A Conversation With Addam Rodriguez of The Arrivals With the growing importance of digital in fashion commerce and customers spending so much more time online, a strategic digital identity isn't just a nice to have; it’s a necessity. We spoke with Addam Rodriguez, Digital Art Director of New York based outerwear studio The Arrivals, about his process and system for developing consistent visual concepts and a strong artistic language for the brand. @addamrod Hey Addam, awesome to be connected! For those who might not be familiar, tell us a little about yourself. Hey! I’m Addam and I am the Digital Art Director for the outerwear brand The Arrivals. Growing up in LA, I was always surrounded by photography. My uncle was a photographer and was always around taking pictures and had some super expensive cameras which I got really into. When I got a bit older I went to school for audio engineering but I always found myself out taking photos and realized I liked that way more. Out of school, I got a graphic design job at a brand in the arts district in LA but started doing photography for them as well and also worked in the warehouse. It was great to be a part of all aspects of that business because it allowed me to understand the go-to-market and storytelling aspects of the brand which made for better photography and visuals. My next job after that was for this ready to wear brand called Frankie. I worked with the lead designer and travelled with the brand between NY & LA, basically just taking photos of the whole process of the brand. After a few trips, I knew I wanted to come out and live in NY and get better at my photography out here. I met with The Arrivals and they offered me a graphic design role. I was nervous about taking another graphic designer position but I loved the brand and the overall culture. Once I got into the role though, I told them I could shoot too and over time it turned into more of a photography role and now the digital art direction role that I have today. That’s a wild journey but seems like it all worked out. What is your process for coming up with your visual concepts for The Arrivals? We’re a small team so everyone is involved in everything. Early on, I’m in conversations with the designers and production teams so I can get a really solid understanding of the product. Being in the warehouse at my first job definitely taught me to learn the product cycle well so that I could bring in all of those details into the final visual concepts. Internally we all talk about concepts and once we land on an idea, it’s up to me to figure out how we communicate that to our audience and I work alongside the creative director to bring it all to life. I spend a lot of time looking at data from past campaigns to see what’s working, what kind of things have our audience been responsive to in the past, stuff like that. Once we have product samples I’m then able to start working out the visual flow and moodboarding and we’ll A-B test a ton. I have to create content for everything like email, ads, social and web so there’s a lot of planning since we don’t (and you never should) use the same content for everything. To make things easier, I have built out a pretty robust system for how I shoot to develop consistency and a visual language that our customers will recognize and remember us for. Once I’m happy with the flow, I draft out the final shot list and then work out the planning for production. This whole process can take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple months but it’s always super fun to put together. That system you mentioned definitely shines through. The Arrivals content is some of the most coordinated in the game from campaign to campaign. Why is aligning product and content styling so important for you and the brand? That’s great to hear [laughs]. I have a huge appreciation for what goes into making the garments so I want to ensure the work I do represents all that effort put in by the design teams. Our products are very elevated and with good styling it can become even more elevated. I’ve started experimenting with other mediums besides photo like 6k video which everybody said we didn’t need but it allows for the smoothest transitions and flows that I feel mimic actions in our daily life and make the content so approachable and appealing. The pandemic has really expedited the growth of digital, especially consumer’s adoption/habits of shopping online. What should new brands keep in mind when developing a visual identity for their brand? This is a great question. I’ve tried so many things throughout the years and I think most importantly, it’s important to figure out what you really love and to build on that. Don’t try to be like everything else you see just because it’s popular. Even if what you are working on doesn’t work out right away, don’t give up. Keep experimenting and refining and build a system over time that works for you. A visual identity is like a house. You can design the interior as many times as you want as long as you hold on to the foundation of the building. That’s great advice for brands! What are some tips you’d give to individuals looking to bring their skills to a brand as an art director? Learn as many tools as possible. You don’t need to be the best at any of them but a knowledge of the different tools will allow you to put together initial ideas and then you can bring in the experts to help you bring it to life. Even if you can get the concept to 10% baked, that will help everyone understand the vision and then you bring in the pro editors, retouchers, colour specialists, etc. Another thing I’d say is go big on networking. You also don’t always need to connect with the biggest names. There are so many people doing amazing work behind the scenes that can give you great advice or introductions. This was huge for me when coming to New York. Lastly, it’s important to be patient. Things take time. I’ve been here for about 4 years and it’s all just starting to click for me which is exciting. Now I just need to keep pushing! Totally agree! So now that things are clicking, what do you have your sights set on next? I want to make the shopping experience for our customers even better using interactive video and stronger graphics. I’ve built the house and now it’s time to renovate the interior with new visuals to create a better moment for the customer. I’m all about that moment! Who doesn’t love a good moment?! Lastly, we’re finally starting to see some normalcy again and it’s looking to be a wild summer! What are you most looking forward to doing again in NYC as things open back up? Honestly, just meeting people. It’s hard to stay creative when everything is locked down. I knew so many people who moved out of the city at the start of the pandemic and they’re coming back now. I can’t wait to meet up with them and see what they’re working on. I think we’re seeing a new wave of creatives who are about to take this industry by storm and I’m excited to witness it in person! Check out Addam and The Arrivals on Instagram and keep it locked to Pier Five for more interviews and stories with the coolest designers, artists, activists, entrepreneurs and more.

