Transforming retail in Canada, with BonLook Founder and former CEO Sophie Boulanger

To kick off the first episode of the year, host Eva Hartling sits down with Sophie Boulanger — founder and former CEO of BonLook; advisor and investor — for a season-opening conversation about what retail transformation really means in 2026.

Because this is not the year for surface-level change. Brands will either evolve at the core… or fall behind.

In this episode, Sophie shares the lessons behind building one of Canada’s rare modern retail success stories — and what she believes today’s brands need to understand about changing consumer expectations, experience design, and the return to proximity and independent retail.

Eva and Sophie also zoom out to unpack what legacy retail can teach us right now: what the Hudson’s Bay fallout reveals about adding digital to a broken model, why Simons continues to win, and how smart operators are building resilience in a shifting market.

And finally, they look ahead — to what AI and technology integration can genuinely unlock for modern companies, and why the opportunity isn’t about gimmicks, but about becoming faster, smarter, and more connected to the customer.

A must-listen for founders, marketers, and business leaders navigating the next era of retail.

This is part one of this conversation, to be continued next week.

This season of our podcast is brought to you by our sponsor, TD Canada Women in Enterprise. TD is proud to support women entrepreneurs and help them achieve success and growth through its program of educational workshops, financing and mentorship opportunities! Find out how you can benefit from their support! Visit: TBIF: thebrandisfemale.com // TD Women in Enterprise: td.com/wie // Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/thebrandisfemale