The Retail Thread - Page 55

SpongeG · #**1081** Posted **Nov 18, 2010, 6:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plus15

I must try Five Guys burgers...

The Chinook location of Stuart Weitzman looks pretty much like the Montreal shop (the pic you posted in the Vancouver thread.)

cool - i guess we can expect the same for the vancouver store

cityscape_enthusiast · #**1082** Posted **Nov 18, 2010, 6:52 PM**

so apparently it was just confirmed that H&M will be opening a two-level store in the Core Spring 2011

Plus15 · #**1083** Posted **Nov 18, 2010, 7:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cityscape_enthusiast

so apparently it was just confirmed that H&M will be opening a two-level store in the Core Spring 2011

Finally! That's great news for downtown...and The CORE. It should help them land some other new retailers now that a big mid-priced anchor is in place. Also helps that there is no H&M at all in South Calgary. Awesome.

Myke · #**1084** Posted **Nov 19, 2010, 2:56 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plus15

Finally! That's great news for downtown...and The CORE. It should help them land some other new retailers now that a big mid-priced anchor is in place. Also helps that there is no H&M at all in South Calgary. Awesome.

Awesome news! I have always wondered why H&M had 3 stores in town and why all of them were in the north end of the city.

freeweed · #**1085** Posted **Nov 19, 2010, 4:17 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Myke

Awesome news! I have always wondered why H&M had 3 stores in town and why all of them were in the north end of the city.

All the trashy skanks live in Royal Oak, duh.

Wooster · #**1086** Posted **Nov 19, 2010, 4:19 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cityscape_enthusiast

so apparently it was just confirmed that H&M will be opening a two-level store in the Core Spring 2011

Nice! Hopefully that will help lure some other popular retailers.

Ramsayfarian · #**1087** Posted **Nov 20, 2010, 4:14 PM**

Looks like Casablanca video has closed their Marda Loop location. Kind of sad, because you could see that coming.

Jay in Cowtown · #**1088** Posted **Nov 20, 2010, 5:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramsayfarian

Looks like Casablanca video has closed their Marda Loop location. Kind of sad, because you could see that coming.

What's the ETA on all video/CD stores becoming obsolete... must be coming soon?

Ramsayfarian · #**1089** Posted **Nov 20, 2010, 6:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay in Cowtown

What's the ETA on all video/CD stores becoming obsolete... must be coming soon?

I'd give them no more than 2 years.

Rusty van Reddick · #**1090** Posted **Nov 20, 2010, 10:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramsayfarian

Looks like Casablanca video has closed their Marda Loop location. Kind of sad, because you could see that coming.

They said that they'd be sharing space with the pet food store- not true?

Ramsayfarian · #**1091** Posted **Nov 20, 2010, 11:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty van Reddick

They said that they'd be sharing space with the pet food store- not true?

I was driving by and caught the pet food store sign out of the corner of my eye and what looked liked empty shelves though the window and assumed they had closed.

/update..

Had to drive by there again tonight and this time I paid attention. It is still open but is only facing 20th st. The side that is on 33rd ave looks like it's going to be the pet food place.

Thanks for clueing me in there Rusty.

DizzyEdge · #**1092** Posted **Nov 21, 2010, 9:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramsayfarian

I'd give them no more than 2 years.

I could see ones like Casablanca or BirdDog lasting a bit longer, particularly if they have videos which are out of print etc, but even there I could see someone figuring out the licensing to put those online as well.

Ramsayfarian · #**1093** Posted **Nov 21, 2010, 5:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DizzyEdge

I could see ones like Casablanca or BirdDog lasting a bit longer, particularly if they have videos which are out of print etc, but even there I could see someone figuring out the licensing to put those online as well.

I was kind of thinking the same thing last night. Video on demand and Netflex to some extent seem to play it fairly safe with their selection. If there's enough people to support 3 indie theaters in this town, hopefully that means there's enough people to keep stores like Casablanca and BirdDog afloat.

Innersoul1 · #**1094** Posted **Nov 21, 2010, 5:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramsayfarian

I was driving by and caught the pet food store sign out of the corner of my eye and what looked liked empty shelves though the window and assumed they had closed.