An Introduction to norda™ When You Can’t Find It, Make It Many of the guests on Pier Five can be considered problem solvers. Whether through community work, knowledge sharing or product creation, the best results come from real needs. The latest group of problem solvers to grace Pier Five with their presence comes from decades of experience as endurance athletes and lifelong shoe craftsmen who, after years of being unsatisfied with the product offering on the market, decided to take matters into their own hands. Without any further ado, we are pleased to introduce norda ™ , the world’s newest trail running footwear brand, created by runners for runners. While norda ™ was made possible by people all over the world, the brand is run by four individuals in Montreal and the East Townships in Quebec, Canada who set out on a mission to create the world’s lightest, fastest and most durable trail running shoe. While there are other brands out there with deep pockets, norda ™ feels they have the ability to take the sport by storm. This ability starts with the incredible team that makes up norda ™ . Running Is A Team Sport The company was founded by, husband and wife, Nick and Willa Martire who have spent many years as high-performance runners, bikers, skiers and hikers and nearly equal time as pioneers in the footwear industry. The two have collectively held leadership roles with major companies Aldo, Authentic Brands Group and Pretty Ballerinas LTD, developing and launching numerous high-tier brands in North America. The second half of norda ™ is equally as impressive. The brand’s Head of Design, Louis-Martin Tremblay, founder of Atelier LMTL, designs for Aime Leon Dore, KITH & SSENSE, and Gerard Cleal, who is the founder of Thompson + Cleal Agency and previously worked as Design Director for ALDO, serves as the Creative Director for norda ™ . Between the four partners with over sixty years of combined footwear experience, an incredible product, a strong international network of creators, producers and athletes, and the support of many of the best running stores around the globe, norda ™ has all the tools to make a big splash in the space. The Shoe The norda ™ shoe is unlike any other trail running shoe that exists and was made to prove that high performance and sustainability should always run together. The shoe, norda ™ 001, is made from Dyneema®: the world’s strongest and lightest fiber ™. Dyneema delivers the lowest carbon footprint per unit strength of any material. Seventy-five percent of the energy used to manufacture Dyneema Fiber® comes from renewable energy sources. The sole of the shoe is a brand new design made in collaboration with Vibram, a leader in shoe design and footwear soles, and was inspired by the Canadian Shield, the largest and strongest pre-Cambrian rock formation on Earth. The soleplate is engineered with Vibram® Litebase® technology to conserve energy and enhance your performance with a thirty percent duction in overall sole weight. The Vibram® MegaGrip® rubber delivers superior durability, traction and the strongest possible grip on both wet and dry surfaces. The norda ™ 001 was made with patience, perseverance and grit and was built to unlock every runner’s full potential. Whether you’re running around the block or fifty kilometers, norda ™ believes that everyone deserves the best and was made to deliver the ultimate running experience without compromising on the company’s sustainability goals. A Conversation With Co-Founder Nick Martire Over the next three months, Pier Five is proud to introduce a new series of content with some of the coolest people in footwear, product design, brand direction and running, made possible only by our friends at norda ™ . To kick things off, we sat down with norda ™ co-founder, Nick Martire, to chat about the journey of starting norda ™ with his wife, what it was like to build a team with a shared vision, global product manufacturing during a pandemic and much more. Read the conversation below and when you’re finished, head over to norda ™ website for an in-depth look at the sneaker and the ability to pre-order the norda ™ 001 before it sells out! Hey Nick! It’s so great to be chatting about norda ™ and this launch. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit more about how the idea of norda ™ came to be? Hey guys! Really excited to be connected. The idea of norda ™ came from my wife, Willa. We’ve both been endurance athletes for nearly all our lives and after a certain point, we couldn’t find a shoe that was light enough, strong enough and fast enough for us. We were having a conversation about this and Willa looked at me and said “why don’t you make it?”. At first it was a wild thought, but we have worked in the footwear industry for so long and I thought “ya, we could actually do this!”. Love that! If you can’t find it, make it. The norda ™ 001 is made using materials and technology from some pretty incredible companies, Dyneema and Vibram, which we can’t imagine are easy to just link up with. How did that come together and what drove you to want to work with them? We knew this shoe had to be driven by science and technology to achieve our goals. We went out looking for leading edge materials, and examined what elite rock climbers, hikers and hardcore backpackers were using. That led us to Dyneema, a material whose properties are simply unmatched. Nobody has been able to make a shoe like we did out of Dyneema and we set a mission to break the historical boundaries of performance and sustainability. It took a global team of equally like minded and stubborn people to make this happen but at the end of the day, we got it done. For Vibram, we were able to partner with them to engineer a completely new sole. They are leaders in that space and our Head of Design, Louis-Martin Tremblay, was able to create something really incredible with them, featuring all of their best technologies in weight, feel and grip. The result is a sole that Vibram calls “the Dream”, because it is their highest performance running sole ever made; and it’s exclusive to norda. That’s very cool. Besides making the best shoe from a performance standpoint, why was making a shoe with sustainable materials and processes so important for norda ™ ? It’s critical that we take responsibility for our actions. The apparel and footwear industry are some of the most polluting industries. Shoes are not recycled in any way, shape or form, and while we’re not there yet, we believe the strongest impact we can make today is to go up the supply chain to make shoes in a more sustainable manner. The goal was to make the ultimate cutting edge shoes with the smallest footprint. Most brands ignore this because it’s hard and expensive, but we won’t do that. We can’t imagine the manufacturing process was easy during the pandemic. How did you navigate everything? It definitely wasn’t easy. Many manufacturers only want to go into sure things, especially during the pandemic. We reached out to our network and friends who we have worked with for many years. You would be surprised how much goodwill there is from the people in your circle, and how much they are willing to help if they believe in your vision. For us, the R&D team in Europe and Asia was beyond committed to making this product a reality. We were working with manufacturers overseas and technology and material that had never been used to this extent in running shoes before so it was a lot of back and forth but we kept pushing. It was hundreds of hours of calls with people all over the world and, at times, we thought we wouldn’t be able to complete certain parts that we wanted to, but our team never stopped believing in our mission and what we were trying to accomplish. Well it was worth every minute. Now that the shoe is ready for launch, can you share some info about the launch strategy for the norda ™ 001? We’re very excited for the launch. Our Creative Director, Gerard Cleal, led some amazing work with Canandian creative agency LG2 and visual production house L’Eloi, to put together our digital launch strategy. We have also had the support of some of the most experienced endurance athletes and explorers from around the world to help us build awareness for the shoe’s release. The shoe goes live for pre-sale on our website on July 14th *psst it’s live now!* and we will be releasing the shoes in some of the best running shops in North America, as well as some distribution with a couple international stores. We plan on expanding internationally further in 2022. Later in August we will also be releasing a very special collaboration that we cannot wait to share more information about soon. Pier Five will have special coverage of this collaboration later in the series so be on the lookout for that! We can’t wait for all of that and are so excited to put some miles in these shoes. Lastly, for those who may not have explored the world of trail running before but might look to norda ™ to be their introduction, what tips would you give to those looking to hit the trails for the first time? Firstly, you need the right shoes! Trail shoes have more traction than road shoes, and they’re built for stability on ever changing ground. Decide where you are going and get prepared. If you’re lucky you can find a great trail in the city’s parks, or a provincial park. Make a plan for the day. Figure out how far you’re going to go and make sure you have the right amount of food and water. The weather can change quickly depending on how long you plan to be out for. Lastly, slow your pace down compared to road running, take breaks and enjoy the scenery around you. The magic of trail running is that you get to experience views and sensations that only being in a wild natural setting can provide. If you’re as stoked as we are to hit the trails with norda ™ , be sure to check out their instagram and website for more information on the norda ™ 001 and upcoming news and releases. Keep it locked to Pier Five as we continue to roll out content over the next few months with some of the coolest people in footwear, product design, brand direction and running, made only possible by our friends at norda ™ , and stay tuned for a special announcement from Pier Five & norda ™ at the end of the series.

