Rideau Centre Expansion | Completed

[kevinbottawa]

Originally Posted by Harley613

I have a feeling a lot of the luxury stores at Rideau will close over the next year.

Tumi and Stuart Weitzman are always empty. Wouldn't be surprised if they shut down.

[J.OT13]

They need to get moving on the luxury hotel project on the Nicholas side. Get more business for the Convention Centre and the Rideau Centre.

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by bikegypsy

Tough times for retail everywhere and Ecommerce is just beginning

Yes and no. Depends on the type of retail. Also, The luxury retail in Vancouver is booming, despite ecommerce.

[bikegypsy]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Yes and no. Depends on the type of retail. Also, The luxury retail in Vancouver is booming, despite ecommerce.

Vancouver is a different beast when it comes to anything luxury, thanks entirely to the influx of rich Chinese. Having said that, luxury retail can do well and even thrive in certain markets and in select locations, there's no doubt about that. I've seen mini Mercedes showrooms and Omega shops in golf courses in the middle of nowhere. In respect to Ecommerce, give it an other decade and we'll see it completely dominate retail. My guess is that marketing, entertainment and popup shops are the future of malls.

[Jayday23]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Yes and no. Depends on the type of retail. Also, The luxury retail in Vancouver is booming, despite ecommerce.

Interesting discussion in this thread about Ottawa's role in building ecommerce in canada. We seem to be right at the heart of this transformative change...while our city's retail sector itself is also changing

[acottawa]

I think people are reading too much into the disappearance of one Mont Blanc store. A dedicated Mont Blanc store is not a good fit for Ottawa.

[lrt's friend]

Ecommerce will always have its limitations for products that you might try on or try out and when there is significant value in seeing the product personally. I would never shop for clothes or shoes on-line. I would never shop for a car or furniture on-line. Others might feel differently but I know that clothes and shoes are not consistently sized.

[bikegypsy]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

Ecommerce will always have its limitations for products that you might try on or try out and when there is significant value in seeing the product personally. I would never shop for clothes or shoes on-line. I would never shop for a car or furniture on-line. Others might feel differently but I know that clothes and shoes are not consistently sized.

Ecommerce is a much stranger beast then most of us think. The only industry that is somewhat protected from this phenomenon is pharmaceuticals, for obvious reasons, but even this will fall victim to ecommerce. Besides that, it's the wild west. I buy most of my bike gear online, as well as most of my electronics, insurance and all my supplements. I've also bought a fair number of pieces of clothing, including 3 pairs of shoes. Not related to retail but still indicative of the times... taxi rides. I'm a frequent user of Grab and Uber (booked online and paid online).

There's a false sense about luxury goods being shielded from ecommerce... the people who believe this couldn't more wrong. Individuals with money, when they make it themselves, are always on the lookout for a better price. My brother collects luxury watches and has purchased all of his 5 watches online through specialty sites. He also bought and sold his last 2 cars online. A friend of mine is making a living from selling Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Channel bags online only. She's never seen or met any of her clients in person.

I think that it's a generational thing. If you're in your late 70s or older, you won't be buying anything online. Boomers, the odd thing, GenX (like myself) about half and younger such Millenials and GenZ, probably 60 to 70 percent of all purchases with the exception of food.

[kwoldtimer]

I have never understand how people can buy clothing and shoes on-line. I'd never even consider it, as I would be constantly returning items trying to find a decent fit.

I have purchased a few things on-line, like books and even furniture, but I vastly prefer shopping "in person". I am more likely to search on-line for items I'm interested in (new bbq at the moment) and then get them from the appropriate retailer. I am a mid-Boomer.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

I have never understand how people can buy clothing and shoes on-line. I'd never even consider it, as I would be constantly returning items trying to find a decent fit.

If it is a brand you're familiar with it usually isn't a problem, and if for some reason it doesn't fit returns are usually pretty easy. I generally find it preferable to getting to the store and finding the size/colour/style I'm looking for is not in stock.

[acottawa]

E commerce is hardly anything new. Most goods have been available online for at least 15 years. The only thing that has changed in recent years is shipping costs have fallen enough to make buying things like food and toiletries practical, which has scared grocery stores.

[YOWflier]

Or, you know, call ahead to verify the size and style is available before going and ask the store to set it aside for you?

