[Moncton] Retail Thread

[OUIR@random]

Simons is just apparel (quality apparel), but not a real department store, also it's not very mainstream, it's very fashion and urban oriented. It's like a pricey H&M or Forever21, I like the brand, but I doubt it would do well here. It might do well in Canada's largest cities.
The Bay would be a welcome addition to Champlain or downtown Moncton, but I don't see Simons.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by OUIR@random

As someone who is French I am entitled to say this; but I completely understand that some corporations don't want to do business in Quebec, with all their discrimination laws, regulations and barriers. This also means I'm against the Dieppe language regulation BTW. The government should not regulate what is written on signs or elsewhere, people could write it in Mandarin or Spanish for all I care, if people can't read it, they just won't go there. Our society needs to deal with more serious and pressing matters, than this. Bilingual services at the government level should be kept however, but private businesses are just that, private businesses.

So I'm not surprised that A&F or Hollister (which is the same company) is not in La Belle Province.
.

A&F and Hollister have stores all over the world. I am pretty sure they do not operate and serve customers only in English in Warsaw or Fukuoka. So I fail to see why it would be an issue for them to do the same with French in Quebec. Or bilingually in Dieppe!

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by OUIR@random

I'm surprised however that Target decided to have locations in Quebec this early, I thought that Quebec Target locations would only open in a couple of years, we'll see how well this goes.

Why wouldn't they do OK? Wal-Mart does fine in Quebec. Costco does fine in Quebec.

[SignalHillHiker]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Regarding Simons, it is a Quebec based department store chain beginning it's expansion into the ROC. It will concentrate first in the major cities of over 1M CMA population, but when they do get around to considering a Maritime expansion, I think there is a reasonable probability that they might eventually consider Moncton.

The sizeable francophone minority population in the area would mean that a lot of people would likely already be somewhat familiar with the brand, and that along with the usual arguments over location and catchment area would be compelling. A store like Simons or the Bay would be a great fit as a retail component for the downtown events centre.

I wouldn't be surprised to see one head to Moncton sooner than later. Some companies are willing to take a risk on establishing their first Atlantic Canadian outlet outside of Halifax.

We've had a couple recently - Sandman Hotels, and something else, I forget... so it's reasonable that Moncton could as well. Especially something with a French connection.

[OUIR@random]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Why wouldn't they do OK? Wal-Mart does fine in Quebec. Costco does fine in Quebec.

US brands usually go to Quebec in their last progression of their Canadian expansion or just don't go. There are many US retailers who came to the Maritimes before going to Quebec. Language laws, union laws, corporation taxes, are just a few items that can be noted.

[OUIR@random]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

I wouldn't be surprised to see one head to Moncton sooner than later. Some companies are willing to take a risk on establishing their first Atlantic Canadian outlet outside of Halifax.

We've had a couple recently - Sandman Hotels, and something else, I forget... so it's reasonable that Moncton could as well. Especially something with a French connection.

Sometimes, yes sometimes, but when the numbers don't add up, they just don't.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by OUIR@random

US brands usually go to Quebec in last progression of their Canadian expansion or just don't go. There are many US retailers who came to the Maritimes before going to Quebec. Language laws, union laws, corporation taxes, are just a few items that can be noted.

This happens in some cases but "usually" is too strong a term.

The only area where there appears to be a significant gap (if you can call it that) in Quebec with US companies is when it comes to restaurant chains.

[OUIR@random]

Originally Posted by Acajack

A&F and Hollister have stores all over the world. I am pretty sure they do not operate and serve customers only in English in Warsaw or Fukuoka. So I fail to see why it would be an issue for them to do the same with French in Quebec. Or bilingually in Dieppe!

Hum... that's not what I'm saying and it's not just related to the language, but it's one of the factors.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by OUIR@random

Hum... that's not what I'm saying and it's not just related to the language, but it's one of the factors.

