Retail News

[hammergirl]

Southgate Bath is stunning!

I love shopping in England where the shopping districts are closed off to traffic like that. Wish we had that here although with our climate, it's nice to shop indoors in the winter.

Omro, do shopping districts in England still have late shopping hours only one night a week?

[thistleclub]

Originally Posted by raisethehammer

they better have a website considering the amount of money they get from BIA businesses each year.
They might want to change the banner showing a bustling scene by the fountain with Infusions patio full.
Maybe they can show the parking lot at Main and Rebecca.
Or the one at James and Main.
Or the one at.......

Misleading, but marginally better than a snap of Fingers/Chesters, which tend to look like a 1988 flashback at best, "the thinking man's Joe Buttinsky's" at worst. Time for a facelift, gents. (And, what the hell, maybe some windows for Fingers.)

What's so irritating about the BIA’s business directory being such shit is that it's counter to the prime directive: "The two primary activities of the BIA involve promoting the area as THE place to work, live and play in Hamilton and advocating on behalf of its member businesses." So what, you'll stand up for us in the newspaper as a diamond in the rough but when a curious consumer comes looking, you've stashed the treasure map out of sight?

Is this the same Kathy Drewitt from Avalon Property Management/The Right House? If so, she's on quite a winning streak.

[BCTed]

Originally Posted by raisethehammer

they better have a website considering the amount of money they get from BIA businesses each year.
They might want to change the banner showing a bustling scene by the fountain with Infusions patio full.
Maybe they can show the parking lot at Main and Rebecca.
Or the one at James and Main.
Or the one at.......

How is what I say "squelching" and what you say not?

I'm sure that the BIA is trying. Things are not an easy sell in downtown Hamilton.

[raisethehammer]

if they're trying then they should all be fired.

[DC83]

Originally Posted by raisethehammer

How that Le Chateau is hanging in there I'll never know. I worry that they might bail unless someone at the top has a thing for downtowns.

Unfortunately this store is the worst producer out of all Hamilton stores (which includes Burlington). The store is rather large, yet they get almost no stock due to the fact that no one shops in this area.

Unfortunately opening a new, streetfront store is not an option for Le Chateau. Their streetfront retailers are always at the bottom of their particular region. Even it's Yonge & Bloor AND Yonge & Dundas locations Downtown Toronto don't do that well. On the other hand, the store inside the Toronto Eaton Centre is the #1 store in the country (even better than Str#1 on Rue St Catherine in Mtl).

I know people in the company, incl some in TO who have connections to the top, and they laugh (or roll their eyes) everytime I suggest opening a streetfront store Downtown Hamilton. Their response is simply, 'If it doesn't work for Yonge & Bloor, it aint gonna work at King & James'.

If you want a new, 'popular' store to open downtown, I say bug the hell out of American Aparel. There's a perfect location right at Hess & King, in a shopping district, in the old Hakim Optical Bldg. Perfect size for AA!

[sofasurfer]

Originally Posted by hammergirl

do shopping districts in England still have late shopping hours only one night a week?

I'm not Omro, but another Londoner about to move to Hamilton - so maybe I can answer your question, hammergirl:

In Kingston-upon-Thames (my nearest main shopping district - dominated by The Bentall Centre), most places are open until 8pm on Thursdays and 6pm rest of the week (including Saturday - Sunday hours are usually 10-4/5).

It's probably worth pointing out here that in addition to the Bentall Centre, the main shopping street in Kingston is pedestrianised and very popular - friends who live between Kingston and central London seem to prefer to come to Kingston to shop. And, in terms of geography, Kingston is on the fringe of greater London in a similar way to Hamilton being on the edge of the GTA.

Having said that, I'd pretty much echo what Omro has said about JS/Eaton (like him, I think we went through both without me realising) - it really didn't strike me as a place I'd want to visit much as it stands. However, that is based on a couple of visits in the last 12-18 months - but having said that, I'm really looking forward to becoming a regular visitor to the farmers market!

[hammergirl]

Thanks Sofasurfer!

My last visit to England was 12 years ago. I was wondering if maybe the shopping hours had expanded.

On that trip I stayed with cousins in Staines and she took me shopping in Guildford. Also hit the shopping districts of York, Windsor and Huddersfield.

[omro]

Originally Posted by sofasurfer

Having said that, I'd pretty much echo what Omro has said about JS/Eaton (like him, I think we went through both without me realising) - it really didn't strike me as a place I'd want to visit much as it stands. However, that is based on a couple of visits in the last 12-18 months - but having said that, I'm really looking forward to becoming a regular visitor to the farmers market!

I agree, the Farmer's Market is a major redeeming feature :-)

Originally Posted by hammergirl

My last visit to England was 12 years ago. I was wondering if maybe the shopping hours had expanded.

The big change in the last 12 years you would note, is that shops now open on Sundays which I'm pretty sure never happened 12 years ago.

Shopping hours depends where you go. Most inner city shopping areas will close between 5 and 6pm with one late night a week.