The May Roundup Welcome to Pier Five monthly round ups, a look back at some of the people, brands & things that caught our eye this month that we thought you should know about. Mentl Sesh x Staple We were pumped to see our friend Liz Beecroft join forces with Jeff Staple to come up with the “A Staple of Your Wellbeing” collection. The collection is intentional in helping provide actual tools & resources to improve our daily mental health practices and features a journal, pill box & stress reliever in addition to some apparel items. All profits will be donated to the Made of Millions Foundation, a non profit organization focused on changing how the world perceives mental health. The collection is currently still available here. Collegium “Customs & DIY” Collegium is an emerging sneaker brand based in California that has caused quite the storm with it’s clean retro-inspired silhouettes, well thought out colourways and premium Italian made construction. Their sneakers have recently been a staple for customizations, namely the “Vintage Sapphire Metallic Destroyers” created by well known customizer @Andu.c and the “Dip Dye” pack by @bahb.o worn by NBA star Russel Westbrook and Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton respectively. Also tune in to Collegium’s Instagram for news on an upcoming collaboration with sneaker YouTube star Richie Le. Styll 59/50 Caps If you’re into New Era fitted caps then you need to check out Styll. Bringing together unique colour combinations, patches and embroidery detailing, Styll is taking your boring old team caps to the next level. Our favourite right now is the Blue Jays - Toronto bias of course - “Cherry Blossom” cap that was recently released. Make sure to follow @styll.ca and keep an eye out for your team as their drops come and go very quickly. Bricks & Wood x New Balance This past week, Bricks & Wood paid homage to its roots of South Central Los Angeles with a special edition collaboration with New Balance on the NB57/40. Bringing together premium materials and a beautiful colour palette of green, brick red and light yellow, the pair was inspired by The Liquor Bank, a staple in the Crenshaw District of SCLA. Down to the packaging (each pair comes with an awesome paisley box), this pair is one for the books! The release was also supported by an awesome apparel and accessories collection dawning the same palette and paisley motif. The Forest Hill Collection by Studio S Sylvia Hoang, owner of home goods and apparel brand Studio S recently graced the world with her latest release featuring new concrete sneaker planters and a tasteful sweatsuit set that will keep your home and back looking fresh this summer. We recently had the chance to speak with Sylvia on her latest drop (read the interview here) and while most of the collection is now sold out, make sure to follow Studio S on Instagram as a restock is coming soon! Stay tuned to The Roundup series to discover the coolest new people, brands and releases each month and keep it locked to all of Pier Five for stories and interviews with our favourite designers, entrepreneurs, creators and more.

Your Number One Resource With Nishal Kumar of No Days Wasted "You get out what you put in" is something we all need to remind ourselves of more often. Nishal Kumar, founder of the wellness supplements brand, No Days Wasted, that helps anyone maximize life's moments after a night out, has made a living off of this mantra and his story is an incredible example to emulate. From becoming the sponsor for some of the biggest podcasts in North America, to locking in over 1200 retailer partners, Nish knows a thing or two about making your own opportunities and we got to speak to him to gain some fresh insights that are very applicable for any new founder. Check out the conversation below! Hey Nish! Thanks for taking the time to chat. One of the first things we want to know is how the partnership with Barstool, which was huge for the brand in the early days, got off the ground. Oh ya, that was great! Over 5 years ago, we connected with Paul Bissonnette 'Biz Nasty' who was spending a summer in Vancouver after he retired from the NHL and was working with a couple buddies of mine. There was one night, we're all out, and my buddies told me Biz was going to be there and to come out. I went and I had a couple packets on me and I gave them to him, and that was my first touch point. A couple days later, I saw him at the gym and I gave him a full box of product. He ended up going to an event the next day and calls me, and he tells me he tried the product, had about ten beers and woke up the next day like nothing happened. He mentioned he was joining this podcast called Spittin’ Chiclets and introduced me to Barstool Sports. We started working with them and Spittin’ Chiclets was a home run out of the gate. I asked Barstool if they had any female demo shows and they mentioned Call Her Daddy which was just launching at that time. They were like "it's pretty crazy. It's pretty out there, but it might just work." so we tested with them and saw instant return, like 7-10x right out of the gate. We were the first brand to sponsor Call Her Daddy, which ended up blowing up and becoming the biggest female podcast in North America. The big learning was really, you need to make that investment and take a chance on things early on when and if something works, double down on it. It seems like now there are so many brands doing this? What do you think of the competition? Yes the space got very crowded but in general but between those days and now, my view on competition is very different. Early on, I was actually very averse to competition and I was concerned about what all of our competitors were doing. I would be offended if they did anything too close to us. These days, things have shifted. I really welcome the competition from players that have staying power and are creating a meaningful product and brand. The reason being is because ultimately, this competition drives awareness to a category that's emerging. If we're the only player on shelf, who's going to know about the category? Only the people that know about us. But, if you think about the value that competition provides, it's that they're providing extra eyeballs onto us for free and we are validating a new category together by creating great products with high efficacy, safety and value for consumers. That's a very good attitude to have and regardless of the competition now, it's incredible to hear about how you created that opportunity for yourself. If you're proactive, you're assertive, you are charismatic and personable, good things will happen. That's why I spent quite a bit of time in New York, and continue to do so. It's the epicenter of chaos, and there are a lot of people doing great things out there. My focus is always to meet cool people doing great things. At the very least, I could just make a friend, or on the other end, we could do something meaningful together from a business point of view. If you're not there, if you don't show up, if you're not putting yourself out there, it won't happen. As an emerging brand, use what you have. You may not have tons of capital behind you, but you have your energy that you put out to the world, and the best way to showcase that is by actually going out there and doing it. Would you say that's your big tip for brands, especially ones in the early stage of their business? I have a few tips but the biggest thing is to remember that how you do anything is how you do everything. For me, whether that's going to the gym every day and staying focused or playing ball and putting my best foot forward, I just want to be consistent, I want to care about what I do, and I want to solve problems. That's the same way I treat my business and that's not just work, that's life. Your success and your achievements are going to come from your efforts. So top three things; give a damn about what you do, be consistent and just do it well. We couldn't agree more. Before we finish off, any other advice for new founders? You need to go where you're wanted. For example, maybe you have a dream retailer or dream partner that you want to work with but at the end of the day, make sure it's not a delusion. It's like when you're growing up and there's that girl you see that you're into but turns out they're the most toxic person in the world. You don't want that. You want to go where you're wanted. That's been a big part of our retail strategy. We always want to hear a no from a retailer rather than a maybe, because that will allow us to move on to the yeses and find the places where we're wanted. Make sure to check out No Days Wasted and keep it locked to Pier Five for more founder conversations just like this!

