The Retail Thread - Page 146

Policy Wonk · #**2901** Posted **Jan 19, 2015, 5:04 AM**

That comes from inside HBC, take it or leave it. The provisions in the original structure to accommodate an extremely high floor load for the never built warehousing is limiting to the entire building.

Ramsayfarian · #**2902** Posted **Jan 19, 2015, 3:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lineman

I remember a Malt Stop located in Trans Canada Mall near the SuperValu being one of my childhood joys.

Nordstrom and Harry Rosen provide an excellent customer experience. Those snots at Holt Renfrew can learn a thing or two from those guys.

Thanks for confirming there was such a thing called the Malt Stop. I don't think I've ever been to TCM so they must have had multiple locations.

I agree, I've gone to Holt Renfew a few times and it was a dreadful experience. The only time I go there now is to get to Artigiano's. No complaints about the service at Harry Rosen's though other than they never have Braxx pants in my size on sale.

Plus15 · #**2903** Posted **Jan 19, 2015, 5:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Policy Wonk

That comes from inside HBC, take it or leave it. The provisions in the original structure to accommodate an extremely high floor load for the never built warehousing is limiting to the entire building.

I don't doubt the building is a bunker, so major changes like new escalator wells would be prohibitively expensive. But I don't see why it means the ceiling, floors, fixtures and fittings can't be up to date. Or why the windows are falling out.

Perhaps in Calgary where everyone is used to things being fresh out of the box and shiny, it seems unacceptable, but most old department stores (including TO, Van and even Macy's flagship in NYC) have extremely out of date escalators, elevators and stairs (wooden in the case of Macy's - and extremely cool). I don't think the building needs any major structural changes.

Also - they are installing two elevators in the SE corner to reach the top floor venue, which I'm sure will be no easy feat (I've seen the plans).

Spring2008 · #**2904** Posted **Jan 19, 2015, 7:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plus15

I don't doubt the building is a bunker, so major changes like new escalator wells would be prohibitively expensive. But I don't see why it means the ceiling, floors, fixtures and fittings can't be up to date. Or why the windows are falling out.

Yeah exactly.

Innersoul1 · #**2905** Posted **Jan 19, 2015, 11:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by artvandelay

Just as Nordstrom going into Chinook prompted Hudson's Bay to renovate their Chinook store, I believe that Simons going into the Core will result in similar things for the flagship Bay.

Also, Nordstrom is great but the Bay has undergone a massive turnaround over the past couple years. Hopefully it continues as different Bay locations are hit or miss as far as what brands they carry.

I love Nordstrom, the customer service experience is absolutely amazing. Each time I go in I am continutally impressed. They are always so helpful, even when you are just shopping the sale racks. The store always seems spotless and organized. It's great.

I agree that the Bay has really undergone a massive turnaround. It's nice to see a much better selection when it comes to brands. They really need to work on the customer experience. I am am not just speaking to customer service, but just the way they present their store. It always seems so messy. Some of the brand sections are great but suffer from being under-stocked. That being said it's pretty hard to beat the sales at the Bay. Post Christmas 40%-70% off sale is pretty unreal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Policy Wonk

Unfortunately there just isn't a whole hell of a lot that can be done with the Bay. It's one of those buildings that would have been well served by being torn down before it got old enough to be historic.

It was designed to support adding additional floors. For engineering purposes they floors were assumed to be high-density warehousing. While the building could contain a nuclear blast, it's very difficult to extensively renovate it.

I would just like to see them clean up the exterior, fix the windows and then clean up the floors. Everything seems to have been done piecemeal.

On a somewhat related note, I watched this documentary on Selfridges in London from PBS on Netflix this weekend. It was totally fascinating how many innovations Selfridge brought to the retail world. I highly recommend watching this, it will really make you think when you go to a department store.

• Video Link

Ramsayfarian · #**2906** Posted **Jan 19, 2015, 11:13 PM**

I've been meaning to watch that doc on Selfridge. A little off topic, but I'm loving all the PBS stuff on Netflix now.

Policy Wonk · #**2907** Posted **Jan 20, 2015, 6:24 PM**

Selfridge was an interesting character, one of a number of American entrepreneurs who went to Britain to sweep up the money of the unlanded bourgeoisie that was being left on the table by a class system that had lost all meaning after the industrial revolution.

Rusty van Reddick · #**2908** Posted **Jan 20, 2015, 7:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Policy Wonk

Selfridge was an interesting character, one of a number of American entrepreneurs who went to Britain to sweep up the money of the unlanded bourgeoisie that was being left on the table by a class system that had lost all meaning after the industrial revolution.

The industrial revolution CREATED the class system.

Policy Wonk · #**2909** Posted **Jan 20, 2015, 9:12 PM**

What the hell was feudalism?

The industrial revolution severed wealth from land and the long depression of the 1870's did the rest. Yet come the turn of the last century many doors were still closed to the well heeled British commoner. American (and a few Canadian) entrepreneurs seized on that.

Spring2008 · #**2910** Posted **Jan 23, 2015, 3:59 AM**

Wrong thread but I tried that new Watercress Express viet resto on 17th - amazingly tasty and fresh, esp for the price.

