From Retail Insider:
Urban Barn expands across Canada with new Halifax store
By Craig Patterson
Date: November 18, 2024
https://retail-insider.com/retail-inside...ds-across-canada-with-new-halifax-store/
Quote:
Urban Barn’s expansion into Halifax, set for spring 2025, will further solidify its status as a national brand. The Halifax store will offer a large-format retail experience, enhancing Urban Barn’s capacity to serve the local market. The new location will also facilitate greater e-commerce capabilities, as the retailer will now have a regional presence to support logistics and delivery for larger furniture pieces.
Fincham highlighted that opening in Halifax is part of a broader strategy to expand in Eastern Canada. “We won’t make a market entry with just one location. We’re exploring additional opportunities in the East and Ontario as we continue to grow.”
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So, they are essentially telegraphing that they anticipate new store openings in the future within Atlantic Canada. This only makes sense in terms of logistics and supply chain management.
Obviously, if they anticipate future store openings, Moncton would be a prime location to consider, especially since whatever trucks they send down here to supply the Halifax store will pass right by Moncton. The question is where?
I see two or three prime possibilities.
1) -
Petitcodiac Plaza in Dieppe. Right across the street from Champlain Place in a busy retail neighbourhood. There is room to extend the plaza to the east with one more large CRU certainly big enough for an Urban Barn. Plaza Corp already has let it be known they want to expand the plaza to it's full capacity, This is the most likely location.
2) -
Granite Centre. They have lots of room to expand, and need to move more into the realm of big box stores to sustain future growth. Up until now, they have been relying on Costco and a series of strip malls with small CRUs. They can't keep on doing this. They need to think bigger.
3) -
Mapleton Crossing. See my post further up the page. I think it is time Mapleton Crossing got back into the commercial/retail game. There are 2-3 potential pad sites off of Cabela's Court big enough for an Urban Barn. Urban Barn would fit in quite nicely with Rona and Kent as neighbours.
This quote is encouraging, especially given the liguistic dynamic of greater Moncton:
Quote:
Urban Barn entered the Quebec market in 2015 and now operates five stores in the province. The retailer’s success in Quebec is supported by a commitment to respecting local culture and providing French-language services. This thoughtful approach to market integration demonstrates Urban Barn’s dedication to community engagement across Canada.
“Our French translation team and community support efforts show that we’re dedicated to immersing ourselves in each market we enter,” said Fincham. “Being part of the local community is essential to us.”
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Quote:
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As of 2024, Urban Barn operates 54 stores from British Columbia to Quebec, employing more than 650 team members. The retailer says it remains committed to offering thoughtfully designed furniture and home décor that resonate with Canadians’ diverse lifestyles and tastes.
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The second quote indicates they now have 54 stores across Canada. Halifax will be #55. I've said it before - once a chain reaches the 50 store threshold, Moncton becomes an obvious choice for expansion. I am highly optimistic that given the tenor of this article, that we will likely see an Urban Barn in Moncton in the next couple of years.
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