The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[Yume-sama]

I suppose one has ton wonder, does Holt not offer it because they know nobody else does? Would they start broadening their selection if someone did? It's kind of like how we have like 2 cell phone companies who know they can charge you through the nose compared to the rest of the World because there is no competition. If there were, would they lower *their* prices?

Pretty much no matter what, the USA will still be an attractive shopping destination to a lot of Canadians.

Even if we get all of their stores, it's pretty much a given we'll have watered down pricier versions of them.

[SpongeG]

yeah its nice but is it worth it - i hate crossing the border and so i will be happy to shop at all the places i miss

[golog]

Analysis: Wal-Mart responds to Target's Canada incursion

The opening of 40 more Wal-Mart Supercentres, which feature a wider array of grocery items than the regular stores, could also put pressure on Canada's smaller food retailers, especially those with a big presence in Quebec.

For Canadian retailers, the heat isn't coming just from Wal-Mart and Target. Marshall's, owned by TJX (TJX.N), the same company that operates Winners and HomeSense, is expected to open its first stores in Toronto soon. Department store Kohl's (KSS.N) has expressed an interest in Canada as well.

"There's a lot of pressure because of Target, but also Kohl's, Marshall's, J Crew," said Strapagiel.

[golog]

Originally Posted by djh

But on a protectionist note, it often means some good Canadian businesses can't compete on the thing that most consumers value most - price. So we lose good stores, bespoke businesses and family-run traditional stores over a corporate giant that is way cheaper. That bit is not good.

Multi-nationals compete with multi-nationals -- due to taxes, minimum order sizes, integrated logistics and data. Chapters/Indigo put Duthie's out of business, not Borders or Barnes and Noble.

What do you want to protect? Tariffs last time around meant subsidizing Ontario and Quebec. Didn't add jobs out here, it just destroyed them as costs were higher. The bulk of the profits already leave the country effortlessly through the capital structure, if for no other reason than to evade income taxes. Heck, more jobs are probably being created by increasing the sq ft of retail per capita so what does losing 3 executive positions in Toronto count for?

People already buy online or cross-border, might as well save everyone some money by cutting out the sideshow of individually driving an extra 300km.

The goods are already produced for almost nothing abroad, might as well squeeze the gross margin. If the incumbents want to keep foreigners out, all they have to do is cut their prices and pass on the savings.

[hollywoodnorth]

Wal-Mart supersizes on groceries >> http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Mart+supersizes+groceries/4167862/story.html

'Of 325 Walmart stores in Canada, 120 are now Supercentres. By the end of the year, the retailer will have close to half of its 333-store chain -- 164 -- with a grocery store inside, and there will be 169 traditional stores.'


I can imagine a few of the Metro Van Walmarts will be getting the upgrade this year ....

[jlousa]

The Blenz at the base of Espana is now open, the A&W at Waterfront station opens tomorrow.

[SpikePhanta]

I wonder how that A&W will match the heritage part of the building, hopefully the city wont complain about like the station restaurant.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by hollywoodnorth

Wal-Mart supersizes on groceries >> http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Mart+supersizes+groceries/4167862/story.html

'Of 325 Walmart stores in Canada, 120 are now Supercentres. By the end of the year, the retailer will have close to half of its 333-store chain -- 164 -- with a grocery store inside, and there will be 169 traditional stores.'


I can imagine a few of the Metro Van Walmarts will be getting the upgrade this year ....

yeah they already did the walmart in surrey on 88th, they added in the full grocery section with produce, no deli or bakery though and limited meat selection, they did so without making the store any physically bigger, langley and queensborough are both currently being made physically bigger to make way for the grocery sections

I wonder if they will finally start their richmond store to beat target to the area

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by SpikePhanta

I wonder how that A&W will match the heritage part of the building, hopefully the city wont complain about like the station restaurant.

Probably not as big a deal on the inside of the building compared to the outside.

[mezzanine]

Originally Posted by SpikePhanta

I wonder how that A&W will match the heritage part of the building, hopefully the city wont complain about like the station restaurant.

actually, it looks like they being quite adventurous - they put a mezzanine floor that has an entrance onto back stairs that go up to the PWC tower.

My pipe dream is a sit down cafe in the middle of the station like large stations in europe or japan. (sbux doesn't count, think of tables where the entrance to 'rogue restaurant' is)

[hollywoodnorth]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

yeah they already did the walmart in surrey on 88th, they added in the full grocery section with produce, no deli or bakery though and limited meat selection, they did so without making the store any physically bigger, langley and queensborough are both currently being made physically bigger to make way for the grocery sections

I wonder if they will finally start their richmond store to beat target to the area

I imagine the North Van store will not get groceries due to size issues and also the strong Grocery Market in North Van. Same with Lougheed Mall.

The Langley and Abby locations are a for sure for groceries I think.

I have wondered the hold up for their Richmond store ... but I guess Queensborough is a tide over for the short term for Richmond Shoppers .....

[SpongeG]

I overheard someone who worked at lougheed mall walmart once say they can't add more fridges to the store because the floor isn't strong enough and thats why they only have one small fridge for milk/fridge items in the store and if the customer wanted the items she saw in the flyer she could try the new west store... the customer had asked if they were ever going to sell more frozen/fridge items...

[officedweller]

I remember in the early days after WalMart took over Woolco - that the store was still 2 storeys and there was a movator ramp in the middle.

[hollywoodnorth]

Originally Posted by officedweller

I remember in the early days after WalMart took over Woolco - that the store was still 2 storeys and there was a movator ramp in the middle.

seems like walmart would love to have the bottom floor back now for groceries .... remember the old STEEP wooden stairs up and down at the old Woolco store there? ahhh the days

I would see the walmart expanding towards Cameron street myself....

[SpongeG]

yah thats about the only way - they already expanded east when they shut down the bottom level

[officedweller]

What would be very cool is if they added an upper level with street access from Cameron and/or North Road. The Silhouette project just seems so out of place when viewed from the Lougheed Mall parking lot.

[SpongeG]

they have done major demo for the new anthropolgie store - as peeped in though a spot in the window really stripped everything down and the stairs are gone, most anthropolgie stores i have been to are very open without interior walls


pic by me

[Pinion]

Where is the new Anthropologie? My wife spends about two hours in there every time we go to Seattle.

[nova9]

Originally Posted by Pinion

Where is the new Anthropologie? My wife spends about two hours in there every time we go to Seattle.

it'll be on south granville.

[vanlaw]

Originally Posted by Pinion

Where is the new Anthropologie? My wife spends about two hours in there every time we go to Seattle.

Couldn't resist....

http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/

Six Gifts to Guarantee a White Christmas

3. Gift card to Anthropologie. You might have walked past it a few times at your local mall and wondered how they crammed the interior of a late-nineteenth century barn into a shopping center that was built in 2005. It is the store equivalent of a Wes Anderson film, which certainly helps to explain its appeal, but it is also the most efficient way for white women to look and (hopefully) live like Amélie.