Canadian Retail Thread

[Loco101]

I agree with MolsonEx concerning tipping. I'm tired of how greedy some places are getting and especially with the recent inflation.

I also can't stand when businesses raise money for charities from their customers. It really annoys me when big businesses brag about how much they raised and take credit for it like they did something wonderful. Walmart is also really bad with that. And like MolsonEx mentioned, the business is getting a tax break and you aren't if you give.

[WarrenC12]

If I'm ordering standing up, and/or on an app, no tip. I will for delivery though.

[cslusarc]

Retail Insider reports that Nordstrom is leaving Canada

[People_talking]

Extremely disappointing to see, I quite liked nordstroms.

[whatnext]

Doesn't bode well for Canada's retail reputation. We're the graveyard of US department stores. 2,500 people out of work.

Though Victoria doesn't have a Nordstrom, there was an interesting piece on the news last night how remote work can gut our downtowns:

https://globalnews.ca/news/9520537/d...e-work-policy/

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Doesn't bode well for Canada's retail reputation. We're the graveyard of US department stores. 2,500 people out of work.

Though Victoria doesn't have a Nordstrom, there was an interesting piece on the news last night how remote work can gut our downtowns:

https://globalnews.ca/news/9520537/d...e-work-policy/

We were a graveyard for Canadian department stores too, so at least we're consistent.

[Proof Sheet]

Originally Posted by People_talking

Extremely disappointing to see, I quite liked nordstroms.

What next Holt Renfrew and Birks shutting down. ?

I can't say I've ever been in a Nordstroms and it seems like retail is in for hard times. I think the problem is when they started allowing residential into our downtown cores and didn't just have stores that are for the big Saturday shopping event outing.

[SpongeG]

Nordstrom in the States is apparently having a tough time and one of the obvious things to do to help the company was to shut down its Canadian operations. The e-commerce site will shut down today.

How well-known was Nordstrom in the rest of Canada? Vancouverites and people from BC, at least the ones I know have always shopped there or been there since being a kid in the 80s so it's a well-known name and brand with a bit of a connection for many out here.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Doesn't bode well for Canada's retail reputation. We're the graveyard of US department stores. 2,500 people out of work.

Though Victoria doesn't have a Nordstrom, there was an interesting piece on the news last night how remote work can gut our downtowns:

https://globalnews.ca/news/9520537/d...e-work-policy/

There's such a thing as "retail reputation"?

[toaster]

Will leave a lot of empty spots in the GTA. Wonder who will pick up some of these spots.. Simons probably wants a downtown Toronto location (either Eaton's centre or the Rack at Yonge/Bloor). I don't know what goes in the Sherway spot, hasn't the old Holt Renfrew has been empty now for years?

I think online shopping, but also price point - the ordinary person is not spending hundreds + on a single item of clothing, when you could look online (or go to Winners) and find a similar style garment at 1/3 the price.

[Loco101]

Originally Posted by Proof Sheet

What next Holt Renfrew and Birks shutting down. ?

I can't say I've ever been in a Nordstroms and it seems like retail is in for hard times. I think the problem is when they started allowing residential into our downtown cores and didn't just have stores that are for the big Saturday shopping event outing.

Holt Renfrew closing? Probably not. It only has 7 locations and is owned by this guy and his family:

[Loco101]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

There's such a thing as "retail reputation"?

I believe it is also known as the "the market."

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by toaster

Will leave a lot of empty spots in the GTA. Wonder who will pick up some of these spots.. Simons probably wants a downtown Toronto location (either Eaton's centre or the Rack at Yonge/Bloor). I don't know what goes in the Sherway spot, hasn't the old Holt Renfrew has been empty now for years?

I think online shopping, but also price point - the ordinary person is not spending hundreds + on a single item of clothing, when you could look online (or go to Winners) and find a similar style garment at 1/3 the price.

for people who buy high end luxury brands many of them would prefer to deal directly with the brand itself, ie buy their Gucci bag at a Gucci store or Gucci online as they offer great service and have loyalty programs etc. Many of the department stores in the states seem to be having problems these days. Plus many brands have been pulling out of department stores as they are opening their own stand alone stores. Such as nike has been doing.