Do you really think it is more complex to open and operate a Hollister store in Japan, Poland or Italy than it is in Quebec?

If indeed they are less keen on going into Quebec, it's likely because the US and Canada are relatively seamless in most ways over a huge area, and Quebec is like this odd outlier. Oh yeah... that's right. They are différent there. 🞵🞵🞵.

Whereas if you are operating in Europe you sort of *expect* differences between your stores in Dublin, Paris, Amsterdam, Zurich and Warsaw.

It has as much if not more to do with perceptions as with actual complications.

[MonctonRad]

I have the week off, and was going over to that side of town anyway, so I dropped by Champlain Place and had a look around at Fairweather.....

I could see no evidence of imminent store closure. In fact the perennial "final sale" signs have been removed from the windows!

Perhaps they were just rearranging the fixtures when Stephane was looking around......

[NBNYer]

That suitcase store across from Sobeys in the mall has a sign up saying they will be closing.

[Taeolas]

The Faireweather store in Regent had it's "Store Closing" sale signs up longer than some of the non-Christmas stores existed in the mall. (I swear they had their Closing sale signs up for 2 years or more it seemed.) Eventually they did close and hop across the hall to the other corner to make way for H&M.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Taeolas

The Faireweather store in Regent had it's "Store Closing" sale signs up longer than some of the non-Christmas stores existed in the mall. (I swear they had their Closing sale signs up for 2 years or more it seemed.) Eventually they did close and hop across the hall to the other corner to make way for H&M.

That's not a closing, that's a relocation!

[OUIR@random]

the Access store near Sobeys is not the best location. One of the worst location in Champlain, very low foot traffic, time will tell who ends up there.

[Norshorer]

Champlain Place is being slowly turned into a glorified "Fashion Mall" and there's a plethora of clothing stores around the rest of Moncton & Dieppe, so why are people so intent on adding more of the same?

Just how many shoe stores, women's clothing stores, men's clothing stores, kids clothing stores, value/bargain clothing stores, trendsetter clothing stores, high-end luxury clothing stores, etc, etc, etc do we need?

I mean come on... you can't fart sideways in any retail area of Moncton or Dieppe without hitting a frickin clothing or shoe store. How about focusing on something DIFFERENT like new electronics stores, new photography shops (Still peeved that Henry's decided to bail on Mapleton), new moutain gear/hiking/camping shops, new restaurants (instead of the same old ones continuously setting up shop in a new end of town... our 46th Tim's? No thanks. What's next, a Tim's inside a Tim's? How meta!) or some other form of specialty retailer?

I'm still surprised Moncton managed to land a Bed Bath & Beyond with all the cries for designer clothing stores that have been floating around the forums every time the words "new store" are mentioned. Don't mean to single anyone out or cause stir, just voicing my 2 cents... sorry, 5 cents worth about what I'm observing lately.

What about something kitchy like novelty stores similar to the Spencer's Gifts stores in USA? I know it's not to everyone's tastes, but when you want a funny gift or an off the wall item, they're usually the best places to find them.

I don't know, just fedup of seeing more of the same over and over again. Would like something different for once. That Liquid Gold olive oil bar on Trinity is an idea in the right direction (nobody ever thought we'd see something like that appear around here).

[mmmatt]

Originally Posted by Norshorer

Champlain Place is being slowly turned into a glorified "Fashion Mall" and there's a plethora of clothing stores around the rest of Moncton & Dieppe, so why are people so intent on adding more of the same?

Just how many shoe stores, women's clothing stores, men's clothing stores, kids clothing stores, value/bargain clothing stores, trendsetter clothing stores, high-end luxury clothing stores, etc, etc, etc do we need?

I mean come on... you can't fart sideways in any retail area of Moncton or Dieppe without hitting a frickin clothing or shoe store. How about focusing on something DIFFERENT like new electronics stores, new photography shops (Still peeved that Henry's decided to bail on Mapleton), new moutain gear/hiking/camping shops, new restaurants (instead of the same old ones continuously setting up shop in a new end of town... our 46th Tim's? No thanks. What's next, a Tim's inside a Tim's? How meta!) or some other form of specialty retailer?

