Canadian Retail Thread

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Place d'Orléans opened in 1979, the Rideau Centre in 1983.

Yes, but the 1979 Place was a rinky dink neighbourhood mall with 30 or 40 stores. Maybe 50.

It underwent an expansion in the mid-1980s, and then a very big one around 1990 that made it relatively similar in size to the other big players at the time at least.

Rideau was basically its current size from day one when it opened in 1983.

[GreatTallNorth2]

I was talking to one of my friends here in the UK that visited Canada a year or so ago. He said the big box frenzy in Canada reminds him of the uk 20 years ago. They built big box stores everywhere. Now, things are turning full circle. Everything is about local, not outside the city. The big grocery players all have huge presence in neighbourhoods. Also, online grocery business is massive and the future, at least here. People has less time to shop and their online stores are awesome. Since there is so much competition, you get good service ordering online. Maybe loblaws will have the local concept with their purchase of shoppers.

Canada needs a lot more competition in the grocery space.

[SpongeG]

i shop online all the time and its much better when you want to buy something, i get far too easily distracted in a store and end up leaving with nothing, but fill up my visual shopping cart usually to get the free shipping

[SpongeG]

Samsung Canada Adding 35 Retail Locations

Posted by Cliff Boodoosingh on October 23, 2013 · 2 Comments

Samsung will increase its retail presence in Canada dramatically by Spring 2014.

The electronics giant is planning to open two new individual Samsung Experience Stores in Edmonton, AB and Richmond, B.C. plus 33 Samsung Experience Shops in partnership with Best Buy Canada and Future Shop.

James Politeski, President of Samsung Electronics Canada, said: “We are expanding our retail presence to ensure consumers get the most out of our innovation by learning how to leverage their mobile devices across our ecosystem of consumer electronics. Consumers nationwide will now have convenient access to explore and learn about our portfolio of mobile products, with the support of a trained Samsung Experience Consultant.”

In July 2012, Samsung launched its first Brand Experience Store in Burnaby, B.C. with positive consumer response for integrated shopping opportunities, dedicated training areas to familiarize customers with products, and greater access to new products.

The retail partnerships with Best Buy and Future Shop will occupy about 625 square feet at each of the 33 designated locations. Three shops are set to open shortly at Best Buy and Future Shop locations in Heartland Town Centre (Mississauga, ON) Deerfoot Meadow (Calgary, AB) and Edmonton North.

...

http://www.digitalhome.ca/2013/10/samsung-canada-adding-35-retail-locations/

[miketoronto]

Maybe the UK is different. But what I noticed at least in Italy, is that they tend to have one area with all the big box stores, and thats it. At least in the smaller cities.
So the city my family lives in, which is about the size of greater Ottawa. They have one zone with their version of Home Depo, and the hypermarket, etc.
They don't have like 10 of the same big box store in one city, like we do. Except for some of the supermarkets, which really are not big box.

[Loco101]

Just wondering what everyone thinks about Loblaws buying Shoppers Drug Mart.

I feel it's a smart business move by Loblaws. Many articles have stated that the greatest retail growth has been in dense urban cities, especially Toronto. I couldn't believe how many condos are under construction when I visited there a few months ago. There are currently many urban Shoppers/Pharmaprix locations and of course many across Canada.

Loblaws and SDM both have had amazingly good marketing techniques. It will be interesting to see if they decide to have more President's Choice products in shoppers and Life brand in Loblaws' stores which are under many banners.

[eternallyme]

http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/sears-can...res-including-toronto-flagship-1.1517956

The end of Sears? Closing 5 more stores, including the Eaton Centre flagship!!! Others closing:

* Sherway Gardens (Etobicoke, ON)
* Masonville Place (London, ON)
* Markville Centre (Markham, ON)
* Richmond Centre (Richmond, BC)

The Eaton Centre space - taking up about over 800,000 square feet - will be very hard to fill entirely (especially at the isolated higher levels), even though it is prime retail space.

[esquire]

I'm sure that this has been discussed in the Montreal forum, but I just read on Retail Insider that Ailes de la Mode is closing its main downtown Montreal store.

I recall when they opened on that site, in the old downtown Eaton's store, a while back (maybe around 2000 or thereabouts), they were charging hard as a big new player on the retail scene. I vaguely recall that they had a lot of the same buzz that Simons has now. Retail Insider says that they are now struggling, and are more of a discounter than the fashion emporium that they used to be?