[Loco101]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

Nordstrom in the States is apparently having a tough time and one of the obvious things to do to help the company was to shut down its Canadian operations. The e-commerce site will shut down today.

How well-known was Nordstrom in the rest of Canada? Vancouverites and people from BC, at least the ones I know have always shopped there or been there since being a kid in the 80s so it's a well-known name and brand with a bit of a connection for many out here.

Nordstrom hasn't been doing well for the last number of years like many similar retailers due to fewer people interested in that type of store and especially because of online retailers. I was quite surprised that they even opened up stores in Canada not all that long ago.

I got some laughs reading the comments section of the Toronto Sun article about the closures and what was being blamed for Nordstrom leaving Canada which included:

-the Liberal economic plan

-Justinflation

-the Bank of Canada raising interest rates

-Canada is a very hard country to make a profit in unless you are member of the cartels , banking , cell phone , grocery , government.

-payrolls taxes but especially paying more into EI and CPP

-having to pay workers more money for retail

-Trudeau himself wanted it to happen

[urbandreamer]

I've never seen so many CRU vacancies on Roncesvalles in the 27 years I've walked that strip. Parkdale too has many empty storefronts as it evolves into a mostly Tibetan and South Asian fast food franchised strip.

I hear HR is in trouble. Since banning foreign investors (not really lol) and the Chinese covid lockdown, luxury retailers have struggled. I know a HR employee who says 90% of their Vancouver sales are to wealthy Chinese.

[Truenorth00]

From the Ottawa retail thead:

Originally Posted by ars

The retail landscape in Canada is looking quite bleak.

This is a country that can't support multiple brands of frozen pizza. I'm surprised we've not seen more high end retail leaving.

A lot of our "wealthy" are turning out to be overleveraged people living off debt. As that cheap capital comes to an end, the retail landscape will have to change too. They won't have the same amount of people living large off their HELOCs anymore.

I have a cousin who works as a stylist at Nordstrom. He just got his call from HR to discuss his severance and the wind down this afternoon. Said he'd expected a while and had started looking for other jobs. Loved his job. But says the slow down in the last year has been pronounced. So not very surprised. They'll be having clearance starting end of March through till the end of May. Lots of nice furniture and art work if anybody is interested.

[niwell]

Originally Posted by urbandreamer

I've never seen so many CRU vacancies on Roncesvalles in the 27 years I've walked that strip. Parkdale too has many empty storefronts as it evolves into a mostly Tibetan and South Asian fast food franchised strip.

I will say that most of the places with a "for lease" sign are already spoken for, or in some cases under active renovation. Also been a lot of new places open since/during COVID. I know someone looking for space right now - ideally in Parkdale but willing to be anywhere in this part of the West End. It's actually very hard to find space. You do still of course have the weird owners who are asking far too much and seemingly willing to let their place sit empty indefinitely.

[JHikka]

Any storefront in a good location that sits empty for too long is because the landlord/leaser is looking for too much money or terms that no retailer will go for. There's no shortage of demand in the market for new retail or food industry.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by Loco101

I got some laughs reading the comments section of the Toronto Sun article about the closures and what was being blamed for Nordstrom leaving Canada which included:

-the Liberal economic plan

-Justinflation

-the Bank of Canada raising interest rates

-Canada is a very hard country to make a profit in unless you are member of the cartels , banking , cell phone , grocery , government.

-payrolls taxes but especially paying more into EI and CPP

-having to pay workers more money for retail

-Trudeau himself wanted it to happen

The spending power of most Canadians has fallen off a cliff, whether you believe in Justinflation or not.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by JHikka

Any storefront in a good location that sits empty for too long is because the landlord/leaser is looking for too much money or terms that no retailer will go for. There's no shortage of demand in the market for new retail or food industry.

With no rent controls in commercial spaces, why not sign cheaper leases and leave it open for increases later?

I see CRUs all the time that are empty for months and years.