(Tony Flanz) Think Retail Turns 20
Craig and Tony discuss the 20-year evolution of Think Retail, including major brand entries, heartfelt client relationships, and how Tony navigated immense personal challenges while building one of Canada’s most respected brokerage firms—all while shaping the future of retail leasing with passion and purpose.
Episode 303 of the The Retail Insider Podcast Network podcast, hosted by Craig Patterson, Tony Flanz, titled "(Tony Flanz) Think Retail Turns 20" was published on July 10, 2025 and runs 20 minutes.
July 10, 2025 ·20m · The Retail Insider Podcast Network
Summary
Craig and Tony discuss the 20-year evolution of Think Retail, including major brand entries, heartfelt client relationships, and how Tony navigated immense personal challenges while building one of Canada’s most respected brokerage firms—all while shaping the future of retail leasing with passion and purpose.
Episode Description
Craig Patterson and Tony Flanz, founder and CEO of Montreal-based brokerage Think Retail, discuss the 20-year journey of Think Retail, the Montreal-based brokerage firm founded by Flanz in 2005. Flanz shares the inspiration behind launching his business—a desire to provide a more personalized, white-glove service to clients—and reflects on his first client, Bizou, a relationship that blossomed into a deeply personal, multi-generational collaboration. His unwavering passion and client-first approach remain at the heart of Think Retail’s success, which continues to grow through long-term partnerships and strategic leasing across Canada.
They explore milestone moments, including the pivotal Fossil mandate, early deals like American Apparel at Yorkdale, and the emotional story of Flanz’s philanthropic work with Autism Speaks. While building his firm, Flanz faced immense personal challenges—supporting a son diagnosed with autism and caring for a terminally ill wife—yet he continued to grow the business with resilience and optimism. He credits the brokerage as both a professional outlet and emotional anchor during these years.
They also discuss how Think Retail is shaping the future of Canadian retail, from introducing international brands like Adopt, Kmart 24, and Morgan de Toi, to helping Crocs expand across Canada. Flanz emphasizes the enduring value of integrity, relationships, and local market insight in an industry increasingly shaped by online retail, entertainment-focused malls, and digital tools. Looking ahead, he sees vast opportunity for global brands in Canada, thanks to low market saturation, high-performing malls, and a strong national identity.
Interviewed this episode:
- Tony Flanz, President at Think Retail
- Think Retail
This podcast is the audio version of the The Interview Series video podcasts by Retail Insider Canada are available through our Retail Insider YouTube Channel where you can subscribe and be notified when new video episodes are available.
Subscribe, Rate, and Review our Retail Insider Podcast!
Follow Craig:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/CraigPattersonToronto
Instagram: @craig_patterson_toronto
Twitter: @RI_EIC
Follow Retail Insider:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/Retail-Insider
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RetailInsider/
Twitter: @RetailInsider_
Instagram: @Retail_Insider_Canada
Share your thoughts!
Drop us a line at [email protected]. You can also rate us in Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show!
Background Music Credit: Hard Boiled Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/