Harry Rosen
Encyclopedia
Harry Rosen, CM
(born 1931) is the Founder and Executive Chairman of the Canadian luxury men's wear store Harry Rosen Inc.
, Rosen lived for a short time in Callander, Ontario
. As a teenager he found a job at a tailor
ing factory for men's clothes. There he learned about the making of clothing and, more importantly, about men's shopping habits.
After dropping out of high school he decided to open a men's clothing store.
business, he was able to open Harry Rosen Inc.
, on February 4, 1954 in Cabbagetown, Toronto
, with his brother Lou.
In 1961, the store moved to Toronto's downtown core on Richmond Street. That year Stann Burkhoff, an advertising executive, came in to shop. Rosen and Burkhoff became friends and Burkhoff arranged to do some ads for the store in exchange for two suits - one for him and one for his art director. Together, they developed the 'Ask Harry' campaign. These ads ran in Canada's national newspaper, The Globe and Mail
. It was so successful that people from across the country began coming to Harry Rosen.
s reading the Globe and Mail; Rosen is also carrying a copy in his arm while there is also one of the newspaper's vending boxes in the background of the street.
Upon spelling the name of Winnipeg
wrong after opening the city's first store there, Rosen later took out an ad in the Winnipeg Free Press
saying "I will not spell Winnipegger as "Winnippegger".
When the original main store was burned down, Rosen took out an ad which was almost mistaken for an Obituary
.
Board of Governors, Design Exchange and the United Jewish Appeal. He served a three year term as Campaign Chairman for the Canadian Cancer Society
, Metropolitan Toronto.
In 2004, he served on the Mt. Sinai Board of Governors, Ryerson B.Com program in retailing advisory board and on the Cabinet of Major Individual Gifts for the United Way of Canada
.
He appeared in a promotional campaign for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
to promote services for those affected by addiction and mental health issues in the Toronto area.
In April 2010 he was honoured at a fundraising event for The University Health Network called "Hats Off To Harry"
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(born 1931) is the Founder and Executive Chairman of the Canadian luxury men's wear store Harry Rosen Inc.
Harry Rosen Inc.
Harry Rosen Inc. is a Canadian retail chain of 15 high-end men's clothing stores. A privately owned company, Harry Rosen accounts for 40 percent of the Canadian market in high-end menswear...
Early life
Born and raised in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Rosen lived for a short time in Callander, Ontario
Callander, Ontario
The Municipality of Callander is a township in central Ontario, Canada, located at the southeast end of Lake Nipissing in the District of Parry Sound...
. As a teenager he found a job at a tailor
Tailor
A tailor is a person who makes, repairs, or alters clothing professionally, especially suits and men's clothing.Although the term dates to the thirteenth century, tailor took on its modern sense in the late eighteenth century, and now refers to makers of men's and women's suits, coats, trousers,...
ing factory for men's clothes. There he learned about the making of clothing and, more importantly, about men's shopping habits.
After dropping out of high school he decided to open a men's clothing store.
Career
With help from a family friend and connections in the cloth manufacturingTextile manufacturing
Textile manufacturing is a major industry. It is based in the conversion of three types of fibre into yarn, then fabric, then textiles. These are then fabricated into clothes or other artifacts. Cotton remains the most important natural fibre, so is treated in depth...
business, he was able to open Harry Rosen Inc.
Harry Rosen Inc.
Harry Rosen Inc. is a Canadian retail chain of 15 high-end men's clothing stores. A privately owned company, Harry Rosen accounts for 40 percent of the Canadian market in high-end menswear...
, on February 4, 1954 in Cabbagetown, Toronto
Cabbagetown, Toronto
Cabbagetown is a neighbourhood located on the east side of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It comprises "the largest continuous area of preserved Victorian housing in all of North America", according to the Cabbagetown Preservation Association....
, with his brother Lou.
