Canadian Retail Thread - Page 262

MolsonExport · #**5221** Posted **Jun 29, 2017, 1:18 PM**

Does anybody actually like Irving?
Most people that I know in NB curse the company and its family, for treating NBers like sharecroppers.

caltrane74 · #**5222** Posted **Jun 29, 2017, 10:18 PM**

Was walking along Bremner, walked into the Rec Room, grabbing a Pork Chop now. Don't wanna be all Kim Kardashian rob my ass posting my current location, but I took a picture.

Has a Massive Arcade Room too.

GeneralLea · #**5223** Posted **Jun 29, 2017, 10:25 PM**

Woah...On the Run is sold? I didn't think I'd see the day that would occur. I never had a super deep connection or liking of those expensive-ish convenience stores...though I did enjoy the name and logo for what it was.

WhipperSnapper · #**5224** Posted **Jun 29, 2017, 10:30 PM**

love Dr Ho infomericals

LeftCoaster · #**5225** Posted **Jun 29, 2017, 10:30 PM**

Dr Ho is the Dr. Nick Rivera of our time.

MalcolmTucker · #**5226** Posted **Jun 29, 2017, 11:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeneralLeeTPHLS

Woah...On the Run is sold? I didn't think I'd see the day that would occur. I never had a super deep connection or liking of those expensive-ish convenience stores...though I did enjoy the name and logo for what it was.

In Alberta Esso under 7-11 has change their consumer pricing strategy quite a bit - fighting for market share with price instead of being content with what they can get due to loyalty programs and neighbourhood exclusivity.

isaidso · #**5227** Posted **Jun 30, 2017, 5:10 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

Seems like all the Couch Turds and Macs (convenience stores) are converting to Circle K.

What the fuck is a Circle K? The Ultra Americanization of Canada continues unabated.

I'm not sure if you're serious or joking. If you're serious that's quite a reach.

Canadian based Alimentation Couche-Tard is one of the biggest convenience store companies in the world. They're regarded as a category killer, efficient operators, and have spent years taking out rivals. As a result they own lots of different brands on 3 continents.

It only makes sense that they attempt to stitch the whole thing together under one powerful global brand. Circle K had the most stores in the most countries and a brand that works across languages and cultures. This sort of thing happens all the time. CP Hotels buys Fairmont and changes the name everywhere to Fairmont. Biovail buys Valeant and changes the name to Valeant. In business brand recognition matters.

Alimentation Couche-Tard is a Canadian corporate success story and you're painting it as the Americanization of Canada because they're trying to build a powerful Canadian owned global brand???

Proof Sheet · #**5228** Posted **Jun 30, 2017, 11:03 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OutOfTowner

Of course, you're the guy that is always downplaying HOCKEY as our National Sport and trying to make some feeble attempt to assert that basketball, baseball, football are actually our national sport(s).

Just to explain: Isaidso is British, thinks he's Mr. Canada, doesn't like hockey, doesn't have a clue..

Hey, I'm british as well and can assure you that so self respecting brit would be interested in baseball (basically just rounders) or NFL/CFL football. I'm not crazy on hockey either as the beautiful game (aka 'footie' soccer) is what holds my team sport interest.

On another note, Couche Tard is what the On the Run stores in Quebec will be rebranded to I believe. In Ontario it will be Circle K and I believe Macs Milk stores in Ontario at least will be Circle K eventually. Couche Tard is what Macs Milk was known as in Quebec.

Esso sold all of their retail land holdings across Canada last year to various groups in various provinces. I believe Alberta got bought by Parkland Group who own Pioneer Fuels.

JHikka · #**5229** Posted **Jun 30, 2017, 12:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OutOfTowner

You being a foreigner, you probably don't understand the attachment some of us have to some of our quaint local brand names (since they've all but disappeared).

I don't even know where to begin with this, so i've deleted the entire comment due to it being a personal attack. Keep it civil.

MolsonExport · #**5230** Posted **Jun 30, 2017, 12:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by isaidso

I'm not sure if you're serious or joking. If you're serious that's quite a reach.

Canadian based Alimentation Couche-Tard is one of the biggest convenience store companies in the world. They're regarded as a category killer, efficient operators, and have spent years taking out rivals. As a result they own lots of different brands on 3 continents.

It only makes sense that they attempt to stitch the whole thing together under one powerful global brand. Circle K had the most stores in the most countries and a brand that works across languages and cultures. This sort of thing happens all the time. CP Hotels buys Fairmont and changes the name everywhere to Fairmont. Biovail buys Valeant and changes the name to Valeant. In business brand recognition matters.

Alimentation Couche-Tard is a Canadian corporate success story and you're painting it as the Americanization of Canada because they're trying to build a powerful Canadian owned global brand???

Canadian owned is not what I was talking about. But go ahead and spin my comments about circle K into something they are not. Jesus fucking Christ. I know much more than a thing or two about branding...get back to me when you've been an editor of a marketing journal.