Pier Five Community Canvas For Kuwalla Tee In the first edition of Community Canvas , Pier Five brought together an inspiring group of talent for a unique editorial lookbook, with looks by Kuwalla Tee , a Montreal based fashion brand designed to help those express their creative authenticity. This edition highlights a diverse mix of innovators, each representing the creative spirit and entrepreneurial drive that fuels the community. Featuring Glory Allan, an online content creator teaching people how to make their own clothes, the lookbook explores the intersection of fashion, craftsmanship, and self-expression. Adria Kain, a multidisciplinary musician, singer, and artist, adds a rich layer of sound and visual artistry to the canvas. Vintage lovers will be captivated by Post Design, a curated business blending style and sustainability through furniture. Photographer Teaunna Gray, who also owns her own studio Of Sorts, captures the essence of beauty through simplicity. At the heart of it all is Pier Five, the founders of the Community Canvas series, who continue to champion creativity, collaboration, and connection. Sponsored by Kuwalla Tee, this campaign is a celebration of both fashion and community, with every look styled in Kuwalla Tee's new Fall/Winter 2024 collection —showcasing the power of creative partnerships in bringing new stories to life. Discover the stars of Community Canvas Vol. 1 and all of the looks below: Glory Allan Andre Chin, aka Glory Allan, is a passionate fashion designer dedicated to empowering others to embrace creativity. Through his work, he encourages people to kickstart their hobbies and discover the joy of making. Inspired by the art of creation, whether in designing clothes or crafting engaging content, Glory Allan thrives on bringing ideas to life. His work serves as a bridge between fashion and education, fostering creativity and self-expression. Adria Kain Adria Kain is a multifaceted artist and singer known for her soulful voice and authentic storytelling. With recent success in the music industry, Adria has re-emerged with renewed focus, sharing both her music and creative journey. In July, she expanded her artistic reach by launching a photography and creative direction studio, offering a space that fosters artistic expression and collaboration. Her studio has become a welcoming environment for creatives of all backgrounds, dedicated to inclusivity and supporting the growth of the creative community. Post Design Post Design, founded by JP Guay and Amanda Mota, is a curated studio specializing in unique furniture, objects, and wares. They offer carefully selected pieces that reflect creativity, paired with dynamic spaces and brands. Beyond their collections, Post Design provide furniture rentals, studio bookings for shoots and gatherings, and design services like sourcing, set design, brand pop-ups, and interior staging. At Post Design, they blend design with community to create inspiring spaces. Teaunna Gray Teaunna Gray is an Afro-Indigenous Director and Film Photographer from Toronto. Starting as a curator, she gained recognition through group art shows that support under-represented artists and give back to global communities. Her storytelling reflects her multicultural perspective, prioritizing inclusivity for womxn, people of color, and the Deaf community. As the founder of Of Sorts®, Teaunna creates a space for creatives through events, programs, and studio rentals, encouraging impactful art and dialogue. Pier Five Julian Golden and Jeff Lei are the founders of Pier Five, a community driven organization that offers support to creative entrepreneurs and small business owners. Pier Five's mission is to empower those looking to turn their passions into full-time businesses and careers by hosting unique networking events, fundraising programs and content series across Canada. Pier Five's initiatives have connected thousands of creatives and business owners and is building one of the largest founder networks across the country, shaping culture and driving economic growth. Shop the looks at Kuwalla Tee's website and make sure to follow Pier Five on Instagram for more content with the creative community.

5 Essential Tax Strategies for Small Business Owners to Save Money Managing your small business taxes effectively can mean the difference between keeping more of your hard-earned revenue or overpaying the government. We partnered with tax expert Mark Solis, Founder of Solis Financial , to bring you five essential tax-saving strategies for small business owners that can help maximize savings and build long-term financial security. 1. Incorporate Your Business & Pay Yourself Smartly If your business is generating consistent revenue, incorporation can help you take advantage of lower corporate tax rates. Instead of taking all earnings as a salary, consider a mix of salary and dividends to lower your personal tax bill. A salary is subject to payroll taxes but provides RRSP contribution room, while dividends are taxed at a lower rate but do not generate RRSP room. This strategy provides flexibility and can help optimize your tax situation. 2. Maximize Small Business Tax Deductions Every eligible business tax deduction you claim reduces your taxable income. Common small business tax write-offs include: Home office expenses (if you work from home) Vehicle costs (if used for business) Advertising and marketing Office supplies and business meals Tracking and categorizing expenses properly ensures you don’t leave money on the table when filing your business taxes. 3. Use an Individual Pension Plan (IPP) or RRSP to Reduce Taxable Income Saving for retirement while lowering your small business taxes is a win-win. If you’re incorporated, an Individual Pension Plan (IPP) allows for higher contribution limits than an RRSP and is a great tax-deferral tool. If you’re a sole proprietor, contributing to an RRSP helps reduce taxable income while building long-term wealth. 4. Set Up a Health Spending Account (HSA) for Tax-Free Medical Expenses Health and dental expenses can add up, but with a Health Spending Account (HSA), you can cover these costs 100% tax-free. HSAs allow small business owners to deduct medical expenses as a business expense, reducing taxes while providing essential health benefits for themselves and their employees. However, to qualify, business owners must earn more than half of their income from the business. Be sure to review all HSA eligibility criteria to ensure compliance. 5. Split Income with Family Members to Reduce Your Tax Burden If your spouse or children help out in your business, consider paying them a reasonable salary for their work. This strategy shifts income to lower tax brackets and helps reduce your overall tax burden. Just ensure their compensation aligns with the work performed to meet CRA requirements. About Mark Solis – Small Business Tax Expert With over a decade of experience in the financial services industry, Mark Solis founded Solis Financial Services to help Canadians maximize tax savings and achieve financial security through proven insurance and investment strategies. His career began as an Associate Financial Advisor with The Co-operators, where he eventually managed his own office before launching his independent brokerage. Today, he partners with Canada's top insurance and investment companies to deliver the best financial planning solutions to his clients.

