Holt Renfrew, the prestigious luxury retail department store, has recently unveiled ON 3, a newly renovated shopping floor at its flagship Downtown Toronto location. The ON 3 space highlights men’s and women’s fashion while also offering a wide range of exhibitions, pop-ups, panels, and entertainment. Adding his insights ON 3, Sebastian Picardo, Holt Renfrew President and CEO, said, “ON 3 is a place where style, culture, and community intersect into an exciting new space for our customers.”
As part of its effort to enhance the shopping experience, Holt Renfrew collaborated with GAV MGMT to design a state-of-the-art audio-visual setup to support store events, activations, and conferences featuring special guests. The goal was to create a seamlessly integrated audio system that would not only contribute to the luxury atmosphere but also meet the demands of a variety of events held in the space.
For the distributed audio system, GAV MGMT chose 1 SOUND’s Cannon C5 loudspeakers, known for their high-fidelity performance and compact design. The decision was made based on the need for speakers that could offer both top-notch sound quality and a discreet, modern aesthetic that would blend into the store’s environment. Working closely with their client, GAV MGMT requested a mounting solution that would meet the store’s preference for an unobtrusive setup. In response, 1 SOUND developed the Swivel Mount, an innovative and invisible mounting solution for the Cannon Series that enables both horizontal and vertical aiming. This allowed the system to be perfectly integrated into the retail space while maintaining high-quality sound and eliminating the need for external rental equipment.
“The Cannons in the space are outstanding. They have a certain texture to their sound that is nice to listen to and hear. We can walk and talk throughout the space without feeling like we are talking over the music, yet the music remains present and intimate in the space,” said Jonathon Duquette, Technical Director, GAV MGMT.
To add extra audio impact and improve the low-end response, GAV MGMT implemented 1 SOUND’s WSUB45 subwoofers, which were discreetly hidden in the ceiling and mounted using the WSUB45 C-Clamp accessory. The audio system is powered by Powersoft’s highly efficient and robust T304 and T604 amplifiers. With this setup, the audio coverage was optimized across the entire floor, ensuring that customers experienced consistent sound throughout the space. Holt Renfrew was committed to setting the perfect tone for customers as they entered the store, and the evenly distributed audio proved to be a crucial element in achieving the desired luxury ambiance.
Store management expressed excitement about the new audio system, praising both its sleek design and exceptional sound quality. One staff member remarked, “This system sounds great!”
In addition to the audio system, GAV MGMT also installed a seamless LED wall that enhances the space’s versatility. The LED wall can be used for a variety of purposes, such as supporting events, live-streaming conferences, and displaying dynamic exhibitions that change with the store’s needs.
“Everyone in the store is excited to showcase the new space and welcome our customers to experience ON 3,” said Ralph Roach, DVP and General Manager, Holt Renfrew Bloor Street. “We are confident that our customers are going to fall in love with the new experience we have cultivated.”
The ON 3 floor is set to redefine Holt Renfrew’s approach to luxury retail, blending fashion, culture, and cutting-edge technology into an immersive and engaging shopping environment. The new audio system, designed with the latest innovations, plays a key role in ensuring that the store’s atmosphere is both sophisticated and welcoming, making it a truly unique experience for all visitors.
