The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[officedweller]

Back from the brink: Fields fends off closure to restore chain’s retail success

...

Then-owner Hudson’s Bay Co. (TSX:HBC) had already announced it was closing all 177 of its subsidiary’s outlets across Canada. But when it agreed to a last-minute sale of 57 western Canadian outlets, the retail giant saw fit to hand over just two pieces of information to the new owners.

It wasn’t a list of vendors and payroll information.

Rather, FHC received only the phone number and first name of each store manager.

...

https://www.biv.com/article/2015/10/back-brink-fields-fends-closure-restore-chains-ret/

[s211]

Originally Posted by Vin

You should see how people dress and bike in Copenhagen, or Amsterdam.

you mean those flat cities where you'd have a hard time ever breaking a sweat on a bike?

[cairnstone]

Originally Posted by officedweller

https://www.biv.com/article/2015/10/back-brink-fields-fends-closure-restore-chains-ret/

wow you don't get much sometimes when you buy a company. Sounds like the new owners are doing a great job recreating a brand

[officedweller]

Yeah, sounds like HBC wanted to retain its connections to the value/lower end market, even though in 2012, I think they would have been getting rid of Zellers by then.

Their success in small communities may signal that there may be room for Sears in mid-sized communities(?)

[daverraver]

Originally Posted by s211

Your observations mirror mine. I was disappointed to see that Nordstrom Vancouver carries fewer traditional "business wear" clothes and shoes than the US stores.

In speaking with some of the managers (including the store manager), what they are going to be carrying, merchandise-wise in the men's as far as shoes/clothing go is going to vary over the next several months. They are trying to figure out the right 'mix' for the Vancouver customer so don't be surprised to see the selection vary over the next while until they feel they have the 'mix' and at the right quantity. If anyone has any requests for what brands they'd like to see, the store manager has said that he has the ability to request it and have it in the store real time. Knowing Nordstrom like I do, they aren't BS'ing.

[daverraver]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Add to the discussion that Nordstrom has very few sales (mainly a semi-annual one?).

Vancouverites will eat up the clearance sales at Simons!

They have changed that model to having (at least) 4 sales per year, including the Anniversary sale in late-July/early August which is VERY significant considering that the merchandise on sale is new, fall merchandise.

Personally, this is a MUCH better option than having sales every other week like the Bay does. What this does is conditions the customer to ONLY buy during that time. At least when Nordstrom has a sale, you know it'll be good and worth shopping at.

[daverraver]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

^Lol. No I didn't get that impression

Me neither....it appears to be a crowd I'd expect to see in a Nordstrom (and that doesn't mean douchey).

[Vin]

Originally Posted by s211

you mean those flat cities where you'd have a hard time ever breaking a sweat on a bike?

You never heard of electric-assist bike? It's doable.

[Conrad Yablonski]

Originally Posted by Vin

...Certain parts of downtown have way too many 'zombie' types wondering the streets, spoiling our overall street fashion look (think International Village, Granville street, etc). Perhaps lack of wealth is a factor for some, like the retirees who can only afford subsidized housing, but there is still no excuse for being so sloppy. A simple shower, haircut and clean clothes can make a whole world of diference. Factor in the occasional sloppy sports crowd and many gangsta types from the burbs to come to party, it's no wonder outsiders would never consider downtown's fashion sense any alluring.

Definitely need more people to clean up their toxic lifestyles, for we are still a far way towards being a utopian fashionable downtown.

Well the Church Ladies are out in force in Vancouver cyber space these days.

[s211]

Originally Posted by Vin

You never heard of electric-assist bike? It's doable.

It may be doable, but what's the point, because it isn't exercise at that point. It's just plain old pretention.

[Vin]

Anyone noticed that the one-storied CRU building on Denman between Comox and Nelson remains unleased even though it has been completed for months. I see it as a City foul-up for insisting that the lot can only accommodate a single-floor street retail building. I always see it as a tremendous waste of space as it could house 4 or 5 storeys of residential or even commercial space above. Also, Joe Fresh has also closed on Robson Street and the unit is still unleased.

On the bright side, it seems that there is only one vacant unit untaken at Pacific Centre Mall now. All other previous vacancies, including the ex-Sony store and Mexx, have all been reopened or about to be opened.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by s211

It may be doable, but what's the point, because it isn't exercise at that point. It's just plain old pretention.