A Conversation With Sean Go Sean Go is a Toronto raised content creator with a passion for sneakers, basketball and photography; a perfect trio for the modern Torontonian. Sean's sneaker photography has been featured on a number of publications and his YouTube channel is one of the go-to's for in depth sneaker reviews. @sgo8 We see new kicks on your channel all the time. What are the top 5 in your rotation right now? If we're talking about what I'm actually wearing these days I'd go with Black Cement 3, New Balance 992 Grey, Nike Air Max 1 Anniversary White/Red, Collegium Destroyer High "Avio" and the Nike Dunk Low "Brazil". Top 5 favourites of all time would be White Cement 3, Concord 11, Chicago 1, Infrared Air Max 90 and White Cement 4 probably. Your known for taking some of the best and most unique sneaker pics on insta. What tips can you give for someone looking to up their sneaker pic game? Lighting is key. Play around with different types of lighting to be comfortable shooting in various conditions (sunny, cloudy, indoors with flash, etc.) Environment plays a huge part in the photo. Learning to utilize backgrounds and props to add to the flavour of the photo really allows your photos to stand out. Develop a "style". Consistency is huge, as it allows people to see your personality and flare through your photos. While a nice camera is great, learning to edit your photos is half the battle. I personally use Adobe Lightroom and finish it up with Photoshop, but whatever program you feel most comfortable with, play around with it and see how it can elevate your shots. Have fun! Do it for the passion and the genuine love of it, and keep shooting for the right reasons. While many know you for your IG posts, you have nearly 3x the following on YouTube. What are 5 things you love or hate about YouTube? YouTube's a great way to express yourself and generate income in a way that photographs on Instagram don't allow. You can find videos on pretty much anything you want to see or learn about. The audience-base is very supportive and shows you a ton of love if they appreciate your work. BUT! It's much more of a challenging and time consuming medium than Instagram. The anonymity of it allows for a lot of troll comments that you have to learn to ignore. So with all that being said, who are your 5 favourite sneaker YouTubers right now? Seth Fowler Hes Kicks Foamer Simpson Rose Anvil WearTesters

Doing It His Way With Rae Mendoza of ICYT They say that pressure produces diamonds and this definitely shows through with Rae Mendoza and I'll Call You Tomorrow, his clothing brand and artist collective based out of Edmonton, AB that has been working hard to put their city on the map amongst the heavy hitters of Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. We got the opportunity to chat with Rae about the growth of his collective, how it opened up new doors with his agency Tomorrow Works and tips he has for creatives looking to get noticed. Read some excerpts from the conversation below! Rae on Building Things His Way Being housed and running everything from our home city of Edmonton, Alberta is really freeing for us. It lets us build our community how we want to do it and not as a reflection of something else. We just love this challenge of building new infrastructure and new opportunities for people that resonate with our platform where they don't typically exist. It also just lets us be a bigger fish in a small pond. Rae on Working With Friends I was very fortunate from the start to just always be around just super talented people, whether it was photography, design, music, now tattooing and illustration. Once I started working with them though, I really quickly realized where now as a business owner working with my best friends, it's up to me to set those boundaries of like, "in this space we're professionals working together and I'm holding you accountable for deliverables, and we have a specific function we need to do, and then we can go back to being friends outside of that space." In terms of finding the right people, a lot of it comes down to that gut feeling of knowing that we see things eye to eye, whether it's like good product, good design, taste levels, community, or you just knowing that this person's honestly just a good person. Rae on Finding New Opportunities Tomorrow Works as an agency has this living portfolio that is always constantly putting out new work in the form of I'll Call You Tomorrow. The bulk of our business just comes from people seeing our brand and then knowing that they can do something similar for their brand and their business. It's such a small circle these days of who is interconnected, putting your work out there and just showing that what you can do and how you deliver it at a very high level is the most important thing. Most of those things will kind of just sort themselves out and come to you. Then as a consultant and on the agency side, it comes down to you being ready for those looks as they come. Rae on Passing The Torch We started noticing it happening now as me and my team, we're getting a little bit older, where young kids will come up to our events and our parties and they'll be like, "I'm 22 or 21 and the first pop up or cool art party that I ever went to was one of your events and now I'm starting my own t-shirt line or I want to do certain things in the streetwear and arts community because of that event" and seeing that grow outside of us is some true 'pass the torch' legacy type shit. That's the stuff that keeps me up at night that I love. Make sure to follow I'll Call You Tomorrow and Tomorrow Works on IG for news on all of their upcoming events, projects and clothing releases and keep it locked to Pier Five for more conversations with entrepreneurs coming soon.

5-Tips On Brand Building From Kuwalla Tee's Founder Yaniv Abecassis Ahead of a busy holiday season, we sat down with Yaniv Abecassis, longtime brand builder and co-founder of Kuwalla Tee to learn about the steps that he's taken to set up his business for success in the future. Abecassis has built longevity and a large loyal customer base with Kuwalla Tee and we've transformed his experience into actionable tips that anyone can use to give their brand a leg up on the competition. Read below! On Purpose-Driven Branding : “Kuwalla Tee was born from a simple desire to create reliable, quality basics with a purpose. Now we create a full collection that is comfortable and effortlessly stylish.” Tip : Focus on building a brand with a clear purpose beyond just making products. Kuwalla Tee started with a commitment to quality and reliable, everyday basics, which evolved into a full collection. Emphasize long-term vision over fleeting trends. On Balancing Timeless Design with Trends : “What sets us apart is our focus on pieces that aren’t just on-trend for a season. Kuwalla Tee is about a commitment to quality and timeless designs.” Tip : Ensure your designs aren’t just seasonal but have enduring appeal. Prioritize pieces that maintain style beyond one season, merging minimalism with streetwear. On Understanding Your Ideal Customer : “They’re into the clean, minimalist vibe but still want something with personality.” Tip : Define who you’re designing for and align your offerings with their lifestyle. Kuwalla Tee’s target audience values understated, quality pieces that transition seamlessly throughout the day. On Creating Buzz Around Standout Pieces : “Our printed fleece jackets are what gets the most buzz right now.” Tip : Highlight unique products that generate excitement and conversation. Spotlight standout items to engage both existing and new customers. On Building Long-Term Customer Loyalty : “We have a high customer retention rate, so we know once we get them to buy for the first time, they will most likely come back once they experience the quality and customer service.” Tip : Leverage major sales events to convert new customers, knowing that the lifetime value will make up for any acquisition costs early on. Don't miss out on Kuwalla Tee’s Black Friday sale now live at www.kuwallatee.com

Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: Mastercard x Pier Five's 2024/25 Priceless Experience Last week, Mastercard and Pier Five hosted the highly anticipated Priceless Experience in Toronto, a transformative gathering for the 2024 Mastercard Small Business Fund recipients. This exclusive event was designed to connect the 10 exceptional women entrepreneurs with each other, Mastercard experts, and experienced mentors, providing them with the tools and inspiration to take their businesses to the next level. Each recipient had already received $10,000 in funding, but the Priceless Experience was about more than just financial support—it was about fostering community, learning from industry leaders, and gaining insights that are often inaccessible to small business owners. Entrepreneurship can be an isolating journey, and taking time away from daily operations is challenging. That’s why Pier Five, a strong advocate for meaningful connections, collaborated with Mastercard to create an experience that balanced learning, networking, and inspiration. (Swipe for photos) The Mastercard Small Business Fund recipients were flown into Toronto from across the country, with accommodations provided at the luxurious Le Germain Hotel for a two-night stay. The experience kicked off on Monday evening with a warm and welcoming reception at the hotel, allowing the entrepreneurs to connect with one another, as well as the Mastercard and Pier Five teams, in an intimate setting over drinks and conversation. Tuesday was a full day of insightful programming designed to help these entrepreneurs refine their strategies, expand their knowledge, and strengthen their businesses. The day began with a breakfast gathering, setting the stage for an engaging and interactive workshop led by two-time Canada’s Top Female Entrepreneur of the Year, Kelsey Kitsch. She guided the business owners through key themes of growth, leadership, and team-building, sharing actionable advice drawn from her own experiences. (Swipe for photos) Following the workshop, Pier Five facilitated a dynamic roundtable session featuring three rotational group discussions on essential business themes: marketing and brand visibility, customer loyalty and retention, and financial sustainability and growth. These sessions provided a space for the entrepreneurs to exchange ideas, ask questions, and gain targeted insights tailored to their unique business challenges. (Swipe for photos) After an incredible lunch at Bar Ardo, the participants attended an inspiring innovation panel featuring industry leaders and small business experts, including Luchila Mado of Digital Main Street, Jessica Pachis of Fiserv, Amber Mac, a public figure and tech entrepreneur, Nishant Raina, the Head of Small Business at Mastercard, and Andrea Grand, the founder of Barbet and a 2022 Small Business Fund recipient. The panel covered a range of topics, from leveraging digital tools to enhancing customer experiences, providing real-world advice to help the entrepreneurs sustain and scale their businesses. (Swipe for photos) To cap off this incredible experience, the entire group was treated to an unforgettable evening at the Toronto Raptors game in the Mastercard suite. This celebratory moment allowed the entrepreneurs to unwind, strengthen their new connections, and enjoy a well-deserved break from their daily business responsibilities. The Mastercard x Pier Five Priceless Experience was more than just an event—it was a testament to both organizations’ commitment to supporting small businesses and fostering community among female entrepreneurs. By creating a space for connection, education, and inspiration, this initiative reinforced the power of collaboration and the importance of investing in the future of women-led businesses. As these 10 remarkable entrepreneurs return to their respective businesses, they do so with renewed confidence, valuable insights, and a network of peers and mentors who will continue to support them on their journeys. The impact of the Priceless Experience will undoubtedly extend far beyond these two days, shaping the next chapter of their entrepreneurial success. Learn more about the Mastercard & Pier Five Small Business Fund, and discover the other 2024 recipients here .

