The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[Hed Kandi]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

new store opening on west hastings - across from Leone

EUOKO FLAGSHIP - VANCOUVER
408 Howe Street
at West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC VC6 1A5
1-800-98-EUOKO (38656)

Very nice. Thanks for posting!

[deagleman]

Originally Posted by Rusty Gull

Yes, it is a drawback. No nachos either.

But the upside is you can get hot coffee in a can. Not to mention a wide array of beer, liquor, sake and salty snacks to accompany them.

The bottom line is that 7-11s in Japan are first-rate convenience stores, 7-11s in the US are much improved, so I'm hoping that trend comes to Canada.

The only way for 7-11 to improve here is for us to get some actual competition going. The prices at 7-11 here are getting ridiculous. Wish we had more competing convenience stores here as we do with competing coffee shops. Variety is always a good thing.

[Rusty Gull]

Yeah, it would be great to see 7-11 in a war with, either Mac's or Beckers from Toronto, or something like Circle K from the U.S. I know we have one (or two?) Mac's in Vancouver, but it is pretty awful. I believe we also have a Hasty Mart. But is that the same franchise from Ontario?

Also, Family Mart from Japan is really nice. Wish we had one of those.

So you're probably right, as long as there is no competition, our 7-11s will continue to 🞵🞵🞵🞵.

[officedweller]

Office Depot in red and white - that's weird - treading on Staples territory...

[NewfBC]

Originally Posted by Rusty Gull

Yeah, it would be great to see 7-11 in a war with, either Mac's or Beckers from Toronto, or something like Circle K from the U.S. I know we have one (or two?) Mac's in Vancouver, but it is pretty awful. I believe we also have a Hasty Mart. But is that the same franchise from Ontario?

Also, Family Mart from Japan is really nice. Wish we had one of those.

So you're probably right, as long as there is no competition, our 7-11s will continue to 🞵🞵🞵🞵.

There are 20+ Mac's locations in the GVRD.

Mac's, Beckers and Circle K are all the operated by the same company.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alimentation_Couche-Tard

Ron.

[officedweller]

BTW - Banana Republic expansion in Pacific Centre is open (has been for a while) and Bench is now open in Pacific Centre.

Looks like the awning on 701 West Goergia (Granville side) is just being reclad and not completely removed and replaced.

[Shibuya]

My understanding was Office Depot was closing so I am surprised to see they would bother painting it. Maybe they are just going to downsize at that location. Either way, I have been proved wrong....for now.

[deagleman]

Originally Posted by NewfBC

There are 20+ Mac's locations in the GVRD.

Mac's, Beckers and Circle K are all the operated by the same company.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alimentation_Couche-Tard

Ron.

It's still not really competition when the the Mac's or 7-11s are located no where near another convenience store. I've been to places where there were two or more convenience stores on the corners of an intersection.
The prices were always superb.

[djh]

Originally Posted by Shibuya

Office Depot is looking to close/downsize their Broadway and Cambie location. This comes right from Office Depot.

Told you...See post 1521

[Shibuya]

Originally Posted by djh

Told you...See post 1521

Neither of us have been proven right at this point. They are still open in the entire space are they not?

[djh]

Originally Posted by Shibuya

Neither of us have been proven right at this point. They are still open in the entire space are they not?

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "they are still open in the entire space" or what that proves, but yes, neither of us have been proven right.
Although the odds are they are staying there, because like I said, they were painting the building in company colours when I went in, and the staff there were oblivious to any forthcoming closing. Doesn't sound like the behaviour of a location about to close.

Is this something you know for a fact is happening, or something you heard from somebody else? And if you can't give any time scales, does it count if in, say 5 years the location closes?

[hrhsheba]

Has anybody heard who has leased the space formerly occupied by "Fruits & Passion"? 1100 Block Robson, North Side (just along from Milestones)

[officedweller]

From the Seattle Times:

Last updated November 17, 2009 10:51 a.m. PT

Costco nixes Coke products over pricing dispute
By EMILY FREDRIX AND SARAH SKIDMORE
AP FOOD INDUSTRY WRITERS

ATLANTA -- Costco customers may have to look elsewhere for Coca-Cola products now that the retailer has stopped carrying them because the pair are fighting over prices.

The public squabble between one of the nation's largest wholesale club operators and the world's largest soft drink maker is likely to fizzle quickly. But it reveals real tensions as retailers and product makers square off on prices.

As shoppers continue to grapple with the recession, retailers want to win their favor by giving them low prices. But that has been creating tension between product makers like Coca-Cola Co., who are working hard to maintain profit margins while meeting retailer demands.

Typically such negotiations take place behind the scenes, but once in awhile, a public dispute erupts.

"Beneath this surface of harmony, it's a dogfight out there," Gerry Khermouch, editor of Beverage Business Insights, said Tuesday at an investor meeting held by the soft drink maker at its hometown of Atlanta.

Retailers want to wield more power in determining pricing with product makers, who they depend on to stock their customers' favorite brands, Khermouch said.

Costco has been aggressive in putting up signs on store shelves and notices on its Web site.