In 1961, the store moved to Toronto's downtown core on Richmond Street. That year Stann Burkhoff, an advertising executive, came in to shop. Rosen and Burkhoff became friends and Burkhoff arranged to do some ads for the store in exchange for two suits - one for him and one for his art director. Together, they developed the 'Ask Harry' campaign. These ads ran in Canada's national newspaper, The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail is a nationally distributed Canadian newspaper, based in Toronto and printed in six cities across the country. With a weekly readership of approximately 1 million, it is Canada's largest-circulation national newspaper and second-largest daily newspaper after the Toronto Star...
. It was so successful that people from across the country began coming to Harry Rosen.
Novel advertisements
He as a long history of advertising in The Globe and Mail. One memorable ad features Rosen having just locked up his store for the evening, when he notices one of his window mannequinMannequin
A mannequin is an often articulated doll used by artists, tailors, dressmakers, and others especially to display or fit clothing...
s reading the Globe and Mail; Rosen is also carrying a copy in his arm while there is also one of the newspaper's vending boxes in the background of the street.
Upon spelling the name of Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
wrong after opening the city's first store there, Rosen later took out an ad in the Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg Free Press
The Winnipeg Free Press is a daily broadsheet newspaper in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Founded in 1872, as the Manitoba Free Press, it is the oldest newspaper in western Canada. It is the newspaper with the largest readership in the province....
saying "I will not spell Winnipegger as "Winnippegger".
When the original main store was burned down, Rosen took out an ad which was almost mistaken for an Obituary
Obituary
An obituary is a news article that reports the recent death of a person, typically along with an account of the person's life and information about the upcoming funeral. In large cities and larger newspapers, obituaries are written only for people considered significant...
.
Personal life
Rosen has been married to his wife, Evelyn, for over 50 years. They have 4 children and 7 grandchildren. His eldest son, Larry, is the CEO of Harry Rosen Inc.Philanthropy
Rosen has been active in the Canadian Paraplegic Association, Corporate Fund for Breast Cancer, Cancer Care Fund, Mount Sinai Friends for Life Campaign, Ryerson University Board of Governors, George Brown Board of Governors, University of Western OntarioUniversity of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
Board of Governors, Design Exchange and the United Jewish Appeal. He served a three year term as Campaign Chairman for the Canadian Cancer Society
Canadian Cancer Society
The Canadian Cancer Society is a national, community-based charitable organization of volunteers whose mission is to eradicate cancer and enhance the quality of life of those living with the disease....
, Metropolitan Toronto.
In 2004, he served on the Mt. Sinai Board of Governors, Ryerson B.Com program in retailing advisory board and on the Cabinet of Major Individual Gifts for the United Way of Canada
United Way of Canada
United Way of Canada is the national organization for the 117 autonomous, volunteer-based United Ways across Canada. United Way campaigns raise money for local groups that address community issues and problems, and the national organization provides leadership, services and coordination to the...
.
He appeared in a promotional campaign for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health is a consortium of mental health clinics at several sites in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its name in French is Centre de toxicomanie et de santé mentale...
to promote services for those affected by addiction and mental health issues in the Toronto area.
In April 2010 he was honoured at a fundraising event for The University Health Network called "Hats Off To Harry"
Awards
- 1987 — Retail Marketer of the Year by the Retail Council of CanadaRetail Council of CanadaThe Retail Council of Canada was founded in 1963. It is a Canadian not-for-profit association representing more than 40,000 stores of all retail formats, including independent merchants, regional and national mass and specialty chains, and online merchants...
- 2001 — Retail Council of Canada's Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2003 — Honorary Doctorate in Commerce, Ryerson UniversityRyerson UniversityRyerson University is a public research university located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its urban campus is adjacent to Yonge-Dundas Square located at the busiest intersection in Downtown Toronto. The majority of its buildings are in the blocks northeast of the square in Toronto's Garden...
- 2004 — Order of CanadaOrder of CanadaThe Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. - 2005 — the Pitti Immagine Uomo Award from the Italian fashion community