Canadian Retail Thread

[SpongeG]

Shoes.com shuts down immediately
Troubled Vancouver e-commerce player was once a rising star
By Glen Korstrom | Jan. 27, 2017, 12:09 p.m.

Vancouver-based online shoe retailer Shoes.com announced January 27, without notice, that it would halt operations immediately.

The company has taken all three of its e-commerce properties – Shoes.com, OnlineShoes.com and ShoeME.ca ­– offline. It also closed the doors on its two Shoes.com brick-and-mortar stores, which are in Vancouver and Toronto.

...

https://www.biv.com/article/2017/1/s...ng-down-today/

[connect2source]

Tip Top Tailors look like the next to disappear from the Canadian retail landscape.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/graf...tail-1.3953307

[manny_santos]

Originally Posted by connect2source

Tip Top Tailors look like the next to disappear from the Canadian retail landscape.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/graf...tail-1.3953307

I sure hope not, I like that store. Have bought quite a few of my more formal attire items there. And sometimes they have some great sales.

[toaster]

They are also present in smaller markets, ones that don't have the bigger menswear stores, or any alternatives. It would be sad for those communities to lose out on a Mens Wear store.

[WhipperSnapper]

I bought a lot there in my 20s. I just recently rediscovered the store through the rediscovery of Moores. I saw a commercial for a Moores' sale and went online to investigate only to see they don't have an online catalog. Then I remembered Tip Top and they did.

I'm not surprised but, it's sad to hear.

[ue]

Originally Posted by connect2source

Tip Top Tailors look like the next to disappear from the Canadian retail landscape.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/graf...tail-1.3953307

Not if HMV beats them to the punch...

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/stru...ores-1.3956302

[manny_santos]

Originally Posted by ue

Not if HMV beats them to the punch...

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/stru...ores-1.3956302

HMV, like Blockbuster, refused to evolve at the time they needed to evolve. HMV was still selling almost nothing but CDs in bricks-and-mortar stores in 2004, when people were already buying songs on iTunes. They weren't even trying to compete with iTunes.

[ue]

Agreed. It's sort of remarkable they even lasted into 2017, honestly. There is still a niche for physical media, but it's not in a 100+ chain, at least not when HMV was very late to the game with the most popular physical media now, vinyl. Their prices certainly didn't help, either. You can easily buy the same CD/LP/DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon for much cheaper.

It seems like the future for physical media is online juggernauts like Amazon and independent record stores.

[Loco101]

Another retail chain that may soon be dead is a Buck or Two. It was the first dollar store to open in Timmins. (everything was either a dollar or two dollars when it opened but now you'll see things for 10 dollars or more) The sign outside the Timmins Square shopping centre has below the store's name: "Canada's Leading Dollar Store" Obviously that hasn't been the case for awhile as Dollarama and Dollar Tree have taken over.

The Timmins Square location is set to close in March. I read that the chain had over 200 stores in the year 2000 and now has only about 40 and is still shrinking.

[SpongeG]

I thought HMV tried in recent years by stocking more diverse products like clothes and collectibles, but with places like Hot Topic moving up into Canada made that niche even harder for them to compete.

[manny_santos]

Originally Posted by Loco101

Another retail chain that may soon be dead is a Buck or Two. It was the first dollar store to open in Timmins. (everything was either a dollar or two dollars when it opened but now you'll see things for 10 dollars or more) The sign outside the Timmins Square shopping centre has below the store's name: "Canada's Leading Dollar Store" Obviously that hasn't been the case for awhile as Dollarama and Dollar Tree have taken over.

The Timmins Square location is set to close in March. I read that the chain had over 200 stores in the year 2000 and now has only about 40 and is still shrinking.

Didn't even know that chain still existed!

I frequently went to their store at Oakridge Mall in London when I was in elementary school. Seems to me there were some other London locations, but I think they were all gone by...2003 maybe.

[Loco101]

Originally Posted by manny_santos

Didn't even know that chain still existed!

I frequently went to their store at Oakridge Mall in London when I was in elementary school. Seems to me there were some other London locations, but I think they were all gone by...2003 maybe.

Yes, I lived in London for a couple of years and remember seeing the stores there back in the 1990s. I even remember seeing the stores in Quebec where it was called Un Dollar ou Deux. But Dollarama began in Quebec and has always dominated there in terms of dollar stores. But I agree that many of the Buck or Two stores in most cities closed around 2003-2005.

Many people in Timmins will miss our Buck or Two because it has a different selection of items compared to Dollarama and Dollar Tree. It has a full line of party supplies and balloons. But I'm quite sure that sales have taken a hit as Dollarama has 3 locations and Dollar Tree opened a couple years ago.

Ironically, a number of retail stores are set to close in Timmins this year even though our local economy is doing well. The big one is our Sears outlet store.

[SpongeG]

We had a Buck or Two in Burnaby, it was quite popular till Dollar Giant started to open here.