"Costco is committed to carrying name brand merchandise at the best possible prices. At this time, Coca-Cola has not provided Costco with competitive pricing so that we may pass along the value our members deserve," said a message on the company's Web site labeled "Price Alert!"

A Costco executive confirmed the move Monday but would not discuss the matter further.

The wholesale club operator, based in Issaquah, Wash., is not removing products like Coke and Diet Coke from store shelves, but it does not plan to restock them "until the matter is resolved," according to the message on its site.

Coca-Cola said in a statement late Monday it won't comment on ongoing negotiations but said Costco is an important customer and that it is committed to working with it "in a spirit of fairness."

This dispute is notable given the size and visibility of both companies, said Jim Hertel, managing partner at retail consulting firm Willard Bishop.

"It's not unprecedented, but it doesn't happen every day," Hertel said.

Earlier this year grocer Delhaize SA in Belgium said it would no longer stock at least 250 Unilever products because the food and consumer products maker was making "unprecedented" demands that would force retail prices up 30 percent, the two companies reached an agreement within months.

But the pricing pressure is more intense at Costco, whose business model is designed around offering lower prices than traditional retailers.

Hertel said most likely, the companies will recognize there is a mutual interest and will find a way to resolve it.

"These are complex relationships and hugely valuable," he said.

Who will win? Beverage analysts said don't bet against that famous logo.

"This is not going to bully Coke into changing its pricing strategy," said John Sicher, editor of trade publication Beverage Insights. "I think Coke is going to basically be focused on the right price and right market for its products, no matter what."

[VancouverguyDowntown]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

Actually, Calgary's new Holt Renfrew which just opened has been called the "flagship" and is bigger than the Vancouver store by nearly 15,000 square feet, carrying more brands, and etc.



It also carries more ridiculously priced items, such as a $198,000 Hermes hand bag, in the largest Hermes boutique in Canada.

I'm sorry. I have to correct you.

Firstly, the largest Hermes store in Canada continues to be in Toronto, 130 Bloor Street West, at just over 4000 square feet. The new Calgary store is just under 1400 square feet. The Vancouver store, at 755 Burrard Street, is about 2500 square feet.

Secondly, the Calgary Holt Renfrew has far fewer major designer labels than the Vancouver store. Go on the Holt Renfrew website and look under 'Designers'. Look at women's, men's, women's shoes and bags. Vancouver blows Calgary out of the water, especially in the area of top women's designer clothing and bags.

This is one of those rare "It's not how big it is, it's how they use it". LOL!

ps. The $198,000 Hermes handbag is brought to new Hermes stores to create a buzz. It's not unique to the Calgary store. It's just an opening gimmic, and will be moved to wherever Hermes opens a new store next.

[VancouverguyDowntown]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

i edited - i just looked it up on google - seems to be a skin care place - most of its locations are in high end dept stores like barneys, saks, bergdorf goodman and some hotels like w hotel etc - Canada seems to have the only flagship locations for north america - toronto and Vancouver with some of it sold at salons i guess

anyway looks good there

Euoko is a Canadian (Toronto) based luxury skin care products manufacturer and retailer. It's surprisingly successful and still relatively unknown.

(Note: I'm an expert in the luxury retailing industry, and may start posting more on this forum. Until now I've only read the forum and not posted.)

[ckkelley]

Welcome to the forum. I'm sure your insight will be greatly appreciated.

[hollywoodnorth]

Originally Posted by VancouverguyDowntown

Euoko is a Canadian (Toronto) based luxury skin care products manufacturer and retailer. It's surprisingly successful and still relatively unknown.

(Note: I'm an expert in the luxury retailing industry, and may start posting more on this forum. Until now I've only read the forum and not posted.)

cheers! welcome to the group!

[Yume-sama]

Welcome! I was going off of what was written in the Calgary Sun, and if you can't trust THEM who can you trust!?

And, how, exactly do you get to be an expert in luxury retail ? I had a girlfriend who claimed that once... boy, was she high maintenance.

[vansky]

Originally Posted by VancouverguyDowntown

I'm sorry. I have to correct you.

Firstly, the largest Hermes store in Canada continues to be in Toronto, 130 Bloor Street West, at just over 4000 square feet. The new Calgary store is just under 1400 square feet. The Vancouver store, at 755 Burrard Street, is about 2500 square feet.

Secondly, the Calgary Holt Renfrew has far fewer major designer labels than the Vancouver store. Go on the Holt Renfrew website and look under 'Designers'. Look at women's, men's, women's shoes and bags. Vancouver blows Calgary out of the water, especially in the area of top women's designer clothing and bags.

This is one of those rare "It's not how big it is, it's how they use it". LOL!

ps. The $198,000 Hermes handbag is brought to new Hermes stores to create a buzz. It's not unique to the Calgary store. It's just an opening gimmic, and will be moved to wherever Hermes opens a new store next.

great, but let's not compare ourselves with calgary...the only people who will go to HR in calgary are people from else where, calgarians dont really care about no 🞵🞵🞵🞵 about fashion. I find it hard to think about fashion when you are -30 degrees below zero, almost like a forzen potato.

[mr.x]

^ Yume, Vancouver's Holt Renfrew is also a flagship as well.