Winnipeg Retail

[optimusREIM]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ Even if bricks and mortar retail declines by half, there will still be an awful lot of it left. But you would have to think population increases would offset at least some of those losses to online.

That said, I wonder if some businesses might be happy to move to online shopping... no shoplifting, no need for pricy retail commercial space, less overhead generally.

I think that you raise an interesting set of issues here. It seems a lot of retailers moving online is driven not by consumer demand, but by cost cutting. There are clearly some social issues that factor into that too. Theft and safety etc. have been a growing concern in many cities, not just downtown Winnipeg.

It's a multi-variable analysis obviously. Clearly, inflation does drive people to cut costs too, but that activity hurts all retailers that don't deal in groceries essentially.

As a sidebar, I can't say I've ever noticed price differences between goods sold online by a company and goods in the store. Should I be asking for a discount when I order stuff through the website?? Does a retailer not pass on the cost of shipping to its customers? What about the wildy inefficient system of online returns. I recently learned that online returns can cost the retailer up to 21% of the value lf the item.... there are ancillary and novel costs to doing business purely online.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by optimusREIM

I think that you raise an interesting set of issues here. It seems a lot of retailers moving online is driven not by consumer demand, but by cost cutting. There are clearly some social issues that factor into that too. Theft and safety etc. have been a growing concern in many cities, not just downtown Winnipeg.

You have repeatedly said that a shift to online-only won't happen but the drive for retailers to cut costs exceed what customers want. Ultimately it will come down to customers needing to pay significantly more for a bricks and mortar experience.

A great example is this article about self-checkouts and receipt checks, two things that are extremely unpopular with customers. It is near impossible to go to a Walmart in Winnipeg and avoid them now. Why? Because the retailer cutting costs over increasing prices is more important to the customer.

[borkborkbork]

Originally Posted by CoryB

You have repeatedly said that a shift to online-only won't happen but the drive for retailers to cut costs exceed what customers want. Ultimately it will come down to customers needing to pay significantly more for a bricks and mortar experience.

A great example is this article about self-checkouts and receipt checks, two things that are extremely unpopular with customers. It is near impossible to go to a Walmart in Winnipeg and avoid them now. Why? Because the retailer cutting costs over increasing prices is more important to the customer.

I'm not convinced customers hate self-checkouts as much as they claim. When I go to the grocery store I frequently see people using self-checkout even when there's practically no line for a cashier.

As an introvert, I'd rather skip the little bit of small talk and having others look at what I'm buying etc

[esquire]

^ Self checkout is fine in my books for up to maybe a dozen items. Then it starts becoming a hassle. Even more so when you have produce with codes to look up, etc.

As CoryB mentioned, Walmart doesn't even give you much of a choice anymore, they'll have one till open for people with full carts... otherwise you go to self checkout if you don't want to wait. Later in the evening they don't even have a till open anymore. That's why I don't buy my groceries there anymore.

[trueviking]

i havent been to a live cashier since they invented self check out.

[post_man]

This is pretty niche, but for those in the West End: Y-Not Foods has officially found its new owners. Longtime owners Sunny and Seo have decided it is time to retire and are currently in the process of handing off operations to the buyers.

Featured in the Streets community newspaper earlier this year, they've been running their Ellice Ave store for eleven years now, and they're really some of the nicest people, even with all the trouble that goes on in the neighbourhood.

All the regulars are going to miss them, myself included. Corner stores like theirs are truly important parts of the community in central Winnipeg, the West End, and the North End.

[wags_in_the_peg]

Preach shop local all you want, Preach we need more retail storefronts, then read this headline.

"Amazon said Tuesday — the first of its two Prime Days — was the “single largest sales day in company history.” It was also the biggest e-commerce day yet of 2023. The e-commerce giant did not release sales figures, but Adobe Analytics estimated that Prime shoppers spent $12.7 billion over both days. While that’s an increase of 6.1% compared to last year,

[optimusREIM]

That headline is exactly why we need to shop more local. Local joints are what give a place identity and meaning. They can become somewhat of an institution and an important building block in communities. Shifting things online takes a lot of jobs out of a local landscape, but worse, it degrades the urban fabric by ruining small businesses and creates a big money funnel straight into billionaires' pockets. Good for them for making a successful business, I wish them no ill for the most part. The big issue is that the vibrancy of our communities is slowly being sapped by the shift to online life. I prefer to do real things, maybe I'm a werido, but man, we just sat through 2 years of Covid, and I honestly cannot fathom any worse way of living than behind a screen.

