The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[connect2source]

Originally Posted by Tetsuo

If they lose the rights to the Sears name couldn't they technically use Eaton's

That would be so tragic, an iconic Canadian brand going bankrupt twice!! ...and disappearing three times if you include Sears' failed 'eatons' experiment in 2000.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by spm2013

Sears Canada press release on the licensing changes:

Seems to just change it so they can keep the name with the lower ownership % by Sears USA.

The change from 3 year to 5 year post-termination transition period means that termination of the licensing deal is a real possibility (i.e. if Sears USA drops below 10% ownership). That not only impacts "Sears" but also all the house brands that they carry.

I think some of the clothing lines may originate from Eaton's (i.e. Men's Retreat) - so in theory they could survive on those Eaton's brands. Maybe they would commission their own appliances under "Eaton Viking"?

A return to EATON's may not be a bad thing, since Sears has always been looked down upon in the department store hierarchy.

Originally Posted by spm2013

Sears Canada also seems to own the Simpsons trademark (they bought it back from HBC which briefly owned it)

HBC operated higher end stores as Simpsons, then rolled them into The Bay, the same way that Sears operated higher end Eatons, before rolling them into Sears.

[officedweller]

From VanCity Buzz:

HMV will be opening a new 3,000 square foot, permanent location at 1148 Robson Street (between Thurlow and Bute) on December 1.

http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2014/10/hmv-vancouver-robson-street/

[spm2013]

....

[Delirium]

i didn't even know HMV still existed! who shops there?

robson needs some new blood. i took a walk down there the other day and there's quite a few vacancy signs. it's needs something new. don't know what but it seems to be languishing a bit.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by spm2013

Which will last longer on Robson: lululemon or HMV?

In a bizarre co-incidence, 1148 Robson is the former Lululemon space.

[SpongeG]

HMV is more about movies and geek toys these days than music

[Conrad Yablonski]

Originally Posted by Delirium

i didn't even know HMV still existed! who shops there?

X2-I remember HMV but I'm really old.

Originally Posted by Delirium

robson needs some new blood..... don't know what but it seems to be languishing a bit.

Just yesterday I told someone who was staying @ Sutton Place not to bother looking for worthwhile shopping on Robson.

[connect2source]

Originally Posted by officedweller

In a bizarre co-incidence, 1148 Robson is the former Lululemon space.

Yes... and two doors away from the old HMV space on Robson before taking Virgin space.

[connect2source]

Originally Posted by officedweller

A return to EATON's may not be a bad thing, since Sears has always been looked down upon in the department store hierarchy.

It would be a great thing. EATON'S was rarely looked down upon, only during the pre-bankruptcy, late 90's when the revelations about the company's secrecy, management and finances surfaced was there some negativity. I think Sears, reverting some stores to the original, mid-range EATON'S format, would be welcomed and successful.

Locally, a mid-range EATON'S would do well in Richmond Centre, Metrotown and Guildford.

[GlassCity]

Originally Posted by Delirium

i didn't even know HMV still existed! who shops there?

robson needs some new blood. i took a walk down there the other day and there's quite a few vacancy signs. it's needs something new. don't know what but it seems to be languishing a bit.

I do! I will stick with CDs until they're gone for good.

[Tetsuo]

Originally Posted by connect2source

It would be a great thing. EATON'S was rarely looked down upon, only during the pre-bankruptcy, late 90's when the revelations about the company's secrecy, management and finances surfaced was there some negativity. I think Sears, reverting some stores to the original, mid-range EATON'S format, would be welcomed and successful.

Locally, a mid-range EATON'S would do well in Richmond Centre, Metrotown and Guildford.

Richmond Centre's Sears lease was already sold.

If Sears Canada was bold enough I could see them reintroducing EATON'S as a flagship part of their metrotown redevelopment plans. Create a big buzz about it. Of course if it fails, they can easily flip the retail portion of the development back to Ivanhoe Cambridge, allowing for another chain to open shop (cough Simmons, since Nordstrom would seem too weird of a fit)

[theKB]

Originally Posted by connect2source

It would be a great thing. EATON'S was rarely looked down upon, only during the pre-bankruptcy, late 90's when the revelations about the company's secrecy, management and finances surfaced was there some negativity. I think Sears, reverting some stores to the original, mid-range EATON'S format, would be welcomed and successful.

Locally, a mid-range EATON'S would do well in Richmond Centre, Metrotown and Guildford.

Don't expect mid range to make any sort of comeback anytime soon unless there is a serious shift in the way wealth is distributed. Lots of growth in the luxury/high end market and the cheap low end stuff.

Also all the fast fashion brands that make cheap 🞵🞵🞵🞵 that looks good up until the first wash (top shop, h&m etc) keep the mid level boring old mom and dad clothes from having a chance especially with the gen X,Y,Z etc getting older.

I also think by bringing Eatons you will be hitting on a customer that is getting older and older and that in itself its not sustainable especially when you are basically catering to fixed incomes. It has been 12 years since eatons has been present in the market and frankly it failed especially when sears attempted to make it "urban and hip". It seems any time a department store attempts to become "urban and hip" it typically spells the end (remember JCP... )

Mid market department stores and chains are dying a slow and painful death without a doubt. It will be interesting to see how Nordstrom performs and I fully expect Nordstrom Rack and Saks off 5th to be very successful. Outlets marketing cheap, poorly made collections that carry the luxury brand (and therefore the prestige) are the new midmarket frankly. People don't want a shirt or jacket from (insert department store private lable here) when they can get a poorly made blended fabric that carrys a (insert luxury brand here) label.

