The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[Waders]

Looks like Samsung is opening a store at Metropolis located at Atrium Court area just accross Lush. Renovation just started.

[GeeCee]

Originally Posted by Waders

Looks like Samsung is opening a store at Metropolis located at Atrium Court area just accross Lush. Renovation just started.

Hmm, probably another Samsung/NCIX store like in Aberdeen Centre.

[Waders]

Originally Posted by GeeCee

Hmm, probably another Samsung/NCIX store like in Aberdeen Centre.

Just found this news. It is a standalone retail store operated directly by Samsung, a larger retail strategy similar to Apple store?

[Conrad Yablonski]

Originally Posted by ryanmaccdn

Crate and Barrel will be a slam dunk... I know that. Oakridge is perfect for it.

But I spend roughly 3 hours a weekend at CB2 and the traffic isn't there... also I'm sleeping with an associate of theirs and have heard they arn'nt meeting given sales goals.

Well I'm not sleeping with anyone in the company and can tell from a block away that CB2 ain't nuthin' special.

The sad sack cheerleaders on this thread have to give their heads a shake (as Bruce Allen says)-not every format works everywhere all the time no matter the huffing and puffing that media relations flacks do.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by Waders

Just found this news. It is a standalone retail store operated directly by Samsung, a larger retail strategy similar to Apple store?

they announced last year that they were planning to open samsung retail stores in north america - the one in Aberdeen centre was a partnership store - their first such store in north america, they do plan to open both their own and partnership stores apparently

[GeeCee]

Originally Posted by Waders

Just found this news. It is a standalone retail store operated directly by Samsung, a larger retail strategy similar to Apple store?

The comments on this Mobile Syrup article seem to suggest that while the store will be owned by Samsung, it will be run by Glentel instead:

http://mobilesyrup.com/2012/05/17/canadas-first-samsung-store-coming-this-summer-to-burnaby-bc/

I've always wondered why Glentel (Wireless Wave, etc) deals with Bell and Rogers but not Telus.

[SpongeG]

i think its more telus that doesn't want to deal with them, there are a few places that they are missing from that carry bell and rogers etc.

[ACT7]

I don't post on this thread a lot, but one observation (which I'm sure others have noticed as well). I've never fully understood why Robson has the highest rents in Vancouver when just about every other street around it has higher end stores. Burrard, Alberni, West Georgia, South Granville, even Howe to a large extent.

Anyhow, just an observation. As you were...

[Waders]

Originally Posted by GeeCee

The comments on this Mobile Syrup article seem to suggest that while the store will be owned by Samsung, it will be run by Glentel instead:

http://mobilesyrup.com/2012/05/17/canadas-first-samsung-store-coming-this-summer-to-burnaby-bc/

I've always wondered why Glentel (Wireless Wave, etc) deals with Bell and Rogers but not Telus.

It would be better if it is a location that showcases Samsung's product and technology. I don't really want to be bothered by sales that try to sale me something.
It is possible Samsung would pick an experienced operator to run the store. I wonder which company logo would be displayed. Let's hope the operator doesn't trash the brand name.
I wonder whether the one at Aberdeen Centre is using the same model. But then Burnaby store shouldn't be claimed as the 1st retail store in Canada?

[SpongeG]

the one in aberdeen centre is nice, very small but kinda looks like a nicer version of a sony store

[Solomon]

Take a look at a video I shot last summer of Oxford Circus & the TOPSHOP/TOPMAN - a different scale of pedestrian activity along Granville. One of the similarities with The Bay building in Vancouver is that the Oxford Circus TOPSHOP has a large part of the store below grade.

• Video Link

Originally Posted by jsbertram

I'm wondering if this might presage what the renovated ex-Sears ex-Eatons in Pacific Centre may turn into - a 7 story building with a major tenant (rumoured to be Nordstroms) taking most of the space, with luxury high-end stores taking up full or half-floors of the remaining space.
Are we ready for someone like Harrods to open a boutique store here?

[twoNeurons]

Originally Posted by ACT7

I don't post on this thread a lot, but one observation (which I'm sure others have noticed as well). I've never fully understood why Robson has the highest rents in Vancouver when just about every other street around it has higher end stores. Burrard, Alberni, West Georgia, South Granville, even Howe to a large extent.

Anyhow, just an observation. As you were...

Higher end doesn't mean higher profit. Higher end often has higher costs, higher markup but fewer pedestrians. They also rely less on walk-by and window shopping traffic. that explains why they're usually not on streets with lots of foot traffic.

Just a guess, though.

[ryanmaccdn]

Originally Posted by twoNeurons

Higher end doesn't mean higher profit. Higher end often has higher costs, higher markup but fewer pedestrians. They also rely less on walk-by and window shopping traffic. that explains why they're usually not on streets with lots of foot traffic.

Just a guess, though.

Most of it has to do with Brand presence too.

Most stores on Robson operate even or well bellow their average profit margins but due to the reputation of the brand they need to be on Robson regardless if its technically a smart decision or not.

[ACT7]

I don't disagree with any of that, but typically you find that the retail street with the highest rents in any city has high end shops on it. Typically...

[wrenegade]

Not sure if it has been mentioned here yet (I tried searching but didn't find any results), but West Elm (sister store of Williams-Sonoma & Pottery Barn) will be opening in the old Shoppers Drug Mart space on South Granville in September. I just happened to at the Belltown location in Seattle yesterday and was speaking with one of the guys there who is moving up to Vancouver to open the store.

[sacrifice333]

Originally Posted by wrenegade

Not sure if it has been mentioned here yet (I tried searching but didn't find any results), but West Elm (sister store of Williams-Sonoma & Pottery Barn) will be opening in the old Shoppers Drug Mart space on South Granville in September. I just happened to at the Belltown location in Seattle yesterday and was speaking with one of the guys there who is moving up to Vancouver to open the store.

Wow... that's going to be quite the little W&S stretch there... maybe explains why the Mantra location rumour never materialized...

[hollywoodnorth]

a LEASED sign is up in the heritage retail space at THE BEASLY.....Starbucks maybe? ha

[Conrad Yablonski]

Originally Posted by wrenegade

West Elm (sister store of Williams-Sonoma & Pottery Barn) will be opening in the old Shoppers Drug Mart space on South Granville in September....

OK that explains those large expensive wooden beams I saw.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by hollywoodnorth

a LEASED sign is up in the heritage retail space at THE BEASLY.....Starbucks maybe? ha

That's been up for a long time - no sign of any work though.

[SpongeG]

i love west elm! i made a bet with my friend that it would become west elm