Winnipeg Retail

[CoryB]

Best Buy is still opening new stores where it makes sense and south Winnipeg could be one of those areas. The newer stores have an updated, smaller format. In general it is more geared towards a mobile store, media sales and online order pickup. The inventory of items larger than roughly a gaming system are very limited with those being available on an order to store basis.

In terms of why they kept the Future Shop brand at the time it was the better known of the two in Canada. Keeping the established brand also allowed them to do a slow rollout than say what Target did. It was also reported that they found customers comparison shopped to two stores so they tried to make it be two of their stores.

It is likely time to look at retiring the Future Shop brand, at least at bricks and mortar but leases on locations are something than can be challenging to just wind down.

[buzzg]

Future Shop also has a WAY bigger appliances department, Best Buy only started carrying some a couple years ago (and some still don't).

But Best Buy is testing out small format stores (similar to The Source) in some markets in Canada that will essentially be showrooms for people to go purchase online — those are likely the new ones you have heard of opening. It will be interesting to see what happens but I wouldn't be surprised if maybe BB goes to the small format eventually and they keep FS the way it is now.

[CoryB]

Both Future Shop and Best Buy direct ship appliances from their warehouse with no store stock. There is limited reason to continue to have a showroom for them.

In terms of the brands future, I think as leases come up for renewal more stores under both brands will close. If the same day delivery pilot Best Buy was running works out it would make sense to move to a format similar to the old Consumers with a small retail front end backed by a warehouse. Winnipeg would ultimately have a single warehouse store and many smaller front end stores. Basically do a direct fight to the showrooming trend by effectively flipping the situation. I can order online from Best Buy and have it later today or order from Amazon and maybe get it in three days.

[cllew]

Just think how well Consumers Distributing would have done if they could have held on a few years. With the internet you could see if the product you want was in stock and at what location. You could have ordered it and pick it up.

Their big issue I had with Consumers was you never knew if it was in stock / discontinued until you made the trek down to your local store and waited in line 20 minutes to hand in your pick slip. I think hear the end they had a white board with the stock numbers out of stock on display in the front of the stores.

[horrorbro123]

Rumours Build-A-Bear Workshop Is Coming To Polo Park Location

[CoryB]

Supply issues aren't what ultimately did Consumers in as their competitors had the same issue. The difference is at a traditional retailer they didn't need to advertise which hair dryer they would have six months before you went to buy it. Further, if the one from the flyer was out of stock you had all these other choices in front of you and likely left the store with one.

In terms of how Best Buy operates today if you want a laptop, a TV or a new stove it is basically the same. There is normally a floor demo model you can look at. When you want to buy they either pull the inventory from the store warehouse or order one from the distribution center for you. A very similar process to Consumers of old.

This same model is similar to the Sears catalogue which still makes me think they missed a huge opportunity when e-commerce started. Before the purchase and supply chain became what we have today Sears easily could have stepped in to market their distribution channel and effectively become a bricks and mortar version of how Amazon Marketplace works today. Definitely a missed opportunity that could have really changed their relevance and been a huge profit center for them.

[horrorbro123]

i Found This Today At Polo Park Shopping Centre

[1ajs]

ok? i see new carpet and a casher counter whats it for

[CoryB]

The picture from Polo sure looks like it is from the former Zeller's space. The question there is if it is a seasonal shop moving out of a permanent place moving in.

[The Unknown Poster]

Originally Posted by cllew

As far as I know the Future Shop staff are on commission and the Best Buy staff are not.

I don't feel as pushed to buy at Best Buy when I go in there as when the Future Shop was on Regent next to there sister company Best Buy.

Future Shop staff never want to help you unless its a big ticket item. They have zero product knowledge. its intimidating walking up to a group of 5-6 employees standing in a group doing nothing.

I was there last week looking for a BluRay their website said was in stock. Couldnt find it. Their DVD section is all over the place with multiple potential locations for items. I asked a guy why it was like that and he said "I have no idea". When i tweeted FS their reply was to use their reservation system to order items. Give me a break.

[The Unknown Poster]

Originally Posted by cllew

Just think how well Consumers Distributing would have done if they could have held on a few years. With the internet you could see if the product you want was in stock and at what location. You could have ordered it and pick it up.

Their big issue I had with Consumers was you never knew if it was in stock / discontinued until you made the trek down to your local store and waited in line 20 minutes to hand in your pick slip. I think hear the end they had a white board with the stock numbers out of stock on display in the front of the stores.

Consumers Distributing was the cat's ass when we were kids. They had a fantastic toy section in their catalogue. But as you said, they never had anything in stock when you actually went there.

[drew]

Originally Posted by The Unknown Poster

Consumers Distributing was the cat's ass when we were kids. They had a fantastic toy section in their catalogue. But as you said, they never had anything in stock when you actually went there.

I remember filling out the form, and then never getting the GI Joe character I wanted when I was a kid. Always the B or C choice...

[esquire]

Originally Posted by drew

I remember filling out the form, and then never getting the GI Joe character I wanted when I was a kid. Always the B or C choice...

I know in reality that Consumers Distributing was not much different than the online shopping we do today, but there is just something about going to a warehouse, filling out a form, giving it to someone who goes to look for your requested item, and then coming back to tell you that it is not available just makes the whole thing seem like something straight out of Albania circa 1959.

[drew]

Originally Posted by esquire

I know in reality that Consumers Distributing was not much different than the online shopping we do today, but there is just something about going to a warehouse, filling out a form, giving it to someone who goes to look for your requested item, and then coming back to tell you that it is not available just makes the whole thing seem like something straight out of Albania circa 1959.

That anticipation though! Can't put a price on that...

Sort of like buying shoes when your feet are size 13. Find the shoes you want, and then wait to see if your size is available... and it's usually not.

If I don't go to a warehouse type shoe store that has the stock in front of you, I have resorted to simply asking "just show me what shoes are available in 13, and we'll go from there".

[cllew]

Does anybody remember Consumers competitor's name? I am thinking it was called Acme Distribution and had a location on Keenleyside south of Narin.

[Danny D Oh]

Beyond the always being out of stock, Consumers was glacial in terms of speed of service. IMO that also did them in. I recall a lot of people walking out of there after waiting 10-15 minutes just to speak to a clerk and heading to a department store where they could actually handle/view the merchandise.

[cllew]

talking about them being slow, I remember being told by the front clerk at the Henderson Hwy. Consumers that what I wanted was still in the semi trailer in the loading dock and they did not know when the trailer would be unloaded and the item put in the racks for picking.

[trebor204]

Consumers Distributing Catalogues:
(Looks like select pages, no the full catalogue)

http://www.cdarchive.ca/

[plrh]

wtf. check out the 1987 catalogue, page 2, #9. $3.49! Shop around, you can't beat that price.

[bomberjet]

Ultimate 96 video catalog = my childhood! $95 for one game.