General Retail News

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I checked and it seems to apply to any stations in Quebec that are within 20 km of a border with a Canadian province or the U.S.

Doesn't Montreal also have an extra city tax?

I noticed that when the HST was added to gas in Ontario, prices in Gatineau actually dropped a a bit to become competitive with Ottawa. Before that there was a large difference and anyone who commuted to Ottawa must have got all their gas on the other side.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

Doesn't Montreal also have an extra city tax?

I noticed that when the HST was added to gas in Ontario, prices in Gatineau actually dropped a a bit to become competitive with Ottawa. Before that there was a large difference and anyone who commuted to Ottawa must have got all their gas on the other side.

Yes, Montreal has an extra tax for public transport. I believe Vancouver might have one as well.

Gatineau prices are more expensive than Ottawa maybe 80-90% of the time. Sometimes they are the same and occasionally they are even cheaper.

[YOWflier]

As previously discussed, but still no official date from what I could read:

http://www.retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2015/2/tiffany

Originally Posted by article

Tiffany & Co. to Open at Rideau Centre

[canabiz]

Not necessarily retail, per se, but Red Box is exiting our market to focus on its own turf down south.

Bit of a surprise as I always thought they have a good model: low-maintenance DVD rentals in location with high foot traffic (gas stations, grocery stores) and believe it or not, many folks still don't download or stream so this fills a niche nicely. The one outside the Petro on Strandherd in the 'Haven is always busy.

[phil235]

Mark's under Canadian Tire on Carling is closing. Too bad that it couldn't work in a more urban format. I'm just hoping that Canadian Tire does something decent with the space.

[MountainView]

Originally Posted by phil235

Mark's under Canadian Tire on Carling is closing. Too bad that it couldn't work in a more urban format. I'm just hoping that Canadian Tire does something decent with the space.

That's too bad. Maybe a Sport Chek or Atmosphere?

[phil235]

Originally Posted by MountainView

That's too bad. Maybe a Sport Chek or Atmosphere?

Possibly. It's not a huge space, though they do seem to be clearing out another area at the bottom of the escalators, so maybe they are going to make a bigger retail space there.

[Proof Sheet]

Originally Posted by MountainView

That's too bad. Maybe a Sport Chek or Atmosphere?

What about a Shoppers Drug Mart or a Shawarma place

[MountainView]

Originally Posted by Proof Sheet

What about a Shoppers Drug Mart or a Shawarma place

I had suggested those two because Canadian Tire owns them. The Carling store uses the downstairs area to set up large displays. Perhaps that area by the escalators is being cleared out of winter seasonal items so summer seasonal items can be placed there.

[Schattenjager]

Originally Posted by Proof Sheet

What about a Shoppers Drug Mart or a Shawarma place

There's a Shawarma place right across the street in the same plaza as Gabriel Pizza. Shoppers it is!

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by Schattenjager

There's a Shawarma place right across the street in the same plaza as Gabriel Pizza. Shoppers it is!

But this is Ottawa..nobody should have to cross a street or walk more than a block for Shawarma!

[canabiz]

Kate Spade is coming to Rideau Centre. The ladies will be happy

[waterloowarrior]

Building permit was issued in January for two tenant fit-ups and a freight lift at the CT on Carling. There was also a permit issued in Nov 2014 at Fairlawn Plaza (2148 Carling) to divide one suite into two suites (Unit 4, SW corner of site) under Marks Work Warehouse.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by canabiz

Not necessarily retail, per se, but Red Box is exiting our market to focus on its own turf down south.

Bit of a surprise as I always thought they have a good model: low-maintenance DVD rentals in location with high foot traffic (gas stations, grocery stores) and believe it or not, many folks still don't download or stream so this fills a niche nicely. The one outside the Petro on Strandherd in the 'Haven is always busy.

I've never used it, but I've paused a few times to look at the selection while walking by the machines. It seemed like the target audience of the movies are exactly the people who would be perfectly comfortable with downloading and streaming. They might have had more luck targeting an older audience.

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by MountainView

I had suggested those two because Canadian Tire owns them. The Carling store uses the downstairs area to set up large displays. Perhaps that area by the escalators is being cleared out of winter seasonal items so summer seasonal items can be placed there.

I was in that Mark's last week, and the sales staff suggested that it was Canadian Tire taking over the space.

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

I was in that Mark's last week, and the sales staff suggested that it was Canadian Tire taking over the space.

