The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[rofina]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

As a Mac guy you think everything is a lame ripoff of Apple. (Sorry I couldn't resist)

I'm chained to the Apple eco-system, Apple Music, iPhone, earpods, iWatch, the whole nine.

I find it funny how there is still this notion that Apple is an innovator. They haven't been in generations.

In fact, they are nearly almost always late to the party.

Their strength is in including whatever feature, at a later date, but much better implemented and refined.

To be a rip off of something implies there is a leader to be ripped off, that leader currently is most definitely not Apple.

Doesn't mean they're not about to get my money for an AirBook.

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by rofina

I'm chained to the Apple eco-system, Apple Music, iPhone, earpods, iWatch, the whole nine.

I find it funny how there is still this notion that Apple is an innovator. They haven't been in generations.

In fact, they are nearly almost always late to the party.

Their strength is in including whatever feature, at a later date, but much better implemented and refined.

To be a rip off of something implies there is a leader to be ripped off, that leader currently is most definitely not Apple.

Doesn't mean they're not about to get my money for an AirBook.

I don't see any clear leader in the space. All sides borrow from one another. All sides have been first to whatever product or new design of current product. When Apple does implement or innovate the product is generally more refined and higher quality/design, yes. And Apple has been truly visionary at times, in ways that others tend not to be, but those kinds of things are not to be regularly expected from any company.

[rofina]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

I don't see any clear leader in the space. All sides borrow from one another. All sides have been first to whatever product or new design of current product. When Apple does implement or innovate the product is generally more refined and higher quality/design, yes. And Apple has been truly visionary at times, in ways that others tend not to be, but those kinds of things are not to be regularly expected from any company.

This is controversial, but for a non industry guy, hardware tech has been boring for a few years.

Apple used to be the innovator, iPhone, Air Book thinness, iPad, those for truly innovative products that changed the landscape.

Now, not just Apple, its all incremental improvements. I understand the "why" but it still makes it boring - you already know the next iPhone is going to be camera heavy, and display improvement heavy, with emphasis on processor speed.

Not to say those aren't exciting items, but the leap from BlackBerry to iPhone was just that, a leap.

Meanwhile I'm still here on my iPhone 8Plus and cant be bothered to upgrade, its not money, its just not that exciting.

Show me a refined AR headset, or neat AR phone applications, or anything out of the box. I'm just not seeing it from anyone.

[SpongeG]

ronsons shoes is closing down

The entire company, which had 18 stores, is now in receivership, according to the head of the company, Tony Aronson in an emotional Facebook post. It has also closed its head office and warehouse.

“Thirty two years ago, my father and I started Ronsons with our first store in Kerrisdale, Vancouver,” Aronson wrote. “With the help of our incredible staff, loyal customers and supplier partners – many of them friends, we grew the business to eighteen locations. It is with a heavy heart that I have to tell you that due to the Covid-19 pandemic the company is now in receivership. To our loyal staff, customers and suppliers, I thank you for your partnership for so many years. Perhaps out of the ashes, a bright spark will allow us to work together again. Wishing you all my prayers in this difficult time.”
Ronsons has even shut down its website.

https://www.burnabynow.com/news/shoe-giant-in-this-burnaby-mall-has-closed-down-forever-1.24163933

[rofina]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

ronsons shoes is closing down



https://www.burnabynow.com/news/shoe-giant-in-this-burnaby-mall-has-closed-down-forever-1.24163933

Don't mean to be an — in tough times, but without knowing a single thing, it strikes me as perhaps more than just Covid that caused this to fail.

I would think there was opportunity to keep the business going online at least?
To close the whole thing seems like a complete business failure.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

ronsons shoes is closing down



https://www.burnabynow.com/news/shoe-giant-in-this-burnaby-mall-has-closed-down-forever-1.24163933

Old news. They went into receivership in April.

http://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8895914&postcount=14660

[officedweller]

Interesting tidbits in here:

Wave of Store Closures to Hit Canada in the Summer of 2020
https://www.retail-insider.com/retail-in...ures-to-hit-canada-in-the-summer-of-2020

Saje Wellness has seen some turmoil of late
https://www.bcbusiness.ca/Saje-Advice-Th...of-Vancouvers-best-known-wellness-brands

[dreambrother808]

Insolvent beverage retailer DavidsTea is closing 82 stores in Canada and all 42 of its stores in the U.S. as it focuses on its e-commerce business and supplying grocery stores and pharmacies.

