Canadian Retail Thread

[Dwils01]

We never got a Target in Sault Ste. Marie so I've never really experience one except walking through a store at Square One. Wal-Mart and a Lowes (which is the first in the city) are taking the Zellers locations.

[casper]

Originally Posted by Policy Wonk

It's called "Don't Beat the Competition, Be the Competition", it's about the illusion of competition between two ostensibly identical stores.

Future Shop entered the US market in the 90's and had a mutual bruising with Best Buy everywhere they clashed. They eventually left the US and got ready for the eventual siege when Best Buy entered Canada.

In 2001 Best Buy came North to a waiting Future Shop who had bought Computer City to those locations and associated Canadian infrastructure out of Best Buy's hands as well as having secured a lot of redundant locations to tie them up.

Deciding that fighting Future Shop was at best going to be ruinously expensive and possibly futile, Best Buy bought them out and established the duality we have today. Best Buy the clean and bright US retailer of your Black Friday roadtrips. And Future Shop, the name you "trust".

Not certain that Future Shop and "trust" go together. They tend to have the same staff profile of most big box stores. They can handle basic questions but anything more deep it hard going.

The other interesting player in the market place is Millennium Micro; they operate as a cooperative of sort of independent retailers, some use the Millennium Micro brand and others don't. I have been told when you combine all the Millennium Micro members they outsell Future Shop/Best Buy.

[casper]

Originally Posted by Dwils01

We never got a Target in Sault Ste. Marie so I've never really experience one except walking through a store at Square One. Wal-Mart and a Lowes (which is the first in the city) are taking the Zellers locations.

I liked Target. Selection is a bit limited in places. However you go in, get what you want and leave. No lines no crowds. Staff are pretty much in different. If you use one of those automated check out stands you don't even need to interact with the staff.

I was there earlier this week. I was terrible. There were other customers in the store. There was a line at the check out stand. Even the automatic checkout stands had a line.

I will miss Target. It was the idea store with no customers. The amount of time it takes to shop just went up.

[SpongeG]

Wal-Mart to Open 11 Canada Units, Complete Expansion

Retail giant Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (WMT - Analyst Report) announced that it will open 11 supercenters by Jan 29 across Canada. This will complete its previously announced plan for opening 35 supercenters in the region by Jan 2015. Once completed, Wal-Mart Canada will have a total store count of 394, including 280 supercenters and 114 discount stores.

In February, last year, Wal-Mart had reportedly announced its intention to invest nearly 500 million Canadian dollars (approximately $451 million) over 2014. Of the total investment, more than C$376 million was allotted for store projects, C$91 million for distribution networks to expand fresh food capabi0lity and C$31 million for e-Commerce projects. This expansion plan boosted Wal-Mart’s presence in Canada, creating more than 7,500 jobs, including construction. (Read: Wal-Mart to Invest in Canada, Create Jobs)
Wal-Mart started operating in Canada in 1994. The expansion project comes at a time when most retailers are closing their operations in the region. Last week, Target Corp. (TGT - Analyst Report) announced its decision to wind up its unprofitable Canadian operations less than 24 months after foraying in the country. After a comprehensive evaluation of the business, it was concluded that attaining profitability in the region was not possible before 2021, which compelled Target to focus on its domestic business.
It seems that the supermarket chain is focusing on expanding its stores globally.The company has more than 11,300 stores under 71 banners in 26 countries and has wholly-owned operations in Argentina, Brazil and Canada. Walmart also has operations in the United Kingdom, South America and China.

...

http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/1616...lete-expansion

[SpongeG]

its been called the "chipotle" of pizza and patrick schwarznegger just opened one

Blaze Fast-Fire'd Pizza Announces Expansion Into Canada

January 14, 2015 11:00 ET

Build-Your-Own Pizza Chain Coming Soon to Toronto, Edmonton and Calgary

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwired - Jan 14, 2015) - Blaze Fast-Fire'd Pizza, the nation's largest and fastest growing build-your-own pizza chain, today announced that it has signed a franchise agreement with Five Star Blaze Holdings, Inc. to develop Blaze Pizza restaurants in Canada. The deal includes plans to open a minimum of 60 franchise units. The fast-casual pizza chain, known for its chef-driven recipes and casually hip restaurants, is targeting Toronto, Edmonton and Calgary for the first restaurants.