/update..

Had to drive by there again tonight and this time I paid attention. It is still open but is only facing 20th st. The side that is on 33rd ave looks like it's going to be the pet food place.

Thanks for clueing me in there Rusty.

Ahhh the classic pet food and video rental store combo! Funny, one of my favourite rental places in Victoria is a pet food store also. Clearly a recipe for success

Me&You · #**1095** Posted **Nov 21, 2010, 5:42 PM**

The pet food store / Casablanca down-sizing has been a long time coming... Those signs have been up for at least 6 months (when I first noticed and posted here

). There must be a lot of per owners in the area... how many pet stores can there be in a 4 block radius?

I can see one of the indie video outlets sticking around, at best. Between VOD, Netflicks (which blows donkey balls), Apple TV and torrents, there is too much cheap or free content out there. It's only a matter of time before all of the "obscure" titles that the indie outlets cater to are widely available through these other avenues.

DizzyEdge · #**1096** Posted **Nov 22, 2010, 12:50 AM**

Yeah, and unlike the situation with vinyl records, no one will be pining for the 'better' video they got from VHS, DVD, or Blu-Ray vs whatever can be downloaded, so I can't really even see a long lasting niche. The only way either of those stores will continue to exist is if they somehow figure out the online delivery method, but I suspect that's too much work and money for a corner indie store.

Koolfire · #**1097** Posted **Nov 22, 2010, 1:47 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DizzyEdge

The only way either of those stores will continue to exist is if they somehow figure out the online delivery method, but I suspect that's too much work and money for a corner indie store.

Hmmm, brilliant, combine a pizza delivery place with a blockbuster video. Order over the phone or online and 30 minutes a pizza and a movie shows up at your door.

Ferreth · #**1098** Posted **Nov 22, 2010, 3:05 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Koolfire

Hmmm, brilliant, combine a pizza delivery place with a blockbuster video. Order over the phone or online and 30 minutes a pizza and a movie shows up at your door.

Combine that with the ability to hand back movies that you have watched already (use the Netflix model) and you might have something there.

SpongeG · #**1099** Posted **Dec 3, 2010, 7:56 AM**

Mark's Work Wearhouse looking to re-brand Calgary stores

By Kim Guttormson, Calgary Herald November 30, 2010

CALGARY - Mark's Work Wearhouse is looking at re-branding 12 of its Calgary stores over the next year, building larger spaces that better showcase its product lines and freezers to test outerwear.

While the new store format - abbreviated to Mark's - has already been rolled out at single locations in Edmonton, Winnipeg and Ottawa, company president Paul Wilson said the plan is to do all the Calgary locations.

"Calgary is such a good market for us, such great customers here," he said following a speech to the Chamber of Commerce Monday. "If we do it, we'll do it all at once."

The move stems from the chain re-evaluating how it presents its merchandise, Wilson said.

Michael Kehoe, an Alberta-based commercial retail specialist, called it a shrewd move by Mark's Work Wearhouse - which began with a single Calgary store in the 1970s and is now owned by Canadian Tire.

"They're recognizing the shifting retail landscape and are adapting to it quickly," Kehoe said. "This firm is at the top of their game with respect to research and planning, store planning. They know what's going to work in advance of rolling it out and they're fast enough on their feet that they can change with the retail market."

Wilson said the Edmonton store, with a freezer to test outerwear and an in-store imagewear shop, has seen a 50 per cent increase in business over the outlet it replaced.

The company, he said, is willing to test any idea as part of ongoing efforts to redefine itself as a company selling workwear to the workforce.

That began with redefining workwear for men, Wilson added, so that a line up of work boots and gloves came to include collared shirts and khakis, while the definition of workforce came to include women and clothing for them.

...

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/Mark+Work+W...+stores/3902023/story.html#ixzz1727mz94F

AB Born · #**1100** Posted **Dec 3, 2010, 4:49 PM**

Armani Exchange at Chinook opens today.

Has anyone tried Five Guys yet?