Is Canadian Tire still doing groceries? If so, I could see them moving the groceries down there.

[MountainView]

Originally Posted by Harley613

Is Canadian Tire still doing groceries? If so, I could see them moving the groceries down there.

No they have not done groceries in over a year. Ottawa was a test market to see if a small grocery selection would work in all their stores. Unfortunately, the prices were at or above cost and most people only bought the Milk & Eggs that were cheaper than regular grocery store prices and did not buy other items throughout the store, so they pulled out of this market.

So Marks will essentially be moving down the street to Carling & Fairlawn if I understand correctly.

I wonder what CT will do with the space since there is a Sleep Country or Matress Mart between the CT and Marks.

[rocketphish]

Walmart Canada plans to complete 29 supercentre projects this year

The Canadian Press ~ OBJ
Published on February 11, 2015

Wal-Mart Canada says it plans to complete another 29 supercentre projects in the fiscal year beginning Feb. 1.

The retailer says the expansion is expected to generate about 3,700 construction jobs, 1,000 store jobs and 300 distribution centre jobs across Canada.

The new supercentres are in addition to the 11 Wal-Mart supercentres that opened across Canada in January.

Wal-Mart Canada says the supercentre projects will cost about $230 million and include the remodelling and expansion of several stores to add full grocery departments.

Another $75 million will be spent to add distribution centres and $35 million will be spent on e-commerce initiatives, raising the total capital outlay to about $340 million.

Wal-Mart says the locations of specific store and distribution centre projects will be announced over the coming weeks and months as projects become finalized.

The expansion will bring Wal-Mart Canada's store count to 396 by the end of January, 2016, consisting of 309 supercentres and 87 discount stores.

"Our mission is to provide multiple access points for customers to save money," said Wal-Mart Canada president and CEO Dirk Van den Berghe.

"We will deliver on this commitment through a range of channels including our expanding network of supercentres, our accelerating e-commerce business, and our in-store pick up services."

http://www.obj.ca/Canada---World/2015-02...lete-29-supercentre-projects-this-year/1

[rocketphish]

Target's loss in Ottawa is Wal-Mart's gain: Expert

By Keaton Robbins, Ottawa Sun
First posted: Wednesday, February 11, 2015 12:17 PM EST | Updated: Wednesday, February 11, 2015 12:28 PM EST

Target's loss is Wal-Mart's gain.

Wal-Mart's announcement of a $340 million expansion plan across Canada over the next year shows the U.S.-based retailer has been "licking their chops" at recent announcements that other retail chains are scaling back or pulling out of the country.

The biggest of these is Target.

"So many people in the city were calling this (Target closing) a disaster," said Ian Lee, assistant professor in the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University. "It's not a disaster. Wal-Mart sees this as an opportunity to expand and take Target's sales."

There are currently nine Wal-Mart locations spread across the nation's capital and more could be coming.

Wal-Mart said $230 million will go towards building or upgrading 29 supercentres across Canada.

But the company won't specify how it impacts Ottawa and the surrounding region.

"We aren't announcing specific store locations today," said Andrew Pelletier, Vice-President of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Wal-Mart Canada. "Location and timing for specific store and distribution centre projects will be confirmed later on as projects become finalized over the coming weeks and months."

But it's not just Target's sales that Wal-Mart could be taking.

"This is just the latest example of churn in the retail industry," Lee said. "Jobs in the city will be quickly reabsorbed by Wal-Mart and other competitors."

Wal-Mart says the expansion is expected to create approximately 3,700 construction jobs, 1,000 in-store jobs and 300 distribution centre jobs across the country over the next year.

Lee said he's impressed at how fast Wal-Mart is stepping up to try and fill the void Target left in the capital.

"Wal-Mart is too smart a retailer to not exploit the market here in Ottawa," he said. "We have the highest average income in Canada and are a very affluent market that likes to spend."

And Lee also said Wal-Mart won't be the only retailer in Ottawa expanding to pick up the sales that were going to Target.

"I could see Canadian Tire and Ikea making similar moves," he said.

Twitter: @Keaton_Robbins

http://www.ottawasun.com/2015/02/11/targets-loss-in-ottawa-is-wal-marts-gain-expert

[Norman Bates]

Just Curious, gift store in Kanata is closing.

http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=67f1983b3d59b1c180de7fe14&id=a11868ca08&e=7078971e2a

A truly wonderous product selection from an honest small business.

They will be missed.