Canadian Retail Thread

[SpongeG]

stores go where the people shop and want them, keeping a store "downtown" is a loss for too many

i know holt renfrew is moving but in their article it says nordstrom is moving - lol perhaps they could use an editor or fact checker for their blog

[eternallyme]

MikeToronto, you have a hatred for suburbs it sounds like?

[yaletown_fella]

Cactus Club Cafe is opening a location in the north side of the FCP Podium. Not surprised, it was only a matter of time. This is about as "downtown" in Toronto as you can get!

[kevinbottawa]

Here are some renderings from the "Rideau Centre Expansion" thread in the Ottawa forum:

New Simons store with a rebuilt heritage facade with proposed pedestrian mall to the left:





Proposed pedestrian mall



Future LRT entrance







Rideau Street is currently a disaster. This will be huge for downtown Ottawa. Plans include both an adjoining condo and a hotel in the future.

[neilson]

Originally Posted by kevinbottawa

Here are some renderings from the "Rideau Centre Expansion" thread in the Ottawa forum:

New Simons store with a rebuilt heritage facade with proposed pedestrian mall to the left:





Proposed pedestrian mall



Future LRT entrance







Rideau Street is currently a disaster. This will be huge for downtown Ottawa. Plans include both an adjoining condo and a hotel in the future.

I heard that Simons and Nordstrom have beef with each other. They're gonna be the next Bay vs. Eatons in terms of department store battle royale. Of course, only one could survive the previous department store battle and last I checked, there's no Eatons in the Eaton Centers today.

[Gerrard]

I don't think it's a "beef" so much as they share very similar sales models for department stores: tons of private label in-house brands with a smattering of designer wear. So there's a perception they'd probably compete with each other versus competing with a Holt Renfrew (which some people mistakenly think Nordstrom would -definitely a different customer and will be different merchandise) or a Bay which is still a traditional department store (which has upped its game in designer wear in some regions).

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Gerrard

I don't think it's a "beef" so much as they share very similar sales models for department stores: tons of private label in-house brands with a smattering of designer wear.

I also find it hard to believe they can have that much of a bitter rivalry where they aren't even in any common malls yet. Ottawa will be the first one I think. Then maybe West Edmonton Mall if Nordstrom decides to go there (Simons is there already).

[Gerrard]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I also find it hard to believe they can have that much of a bitter rivalry where they aren't even in any common malls yet. Ottawa will be the first one I think. Then maybe West Edmonton Mall if Nordstrom decides to go there (Simons is there already).

Well even more importantly, both are entering markets they've never been in before. So it's probably a manufactured rivalry by some internet blogger. :-)

[SpongeG]

stores can be limited to what they can carry and perhaps simons has snagged some brands that nordstrom planned on carrying, as it is nordstrom apparently can't carry a number of brands in canada due to holt renfrew or the bay having the rights to carry the brands - pretty common in the retail world around the world, even in the states - many stores may carry the same brand but some stores get dibs on certain pieces or colours etc.

if all simons are as nice as the one in edmonton, nordstrom should be nervous, that simons store is amazing, nordstrom is very bland and boring in comparison

[SpongeG]

here is what the flagship store in seattle looks like and what pretty much every nordstrom i have ever been inside... can we say ugh



now compared to simons in WEM

[vid]

Nordstrom looks like Sears.

[Denscity]

Originally Posted by vid

Nordstrom looks like Sears.

How ironic is that haha.

[yaletown_fella]

From what I remember the exterior of the urban Nordstrom stores are often beautiful pre-war terracotta but the interiors haven't been updated for a while (kinda like the Bay 4 years ago)

[Nathan]

Originally Posted by vid

Nordstrom looks like Sears.

Or like the Bay in Regina.

Sears actually looks better than the Bay in Regina... but to be honest, Walmart looks nicer than both. It doesn't take much to connect the dots as to why both brands aren't all that well thought of here...