[connect2source]

I agree with most of what you say here theKB.

I do, however, feel that the Sears 'eatons' experiment would have done far better in today's market.

It was, IMO, a little ahead of it's time, during an era of 'big box' obsession and prior to the fall of the 'big boxes' due mostly to online shopping and a renewed interest in luxury brands and a personal, mid-to-high-end, shopping experience that Hudson's Bay has been successful in offering.

Perhaps if the 'eatons' experiment had survived and thrived, Nordstrom would not have entered Canada and Sears Canada would have positioned itself better for the years ahead.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by theKB

... It has been 12 years since eatons has been present in the market and frankly it failed especially when sears attempted to make it "urban and hip". It seems any time a department store attempts to become "urban and hip" it typically spells the end (remember JCP... )

Add to that "upscale"... Even before Sears took over, Eaton's tried to go upscale and that alienated its core mid-market customer base - same as when Woodward's tried to go upscale. And you may as well add Simpson's to that roster, too, when HBC kept it (in Ontario) as a upscale department store, then rolled them into The Bay.

Has any mid-range department store successfully moved upscale?
Hudson's Bay seems to be doing okay right now - but there aren't any alternatives.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Add to that "upscale"... Even before Sears took over, Eaton's tried to go upscale and that alienated its core mid-market customer base - same as when Woodward's tried to go upscale. And you may as well add Simpson's to that roster, too, when HBC kept it (in Ontario) as a upscale department store, then rolled them into The Bay.

Has any mid-range department store successfully moved upscale?
Hudson's Bay seems to be doing okay right now - but there aren't any alternatives.

The problem is that the attempts by Canadian department stores to go 'upscale' were more like perceptions or marketing jargons than those department stores actually going upscale. They merely renovated their stores but still sold mid-range products at way higher prices than their competitors. You guys should observe international retailers like Macy's, Harrod's, Printemps, Isetans and many others to get a feel of what 'upscale' really means. Many of them have one of two floors dedicated to high end boutiques, and on top of that, international class food centres (especially the Asian department stores) to boot. In Canada, only Holt Renfrew can be qualified as somewhat high end, but even they are small compared to the high end department stores from around the world, as they only have a limited range of goods, ie no toys, kitchenware, suitcases, home aesthetics, specialty foods, etc etc. Perhaps that's why they failed?

I remember when Eaton's downtown went 'upscale' and I stepped in on opening day, it did have certain bells and whistles of high end stores like very well dressed 'associates' (they refused to be called sales guys) serving me, and expensive-looking ceiling pot lights illuminating the store. However, on closer inspection of the merchandise, I could tell many of them were just like those sold in the suburb Sears locations. The goods were just sitting on prettier shelves and display cases, that's all. There simply weren't any unique items that I couldn't get anywhere else in the city. To date, the Lower Mainland still doesn't have a truly high end department store. Let's see what Nordstrom brings to Vancouver.

[connect2source]

Originally Posted by Vin

To date, the Lower Mainland still doesn't have a truly high end department store. Let's see what Nordstrom brings to Vancouver.

Yes we do, Holt Renfrew.

Good points tho, however, the late 1990's early 2000's was quite a different market, it was the wrong economy to attempt a high-end concept.

Today, high-end is flourishing and growing in Vancouver. Our Holts is the top performer in Canada, international luxury brands are clamouring for high profile locations in Vancouver. The 'eatons' experiment was ahead of it's time and perhaps was linked to a flawed parent company.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by connect2source

Yes we do, Holt Renfrew.

Good points tho, however, the late 1990's early 2000's was quite a different market, it was the wrong economy to attempt a high-end concept.

Today, high-end is flourishing and growing in Vancouver. Our Holts is the top performer in Canada, international luxury brands are clamouring for high profile locations in Vancouver. The 'eatons' experiment was ahead of it's time and perhaps was linked to a flawed parent company.

Agree that early 90s and 2000s were a rut for Canadian retailing.

Holts is still doing very well but only because it's almost a monopoly of high end fashion. At the moment, there simply isn't any other alternative to see multiple high end brands under one roof, and the store still possesses merchandise not sold anywhere else in the city. However, it is fast losing its shine when other retailers are rapidly improving. I'm excited to find out how Nordstrom can change the retail landscape of this city. To stay competitive, now is the time for Holts to shape up more, or perhaps expand their store (since they are doing so well).

[officedweller]

It'll be interesting to see if there's enough high end dollars to sustain several large departments stores (incl. Saks).

*********

The Atson jewellery store at Robson & Hamilton is no more
- there are signs in the windows for "Waffle Bant".

Which may be this Korean / Australian waffle place:

http://wafflebant.com.au/menu/

[connect2source]

Originally Posted by Vin

To stay competitive, now is the time for Holts to shape up more, or perhaps expand their store (since they are doing so well).

You'll be happy to know Holt's is expanding it's Pacific Centre store by 40,000 sq. feet, taking the Sportcheck / Atmosphere space, a restaurant is also in the works.

http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2014/09/holt-renfrew-vancouver-expansion-renovation/