The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[Prometheus]

Originally Posted by Delirium

Vancouver record store and nightclub combo first of its kind

Studio Records on Granville Street is set to become Vancouver’s first record store and nightclub in one. The idea is to be a music hub where you can listen to live performances, have a couple drinks, and grab some vinyl while you’re at it.

The best part is the restoration of the original neon "Studio" sign from the 1950s:


https://www.facebook.com/StudioGranville?fref=ts


https://www.facebook.com/StudioGranville...6445054/1169146326444801/?type=1&theater

[GlassCity]

If we get any more of those neon signs, Granville Street could become a truly iconic area.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by Vin

It seems to me like only the mid-range mall brands are there at the moment, and that's why the prices are still relatively inexpensive (Like the stores at Morgan Crossing and Queensborough Landing). There are no brands like Louis Vuitton, Salvatore Ferragamo, Versace, Giogio Armani, Chanel, Dior, Kenzo, Valentino, Sergio Rossi, M Missoni, Valentino, Leo, Alexander McQueen, and many others. When these brands do arrive, then you see a real spike in prices. Maybe Vancouver is not ready yet.

most of those brands do not operate outlet stores - their stuff may end up in a place like saks off 5th

outlet stores are usually filled with low end to mid level brands, people who can afford LV or chanel don't care about price

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

You have to remember how far away Seattle Premium Outlets is. It's about 2h30m each way. Not worth a day trip under any circumstances IMO.

Amen to that. People don't put any value on their time or amount of gas they waste to save a few dollars.

[SpongeG]

aesop opened a signature store in gastown! the second one in canada
omg i love that store went to the nolita store in new york last weekend, their stuff is a little pricey perhaps but so worth it

http://vanmag.com/shop/aesop-store-opens-in-gastown/

[SpongeG]

seattle outlet mall is less than 90 minutes from the border, depending on where you live in the LM, from coquitlam i could get to the border in about 20 minutes, from my friends place in surrey it was about 10 minutes

you can save when they are having sales, the markdowns can be really good even with the exchange, i find it worth it for a few things, a lot of us retailers won't ship some things to canada, nordstrom for instance i've wanted to get some shoes but they won't ship to addresses outside of the USA on particular styles, also chanel egoiste cologne is not available in canada but nordstrom carries it but won't ship it to canada so there are some reasons to cross border shop, new balance selection in canada is awful compared to the states

[GeeCee]

Sears, 2015. Just one reason why they're dying.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by squeezied

Vancouver is not ready for what? Outlet brands that sell leftover merchandises or lower quality items made specifically for outlets and not retail?

Nope, what you just described is what locals here are ready for, and does not necessarily represent what is happening in other places.

Originally Posted by SpongeG

most of those brands do not operate outlet stores - their stuff may end up in a place like saks off 5th

outlet stores are usually filled with low end to mid level brands, people who can afford LV or chanel don't care about price

Many high end brands do operate at outlet malls. Perhaps locals are not ready for them, or maybe retailers think that Vancouver isn't ready for it. Check out this one in Johor Bahru, Malaysia:

http://premiumoutlets.com.my/center-information/store-listing

Or perhaps this one near Seoul, S. Korea:

http://www.premiumoutlets.co.kr/eng/01_centers/01_centers_brand.asp

Or even the McArthurGlen shops outside Venice:

http://www.mcarthurglen.com/it/noventa-di-piave-designer-outlet/en/the-brands/

Convinced you yet?

[osirisboy]

Those Sears pics are brutal ! Lol reminded me of a prison or something.

[red-paladin]

I think it's pretty clear that Sears Canada is undergoing asset stripping, and slowly being shut down. Various sources in the news have said they are losing so much money that they only have 2 years at most to turn it around, or just throw in the towel.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by Vin

Nope, what you just described is what locals here are ready for, and does not necessarily represent what is happening in other places.




