemon and the B次元官网网址漚thleisure wearB次元官网网址� trend, Reitman also led the companyB次元官网网址檚 foray into the activewear market with the launch of its Hyba line. There were briefly standalone Hyba stores, but now the clothes are sold online and in Reitmans locations.
Under Jeremy ReitmanB次元官网网址檚 tenure, the company also gained attention for a series of notable ads in the mid-aughts that pitted ReitmansB次元官网网址� wearable fashions against haute couture looks.
B次元官网网址淩eitmans: One. Haute Couture: Zero,B次元官网网址� one of the two judges would inevitably say, before explaining that the companyB次元官网网址檚 clothes are B次元官网网址渄esigned for real life.B次元官网网址�
In a December 2006 interview with The Canadian Press, Jeremy Reitman said the ads B次元官网网址� and the middle-class ethos behind them B次元官网网址� boosted sales for the company.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e always built our business on the middle and the lower middle because thatB次元官网网址檚 where the money is, thatB次元官网网址檚 where the people are and thatB次元官网网址檚 where the broad base of customers are,B次元官网网址� he said at the time.
Nearly a decade later, in 2015, the company tapped Meghan Markle as a spokeswoman.
Before the now-Duchess of Sussex began dating Prince Harry, she designed a capsule collection for Reitmans, and in a series of ad spots, she proudly told viewers that B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 Reitmans. Really.B次元官网网址�
A company spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on ReitmanB次元官网网址檚 death on Sunday. A funeral is scheduled for Jan. 2 in Montreal. The family will then sit shiva in his home.
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Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press
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