Canadian Retail Thread - Page 204

SpongeG · #**4061** Posted **Jun 16, 2015, 6:35 AM**

Gap to close 175 stores in North America

Retail chain confirms closures in Canada, but won't say how many

The Associated Press Posted: Jun 15, 2015 5:32 PM ET Last Updated: Jun 15, 2015 5:38 PM ET

Gap plans to close 175 of its namesake stores, including an unknown number in Canada, as the company tries to strengthen the struggling brand.

Gap Inc., which owns Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic, said Monday it will close about 140 Gap stores in North America in the fiscal year that ends Jan. 31 — and the remainder afterward — based on factors that include location and performance. The San Francisco company also is closing an undisclosed number of stores in Europe. And it's cutting jobs at its headquarters in an attempt to make it faster and more decisive.

...

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/gap-...rica-1.3114615

casper · #**4062** Posted **Jun 16, 2015, 12:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

HBC to acquire Galeria Kaufhof department stores
Deal will see HBC own 103 stores in Germany

The Hudson's Bay Co. (TSX:HBC) has reached an agreement with German based Metro Group to buy its Galeria Kaufhof department store chain and Belgian subsidiary Inno for $3.9 billion, including the assumption of certain liabilities.

The Toronto-based retailer says in a release issued jointly with Metro Group early Monday morning that the transaction has been approved by both its board of directors and Metro AG's supervisory board.

The release says the deal, which has been in the works for several weeks, is expected to close by the end of the third quarter of 2015, with HBC taking over 103 Galeria Kaufhof stores in Germany, including 59 properties in prime inner-city locations.

HBC, which operates Saks and other chains in the U.S. and Canada, will also acquire 16 Sportarena stores, 16 Galeria Inno stores in Belgium, various logistics centres, warehouses and other properties, and the Galeria Kaufhof head office in Cologne.

...

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/hbc-...ores-1.3113336

Interesting, that makes a major retailor in North American and Europe. Asia and Australia next?

I wonder if the will look at shared house brand across the stores?

SpongeG · #**4063** Posted **Jun 16, 2015, 7:55 PM**

another article i read says they may use the purchase to open Saks in germany, to grow that name

MonctonRad · #**4064** Posted **Jun 16, 2015, 8:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

another article i read says they may use the purchase to open Saks in germany, to grow that name

Have to change the name to Sax (like in Saxony).

Klazu · #**4065** Posted **Jul 16, 2015, 5:40 AM**

Photos from Vancouver's new McArthur Glen Designer Outlet right by the YVR airport.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klazu

I had some time today, so I rode my bike to the new outlet and back. My apologies for the picture quality, as I only had my phone with me.

Here's the Phase 2 area from Arthur Lainge Bridge.

Signs to the outlet are good.

From Templeton Station.

Main entrance

Map of the area.

The famous Coach line. Still busy.

Don't ask me why, byt there is a first nations section just outside of the outlet.

Kids play area.

I saw some people with luggage with them, so maybe the strategy to lure transit passangers is working?

Art piece

Fountain square

Overall it is your typical outlet. It looks nice for an outlet, but I was surprised how almost half of the stores are not yet open. There are dozens of store fronts that sau "coming soon" and "opening soon". There is really very little to visit yet.

I would also like to see some more food options at location. There is only Cafe Artigiano, Japadog stand and a Japanese and Chinese restaurants opening soon. Can't remember if there was also an Italian restaurant going to open.

Overall the place was very busy for a Wednesday with parking lot at least half full. 80% of visitors were Asian people.

sunsetmountainland · #**4066** Posted **Jul 16, 2015, 5:48 AM**

Thanks for the pictures Klazu, my father worked on that mall. Nice to see the pictures.

Rusty van Reddick · #**4067** Posted **Jul 16, 2015, 5:55 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Have to change the name to Sax (like in Saxony).

"Saxony" is English. "Sachsen" auf deutsch.

Martin Mtl · #**4068** Posted **Jul 16, 2015, 9:35 PM**

That McArthur Glen Designer Outlet is so kitsch. It's even worse than Mirabel's and Quartier 10/30 in Brossard, which are already revolting.

Klazu · #**4069** Posted **Jul 17, 2015, 12:54 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Mtl

That McArthur Glen Designer Outlet is so kitsch. It's even worse than Mirabel's and Quartier 10/30 in Brossard, which are already revolting.

It's your typical outlet mall. At least it is located next to a Skytrain station and takes use of a dead zone under YVR landing path. I don't mind it and if it prevents people traveling to Seattle Premium Outlets (and thus keeps money in Canada) it's good for the economy.

1overcosc · #**4070** Posted **Jul 17, 2015, 3:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klazu

It's your typical outlet mall. At least it is located next to a Skytrain station and takes use of a dead zone under YVR landing path. I don't mind it and if it prevents people traveling to Seattle Premium Outlets (and thus keeps money in Canada) it's good for the economy.