Cycle when the ground is flat/sloping downhill, and use the electric-assist when going uphill. If one loves the pretention, then it's his/her business too. And the point is, you don't have to break a sweat and can still dress well while biking. Isn't that what we were discussing about in the first place?

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by Vin

Anyone noticed that the one-storied CRU building on Denman between Comox and Nelson remains unleased even though it has been completed for months. I see it as a City foul-up for insisting that the lot can only accommodate a single-floor street retail building. I always see it as a tremendous waste of space as it could house 4 or 5 storeys of residential or even commercial space above. Also, Joe Fresh has also closed on Robson Street and the unit is still unleased.

Denman seems to be pretty much entirely groundscrapers. Would it really kill the whole vibe of the area to allow say up to 4 floors midblock and up to 6 floors on the corners? I could easily see it as ground floor retail with office or residential space above.

Looking at Google Earth with it tilted, you can easily see how many areas could stand to be built up a bit - and I don't mean mile high towers.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Sheba

Denman seems to be pretty much entirely groundscrapers. Would it really kill the whole vibe of the area to allow say up to 4 floors midblock and up to 6 floors on the corners? I could easily see it as ground floor retail with office or residential space above.

Looking at Google Earth with it tilted, you can easily see how many areas could stand to be built up a bit - and I don't mean mile high towers.

Yeah, I totally can't understand the rationale behind the OCP. There are many other "villages" throughout this province, so why do they insist on artificially keeping Denman street the way it is? In fact, the 60s and 70s saw an increase in the heights of structures along Denman (as well as Robson), only to be reigned back down to single floor more recently. Residents have to make do with out-dated shops in that neighbourhood, which is such a shame. Also, I wonder if they can ever build anything over 1 storey should Denman mall be demolished and rebuilt?

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by Vin

Yeah, I totally can't understand the rationale behind the OCP. There are many other "villages" throughout this province, so why do they insist on artificially keeping Denman street the way it is? In fact, the 60s and 70s saw an increase in the heights of structures along Denman (as well as Robson), only to be reigned back down to single floor more recently. Residents have to make do with out-dated shops in that neighbourhood, which is such a shame. Also, I wonder if they can ever build anything over 1 storey should Denman mall be demolished and rebuilt?

What's the difference in built form between Denman and strip malls in Surrey - only that Surrey has space for surface parking. Otherwise the two things are pretty much the same.

[jlousa]

I agree, lets build a mega mall there instead.... If you can't tell if I'm being serious or not you should put away your smartphone for a bit and enjoy the outdoors.

Different strokes for different folks. Diversity should be welcomed not homogenized.

[logan5]

Originally Posted by Sheba

Denman seems to be pretty much entirely groundscrapers. Would it really kill the whole vibe of the area to allow say up to 4 floors midblock and up to 6 floors on the corners? I could easily see it as ground floor retail with office or residential space above.

Looking at Google Earth with it tilted, you can easily see how many areas could stand to be built up a bit - and I don't mean mile high towers.

Yes it would kill the vibe of the area. The retail units that come with any new development are completely expressionless. So because they look so terrible, they don't attract the right mix of businesses that make a neighbourhood interesting.

Main Street has a pretty good "vibe", except the sections where there are residential/retail buildings. These are dead zones.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by logan5

Yes it would kill the vibe of the area. The retail units that come with any new development are completely expressionless. So because they look so terrible, they don't attract the right mix of businesses that make a neighbourhood interesting.

Main Street has a pretty good "vibe", except the sections where there are residential/retail buildings. These are dead zones.

So groundscraping retail equals vibe - wow everywhere outside of CoV must have major vibeage!

[logan5]

Here's Union Street in Chinatown, which is made up of almost entirely (relatively) new retail units...
https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2776452,-...3CW58gmXoF-lvPg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

And here's 15th Ave at Fraser St. in Mt. Pleasant. These old retail units allow for the business owner to customize the facade. They bring colour and artistic impression to the street.
https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2571934,-...6.47336%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

You really prefer the Union St. scenario?

[osirisboy]

Why can't retailers customize their space In new buildings like the ones do in older buildings? Although there was that one on Main Street that did, which looked great. (Can't remember the name)

And denman should easily go taller than 2 floors. 5-6 easily. They allowed the Alexandria which I think turned out great. Plus there are the two other towers going up.