On The Map With Free Agent Wearhouse Pier Five got the chance to meetup with local legends Rob Echevarria & Kim Barrera of Free Agent Wearhouse, Toronto's premier apparel design and decoration company, in their downtown Toronto showroom for an awesome chat about business through the pandemic, empowering local designers, the value of Canadian-made products and staying dedicated to your craft. Having worked with dozens of Canada's top brands and designers as well as a special project for one of Toronto's most loved Raptors, there's a good chance that you've walked past someone wearing something made by Free Agent Wearhouse and the stories they had were endless. Read through the conversation below and check out the sound bites to hear from Rob & Kim first-hand. Hey Rob & Kim! Thanks for having us in your showroom today. For those who aren't familiar with you and Free Agent Wearhouse, can you tell us a little bit about this all? Rob: I'm Rob, the owner of Free Agent Wearhouse. We specialize in premium quality clothing production and decoration, probably best known for our intricate embroidery. Kim: I'm Kim. If I had to give myself a title it would probably be lead designer or maybe assistant project manager. I kind of do a little of everything since it's just the two of us here. I connected with Rob during the pandemic through a mutual friend and have been helping him with the business as it's been scaling. What do you think sets Free Agent Wearhouse apart from the other design and decoration companies in Toronto, or maybe even all of Canada? Rob: Our biggest focus right now is on helping smaller fashion brands get the look and feel of the bigger brands. While what we do is not necessarily innovative, when it comes to design, decoration and production quality, there aren't a lot of companies out there that will put in the time and attention like we will and I think that has gone a long way with our clients and the brands that choose to work with us. Kim: We're always thinking about the future and how one project can lead to the next. We're more than just an embroidery company. We can advise on design work, help the brands out with their concepts, make connections to other brands or suppliers and so much more. In that sense we're almost like an agency and are always making sure that we are putting our best foot forward with every single client. How did the pandemic affect the business? Rob: Things were crazy in the beginning. We transitioned to face masks for a while and that was very busy. That's when Kim came in to help out. The pandemic really just created more of a desire to work within the community and do things locally. There's a lot of buzz around "Made In Canada" in fashion. Why is this important and how does Free Agent Wearhouse fit into it all? We're all about this (of course)! As consumers, we've all bought bigger brands for the logo or design but you know "that sweater" is just ok when it comes to the quality. There's a reason why people are proud to wear Canadian-made. It's because you know the quality is there and it's really made to last. The idea for us is to bring that type of high-value production back into Canada as much as possible. FAW x Adidas For Kyle Lowry Recently you got to work on a very special project with Adidas for Kyle Lowry. What was that like? Rob: This one was different because we really had full creative control over the entire project. For a big company like Adidas to give control to a smaller design company really exercised every aspect of our capabilities. Kim: It was amazing. Witnessing Kyle win a championship, leave and then be a part of something that was presented to him when he returned; that was really special! We were able to add those little personal touches that paid homage to him, not only as a Raptor but as a world champion. (Listen to more below) What advice would you give to someone looking to get into this business? Learn every skill that you might need. If you can do it yourself, you'll always go further than if you have to lean on somebody else. Just keep creating. Make something wack? Who cares! Stay dedicated and learn from your mistakes. The thing that you think might be the worst thing you've ever made might be the best thing in someone else's eyes. Now that the world is opening back up, we imagine you must have some big plans in store? Definitely! We're setting up a much bigger space which will be great for clients to be able to come by, see the work and hang out. We'll hopefully have some other big projects come up soon and we really want to get more and more into cut and sew. Lots to come. Rob: At the end of the day though, even if we shut down again, the grind doesn't stop. I need to always be doing something. Even if the money's not flowing, you can catch me in the factory. There's always going to be something to learned and to do. Kim: We're looking forward to all of it! Make sure to keep up with Free Agent Wearhouse on Instagram and keep it locked to Pier Five for more conversations with the coolest entrepreneurs, designers, artists, activists and more out there.

