The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by djh

So again I ask, do we really need them?

No, most average Canadians cannot afford these places. Notice if they do set up shop here they most often do where there are foreign tourists to buoy sales. There's this feeling from some Canadians that everything the U.S. has is superior to our offerings. Thus many parade around showing off their brands that they think everyone else wants.

It's an insecure show of nonsense.

The same as buying an expensive car that you think everyone else has if they are successful, so you should have one to feel the same. BUT you always get it in black because you are afraid of standing out from the crowd and be different.

While in the retail thread I wanna say this: Black does not make you look thinner, especially if you wear spandex yoga pants. You look like a black hole unless it's night time.

[osirisboy]

Well first we don't "need" any of them but they are nice to have. Also it's not just US retailers. We all want a simons and uniqlo etc. I'm not sure why you don't understand why people on here want to see nice big new retailers downtown? It's fuN that's all. You're way over thinking this

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by djh

If you're talking about European or Asian retailers, it's different. They may well offer a product that is not widely available in the market (hence the demand for Muji or H&M or similar). But your bog-standard US shop...if it's not going to be any cheaper (e.g., Target) and it's not going to be any better service (e.g., Nordstrom), then they'll have a really hard time succeeding in Vancouver.

So again I ask, do we really need them?

Who cares let the market decide?

I guess the real question would be if HBC is buying them to open in Canada or if that's just a minor consideration.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Tetsuo

I've heard HBC has been in talks with Holborne. They want the area east of the store to be more vibrant before planning something concrete.

And they've been a bit busy dealing with Oakridge planning

I wish Holborn put in a multi-storey mall there with mixed development above it. That is a prime area to pull in the shoppers from 2 skytrain stations and surrounding transit routes. A new hotel and office tower would be awesome additions too. Exciting times ahead.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Well first we don't "need" any of them but they are nice to have. Also it's not just US retailers. We all want a simons and uniqlo etc. I'm not sure why you don't understand why people on here want to see nice big new retailers downtown? It's fuN that's all. You're way over thinking this

There's a difference, Simons and Uniqlo carry product withing reach of the ordinary Vancouverites. As retro_orange points out "Luxury" retailers like Saks are just another symptom of Vancouver's resortification, geared largely to wealthy tourists and astronauts. Being priced out of your communtiy is no "fuN".

It reminds me of my last trip to Honolulu walking through a near deserted Nieman Marcus and Bloomingdales that had no interest in trade with the locals.

[osirisboy]

The city is big enough to accommodate to both locals and tourists. Who here honestly feels that they were priced out of the community when Nordstrom and holts opened? There are still plenty of retail available for normal ppl. So would you rather have seen say Walmart takeover the Sears space instead? Although I would find Walmart way more useful than Nordstrom it's hardly "fun"

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by whatnext

There's a difference, Simons and Uniqlo carry product withing reach of the ordinary Vancouverites. As retro_orange points out "Luxury" retailers like Saks are just another symptom of Vancouver's resortification, geared largely to wealthy tourists and astronauts. Being priced out of your communtiy is no "fuN".

It reminds me of my last trip to Honolulu walking through a near deserted Nieman Marcus and Bloomingdales that had no interest in trade with the locals.

What's a luxury? Whole Foods, car dealerships, art galleries, jewelry shops, high end tea stores, Persian rug stores, home electronics?

[Pinion]

I believe the end is near (<30 years) for all major department stores, and most malls - except for the really big/popular/good location malls that provide an excellent experience. Every time I see The Bay buying another I sigh because they are digging a big hole for themselves, even if The Bay itself is fine.

Amazon/online is the future. It's reduced my mall time to near zero, and when I do clothes shopping it's in the US. The only thing keeping local malls afloat now vs what we see in the US are various new Canadians and tourists that aren't sick of them yet.

[connect2source]

Somewhat disagree Pinion.

Brick and mortar retail is having a bit of an uptick right now, Indochino just referenced that when they announced dozens of new locations. We are still social beings and prefer not to do everything sitting in front of a screen. Malls are being reinvented and retail is becoming polarized. Gone are most of the mid-market chains, only to be replaced by global fast-fashion ( H&M, Zara, Forever21 ) at the lower end and a surge in luxury retail at the upper-end which, in many markets like Vancouver and Toronto is doing exceptionally well, our Holt's and Nordstrom locations are top performers as is Pacific Centre, Oakridge and West Van Whole Foods location.

There is massive new global wealth and all of those consumers are supporting brick and mortar retail like never before, they prefer a hands-on approach, they view shopping as a social experience as well.

I agree that the malls facing a bright future are those that invest in making the experience exceptional, like Park Royal, the improvements at Brentwood, Oakridge and Pacific Centre. The mediocre ones are dead and dying.

As far a buying clothes in the states, I find our selection of global brands and diversity in retail far better than Seattle, plus with the current exchange rate, I see no savings at all, .. I'll add that in this current political climate I couldn't be happier supporting local / Canadian businesses and keeping my tax dollars on this side of the border.

[Vin]

Well said, Connect2source

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Pinion

I believe the end is near (<30 years) for all major department stores, and most malls - except for the really big/popular/good location malls that provide an excellent experience. Every time I see The Bay buying another I sigh because they are digging a big hole for themselves, even if The Bay itself is fine.