What happened? Why did Ailes de la Mode's fortunes nosedive like that?

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by eternallyme

http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/sears-can...res-including-toronto-flagship-1.1517956

The end of Sears? Closing 5 more stores, including the Eaton Centre flagship!!! Others closing:

* Sherway Gardens (Etobicoke, ON)
* Masonville Place (London, ON)
* Markville Centre (Markham, ON)
* Richmond Centre (Richmond, BC)

The Eaton Centre space - taking up about over 800,000 square feet - will be very hard to fill entirely (especially at the isolated higher levels), even though it is prime retail space.

I am surprised that our Sears at Les Galeries de Hull in central Gatineau is still open. But it is true it is the only department store in the central-western part of Gatineau (Hull and Aylmer), home to 125,000 people or more. (Although there are department stores accessible in Ottawa across the river.)

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by esquire

I'm sure that this has been discussed in the Montreal forum, but I just read on Retail Insider that Ailes de la Mode is closing its main downtown Montreal store.

I recall when they opened on that site, in the old downtown Eaton's store, a while back (maybe around 2000 or thereabouts), they were charging hard as a big new player on the retail scene. I vaguely recall that they had a lot of the same buzz that Simons has now. Retail Insider says that they are now struggling, and are more of a discounter than the fashion emporium that they used to be?

What happened? Why did Ailes de la Mode's fortunes nosedive like that?

It grew way too fast and not always wisely.

The short-lived store at Bayshore in west end Ottawa was a big mistake and a huge money pit.

The downtown Montreal store was also ill-planned and a big financial drain but they held onto it as long as they could because of the powerful symbolism for a retailer to have a nice flagship on Ste-Catherine.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by bikegypsy

You beat me to it. Indeed; the past 20 years saw a population increase of 50% whilst very little had be done on the side of retail in this city. Only one expansion at St-Laurent. The last major mall development goes back to the opening of the Rideau Centre, 30 years ago. Ottawa is just catching up.

Most retail analysts say that relative to population and income, the Ottawa-Gatineau market is significantly "under-stored", which means there is lots of untapped retail potential here.

Of course, given that these tend to be pro-retail development people, you have to take that with a grain of salt.

But certainly, the offerings here don't seem to be as vast as in other Canadian cities of comparable size, and even some of the smaller ones.

[bikegypsy]

Originally Posted by Acajack

It grew way too fast and not always wisely.

The short-lived store at Bayshore in west end Ottawa was a big mistake and a huge money pit.

The downtown Montreal store was also ill-planned and a big financial drain but they held onto it as long as they could because of the powerful symbolism for a retailer to have a nice flagship on Ste-Catherine.

I was working for Le Groupe SanFrancisco in Boucherville at that time. The administration was actually really happy with results in Ottawa; sales were very good; they never saw it as a mistake although the timing was horrendous. At the time, Les Ailes had a few stores but saw their Ottawa and downtown Montreal stores as their stars; but both stores were not making enough money. SF simply decided to focus on the Mtl --obviously being its raison d'etre and flagship-- store when things started to go down, in the hopes of weathering the storm. I had quit before they had gone bust in 2003. I think it was the ideal of having high end stores occupying these huge spaces that did them in.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by Loco101

Just wondering what everyone thinks about Loblaws buying Shoppers Drug Mart.

I feel it's a smart business move by Loblaws. Many articles have stated that the greatest retail growth has been in dense urban cities, especially Toronto. I couldn't believe how many condos are under construction when I visited there a few months ago. There are currently many urban Shoppers/Pharmaprix locations and of course many across Canada.

Loblaws and SDM both have had amazingly good marketing techniques. It will be interesting to see if they decide to have more President's Choice products in shoppers and Life brand in Loblaws' stores which are under many banners.

I think it's smart too. SDM has already spent a lot of money expanding its stores and building new ones, and it's very prominent in many large and small markets (at least in Ontario... I can't speak for other provinces, but perhaps others can)

The opportunities to share product lines between each store banner are big.