The Montreal-based company announced Thursday that it is sending notices to terminate the leases at the 124 stores to take effect in 30 days. The move would affect about half of its workforce of nearly 2,500, including all 366 employees in the United States.

It will also seek more favourable lease terms for the remaining 100 stores in Canada and may permanently shut additional locations if landlords are unwilling to negotiate suitable leases.

https://globalnews.ca/news/7160002/davidstea-canadian-store-closures-coronavirus/

[Klazu]

Also Brooks Brothers is bankrupt.

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by Klazu

Also Brooks Brothers is bankrupt.

I don’t think it is yet. It’s just in bankruptcy protection , so it could still be around still

[PeterAKer]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Interesting tidbits in here:

Wave of Store Closures to Hit Canada in the Summer of 2020
https://www.retail-insider.com/retail-in...ures-to-hit-canada-in-the-summer-of-2020

Saje Wellness has seen some turmoil of late
https://www.bcbusiness.ca/Saje-Advice-Th...of-Vancouvers-best-known-wellness-brands

I feel bad for Jean-Pierre, Kate Ross and Kiara LeBlanc. They put their blood and soul into Saje. They featured Saje at TED Talks, brought in celebrities like Kourtney Kardsashian (Poosh) and Jillian Harris. I'm a Saje Customer myself and have several Saje products. They nearly owned and operated the Company for 30 Years. I really hope they find a new venture to work on.

[officedweller]

Park Royal tenants on edge as landlord isn't taking federal rent-assistance loans
https://vancouversun.com/business/park-r...snt-taking-federal-rent-assistance-loans

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Park Royal tenants on edge as landlord isn't taking federal rent-assistance loans
https://vancouversun.com/business/park-r...snt-taking-federal-rent-assistance-loans

I wonder what the landlords have up their sleeve? cause there are a lot of empty spaces in the mall, especially the indigo wing. It sounds like they want to get rid of the tenants.

[s211]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Park Royal tenants on edge as landlord isn't taking federal rent-assistance loans
https://vancouversun.com/business/park-r...snt-taking-federal-rent-assistance-loans

The structure of the Canadian rent assistance program is a complete mess, and was drafted without meaningful industry consultation. It has no conception of the hoops a landlord would have to go through to conform and at the same time not default on their loans, and how much tenants also have to disclose. The US program is so much simpler, putting money directly in the hands of tenants to direct toward rent, not the Canadian-branded multi-pronged clustermuck.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

I wonder what the landlords have up their sleeve? cause there are a lot of empty spaces in the mall, especially the indigo wing. It sounds like they want to get rid of the tenants.

I was thinking redevelopment too.

[connect2source]

Originally Posted by officedweller

I was thinking redevelopment too.

Wild guess but perhaps Indigo will relocate in the base of the new rental towers and the extended 'main street' ...and the Indigo-end of the original mall will be demolished and redeveloped with more density. That end of the mall didn't receive the 'facelift' the western section of the mall did recently.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by s211

The structure of the Canadian rent assistance program is a complete mess, and was drafted without meaningful industry consultation. It has no conception of the hoops a landlord would have to go through to conform and at the same time not default on their loans, and how much tenants also have to disclose. The US program is so much simpler, putting money directly in the hands of tenants to direct toward rent, not the Canadian-branded multi-pronged clustermuck.

That might hold water if your nonna owns a small commercial building and has to do the paperowrk. Larco is a big outfit that has resources to complete the paperwork required.

This is a good time to remind forumers Larco is also responsible for this proposed architectural abomination in the nation's capital:



Image: Postmedia

[s211]

Originally Posted by whatnext

That might hold water if your nonna owns a small commercial building and has to do the paperowrk. Larco is a big outfit that has resources to complete the paperwork required.

No actually, major institutional landlords are wasting huge amounts of resources on this debacle.

Do you know what's required in the Canadian and US programs, or just shooting from the hip?

[jollyburger]

They are just tiny mom and pop shops and occupy a tiny footprint in the mall. I doubt it has anything to do with redevelopment.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by s211

No actually, major institutional landlords are wasting huge amounts of resources on this debacle.

Do you know what's required in the Canadian and US programs, or just shooting from the hip?

What, the government actually expects you to fill out paperwork so you can get 50% of the rent due to you paid? Clutch the pearls! I guess the snowflakes in commercial real estate have never had to fill out a grant application.

I don't know the details of whatever the US counterpart is, though a quick Google search doesn't reveal anything on commercial rent relief.