[SpongeG]

the old nordstrom in seattle was quite ugly imo, they movd over into the old iconic fredrick and nelson dept store sometime in i wanna say 90s, exterior is nice, interior is nothing special - compared to the seatle area stores with which i am most used to or have been to the canadian stores in the renders look a lot nicer, i would never describe nordstrom as cutting edge or risk taking, very bland style overall but impeccable service

seattle head office/flagship store...

bayley.net

sears in grande prarie alberta recently went through a renovation and its looking very good, they don't sell TV's or electronics though - has sears stopped selling TV's etc? or just this store?

[miketoronto]

I have always said for what is supposed to be a classy expensive store, Nordstroms design does not fit the bill.

This is the problem with American stores. They cheap out and do not have the style European store have.

Holt Renfrew while not perfect in the design department, still has a more classy look to it.

People also go on and on about the service in Nordstroms. I have walked into Nordstroms dozens of times and have never been greeted by anyone. The service people just walk around and don't acknowledge you unless you go ask them something.
I actually get greeted in Holt Renfrew much more often than ever at Nordstroms.

Simons is known for putting a different design spin on each store. For their downtown Montreal store they even got an artist sculpture designed for the inside. You do not see this kind of care at Nordstroms. They just do the typical suburban branch store look.

When it comes down to it, most North American stores just suck. They have lost their cutting edge style and attitude to be big and great.
Asia and Europe is where the outstanding stores are.

[Martin Mtl]

Even though Simon is not as high-end as Holt Renfrew, design-wise there is a lot of care that goes into each one of their store. The Bay and Sears look like Wallmart in comparison. My only reservation about the Montreal's Downtown Simon is that it's too small and therefore too crowded. Even then, the service is impeccable. They make you feel like an important custommer even if all you want is buy a simple t- shirt.

[miketoronto]

Originally Posted by Martin Mtl

Even though Simon is not as high-end as Holt Renfrew, design-wise there is a lot of care that goes into each one of their store. The Bay and Sears look like Wallmart in comparison. My only reservation about the Montreal's Downtown Simon is that it's too small and therefore too crowded. Even then, the service is impeccable. They make you feel like an important custommer even if all you want is buy a simple t- shirt.

Their service is good. I called them from Toronto once to order something before they had online shopping. They did not have it in the store, and they actually called every Simons store to find it.

I hope them becoming bigger does not take away that kind of service as it usually does.

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by miketoronto

I have always said for what is supposed to be a classy expensive store, Nordstroms design does not fit the bill.

When it comes down to it, most North American stores just suck. They have lost their cutting edge style and attitude to be big and great.
Asia and Europe is where the outstanding stores are.

Agree 100%. We have the most basic, uninspired looking department stores in the industrial world these days. It says a lot that people here think those Nordstrom designs look good. If they built something like that in Asia or Europe the competition would eat them for breakfast.

[SpongeG]

Target Announces Soft Opening of 24 Stores in Western Canada

...

Locations opening to the public on May 7 include:

Alberta (10)
Calgary - Chinook Centre
Calgary - Forest Lawn Shopping Centre
Calgary - Market Mall
Edmonton - Bonnie Doon Shopping Centre
Edmonton - Mill Woods Town Centre
Edmonton - West Edmonton Mall
Grande Prairie - Prairie Mall
Red Deer - Bower Place
Sherwood Park - Sherwood Park Mall
St. Albert - St. Albert Centre

British Columbia (9)
Campbell River - Discovery Harbour Shopping Centre
Coquitlam - Coquitlam Centre
Cranbrook - Tamarack Mall
Delta - Scottsdale Mall
Kamloops- Sahali Centre Mall
Langley - Willowbrook Shopping Centre
Nanaimo - Nanaimo North Town Centre
Vernon - Village Green Mall
Victoria - Tillicum Centre

Manitoba (3)
Brandon - Shoppers Mall
Winnipeg - Kildonan Place Shopping Centre
Winnipeg - Southdale Centre

Locations opening to the public on May 14 include:

British Columbia

Prince George - Pine Centre

Alberta

Calgary - Shoppes at Shawnessy

...

http://pressroom.target.ca/news/target-announces-soft-opening-of-24-stores-in-western-canada