[YOWflier]

Originally Posted by bikegypsy

I was working for Le Groupe SanFrancisco in Boucherville at that time. The administration was actually really happy with results in Ottawa; sales were very good; they never saw it as a mistake although the timing was horrendous. At the time, Les Ailes had a few stores but saw their Ottawa and downtown Montreal stores as their stars; but both stores were not making enough money.

Oh how nice it is to read some truth from time-to-time.

[craneSpotter]

Alcohol in B.C. grocery stores a popular suggestion, will be considered

The Globe and Mail
Published Tuesday, Oct. 29 2013

The B.C. government will look at selling liquor in retail stores, says the parliamentary secretary in charge of the file.

The idea has come about due to an ongoing review of B.C.’s liquor laws, including 84 days of consultation with stakeholders that continues until Oct. 31.

“There is one theme that has been resoundingly popular with British Columbians, and that is the ability to buy liquor at grocery stores,” John Yap, the parliamentary secretary for liquor policy reform, told a news conference on Tuesday.

“The idea of selling beer and wine, particularly in grocery stores, has been such a popular one that we are going to start exploring which models might work for B.C.”

He conceded it will be a “big shift” for B.C. so the province will look carefully at the best models across North America for the province to learn from en route to balancing health and safety and convenience.

Yay. I think this will actually happen. It has been the number one request by the citizens of BC as the Province reviews, and seeks input for, liquor law reforms. I'm sure the grocery industry will be keen to offer their customers this choice.

Beer and wine sales have been allowed in Quebec grocery and corner stores for decades(?), and they are currently the only jurisdiction in Canada to allow it. In BC most grocery stores already have a private or government liquor store right next door, or at least within walking distance in the same shopping centre - so what's the difference if you put beer and wine in-store beside the pop!

Man we have crazy outdated liquor laws. When I travel, I can always buy wine or beer with my groceries...the US, Europe, Australia, Asia etc! I find it very convenient - not sure if those places have higher DUI or abuse rates than Canada...but I doubt it

CHANGE THE DAMN LAWS ALREADY!!!

[Denscity]

Sweet it looks like we'll be going from the most backward province reguarding liquor to one of the most forward. I like the liquor at the beach idea as well. And patios open till 2am and not 11pm.

[north 42]

Originally Posted by Loco101

Just wondering what everyone thinks about Loblaws buying Shoppers Drug Mart.

I feel it's a smart business move by Loblaws. Many articles have stated that the greatest retail growth has been in dense urban cities, especially Toronto. I couldn't believe how many condos are under construction when I visited there a few months ago. There are currently many urban Shoppers/Pharmaprix locations and of course many across Canada.

Loblaws and SDM both have had amazingly good marketing techniques. It will be interesting to see if they decide to have more President's Choice products in shoppers and Life brand in Loblaws' stores which are under many banners.

I read a few weeks back that they will be carrying many of each others store brands, which is great for Shoppers since this will increase the amount of food available in their stores!

[miketoronto]

Originally Posted by eternallyme

The Eaton Centre space - taking up about over 800,000 square feet - will be very hard to fill entirely (especially at the isolated higher levels), even though it is prime retail space.

I am so tired of the North American attitude that we can't have big and interesting stores anymore.

Funny how department stores in Europe still create massive stores in downtowns, yet we can't seem to do that here?
Milan for example just saw a beautiful new downtown department store open with something like 9 floors of shopping, including several floors with food and restaurants, etc.
We need unique fun stuff like that here in Canada again.

American department stores including Nordstroms have lost the art of great retail, and while it will be nice to fill the SEARS space, it will not be anything special. Just your typical carbon copy cheap American disposable design.

To bad we can't be like the Europeans and actually built another great flagship to complement The Bay store.



This is the the La Rinascente Flagship in central Milan, Italy. The store includes rooftop restaurants open until midnight, with dedicated elevators. These are the kind of things we should be thinking about for the Eaton Centre SEARS location.







Photos courtesy of La Rinascente.

[taal]

FYI only bottom 3 floors of Sears Toronto are available, they are keeping their HQ (surprised they need 4 floors ..)


Mike TO - Well I'd argue the Bay on Queen is like that already (it has food / restaurants / shopping) obviously less extravagant

[caltrane74]

The Bay Queen is awfully nice, almost as nice as those pictures you posted sans rooftop patio. Although the prices for some goods are quite high in comparison to discount retailers.

I guess they have to keep up appearances.