[wags_in_the_peg]

Originally Posted by optimusREIM

That headline is exactly why we need to shop more local. Local joints are what give a place identity and meaning. They can become somewhat of an institution and an important building block in communities. Shifting things online takes a lot of jobs out of a local landscape, but worse, it degrades the urban fabric by ruining small businesses and creates a big money funnel straight into billionaires' pockets. Good for them for making a successful business, I wish them no ill for the most part. The big issue is that the vibrancy of our communities is slowly being sapped by the shift to online life. I prefer to do real things, maybe I'm a werido, but man, we just sat through 2 years of Covid, and I honestly cannot fathom any worse way of living than behind a screen.

agreed, I'm hearing more and more of "Buy local" than ever before. any City i visit (Chicago, Minneapolis, Vancouver) I see signs and hear about supporting local. My point is the message isn't hitting home if Amazon is still breaking records on their Prime days

[Jammon]

Originally Posted by wags_in_the_peg

agreed, I'm hearing more and more of "Buy local" than ever before. any City i visit (Chicago, Minneapolis, Vancouver) I see signs and hear about supporting local. My point is the message isn't hitting home if Amazon is still breaking records on their Prime days

I've really tried to buy local where I can. Somethings are just cheaper on Amazon or you can only get it online, but even today I was going to buy a new duvet and I went to Amazon and I shut it down and decided to go somewhere local.

[esquire]

What are people even buying on Prime Day that is so enticing? The promo e-mails I get from Amazon are hyping a dollar off a tub of dishwasher detergent tabs, or like $25 off a watch or whatever. Things like that. Not exactly Black Friday deep discounts.

That said, haven't we really always bought from non-local stores? At one time it was Eaton's and Hudson Bay, then it was Walmart and Costco. Now Amazon is on that list for many.

[The Unknown Poster]

I went to buy something basic at the grocery store. They didnt have it. I went home and Amazon had it on my doorstep in two days.

I generally will take notice of local when I can (and when its a bigger price tag like new windows etc, I always lean locally owned). But it is what it is. Convenience is important.

Also, I agree about self check outs. Use them 100% of the time. And it seems most everyone else does too lol. But I will say this, if you have no clue how a self check out works, the busiest time with the longest lines is not the ideal time to be teaching yourself.

[harls]

Originally Posted by esquire

What are people even buying on Prime Day that is so enticing? The promo e-mails I get from Amazon are hyping a dollar off a tub of dishwasher detergent tabs, or like $25 off a watch or whatever. Things like that. Not exactly Black Friday deep discounts.

It's the OMG 50% off the price we just jacked back up the day before sale!

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by Jammon

I've really tried to buy local where I can. Somethings are just cheaper on Amazon or you can only get it online, but even today I was going to buy a new duvet and I went to Amazon and I shut it down and decided to go somewhere local.

The bold part is exactly why local retail is dying. If price is the most important factor online will always win.

Take an item I saw on Prime sale I have seen online, at national chains and at small local business.

MSRP is normally $400.

National chain sells for $400.

Small and local sells for $450

Amazon listed it for $264 on Prime.

How many people are truly going to spend almost $200 more for the exact same item to shop small and local v big online ecommerce?

The reality is there is enough small and local manufacturers selling direct to consumers to make that unique and viable in that sort of scenario.

[horrorbro123]

I Was at Polo Park Today I Learned Spencer’s Has Open New Location in Polo Park

[CoryB]

For some perspective on those Costco rumors, the company is publicly discussing plans for a new location in Calgary that is fully approved for construction. They are planning for it to open in a bit over 12 months from now. From the public information any future Winnipeg location is likely 18 months or more out right now.

Also I source I would personally say is likely to know did indicate that Costco is extremely broad terms is looking at a southeast store near Sage Creek but it is a long ways off as the west/Headingley and north/Main&Perimeter locations are both closer to happening at some point than Sage Creek. If each location is 18-24 months out that would mean Sage Creek is at least 5 years away from happening.

[Wpgstvsouth94]

Originally Posted by CoryB

For some perspective on those Costco rumors, the company is publicly discussing plans for a new location in Calgary that is fully approved for construction. They are planning for it to open in a bit over 12 months from now. From the public information any future Winnipeg location is likely 18 months or more out right now.

Also I source I would personally say is likely to know did indicate that Costco is extremely broad terms is looking at a southeast store near Sage Creek but it is a long ways off as the west/Headingley and north/Main&Perimeter locations are both closer to happening at some point than Sage Creek. If each location is 18-24 months out that would mean Sage Creek is at least 5 years away from happening.

Sage creek is in its final phase of being fully built out. Does that mean it will go south of bonavista on the west side of 59?

[anthonyk]

Originally Posted by Wpgstvsouth94

Sage creek is in its final phase of being fully built out. Does that mean it will go south of bonavista on the west side of 59?

A quick glance at the Precinct K plan, it appears as though the quadrant NW of the 59 & 100 interchange is going to be mostly single family residential.



I'd be willing to bet that a Costco would go SE of said interchange. Most likely integrated into Qualico's future development south of Sage Creek, across the perimeter.

I heard it mentioned by Councillor Mayes that Qualico owns mass amounts of agricultural land there, reserved for future developments.

[anthonyk]

Originally Posted by anthonyk

mentioned by Councilor Mayes

It might have been Councilor Chambers, either way, it was in a recent Riel Community Committee.

[wags_in_the_peg]

there was always talk of Costco would be Fermor / (b/w Lag & Plessis) the developer put in curb cutouts and there future lights there. (East of Southland Park / North of Sage Creek).