Winnipeg Retail - Page 154

rkspec · #**3061** Posted **Jun 18, 2015, 8:22 PM**

Isnt Joe Fresh the value brand of Club Monaco?

Anyhow, i have to admit i have a few Joe khaki's and polo's, great price and great quality.

esquire · #**3062** Posted **Jun 18, 2015, 8:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by h0twired

Banana Republic Factory (aka Outlet) stores have a completely different (and lower quality) product lines.

You can tell it is their lesser quality line based on the three diamonds on the tag.

I own a fair bit from both lines and I find them to be fairly comparable... the main difference so far as I can tell is that the outlet stores don't sell the noticeably higher end lines like BR Monogram tailored clothes, some of the sweaters using nicer fabrics like cashmere, that sort of thing.

If you tear the labels off of something basic like a polo shirt or khaki pants, I think you'd have to be in the rag trade to be able to tell the difference between BR and BR outlet stuff.

SpongeG · #**3063** Posted **Jun 18, 2015, 8:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkspec

Isnt Joe Fresh the value brand of Club Monaco?

Anyhow, i have to admit i have a few Joe khaki's and polo's, great price and great quality.

no. Club Monaco was sold To Ralph Lauren a number of years back.

Joe Mimran started Club Monaco with alfred sung way back. Joe mimram after the sale of club monaco and some time off, probably in the sale agreement, started up Joe Fresh with Loblaws.

unless your small Joe Fresh clothes don't fit at all XL is their largest size and its fits on the smaller side. The quality is pretty good though.

I buy almost all my clothes at the gap

what will i do

as long as their online survives i'm good

CoryB · #**3064** Posted **Jun 18, 2015, 8:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by h0twired

Banana Republic Factory (aka Outlet) stores have a completely different (and lower quality) product lines.

You can tell it is their lesser quality line based on the three diamonds on the tag.

It's not a big secret that most "outlet" stores actually have product specifically made for sale there, often at a lower quality than the flagship stores of the same banner. The outlet stores also receive a limited amount of off season or overstocks from the parent brand.

In terms of fast fashion, Zara is the biggest chain we don't have in Winnipeg. Unilqo is still in the early stages of their Canadian plans, likely 2-5 years out at least.

My thinking is if Gap Inc. (aka the overseeing corp) was smart they would start winding down Gap stores. Instead they would shift that name to a line of trendy, fast fashion items sold through "select" (aka where there is space) Old Navy stores. This would let them keep the profitable "Factory" stores, shed the money losing mall stores and keep their mother brand alive. It would also help strengthen Old Navy as it faces increasing pressure from the more trendy fast fashion brands. The other advice I would give them is to kill the Old Navy work out clothing line in favour of the Athleta brand, again maybe bring an "Athleta Basics" line to Old Navy in place of the retired Old Navy specific lines. They could even look at a strategy to transition Gap store leases to Athleta where there is not overlap and the conversions made sense.

horrorbro123 · #**3065** Posted **Jun 19, 2015, 3:30 AM**

I Was at Polo Park This Evening I Just Taking Peek Inside Lego Store hopefully Will Open In Coming Weeks

buzzg · #**3066** Posted **Jun 19, 2015, 3:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by horrorbro123

I Was at Polo Park This Evening I Just Taking Peek Inside Lego Store hopefully Will Open In Coming Weeks

It doesn't look very big at all. Damn, was hoping for a Lego Land hahaha.

DancingDuck · #**3067** Posted **Jun 19, 2015, 5:06 PM**

Grand opening for the Lego store is July 24-26

alittle1 · #**3068** Posted **Jun 19, 2015, 5:36 PM**

This was retailing at its finest on Winnipeg's Portage Avenue.....

......just good honest respectable shops hocking quality goods. Probably something you will never see again in your lifetime.

horrorbro123 · #**3069** Posted **Jun 19, 2015, 9:55 PM**

Sobeys Is Comnig To Fort Richmond Plaza

armorand93 · #**3070** Posted **Jun 20, 2015, 2:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by horrorbro123

Sobeys Is Comnig To Fort Richmond Plaza

No high-rise apartments/condos?! That's disappointing...

DavefromSt.Vital · #**3071** Posted **Jun 20, 2015, 2:23 PM**

For the Lego fans, there is an upcoming Master Builder event and contest at Polo Park:

http://www.polopark.ca/en/centreinfo...lderEvent.aspx

cheswick · #**3072** Posted **Jun 23, 2015, 8:38 PM**

Drove by Pointe West autopark. Noticed the BMW/MINI dealership did a complete overhaul of their exterior. It looks like a complete MINI branded dealership now. Styling similar to solely MINI dealerships in other markets. Not sure if they're still selling BMW's or the plan is to relocate the BMW side?

vjose32 · #**3073** Posted **Jun 24, 2015, 4:56 AM**

I see Tool Town is almost ready to open and same with the new Dollarama at Main and Jefferson, if it didn't already

Biff · #**3074** Posted **Jun 24, 2015, 1:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheswick

Drove by Pointe West autopark. Noticed the BMW/MINI dealership did a complete overhaul of their exterior. It looks like a complete MINI branded dealership now. Styling similar to solely MINI dealerships in other markets. Not sure if they're still selling BMW's or the plan is to relocate the BMW side?