Privacy Policy (Click here for French) Last modified: December 2022 INTRODUCTION Pier Five and our affiliates and subsidiaries (“Company” or “We”) respect your privacy and are committed to protecting it through our compliance with this policy. This policy describes how we collect, use, disclose, and protect the personal information of our customers and website users (“you“), describes the types of information we may collect from you or that you may provide when you visit the website www.pier-five.com (our “Website“), and our practices for collecting, using, maintaining, protecting, and disclosing that information. We will only use your personal information in accordance with this policy unless otherwise required by applicable law. We take steps to ensure that the personal information that we collect about you is adequate, relevant, not excessive, and used for limited purposes. Privacy laws in Canada generally define “personal information” as any information about an identifiable individual, which includes information that can be used on its own or with other information to identify, contact, or locate a single person. Personal information does not include business contact information, including your name, title, or business contact numbers. This policy applies to information we collect, use, or disclose about our customers and Website users: On this Website. In email, text, and other electronic messages between you and this Website. When you interact with our advertising and applications on third-party websites and services if those applications or advertising include links to this policy. On our social media pages and profiles, including Facebook and Instagram. The Website may include links to third-party websites, plug-ins, services, social networks, or applications. Clicking on those links or enabling those connections may allow the third party to collect or share data about you. If you follow a link to a third-party website or engage a third-party plugin, please note that these third parties have their own privacy policies and we do not accept any responsibility or liability for these policies. We do not control these third-party websites, and we encourage you to read the privacy policy of every website you visit. This policy does not apply to information collected by any third party, through any application or content (including advertising) that may link to or be accessible from or on the Website. Please read this policy carefully to understand our policies and practices for collecting, processing, and storing your information. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, your choice is not to use our Website. By accessing or using this Website, you indicate that you understand, accept, and consent to the practices described in this policy. This policy may change from time to time (see Changes to Our Privacy Policy). Your continued use of this Website after we make changes indicates that you accept and consent to those changes, so please check the policy periodically for updates. INFORMATION WE COLLECT ABOUT YOU We collect and use several types of information from and about you, including: Personal information, that we can reasonably use to directly or indirectly identify you, such as your name, mailing address, e-mail address, telephone number, age, occupation, gender, income, interests, social media handles, Internet protocol (IP) address used to connect your computer to the Internet, user name or other similar identifier, billing and account information, and any other identifier we may use to contact you online or offline (“personal information“). We provide an opportunity for any user to unsubscribe from our newsletter or opt-out of contact for marketing purposes, including event invitations and surveys, on an ongoing basis by accessing our Website or using the unsubscribe mechanism at the bottom of our e-mails. Non-personal information, that does not directly or indirectly reveal your identity or directly relate to an identified individual, such as demographic information, or statistical or aggregated information. Statistical or aggregated data does not directly identify a specific person, but we may derive non-personal statistical or aggregated data from personal information. For example, we may aggregate personal information to calculate the percentage of users accessing a specific Website feature. Technical information, including your login information, browser type and version, time zone setting, browser plug-in types and versions, operating system and platform, or information about your internet connection, the equipment you use to access our Website, and usage details. Non-personal details about your Website interactions, including the full Uniform Resource Locators (URLs), clickstream to, through and from our Website (including date and time), products you viewed or searched for, page response times, download errors, length of visits to certain pages, page interaction information (such as scrolling, clicks, and mouse-overs), methods used to browse away from the page, or any phone number used to call our customer service number. Consent is required for the collection of personal information and the subsequent use or disclosure of this information. In order for us to receive personal information from you and allow us to provide you with a requested product or service, your consent to allow us to use that personal information in accordance with this Privacy Policy will be obtained before the submission of such personal information. When you are entering any information on a form on our Website, you will be required to confirm by way of checking a box that you have read and agreed to the terms of this Privacy Policy. Only after such box is checked, will your personal information included in the form be provided to us. If you need to provide personal information about other individuals, you must first obtain their consent for these purposes prior to your disclosure to us. Providing us with your personal information is always your choice. When you request services from us, we ask that you provide information that enables us to provide those services to the best of our abilities. You will be authorizing us to use and retain this personal information for as long as it may be required for the purposes described in this policy. Your consent remains valid even after the termination of our relationship with you, unless you provide us with written notice that such consent is withdrawn in accordance with this policy. By withdrawing your consent, or not providing it in the first place, you may limit or even prevent us from being able to provide you or an authorized third party with the products or services desired. HOW WE COLLECT INFORMATION ABOUT YOU We use different methods to collect your information, including through: Direct interactions with you when you provide it to us, for example, by filling in forms or corresponding with us by phone, email, or otherwise. User contributions. You may also provide information for us to publish or display on public Website areas or transmit to other Website users or third parties. Automated technologies or interactions, as you navigate through our Website. Information collected automatically may include usage details, IP addresses, and information collected through cookies, web beacons, and other tracking technologies. Information You Provide to Us The information we collect directly from you on or through our Website may include: Information that you provide by filling in forms on our Website. This includes information provided at the time of subscribing to our newsletter or magazine, posting material, or requesting further information about our services. We may also ask you for information when you enter a contest or promotion sponsored by us, and when you report a problem with our Website. Records and copies of your correspondence (including email addresses), if you contact us. Your responses to surveys that we might ask you to complete for research purposes. Details of transactions you carry out through our Website and of the fulfillment of your subscription. You may be required to provide financial information before placing an order for our magazine through our Website. Your search queries on the Website. Information We Collect Through Cookies and Other Automatic Data Collection Technologies As you navigate through and interact with our Website, we may use cookies or other automatic data collection technologies to collect certain information about your equipment, browsing actions, and patterns, including: Details of your visits to our Website, including traffic data, location data, logs, and other communication data and the resources that you access and use on the Website. Information about your computer and internet connection, including your IP address, operating system, and browser type. We may also use these technologies to collect information about your online activities over time and across third-party websites or other online services (behavioral tracking). To learn more or to opt-out of tailored advertising please visit Digital Advertising Alliance of Canada Opt-Out Tool for information on how you can opt out of behavioral tracking on this Website and how we respond to web browser signals and other mechanisms that enable consumers to exercise choice about behavioral tracking. The information we collect automatically is statistical information and may include personal information and we maintain it or associate it with personal information we collect in other ways, that you provide to us, or receive from third parties. It helps us to improve our Website and to deliver a better and more personalized service, including by enabling us to: Estimate our audience size and usage patterns. Store information about your preferences, allowing us to customize our Website according to your individual interests. Speed up your searches. Recognize you when you return to our Website. The technologies we use for this automatic data collection may include: Cookies (or browser cookies). A cookie is a small file placed on the hard drive of your computer. You may refuse to accept browser cookies by activating the appropriate setting on your browser. However, if you select this setting you may be unable to access certain parts of our Website. Unless you have adjusted your browser setting so that it will refuse cookies, our system will issue cookies when you direct your browser to our Website. Flash Cookies. Certain features of our Website may use local stored objects (or Flash cookies) to collect and store information about your preferences and navigation to, from, and on our Website. Flash cookies are not managed by the same browser settings that are used for browser cookies. For information about managing your privacy and security settings for Flash cookies, see Choices About How We Use and Disclose Your Information. Web Beacons. Pages of our Website and our e-mails may contain small electronic files known as web beacons (also referred to as clear gifs, pixel tags, and single-pixel gifs) that permit the Company, for example, to count users who have visited those pages or opened an email and for other related website statistics (for example, recording the popularity of certain website content and verifying system and server integrity). HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION We use information that we collect about you or that you provide to us, including any personal information: To present our Website and its contents to you. To provide you with information, products, or services that you request from us. To fulfill the purposes for which you provided the information or that were described when it