Five Star Blaze Holdings, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cypress Five Star, LLC and is led by Robert Baxter, Blair Walker and Darven Erickson. Cypress Five Star, LLC is the largest franchisee in the Five Guys Burgers & Fries chain with 41 franchise restaurants in Canada and, through an affiliate, two additional franchise restaurants in Wyoming. The development area for Blaze Pizza includes the Canadian provinces of Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

...

About Blaze Pizza
Blaze Pizza® is a modern day "pizza joint" known for its custom-built artisanal pizzas, freshly made salads, blood orange lemonade and s'more pies. Each restaurant features an interactive assembly-line format that allows guests to customize one of the menu's signature pizzas or create their own, choosing from a wide selection of fresh, artisanal ingredients -- all for under $8. The generously-sized 11-inch pizzas are then sent to a blazing hot open-flame oven -- the centerpiece of the restaurant -- where dedicated pizzasmiths™ ensure that the thin-crust pies are fast-fire'd® and ready to eat in just 180 seconds. Each restaurant makes its own dough from scratch using a recipe developed by critically-acclaimed Executive Chef Bradford Kent ("The Pizza Whisperer"), which requires a 24-hour fermentation period to produce his signature light-as-air, crisp crust. For pizza fans with specific dietary needs, Blaze Pizza offers gluten-free dough and vegan cheese.

Described by Zagat as "One of 10 Innovative Restaurants in Los Angeles," Blaze Pizza is developing a cult following as it expands across the U.S. The prototypical restaurant is 2,400 square feet with seating for about 60 guests. Founded by Elise and Rick Wetzel (co-founder of Wetzel's Pretzels), the concept is backed by investors including LeBron James, Maria Shriver, Boston Red Sox co-owner Tom Werner and movie producer John Davis. For more information, please visit blazepizza.com and facebook.com/blazepizza.

http://www.marketwired.com/press-rel...da-1982941.htm

[caltrane74]

Yonge Eglinton Centre Renovation

[Dwils01]

I know a lot of people expected Target to be like it was in the States and a lot of people were disappointed that they weren't. Could this be one of the reasons why target failed?

In other news, I was reading that Marriott plans to buyout Delta Hotels. Does this mean that the new one in Toronto could become a Marriott?

http://www.sootoday.com/content/news...ls.asp?c=85880

[caltrane74]

Originally Posted by Dwils01

In other news, I was reading that Marriott plans to buyout Delta Hotels. Does this mean that the new one in Toronto could become a Marriott?

http://www.sootoday.com/content/news...ls.asp?c=85880

I doubt it.

[SpongeG]

doesn't marriot have more weight to it than delta though? delta is only in canada isn't it?

[Fischbob]

Delta's a very well-established hotel brand in Canada - I expect Marriott will keep them branded as such, as with several of the other chains under their umbrella.

[caltrane74]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

doesn't marriot have more weight to it than delta though? delta is only in canada isn't it?

There are a few Marriott Branded hotels downtown, only 1 Delta.

5.billion is enough for a nice new tower for Toronto. They just finished building 3 slick ones in Southcore, more on the way perhaps?

[casper]

Originally Posted by Fischbob

Delta's a very well-established hotel brand in Canada - I expect Marriott will keep them branded as such, as with several of the other chains under their umbrella.

Good chance they will expand the brand outside of Canada. Only issue I could see is confusion with Delta Airlines, however probably not an issue as Delta use to have hotels in the US in years past.