Malls tend to close at 8pm.

Supermarkets Tesco, Sainsburys and Asda, etc. are often open until 10 or midnight weekdays.

Oxford Street in central London seems to vary by shop, some closing at 7, others 9 and others 11 (I can remember suddenly wanting to buy a book, I was a bit bored that night , jumping on the tube to Oxford Circus and trotting down to Borders at 10:30pm and it was still open)

[sofasurfer]

Originally Posted by omro

I agree, the Farmer's Market is a major redeeming feature :-)

It's awesome

One thing I've noticed in the UK is that good local markets are bloody hard to find these days - the "Tesco effect" has really hit many town markets hard, along with specialist food stores.

Originally Posted by omro

Supermarkets Tesco, Sainsburys and Asda, etc. are often open until 10 or midnight weekdays.

Good point. Some of them are even open 24 hours during the week (only closing overnight at weekends). These are pretty much the same size as a north American Wal-Mart.

[SteelTown]

Sears Unveils New Department Store in Hamilton

HAMILTON, ON, Sept. 18 /CNW/ - Sears Canada Inc. (TSX: SCC) today officially opened the doors to its new department store in Hamilton, Ontario.

The new 96,000 square foot store located in the Eastgate Shopping Centre at 75 Centennial Parkway North, will offer consumers a vast selection of merchandise in a more convenient location.

"We are thrilled to offer our large and loyal customer base in Hamilton an even better shopping experience to enjoy," said Dennis Singh, Senior Vice-President, Retail Stores, Sears Canada. "The new store a modern shopping environment designed with our customers in mind."

The new and improved Hamilton Eastgate store offers an easy-to-shop interior with wide aisles, clear and bright sight lines, colour-coded departments and convenient shopping carts, which allow customers to navigate the store more quickly and easily.

"Our objective with the new design is to accommodate the needs of our customer and improve the Sears customer shopping experience," said Singh. "Our new and store constitute not merely a new look, but a new Sears built on the solid foundation of our unique strengths - exceptional customer service, broad selection of quality merchandise, satisfaction guaranteed and trust."

"Shoppers are in for an innovative shopping experience at the brand new Sears Hamilton Eastgate store," said Cathie Weadick, Store Manager, Sears Hamilton Eastgate. "They will find everything from family and home fashions to major appliances and power tools, all housed within a unique shopping environment with over 100 associates committed to providing exceptional customer service."

In celebration of the newly renovated store, Sears Hamilton will donate $10,000 to The Boys and Girls Clubs of Hamilton. Additionally, Sears Hamilton has a number of exciting events, entertainment and sales planned throughout the weekend as part of its official unveiling celebrations with its valued customers. Customers may obtain additional information in the store, including a list of special events.

The Sears Hamilton Eastgate store is open Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday 11:00am to 5:00pm.

[MsMe]

Giant Tiger will be opening in Gulliver's Square. Not sure when I was watching where I was driving.

[MsMe]

Thanks for moving the post for me. I keep forgetting where to post things sometimes. Now if I could only remember where I put things in my house.

[hammergirl]

I saw the banner for the Giant Tiger at Gulliver's Square too. Like MsMe, I couldn't see the opening date either.

Most of the stores at the top of the Red Hill Parkway are open now aside from Best Buy. I love the new Indigo Books http://www.thespec.com/News/Business/article/462028

[markbarbera]

One of the shops closed down before it even had a chance to open - Linens n Things has filed for bankruptcy. Now's a good time for anyone with a gift card from them to use it at the Burlington shop while it liquidates.

[MsMe]

Originally Posted by markbarbera

One of the shops closed down before it even had a chance to open - Linens n Things has filed for bankruptcy. Now's a good time for anyone with a gift card from them to use it at the Burlington shop while it liquidates.

Sometimes the gift cards are worth nothing when a store files bankrupt. I know White Rose wouldn't accept theirs when they filed. Better find out and if they are still valid to use them up fast then.

[raisethehammer]

Shanghai Tea Merchant is almost set to open in Jackson sq.

[matt602]

Likewise, People's Jewelers in Jackson Square opened last week. Very nice, professional look to it. Unlike any of the other "jewelers" in the rest of the mall.

[hammergirl]

Originally Posted by matt602

Likewise, People's Jewelers in Jackson Square opened last week. Very nice, professional look to it. Unlike any of the other "jewelers" in the rest of the mall.

Was there ever a Peoples in the mall before?

[emge]

I believe there used to be one there, or least I've heard as much.

My engagement ring's warranty ran out because there was no Peoples downtown when I moved here (you need to get it checked every 6 months by them to keep it current, and I wasn't making the trip up the Mountain just to do that). I'm sure it wouldn't have made much of a difference anyways.

I did go to one Peoples to get it checked, and the salesgirl asked "So, are you ready to upgrade your ring to a bigger diamond yet?" on a freaking engagement ring. Genius.

Hopefully I won't have the same problem at this store

[raisethehammer]

BOOO!!

http://www.mec.ca/Main/content_text....=1226351089181