Brian Hill is a Canadian entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Vancouver-based clothing company Aritzia. This successful chain of boutiques has over 80 locations in North America, currently. After the opening of its first location in 1984, the company has grown steadily in its thirty years of operation, servicing a demographic of young women and employing more than 2,300 staff. Unlike most comparable retailers such as H&M, Aritzia designs and produces many in house brands including: TNA, Talula, Babaton, Wilfred, Wilfred Free, Community, Le Fou, La Notte, Sunday Best, Paradise Mine, The Castings, SIXELEVEN and Auxiliary.
Early life
Family
Brian Hill was raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada by his father Jim Hill, the founder of the luxury retail company . Brian worked at his father's retail store through his adolescence, often doing simple maintenance tasks, such as folding, and window washing. He learned about all aspects of the retail business under the mentorship of his father, Jim, and uncle, Forbes Hill.
Education
Following his graduation from high school, Brian applied to the commerce program at Queen's University, where he was accepted. Despite being kicked out of the program for poor grades, Hill redeemed himself with his performance in economics, and was eventually able to graduate the program. Upon graduation from Queen's, Hill moved back home to Vancouver from his boarding in Kingston, Ontario.
Career
The Founding and Expansion of Aritzia
Shortly after returning from school, in 1984, Hill, with his brother Ross, opened the first ever Aritzia boutique in Oakridge Centre an upscale shopping mall in Vancouver, BC. Hill claimed that he saw a gap in the market, which he intended to fill, lying somewhere between luxury clothing retailers for young women and trendy retailers for young girls. In order to fill this gap in the market, Hill felt that it was necessary to develop in-house brands that could deliver what was not already available to consumers, the six private brands: Wilfred, TNA, Talula, Sunday Best, Community and Babaton accompanied by their two accessory brands SIXELEVEN and Auxiliary are responsible for 80% of the company's sales. Nearing the end of the 1990s, Aritzia was expanded nationally, and then in 2005, it was expanded internationally to establish boutiques in The United States. American cities with Aritzia locations include Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and New York. Expansion into Southern America has proved to be difficult due to the warm nature of the fall and winter clothing lines. Despite this obstacle, Aritzia has expanded to be a successful 80 location company across North America.
Charity involvement
In 2007, Brian's wife, Andrea Thomas Hill founded the organization , a foundation designed to provide support to single mothers in the Vancouver area who may be struggling to provide for their children. Aritzia is a sponsor and advocate of the organization. As parents of two children, this cause is close to the Hills' hearts. Brian and Andrea are also generous supporters of the BC Children's Hospital Foundation and the Vancouver Art Gallery.