Personally I think online shopping is the devil and only do it when I've exhausted a local search or the price difference is significant. I don't encounter either of those issues very often at all.

[ars]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

I have never understand how people can buy clothing and shoes on-line. I'd never even consider it, as I would be constantly returning items trying to find a decent fit.

I have purchased a few things on-line, like books and even furniture, but I vastly prefer shopping "in person". I am more likely to search on-line for items I'm interested in (new bbq at the moment) and then get them from the appropriate retailer. I am a mid-Boomer.

I agree

I use Amazon for most of my purchases these days but I still go to brick and mortar stores for clothes and big ticket electronics.

The only time I buy clothing or accessories online is when I've been to the store and something I want isn't there.

Don't think online shopping will ever become my primary method of buying clothing.

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

bikegypsy wrote

I think that it's a generational thing. If you're in your late 70s or older, you won't be buying anything online. Boomers, the odd thing, GenX (like myself) about half and younger such Millenials and GenZ, probably 60 to 70 percent of all purchases with the exception of food.

Could be accurate. I am 71 and therefore a Leading Edge Boomer. I buy the odd thing online as the gypsy stated. Saturday I sold a set of four tires using Kijiji.

[lrt's friend]

ecommerce is just a modern form of catalog shopping, it has been around forever.

The fact that the younger generation does this more and more is a reflection of a trend towards separating oneself from regular day to day life. Other examples are social media, gaming and even this discussion board. We conduct our lives more and more without physically meeting other people or going out amongst people. Maybe a simplification but society is changing. Something that has happened over and over again since radio was introduced, televisions were introduced, home computers were introduced and then the internet. Technological changes have changed society, for better or worse.

I don't shop a lot other than for groceries, but when I do, I love to browse. I have used ecommerce and it certainly has value. I recently purchased a printer for my home office that was not available in Canada.

As far as clothes shopping, if you limit yourself to a brand and presumably style, you are really not considering options that might actually be better. ecommerce might provide enormous choice but you might be self-limiting yourself for fear of trying something different. No problem when shopping in person and can try it on. Never would I buy shoes on-line. My feet demand comfort. I will miss Armstrong and Richardson, where I could depend on getting a good quality shoe that would be comfortable and last for years.

[acottawa]

I wonder if the real generational divide is that people have less stuff than they did a generation ago. Fewer electronic gadgets (as smart phones replace other devices), fewer clothes, fewer sets of dishes, fewer knickknacks displayed around the house, fewer small appliances, less furniture, fewer books (if any) fewer CDs and DVDs (if any). Meanwhile spending is way up on food, home renovations and travel. E commerce or not, we probably just have too much retail of durable and semi-durable goods.

[OTSkyline]

Yes, I definitely find there's a shift on spending from "things" to "experiences".

5-10 years ago, people were much more interested in spending hundreds of dollars on branded things like Lacoste polos or Michael Kors purses or Ray Bans sunglasses...

Nowadays, my circle of friends at least is much more interested in spending money on travelling and experiences.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by acottawa

I wonder if the real generational divide is that people have less stuff than they did a generation ago. Fewer electronic gadgets (as smart phones replace other devices), fewer clothes, fewer sets of dishes, fewer knickknacks displayed around the house, fewer small appliances, less furniture, fewer books (if any) fewer CDs and DVDs (if any). Meanwhile spending is way up on food, home renovations and travel. E commerce or not, we probably just have too much retail of durable and semi-durable goods.

The huge proliferation of storage businesses does not entirely support this.

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by acottawa

I wonder if the real generational divide is that people have less stuff than they did a generation ago. Fewer electronic gadgets (as smart phones replace other devices), fewer clothes, fewer sets of dishes, fewer knickknacks displayed around the house, fewer small appliances, less furniture, fewer books (if any) fewer CDs and DVDs (if any). Meanwhile spending is way up on food, home renovations and travel. E commerce or not, we probably just have too much retail of durable and semi-durable goods.

There definitely is something to be said for that.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

The huge proliferation of storage businesses does not entirely support this.

That's a good point, but I wonder to the extent people are renting storage lockers to store the kind of stuff you would buy at a mall vs life cycle related storage (downsizing, divorces, deaths, shacking up) or for more generalized hoarding.