was collected, or any other purpose for which you provide it. To provide you with notices about your subscription, including expiration and renewal notices. To carry out our obligations and enforce our rights arising from any contracts with you, including for billing and collection or to comply with legal requirements. To notify you about changes to our Website or any products or services we offer or provide though it. To improve our Website, products or services, marketing, or customer relationships and experiences. To allow you to participate in interactive features, social media, or similar features on our Website. To measure or understand the effectiveness of the advertising we serve to you and others, and to deliver relevant advertising to you. In any other way we may describe when you provide the information. For any other purpose with your consent. We may also use your information to contact you about our own and third-parties’ goods and services that may be of interest to you, as permitted by law. If you do not want us to use your information in this way, please use the unsubscribe mechanism at the bottom of our e-mails. For more information, see Choices About How We Use and Disclose Your Information. DISCLOSURE OF YOUR INFORMATION We may disclose aggregated information about our users, and information that does not identify any individual, without restriction. We may disclose personal information that we collect or you provide as described in this privacy policy: To our subsidiaries, affiliates and business partners To third parties to market their products or services to you if you have not opted out of these disclosures. For more information, see Choices About How We Use and Disclose Your Information. To contractors, service providers, and other third parties we use to support our business (such as analytics and search engine providers that assist us with Website improvement and optimization) and who are contractually obligated to keep personal information confidential, use it only for the purposes for which we disclose it to them, and to process the personal information with the same standards set out in this policy. For any other purpose disclosed by us when you provide the information. With your consent. We may also disclose your personal information: To comply with any court order, law, or legal process, including to respond to any government or regulatory request, in accordance with applicable law. To enforce or apply our terms of use and other agreements, including for billing and collection purposes. If we believe disclosure is necessary or appropriate to protect the rights, property, or safety of the Company, our customers, or others. TRANSFERRING YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION We may transfer personal information that we collect or that you provide as described in this policy to contractors, service providers, and other third parties we use to support our business (such as analytics and search engine providers that assist us with Website improvement and optimization) and who are contractually obligated to keep personal information confidential, use it only for the purposes for which we disclose it to them, and to process the personal information with the same standards set out in this policy. We currently process and store you personal information in Canada. In the future, however, we, or third parties to whom your personal information has been provided in accordance with this policy, may process, store, and transfer your personal information in and to a foreign country, with different privacy laws that may or may not be as comprehensive as Canadian law. In these circumstances, the governments, courts, law enforcement, or regulatory agencies of that country may be able to obtain access to your personal information through the laws of the foreign country. Whenever we engage a service provider, we require that its privacy and security standards adhere to this policy and applicable Canadian privacy legislation. You are welcome to contact us to obtain further information about Company policies regarding service providers outside of Canada. See Contact Information and Challenging Compliance. By submitting your personal information or engaging with the Website, you consent to this transfer, storage, or processing. CHOICES ABOUT HOW WE USE AND DISCLOSE YOUR INFORMATION We strive to provide you with choices regarding the personal information you provide to us. We have created mechanisms to provide you with the following control over your information: Tracking Technologies and Advertising. You can set your browser to refuse all or some browser cookies, or to alert you when cookies are being sent. To learn how you can manage your Flash cookie settings, visit the Flash player settings page on Adobe’s website. If you disable or refuse cookies, please note that some parts of this Website may not be accessible or may not function properly. For more information about tracking technologies, see Information We Collect Through Cookies and Other Automatic Data Collection Technologies. Third-Party Advertising. If you do not want us to share your personal information with unaffiliated or non-agent third parties for promotional purposes, you can opt-out by using the unsubscribe mechanism in our emails or at the bottom of this page. Promotional Offers from the Company. If you have opted in to receive certain emails from us but no longer wish to have your email address used by the Company to promote our own or third parties’ products or services, you can opt-out by using the unsubscribe mechanism in our emails or at the bottom of this page. If we have sent you a promotional email, you may unsubscribe by clicking the unsubscribe link we have included in the email. This opt-out does not apply to information provided to the Company as part of a product purchase, warranty registration, product service experience, or other transactions. Targeted Advertising. If you do not want us to use information that we collect or that you provide to us to deliver advertisements according to our advertisers’ target-audience preferences, you can opt out by using the unsubscribe mechanism in our emails or at the bottom of this page. DATA SECURITY The security of your personal information is very important to us. We use physical, electronic, and administrative measures designed to secure your personal information from accidental loss and from unauthorized access, use, alteration, and disclosure. We make the effort to train our employees and make them aware of the importance of maintaining the confidentiality of personal information. Our employees are required to maintain confidentiality and may not use the information for any unauthorized purpose. Only our employees with a business need to know, or whose duties reasonably so require, are granted access to your personal information. The safety and security of your information also depends on you. Where we have given you (or where you have chosen) a password for access to certain parts of our Website, you are responsible for keeping this password confidential. We ask you not to share your password with anyone. Unfortunately, the transmission of information via the Internet is not completely secure. Although we do our best to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee the security of your personal information transmitted to our Website. Any transmission of personal information is at your own risk. We are not responsible for circumvention of any privacy settings or security measures contained on the Website. DATA RETENTION Except as otherwise permitted or required by applicable law or regulation, we will retain your personal information indefinitely, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. Under some circumstances we may anonymize your personal information so that it can no longer be associated with you. We reserve the right to use such anonymous and de-identified data for any legitimate business purpose without further notice to you or your consent. ACCESSING AND CORRECTING YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION It is important that the personal information we hold about you is accurate and current. Please keep us informed if your personal information changes. By law you have the right to request access to and to correct the personal information that we hold about you. If you want to review, verify, correct, or withdraw consent to the use of your personal information you may also send us an email at community@pier-five.com to request access to, correct, or delete any personal information that you have provided to us. We may not accommodate a request to change information if we believe the change would violate any law or legal requirement or cause the information to be incorrect. We may request specific information from you to help us confirm your identity and your right to access, and to provide you with the personal information that we hold about you or make your requested changes. Applicable law may allow or require us to refuse to provide you with access to some or all of the personal information that we hold about you, or we may have destroyed, erased, or made your personal information anonymous in accordance with our record retention obligations and practices. If we cannot provide you with access to your personal information, we will inform you of the reasons why, subject to any legal or regulatory restrictions. We will provide access to your personal information, subject to exceptions set out in applicable privacy legislation. Examples of such exceptions include: Information protected by solicitor-client privilege. Information that is part of a formal dispute resolution process. Information that is about another individual that would reveal their personal information or confidential commercial information. Information that is prohibitively expensive to provide. If you are concerned about our response or would like to correct the information provided, you may contact our team at community@pier-five.com . WITHDRAWING YOUR CONSENT Where you have provided your consent to the collection, use, and transfer of your personal information, you may have the legal right to withdraw your consent under certain circumstances. To withdraw your consent, if applicable, contact us at community@pier-five.com . Please note that if you withdraw your consent we may not be able to provide you with a particular product or service. We will explain the impact to you at the time to help you with your decision. CHANGES TO OUR PRIVACY POLICY It is our policy to post any changes we make to our privacy policy on this page with a notice that the privacy policy has been updated on the Website home page. If we make material changes to how we treat our users’ personal information, we will notify you by email to the email address specified in your account and through a notice on the Website home page. We include the date the privacy policy was last revised at the top of the page. You are responsible for ensuring we have an up-to-date, active, and deliverable email address for you, and for periodically visiting our Website and this privacy policy to check for any changes. CONTACT INFORMATION AND CHALLENGING COMPLIANCE We welcome your questions, comments, and requests regarding this privacy policy and our privacy practices. Please contact us at: community@pier-five.com Attention: Pier Five Team We have procedures in place to receive and respond to complaints or inquiries about our handling of personal information, our compliance with this policy, and with applicable privacy laws. To discuss our compliance with this policy please contact community@pier-five.com using the contact information listed above.