[manny_santos]

Not surprisingly, the liquidation sales at Target stores across Canada have been a disappointment so far.

http://www.cfra.com/news/2015/02/05/...s-disappointed

People coming out of the store empty-handed. Classic.

And then there's this gem from CBC:

CBC reporter Aaron Saltzman spoke to construction worker Chris Makris at a Toronto-area store who scoffed at buying a TV for $399 because he claims the same set only cost $199 at the same store two weeks ago.

And finally, from the National Post:

MaryAnn Cooper of Sydney, Nova Scotia said baby wipes that she usually pays $1.92-$2.09 for were now $3 a package and clothing that had been on clearance for $3.50 is now back up to $7.

Amazing how people bought into the hype.

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by Dwils01

I know a lot of people expected Target to be like it was in the States and a lot of people were disappointed that they weren't. Could this be one of the reasons why target failed?

In other news, I was reading that Marriott plans to buyout Delta Hotels. Does this mean that the new one in Toronto could become a Marriott?

http://www.sootoday.com/content/news...ls.asp?c=85880

Doubtful that BCIMC would want to rebrand their new hotel.

[MonkeyRonin]

Originally Posted by manny_santos

And then there's this gem from CBC:

CBC reporter Aaron Saltzman spoke to construction worker Chris Makris at a Toronto-area store who scoffed at buying a TV for $399 because he claims the same set only cost $199 at the same store two weeks ago.

And finally, from the National Post:

MaryAnn Cooper of Sydney, Nova Scotia said baby wipes that she usually pays $1.92-$2.09 for were now $3 a package and clothing that had been on clearance for $3.50 is now back up to $7.

Amazing how people bought into the hype.

• Video Link

[svlt]

17,000 jobs are lost and all people can care about is how the liquidation sales are going.
Do people not realize very few retailers are able to keep US pricing in Canada?

This whole Target thing is such a mess it's upsetting even to a casual observer. 95% of the blame falls on Target for not doing their market research and not committing to supporting their expansion at all. 5% can be assigned to cheap Canadians being, well, cheap as always.

[Nouvellecosse]

I'm really not worried about the jobs. People in Canada are still going to buy the same volume of goods whether some of the goods are through Target or through increased sales at other stores instead. These low-skilled, low-paying jobs will simply be offered by other stores once Target is gone.

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally Posted by svlt

17,000 jobs are lost and all people can care about is how the liquidation sales are going.
Do people not realize very few retailers are able to keep US pricing in Canada?

This whole Target thing is such a mess it's upsetting even to a casual observer. 95% of the blame falls on Target for not doing their market research and not committing to supporting their expansion at all. 5% can be assigned to cheap Canadians being, well, cheap as always.

Naw, Target takes full responsibility. Even pulling completely out of Canada is short sighted. Canadian's cheap? That's a new one.

[VIce]

Originally Posted by manny_santos

Not surprisingly, the liquidation sales at Target stores across Canada have been a disappointment so far.

http://www.cfra.com/news/2015/02/05/...s-disappointed

People coming out of the store empty-handed. Classic.

And then there's this gem from CBC:

CBC reporter Aaron Saltzman spoke to construction worker Chris Makris at a Toronto-area store who scoffed at buying a TV for $399 because he claims the same set only cost $199 at the same store two weeks ago.

And finally, from the National Post:

MaryAnn Cooper of Sydney, Nova Scotia said baby wipes that she usually pays $1.92-$2.09 for were now $3 a package and clothing that had been on clearance for $3.50 is now back up to $7.

Amazing how people bought into the hype.

This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. Not in the sense of "oh Target!", because I actually liked them while they were here, but in the sense that people should expect a liquidation to slowly ramp up the discounts as items become harder to sell. People shouldn't be surprised that Target is trying to recoup as much as they can in this process. In 6 or 8 weeks, everything will be practically free.

[Mrs Sauga]

Just curious, why did Target have to go to an Ontario court to get liquidation sale. Did they also go to a BC, Quebec, or Manitoba court to apply for liquidation sales in those provinces too?