This follows what my belief was from before that BMW will be following Audi to the Seasons of Tuxedo site next to the outlet mall.

The Unknown Poster · #**3075** Posted **Jun 24, 2015, 2:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by horrorbro123

Sobeys Is Comnig To Fort Richmond Plaza

Thats been the worst kept secret in the area for a couple of years. Although I wondered if the Safeway buyout would change things. There is a Safeway not too far down Pembina.

For someone who lives in St Norbert, this is good news. That "mall" was a dump. The strip mall across the street tidied itself up (The LC built a new building). The Hotel renovated a few years back and is really nice now (4 Points). And I've noticed the little strip mall with the 7-11 has removed signage, presumably to jazz it up a bit. Even an aprt complex next to the 7-11 did a reno and new paint job.

CoryB · #**3076** Posted **Jun 24, 2015, 2:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheswick

Drove by Pointe West autopark. Noticed the BMW/MINI dealership did a complete overhaul of their exterior. It looks like a complete MINI branded dealership now. Styling similar to solely MINI dealerships in other markets. Not sure if they're still selling BMW's or the plan is to relocate the BMW side?

The dealership is definitely a complete Mini dealer now. I am not through there frequently but was recently and noticed what I though was a new BMW dealership building basically "behind" the Mini dealer. Considering they are on the inside loop they both face out with Mini facing east and BMW facing West.

Considering Winnipeg currently only has one BMW dealership and it is owned by the Chipman family who also own Pointe West I doubt it is leaving there anytime soon. I also don't think Winnipeg is a big enough market for a second BMW dealership. Crown Arcura on the other hand is not owned by Birchwood and is one of the few brands they do not have a slice of currently. It is possible they are moving to Seasons. Perhaps McNuaght will spin off Cadillac into its own luxury dealership. Another possibility might be for Prairie Fiat to move from Pembina to a larger location in advance of the upcoming Alfa Romeo re-launch which plans to target luxury customers and will base out of existing Fiat dealerships to start.

--
Separately, I have heard reports that the closed Safeway on Ness is painting the lines in their currently unused parking lot and that Coop is interested in opening a grocery store there. It is definitely a market Coop is not currently in however this is largely confirmed for now.

buzzg · #**3077** Posted **Jun 24, 2015, 2:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Unknown Poster

Thats been the worst kept secret in the area for a couple of years. Although I wondered if the Safeway buyout would change things. There is a Safeway not too far down Pembina.

For someone who lives in St Norbert, this is good news. That "mall" was a dump. The strip mall across the street tidied itself up (The LC built a new building). The Hotel renovated a few years back and is really nice now (4 Points). And I've noticed the little strip mall with the 7-11 has removed signage, presumably to jazz it up a bit. Even an aprt complex next to the 7-11 did a reno and new paint job.

Yeah 7-11 is in the process of doing some renos to all the WPG stores, lots have already been done. Lots of lighting upgrades and just general cosmetic stuff like replacing yellowing wall boards and ceiling tiles, only noticeable to people frequent each location really.

It's so bizarre and funny how well sev does in MB. They've had a rough time in Sask and I met some Americans that laughed that we go to "sev" because they thought they all closed down.

horrorbro123 · #**3078** Posted **Jun 24, 2015, 3:20 PM**

Call It Spring Is Coming To Kildonan Place

esquire · #**3079** Posted **Jun 24, 2015, 3:36 PM**

I went to Polo Park yesterday for the first time since I was doing my Christmas shopping, and I'm surprised that not much has changed in the new wing of the mall on the 2nd floor. There are still a lot of empty spaces... I was under the impression that retailers were chomping at the bit to get into Polo Park, but the demand must not be that deep if there are still several big spaces that haven't been leased.

The Unknown Poster · #**3080** Posted **Jun 24, 2015, 3:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by buzzg

Yeah 7-11 is in the process of doing some renos to all the WPG stores, lots have already been done. Lots of lighting upgrades and just general cosmetic stuff like replacing yellowing wall boards and ceiling tiles, only noticeable to people frequent each location really.

It's so bizarre and funny how well sev does in MB. They've had a rough time in Sask and I met some Americans that laughed that we go to "sev" because they thought they all closed down.

That particular 7-11 is very very busy but just awful. The parking lot is brutal at the best of times but the service is lousy. Of the three sev I frequent (on Pembina HWY), its by the far the worst, although they must have changed owners or management over the past year because it has improved. But you;d often see 5 employees in the store with only one working the counter with a massive line.

The new one North of McGill is nice.