I'm still surprised Moncton managed to land a Bed Bath & Beyond with all the cries for designer clothing stores that have been floating around the forums every time the words "new store" are mentioned. Don't mean to single anyone out or cause stir, just voicing my 2 cents... sorry, 5 cents worth about what I'm observing lately.

What about something kitchy like novelty stores similar to the Spencer's Gifts stores in USA? I know it's not to everyone's tastes, but when you want a funny gift or an off the wall item, they're usually the best places to find them.

I don't know, just fedup of seeing more of the same over and over again. Would like something different for once. That Liquid Gold olive oil bar on Trinity is an idea in the right direction (nobody ever thought we'd see something like that appear around here).

Well honestly I agree with you, but the fact is people usually buy a new camera only every 5-10 years...and TVs around the same (if that). Also now with iTunes and Amazon people are buying media online more and more...

Clothes and shoes are two things more people wont buy online because its nice to feel / try them on first.

Recently we got an upgraded Cleaves (with adventure store), Bouclair, Golf Town, BB&B, A couple pet stores, new things like the olive place, Goggii yogurt, Pita Pit, Japanese Restaurant, OMG Market, Bombay, booster juice, Jump+, Bath and Body Works, Sephora, Swarovski, etc etc its not all clothes and Tim Hortons...

[JasonL-Moncton]

Originally Posted by mmmatt

Well honestly I agree with you, but the fact is people usually buy a new camera only every 5-10 years...and TVs around the same (if that)

I have to disagree a bit there...I just had to travel to Halifax to Henry's to buy the lens I wanted last weekend, Future Shop didn't have it, Ivan's didn't have it (certainly no one beyond those two in this city would have it).

It's also not just about buying camera's...bags, flashes, lenses, tripods, memory cards, reflectors, light stands, soft boxes, umbrellas...and most of all...knowledge! Certain employees in FS for example are knowledgable about products and technique...others stare at you like you have two heads when you ask them a technical question.

I agree with Norshorer...so happy to see things like the Olive Store...and still ticked Henry's fell through here.

To be honest...the thing that draws me to a city like Halifax is not the malls, or the franchises...it's the specialty shops like a Henry's. It's the cool little one off stores down town that you don't see elsewhere like "The Black Market", "Little Mysteries", etc...we need more of that here.

JL

[OUIR@random]

We don't have that many specialty stores because we don't have those numbers here, you need a fairly large affluent population to have a wide selection of niche stores. The fact of the matter is... Halifax is still a metro area 3 times the size of Moncton. Moncton will continue to grow and more niche stores will open, but we won't catch up to Halifax in this lifetime.

[JasonL-Moncton]

Originally Posted by OUIR@random

We don't have that many specialty stores because we don't have those numbers here, you need a fairly large affluent population to have a wide selection of niche stores. The fact of the matter is... Halifax is still a metro area 3 times the size of Moncton. Moncton will continue to grow and more niche stores will open, but we won't catch up to Halifax in this lifetime.

While I do agree with what you are saying to and extent the conglomeration of individuals that are shopping here does warrant more...at any given time there are individuals shopping in the GMA from PEI/NS and the rest of NB...we'll get there.

[OUIR@random]

Originally Posted by JasonL-Moncton

While I do agree with what you are saying to and extent the conglomeration of individuals that are shopping here does warrant more...at any given time there are individuals shopping in the GMA from PEI/NS and the rest of NB...we'll get there.

Yes, but a business needs daily business activities, not just weekend or holiday business from out of towners... the within 1 hour or two hours must always be taken with a grain of salt. We must stop relying on that fact, yes it is a factor when looking at the Moncton market as a whole, but it's just part of the equation.