Agreed, think it's a good thing for Vancouver.

We have a very similar style of outlet mall in Ottawa that opened last year and it's drawn a lot of people away from cross-border shopping.

Klazu · #**4071** Posted **Jul 17, 2015, 5:36 PM**

Is cross-border shopping a big issue in Ottawa, considering that you guys are not right next to the border? Where does one even go to from Ottawa to shop on the US side?

1overcosc · #**4072** Posted **Jul 17, 2015, 8:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klazu

Is cross-border shopping a big issue in Ottawa, considering that you guys are not right next to the border? Where does one even go to from Ottawa to shop on the US side?

Syracuse, New York, about three hours away.

The American border is only a one hour drive from Ottawa.

OTSkyline · #**4073** Posted **Jul 17, 2015, 8:56 PM**

Most people from Ottawa driving to the states to shop will go to Syracuse which is about a 3h drive from here... They have a sizeable mall with a large Macy's and all.

eternallyme · #**4074** Posted **Jul 17, 2015, 8:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

Syracuse, New York, about three hours away.

The American border is only a one hour drive from Ottawa.

The lower dollar is helping keep many cross-border shoppers at home too, but I would argue the currency difference is at least largely offset by higher costs in Canada for goods due to increased importing costs.

Even with a 50 cent dollar, many things would be cheaper in the US (at least in the longer run).

Klazu · #**4075** Posted **Jul 17, 2015, 11:19 PM**

Some people really drive 3 hours one-way to save a few bucks?

That's same as driving from Vancouver to Seattle for shopping, which surprisingly many people do (although there are malls in Bellingham and Mount Vernon). I just don't see the point unless you have some other business there as well, but that's just me.

SpongeG · #**4076** Posted **Jul 18, 2015, 3:54 AM**

you can save a lot depending how and where you shop. I always find shoes much cheaper in the states, i saw some converse high tops at winners for $49.99, at ross i saw a pair of converse high tops for $14.99, different colour but huge price difference.

kohls has a clearance rack where you can find things 90% off, saw some Levis jeans marked down to $5.97.

Places like the gap are a better bargain here in canada ie. I saw some shorts on clearance here for $26.99, same ones in new york were $24.99 and both places had an extra 40% on top of that with the dollar at 80 cents, its since gone below 80 cents, we win on this side of the border.

coach outlet - i haven't been to one in canada but i compared regular coach stores in seattle and vancouver and the prices were not much different, i think the wallet i looked at was $179.00 vs $169.00

up until now we haven't had a coach outlet store in vancouver, calgary has one, the store is always 50% off and clearance is usually 30-40% off additionally, thats why there is always a big lineup, the seattle one is always packed and usually has a line - long weekends are the best deals - once you purchase at an outlet store and give the store your email you are invited to online only deals for the outlet website, so far it seems every long weekend i get an invite but its only a few days, most of the time you cannot do online shopping at the coach outlet site and its always the same deal 50% off your entire purchase + 40% off clearance items

anyway nice pics, is the second phase going in the empty area closer to the bridge? and i am surprised by how many stores look empty and they still drew huge crowds

miketoronto · #**4077** Posted **Jul 18, 2015, 12:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

you can save a lot depending how and where you shop. I always find shoes much cheaper in the states, i saw some converse high tops at winners for $49.99, at ross i saw a pair of converse high tops for $14.99, different colour but huge price difference.

kohls has a clearance rack where you can find things 90% off, saw some Levis jeans marked down to $5.97.

I would love to know where you guys find these deals in the USA, as I never found deals like this in Cleveland. In fact, I found the prices were almost identical to Canada for most items. Sure I got a couple $10 shirts in Detroit once at Macy's. But you can also get deals like that at The Bay when they run similar sales.

The one thing where I thought I was getting a deal on was Polo shoes, turned out that the Polo shoes I got were of much less quality than the more expensive ones.

MolsonExport · #**4078** Posted **Jul 18, 2015, 12:35 PM**

I am in Bari and I am happy to report that the city has survived its shopping mall crisis.

miketoronto · #**4079** Posted **Jul 18, 2015, 7:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

I am in Bari and I am happy to report that the city has survived its shopping mall crisis.

Seriously MolsonExport. The Bari stuff is really getting old.

esquire · #**4080** Posted **Jul 18, 2015, 7:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klazu

Some people really drive 3 hours one-way to save a few bucks?

Oh God, yeah. It's common to hear of people driving 2.5 hours from here (Winnipeg) to Grand Forks, ND. In some cases you might see people spending thousands of dollars on building materials or car parts in which case it may well be worth it, but it's also common for people to load up on random stuff at Target and come home with maybe $300 worth of stuff. I'm sure that any savings are obliterated by the cost of gas and if one stays the night, meals, restaurant, etc.

But that said, it's often done more as a getaway than a as serious shopping trip, so people are willing to pay for that.