Anyways on 17th - noticed a new Crossfit place next to Model Milk, the former TD building redevelopment is in full swing, and a new land-use is up for the site west of Best Buy.

Ramsayfarian · #**2911** Posted **Jan 24, 2015, 11:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spring2008

Wrong thread but I tried that new Watercress Express viet resto on 17th - amazingly tasty and fresh, esp for the price.

Anyways on 17th - noticed a new Crossfit place next to Model Milk, the former TD building redevelopment is in full swing, and a new land-use is up for the site west of Best Buy.

I know the folks who started that CF place. We used to go to Crossfit Inglewood together, which I wouldn't recommend. Haven't been to this new box, but just based on the owners, I would give it two thumbs up. Very nice people and are good coaches.

Best box though is Action Crossfit near Marda loop. The owner Chris Fen-Mac is a saint and knows what he's doing and has been involved with Crossfit since it's beginning.

Any idiot can tire someone out but Chris programs his workouts so they build upon each other. Still tires you out, but he gets you in shape quickly and efficiently.

Spring2008 · #**2912** Posted **Jan 25, 2015, 5:22 PM**

Is Pigeonhole going in between CF and Model Milk?

OT but one of my new hobbies involves touring infills with a couple friends. Funner than it sounds lol.

I'm constantly impressed how much infill's getting built surrounding the City Centre, thought I should mention that it was pretty exciting seeing how much of that is now making its way to Ramsay, at least the side closer to the Stampede.

flipstah · #**2913** Posted **Jan 26, 2015, 4:13 PM**

http://www.thestar.com/business/2015...n-toronto.html

I could see Uniqlo taking some spaces that Target left. Only in areas where Asians run supreme though.

Policy Wonk · #**2914** Posted **Jan 26, 2015, 6:16 PM**

We have a new toy...

We have a little white box sitting on the ground floor of a building on the fringe of downtown. It can sniff out people with Wi-Fi enabled on their cell phones and tell us things like this. (free wi-fi isn't really free by the way...)

We haven't paid for this feature, but it can even tell us who has an iPhone or Blackberry or whatever too.

We're really only looking at the passersby, the rest of the data is mostly meaningless. The rest of the traffic basically accounts for a sales office in the building.

Innersoul1 · #**2915** Posted **Jan 26, 2015, 8:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by flipstah

http://www.thestar.com/business/2015...n-toronto.html

I could see Uniqlo taking some spaces that Target left. Only in areas where Asians run supreme though.

Uniqlo is awesome! I would love if they came to Calgary.

MalcolmTucker · #**2916** Posted **Jan 26, 2015, 9:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Policy Wonk

We have a new toy...

We have a little white box sitting on the ground floor of a building on the fringe of downtown. It can sniff out people with Wi-Fi enabled on their cell phones and tell us things like this. (free wi-fi isn't really free by the way...)

We haven't paid for this feature, but it can even tell us who has an iPhone or Blackberry or whatever too.

We're really only looking at the passersby, the rest of the data is mostly meaningless. The rest of the traffic basically accounts for a sales office in the building.

Logging mac addresses?

Policy Wonk · #**2917** Posted **Jan 26, 2015, 11:27 PM**

Yes, it's the same idea as the "Time To _____" traffic signs that skim Bluetooth MAC addresses.

Ramsayfarian · #**2918** Posted **Jan 27, 2015, 7:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Policy Wonk

We have a new toy...

We have a little white box sitting on the ground floor of a building on the fringe of downtown. It can sniff out people with Wi-Fi enabled on their cell phones and tell us things like this. (free wi-fi isn't really free by the way...)

We haven't paid for this feature, but it can even tell us who has an iPhone or Blackberry or whatever too.

We're really only looking at the passersby, the rest of the data is mostly meaningless. The rest of the traffic basically accounts for a sales office in the building.

Have you seen any of those retail security systems that utilize this technology. They overlay the video with whatever data they can consume and if you buy something with anything other than cash, they now know who your are for future visits. Will also track you as you walk around the store and keep tabs on what caught your eye.

The only free wi-fi I ever connect to is Shaw Open. I also use Pry-fi on my Android. Which will spoof a mac address to all networks that you're not connected to.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...re.pryfi&hl=en

Another interesting product is the Pineapple Router.

Policy Wonk · #**2919** Posted **Jan 27, 2015, 10:31 PM**

I saw a demonstration of that in a casino scenario where cheaters, hookers and other undesirables could be potentially tracked by their Wi-Fi and Bluetooth MAC's so that security could over-come disguises and distractions.

This is the first time we have tried anything like this, this is pretty much just trying to document signs of life outside of core business hours.

Ramsayfarian · #**2920** Posted **Jan 27, 2015, 11:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Policy Wonk

I saw a demonstration of that in a casino scenario where cheaters, hookers and other undesirables could be potentially tracked by their Wi-Fi and Bluetooth MAC's so that security could over-come disguises and distractions.

This is the first time we have tried anything like this, this is pretty much just trying to document signs of life outside of core business hours.

Sounds very similar, but I suspect casinos are slightly ahead of the curve when it comes to smartphone surveillance as they can actually afford to buy and implement such systems.

Not sure if they would be allowed to install stingray towers, but I suspect they would if they could.