Laura (clothing retailer)
 | |
| Private | |
| Industry | Retailer for women's wear |
| Founded |
1930 1989 (Laura Petites) 1995 (Laura Plus) 1984 (Melanie Lyne) 2002 (Laura Superstore) |
| Headquarters | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
Number of locations |
200 47 (Melanie Lyne) 71 (Laura Petites) 54 (Laura Plus) 18 (Laura Superstore) |
| Divisions | Melanie Lyne, Laura Plus, Laura Petites & Laura |
| Website |
www |
Laura is a Canadian women’s wear boutique chain. From a single boutique in Montreal, Quebec, Laura Canada has grown to 200 stores (26 of which are double concept stores and 36 being triple concept stores) with plans for continued expansion and growth.
Founded in 1930 by Laura Wolstein, the first Laura store was located on St. Hubert Street, Montreal and later moved to Verdun Avenue in Verdun, a suburb of Montreal. It was a successful women’s wear boutique. Mrs. Wolstein's daughter and son-in-law, Gertrude and Leonard Fisher, were actively involved in the business for a number of years.
Laura Canada remained a one-store operation until 1973 when Kalman Fisher, grandson of Laura Wolstein, and now President of Laura Canada, opened a second store in a small shopping centre in the Montreal suburb of St. Laurent. A third store was opened in Place Vertu in 1975, followed by another in les Galeries d'Anjou in 1976.
Over the years, Laura Canada has increased its holdings by expanding throughout Quebec and by expanding into Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. Today, in addition to the original Laura concept, of which there are 72 locations, Laura Canada offers three additional divisions: Laura Petites, Laura Plus, and Melanie Lyne.