Many high end brands do operate at outlet malls. Perhaps locals are not ready for them, or maybe retailers think that Vancouver isn't ready for it. Check out this one in Johor Bahru, Malaysia:

http://premiumoutlets.com.my/center-information/store-listing

Or perhaps this one near Seoul, S. Korea:

http://www.premiumoutlets.co.kr/eng/01_centers/01_centers_brand.asp

Or even the McArthurGlen shops outside Venice:

http://www.mcarthurglen.com/it/noventa-di-piave-designer-outlet/en/the-brands/

Convinced you yet?

convinced of what? of course vancouverites are ready for outlets but even at discounted prices burberry, dior, etc are not affordable - $600 t shirts at the burberry outlet in seattle are not affordable to the average person, someone who can afford that would not shop at an outlet

$30 tshirt at ralph lauren is affordable for most

[GeeCee]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Those Sears pics are brutal ! Lol reminded me of a prison or something.

Took them while waiting at the catalogue/website order pickup desk. Ordered some towels that were on sale because they (were supposed to) match my existing towels.. the really funny bit though is that they close that desk an hour before the store closes! In 2015. It's quite silly.

[jlousa]

Just got back from the outlet mall, what an absolute gong show. Parking lot was a mess, the flaggers were in over their head trying to direct people. No signage directing people how to exit... The stores themselves looked like Metrotown on boxing day with stuff all over the place, line ups to get in. Deals were pretty minimal as well. I left without buying a thing and it'll be a long time before I head back. Seeing the crowds though I doubt they'll miss me.

[osirisboy]

I'm waiting to go until the crowds aren't so crazy. Good to see it busy though

[memememe76]

I don't have a whole lot of sympathy for people who drove to the new outlet mall this weekend. The news stories have emphasized the crowds and the lack of any real deals. And given its proximity to the Canada Line, why drive?

I'll wait it out. But I am impressed that there's a Caffe Artigiano. Usually, it's just Starbucks.

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

The best part is the restoration of the original neon "Studio" sign from the 1950s:


https://www.facebook.com/StudioGranville?fref=ts


https://www.facebook.com/StudioGranville...6445054/1169146326444801/?type=1&theater

That is amazing!

Love seeing the neon being brought back to Vancouver.

What a huge mistake that entire ant-neon sign era was, destroyed a mjor part of Vancouver`s chracter. Nice that it is slowly creeping back.

[EdinVan]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

That is amazing!

Love seeing the neon being brought back to Vancouver.

What a huge mistake that entire ant-neon sign era was, destroyed a mjor part of Vancouver`s chracter. Nice that it is slowly creeping back.

It's a beautiful sign and I wish we had more, but you know that someone is going to complain to Council about "light pollution" and try to have it turned off. They'll say that it creates too much light in the night sky and interferes with star-gazing; or that it kills birds; or that it overly-commercializes public space; or that it disrupts circadian rhythms; or that it causes seizures in epileptics; or some other absurd reason.

[VanK]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

......$600 t shirts at the burberry outlet in seattle are not affordable to the average person, someone who can afford that would not shop at an outlet....

I have to disagree with this. Just because you can afford and buy luxury bags and brands doesn't mean that you are not frugal on things that you can be frugal on. A typical "rich" Asian/Chinese buyer who can afford an LV or Chanel bag or clothes still love deals and sales.

[bjan]

Originally Posted by Vin

Nope, what you just described is what locals here are ready for, and does not necessarily represent what is happening in other places.




Many high end brands do operate at outlet malls. Perhaps locals are not ready for them, or maybe retailers think that Vancouver isn't ready for it. Check out this one in Johor Bahru, Malaysia:

http://premiumoutlets.com.my/center-information/store-listing

Or perhaps this one near Seoul, S. Korea:

http://www.premiumoutlets.co.kr/eng/01_centers/01_centers_brand.asp

Or even the McArthurGlen shops outside Venice:

http://www.mcarthurglen.com/it/noventa-di-piave-designer-outlet/en/the-brands/

Convinced you yet?

Actually Vin, it's been pretty widely reported that McArthur Glen is conducting a targeted, phased rollout of store openings (including many of the labels you cited), as they typically do with all their new centre openings (yes this even happened with their Venice location - gasp!). They indicate that many of their luxury brands normally wait to open until after the initial mall opens.

[Pinion]

I have a flight Thursday evening. Is outlet traffic still gonna be bad enough to cause a delay then?