Acajack · #**5231** Posted **Jun 30, 2017, 12:58 PM**

Even though the style was abrasive, I thought OutOfTowner made some good points about Canadian corporations and branding (exporting truly Canadian brand names as opposed to buying American ones and keeping them and applying them in Canada), but unfortunately it was deleted by moderation.

Acajack · #**5232** Posted **Jun 30, 2017, 12:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Proof Sheet

Hey, I'm british as well and can assure you that so self respecting brit would be interested in baseball (basically just rounders) or NFL/CFL football. I'm not crazy on hockey either as the beautiful game (aka 'footie' soccer) is what holds my team sport interest.

On another note, Couche Tard is what the On the Run stores in Quebec will be rebranded to I believe. In Ontario it will be Circle K and I believe Macs Milk stores in Ontario at least will be Circle K eventually. Couche Tard is what Macs Milk was known as in Quebec.

Esso sold all of their retail land holdings across Canada last year to various groups in various provinces. I believe Alberta got bought by Parkland Group who own Pioneer Fuels.

I used to think they were American just based on the name. I've known they're Canadian for a while but everytime I see a Pioneer station I still think of this:

kwoldtimer · #**5233** Posted **Jun 30, 2017, 1:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHikka

I don't even know where to begin with this, so i've deleted the entire comment due to it being a personal attack. Keep it civil.

Well done!

manny_santos · #**5234** Posted **Jun 30, 2017, 6:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

the ones in London are like damaged merchandise clearance marts. decrepit with crappy merchandise.

I just passed the one on Springbank Drive. The maple leaf on the outside of the building is in disgraceful condition, not even close to red. Shameful for Canada's 150th.

SpongeG · #**5235** Posted **Jul 6, 2017, 3:45 AM**

Jeans retailer True Religion files for bankruptcy protection

Company executive pins the firm's financial difficulties on the growth of "athleisure"
Thomson Reuters Posted: Jul 05, 2017 12:45 PM ET Last Updated: Jul 05, 2017 12:46 PM ET

True Religion Apparel Inc., whose heavily adorned denim jeans have fallen out of fashion, filed for bankruptcy on Wednesday with a deal in hand to slash its debt of about $500 million US and emerge from court protection quickly as a going concern.

The retailer joins American Apparel LLC, Payless ShoeSource Inc. and other chains in bankruptcy as shoppers increasingly buy online, turning away from brick-and-mortar specialty shops and department stores, where True Religion makes the majority of its sales.

In court papers, a True Religion executive pinned the company's financial difficulties on the growth of "athleisure," a move away from denim to casual sports clothing outside of the gym. True Religion became a part of popular culture a decade ago as celebrities donned the denim and hip hop artists cited the brand in songs.

Under True Religion's plan, its lenders will receive most of the equity in the reorganized company, whose debt load will fall by $350 million to $140 million. The company aims to exit bankruptcy in about four months, according to court papers.

True Religion's owner, private equity firm TowerBrook Capital Partners, has also approved the company's bankruptcy plans.

"We are taking an important step to reduce our debt, reinvigorate True Religion's iconic brand and position the company for future growth and success," True Religion Chief Executive John Ermatinger said in a statement.

...

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/true-religion-bankruptcy-protection-1.4191165

WhipperSnapper · #**5236** Posted **Jul 6, 2017, 4:21 AM**

This is another case of online being the scapegoat for a brand that has simply worn out.

casper · #**5237** Posted **Jul 6, 2017, 4:38 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loco101

Our newer Giant Tiger store looks nice, is clean and has groceries but the store just isn't that great. There really isn't a wide selection of merchandise. Nothing interesting either. GT just doesn't stand out in any way.

There is also a bit of difference between Giant Tiger in Western Canada and the Giant Tiger stores in the east. In Western Canada the Giant Tiger franchise is operated by the North West Company. Some product overlap with the Northern Stores. I think the in store ATM machines are also Northern Financial Services.

Loco101 · #**5238** Posted **Jul 6, 2017, 4:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by casper

There is also a bit of difference between Giant Tiger in Western Canada and the Giant Tiger stores in the east. In Western Canada the Giant Tiger franchise is operated by the North West Company. Some product overlap with the Northern Stores. I think the in store ATM machines are also Northern Financial Services.

I knew that and I have been to some Northern Stores as well in Northern Ontario and Quebec. The last ones I visited were in Moosonee and Moose Factory. It's always a shock to see the prices of many items.

lubicon · #**5239** Posted **Jul 6, 2017, 5:25 PM**

Sears files to partially suspend some retirement benefits as part of its restructuring.

http://globalnews.ca/news/3578836/sears-canada-files-motion-to-suspend-retiree-benefits/

kwoldtimer · #**5240** Posted **Jul 6, 2017, 5:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lubicon

Sears files to partially suspend some retirement benefits as part of its restructuring.

http://globalnews.ca/news/3578836/sears-canada-files-motion-to-suspend-retiree-benefits/

I think many people will be surprised to learn that this is something that could be permitted.