Amazon/online is the future. It's reduced my mall time to near zero, and when I do clothes shopping it's in the US. The only thing keeping local malls afloat now vs what we see in the US are various new Canadians and tourists that aren't sick of them yet.

Do they even have a proper mall in North Vancouver? OK there is Capilano mall but come on, that's out-dated and even rustic by today's standards. You can do your retail in front of the computer but that's only your preference.

[osirisboy]

I'll just add in. I'm someone who never buys online. I have done it in the past but have no intention on doing that again anytime soon. And I'm not an old person. Lol

[Vin]

The only things I purchase online are items I can NEVER find in a mall or local store. For example, many of the hobby items I like are sadly missing here. The rest I like to browse and shop in brick-and-mortar stores: gives me a break from the routine and a chance to move around physically rather than sitting idly at home, especially since I already spend so much time every day facing the computer at work.

[LeftCoaster]

The future is all about bricks and clicks.

The retailers that will survive in the new era of retailing are those with a strong online presence supplemented by physical stores. Consumers want both.

What we are seeing is clothing for the most part remaining the realm of physical retail supplemented by online, with consumer goods the opposite, primarily online supplemented by physical retail.

Pinion is in a way right though, there is a rising tide in retail right now and only the best positioned assets will survive. C and B class malls will die out for the most part as they were focused on consumer goods and lower end clothing, which has been more susceptible to online trade. There is now, and for the forseeable future, a strong market for good quality physical retail though.

[memememe76]

Except for things like airline tickets, I don't buy online either.

Anyways, it's not like Downtown just focuses on luxury stores. The opening of Costco was not that long ago. Same for Old Navy. Same for No Frills. I wonder if one of those Walmart Neighbourhood concepts could work.

[connect2source]

Originally Posted by memememe76

Anyways, it's not like Downtown just focuses on luxury stores. The opening of Costco was not that long ago. Same for Old Navy. Same for No Frills. I wonder if one of those Walmart Neighbourhood concepts could work.

Like I stated above, it's polarized, Downtown is a good example, big additions in the luxury sector and the big box / affordable sector with the middle disappearing. Pacific Centre has gone decidedly upscale as has Alberni, Burrard and Thurlow. Robson has suffered with the loss of the mid-market and bankrupt / near bankrupt chains such as Danier, Mexx, Le Chateau, HMV and BCBG.

[Pinion]

Originally Posted by Vin

Do they even have a proper mall in North Vancouver? OK there is Capilano mall but come on, that's out-dated and even rustic by today's standards. You can do your retail in front of the computer but that's only your preference.

I'm allowed to leave the confines of North Vancouver, believe it or not. Park Royal is 10-15 minutes away. Metrotown, Pacific Centre and Brentwood are ~20-25 in good traffic. I get daily stuff from Lonsdale ave. North Van doesn't need a mall.

And online retail is not "only" my preference. It is a rapidly growing, existential threat to most brick and mortar stores.

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

The future is all about bricks and clicks.

The retailers that will survive in the new era of retailing are those with a strong online presence supplemented by physical stores. Consumers want both.

What we are seeing is clothing for the most part remaining the realm of physical retail supplemented by online, with consumer goods the opposite, primarily online supplemented by physical retail.

Pinion is in a way right though, there is a rising tide in retail right now and only the best positioned assets will survive. C and B class malls will die out for the most part as they were focused on consumer goods and lower end clothing, which has been more susceptible to online trade. There is now, and for the forseeable future, a strong market for good quality physical retail though.

Thank you. And yeah clothing is the only thing I won't buy online these days.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Vin

Do they even have a proper mall in North Vancouver? OK there is Capilano mall but come on, that's out-dated and even rustic by today's standards. You can do your retail in front of the computer but that's only your preference.

Why do they need a mall when there's Park Royal? When Brentwood Mall is finished that's a 15 minute drive from the center of North Vancouver.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by memememe76

Except for things like airline tickets, I don't buy online either.

Anyways, it's not like Downtown just focuses on luxury stores. The opening of Costco was not that long ago. Same for Old Navy. Same for No Frills. I wonder if one of those Walmart Neighbourhood concepts could work.

Walmart abandoned that format and shut down the ones they had opened.

I think whats happenning in retail though is its going fast fashion cheap like Forever 21 etc or high end luxury. The middle chains are the ones who need to adjust or specialize.

---

I wonder if we will see more asian chains expand, We have an Izzue store and a Giordano which are quite popular in asia and the middle east and europe and expanding in Africa now. Izzue is also carried at department stores like Selfridges. I think Giordano and Izzue should consider opening in Brentwood.

Zara has a lot more brands that could try expanding into North America, they seem to do well in Europe and Asia, like Pull & Bear which seems to be like their version of Abercrombie or Hollister. They have been expanding Massimo Dutti recently over here.

The Vancouver market could be a good testing ground for them due to a familiarity with the brands.

[logan5]

Originally Posted by Vin

Do they even have a proper mall in North Vancouver? OK there is Capilano mall but come on, that's out-dated and even rustic by today's standards. You can do your retail in front of the computer but that's only your preference.

News flash! All malls are out dated. The future is cultivating great retail streets, like East Pender or Cordova.