[big W]

Sears is also slowly dying but that has been the case for a few years now. For some of these retailers its a sign of the times and the changing demographics of Canada.

For example, $400 for a suit at Tip Top, or go spend $500 at Off Fifth Saks and get a Valentino suit. For that last $100 you can get better tailoring, better materials and just all around better suit. Especially when most people are going to buy that suit and wear it for the next 3 years. At that point most will pay the extra money.

Changing demographics also plays a role. Due to increased globalization and more people going out of the country vs past years, more people will buy when out of Canada. 30 years ago a smaller percentage of the population would go out of the country overseas or have relatives visit from overseas. In those cases, that $100 shirt made in India can be bought for $20 in India so while in India or when your brother is visiting from India you ask them to bring you the items you want. These people are coming and going and the prices overseas for exact items can be significantly cheaper so why not pick them up from there.

I also must say I know many people who do not shop in Canada but fly overseas once or twice a year to visit family. When there they stock up on what they need and the savings more than pay for their trips.

[WhipperSnapper]

Fewer and fewer people are wearing suits as their everyday attire. This effects everyone and pricing has become a lot more competitive. Some struggling custom brands now have more affordable lines as well. That always hurts the lowest end of market.

[Trevor3]

Originally Posted by toaster

They are also present in smaller markets, ones that don't have the bigger menswear stores, or any alternatives. It would be sad for those communities to lose out on a Mens Wear store.

It would be a shame if Tip Top disappeared. They are the only menswear store in western Newfoundland. If they go, the nearest Moore's is in Sydney (ferry ride) or St. John's (800km one way).

Originally Posted by Loco101

Another retail chain that may soon be dead is a Buck or Two. It was the first dollar store to open in Timmins. (everything was either a dollar or two dollars when it opened but now you'll see things for 10 dollars or more) The sign outside the Timmins Square shopping centre has below the store's name: "Canada's Leading Dollar Store" Obviously that hasn't been the case for awhile as Dollarama and Dollar Tree have taken over.

The Timmins Square location is set to close in March. I read that the chain had over 200 stores in the year 2000 and now has only about 40 and is still shrinking.

I remember when Corner Brook had 3 Buck or Two stores, now there is just one. Having said that, Buck or Two opened a new store in Stephenville and another in Port aux Basques about 2 years ago, which was surprising given that Dollarama has been here since 2009.

[SignalHillHiker]

Tip Top is a loss even in St. John's. I've rarely had any luck anywhere else. Sears just feels like a bargain bin with its out of date styles and haphazard organization. Moore's is so boxy or baggy on me. Not sure where else to go for something with beautiful fabrics that can last more than a couple uses.

Luckily with my new lower class job is less of an issue. One of the nicer culture sucks (so many smokers, co-workers bumming rides home, petty fiefdom attitudes about the stupidest shit) has been I get to wear jeans lol. So really all I need for now are suit jackets and dress shirts. Those are easy to find anywhere.

[GeneralLea]

In terms of Buck or Two, I've always had a liking for the store, and the one at the Yonge and Eglinton Centre mall never had a lot of traffic (somewhat poorly located) but it still remains afloat. I find the store slightly more expensive than Dollorama but a better dollar store overall.

The other Buck or Two I know of, in St. Mary's, is well established and right in downtown, comparative to the newer Dollarama a few mins out of downtown and a bit awkward in location.

[someone123]

One of the retail "insider" type rumour sites has reported that Simons is going to open a store in Halifax in 2019. It will be in the Halifax Shopping Centre and replace the Sears there. That mall has gradually been morphing into a higher-end "fashion mall" over the past few years, with stores like Coach that people seem to think are a bigger deal than average mall stores. I don't really know; I try to avoid malls as much as possible. But it seems nice that there's a higher-end mall in the Maritimes.

There's also an Apple Store in HSC. There have been rumours that another Apple Store is going to open in downtown Halifax, maybe in the new Doyle building under construction at the corner of Spring Garden Road and Queen. Years ago, the developer claimed that Apple nearly opened there instead of in a mall, but that they couldn't find a suitable existing retail space. It was a bit of a loss for downtown that the Apple Store didn't open there, but if they are still considering it that is a good sign. More and more chain retailers like Lululemon and Urban Outfitters have been opening stores in downtown Halifax. Bier Markt is another chain restaurant that's coming (upscale casual restaurant chains weren't really a thing in Atlantic Canada until a few years ago).

There were also rumours of Simons opening in an expanded podium space below the Maritime Centre but I don't think that space is large enough and I have a hard time imagining two Simons stores operating in the Halifax area. Two Apple stores on the other hand wouldn't be far-fetched.

[memememe76]

I am surprised about Tip Top, but maybe I shouldn't be. For the suburbs, Tip Top is the biggest name for formal menswear. I tend to buy my suits at The Bay--I prefer their selection and they have good prices.