Canadian Retail Thread - Page 32

Taller Better · #**621** Posted **Nov 9, 2006, 5:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

vancouver's luxury brands are always changing too - mostly because they were franchises - i think the ones coming in now are corporate

years ago in the 90's we had 3 Versace Stores, Romeo Gigli, Valentino, Celine, Sonia Rykiel and Furla

The new Hermes store is really nice - and the Tiffanys should help that "luxury" block a lot

If they are boutiques within a hotel, or within Holt Renfrew they won't be a full range corporate shop. The full range shops are pretty much always free standing. A small Louis Vuitton will sell bags and small things, and the full range shop will sell the clothing. I remember shopping at a great place in Vancouver about 20 years ago... can't remember the name, was something like l'Uomo, and it was owned by some people from Hong Kong. There used to be a Versace store on Bloor, and it closed shortly after he was killed. There was a very cool Armani shop for men on Hazelton, but it closed a few years ago, too.

Builtform, thanks a lot for finding that picture for me! I appreciate it!

squeezied · #**622** Posted **Nov 9, 2006, 8:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

years ago in the 90's we had 3 Versace Stores, Romeo Gigli, Valentino, Celine, Sonia Rykiel and Furla

vancouver had versace, let alone THREE versaces??? wow wat happened?

SpongeG · #**623** Posted **Nov 9, 2006, 10:34 AM**

we still have one Versace - in Leone on West hastings - it carries the clothes and the home stuff

there was a Versace on Burrard and Georgia and a Versus - which was Versace's sportier line across from the VAG - they all closed in the late 90's

apparently the story is or was that Leone had the original Franchise for Versace and than some other family from hong kong got a Versace Franchise as well in the 90's and for a while the two families duked it out - but Leone prevailed and I don't know what happened to the other family but they shut down all their stores

the same family also brought Romeo Gigli to town which was next to the Versus store

Vancouver also has a Wolford - next to Coach on Burrard - a high end stocking label from Austria, St John - in the Vancouver hotel next to Louis Vuitton, chanel, hugo boss, cartier and roche bobois are on West hastings

there is also a French company that had a shop on Robson but it closed down and now there is only one in Metrotown and one in Richmond Centre and than one in toronto - Morgan De Toi - its sort of like a Zara from Paris - http://www.morgandetoi.com/ - i remember seeing them all over London - there are none in New York or the states at all

SpongeG · #**624** Posted **Nov 9, 2006, 10:44 AM**

i just noticed that Vancouver is the only Canadian City to have an Armani Exchange store

miketoronto · #**625** Posted **Nov 9, 2006, 11:53 PM**

That is weird about Tiffany's opening up in Calgary, considering they don't even have a Montreal store yet.

To be honest all these super high end chains I don't really think show class anymore.

Tiffany's use to be something when it was only the 5th Ave store, and they had high attention to detail, etc.

Now that it is a multinational chain, I personally don't find it that special anymore. You can now find a Tiffany's in any major city. So why go dump a couple grand there, when I can go to Yorkville and dumb a couple grand at a unique Toronto only store, and get a unique one of a kind bracelet or something?

Thats just my view. Same with Gucci, and all those names now. Its just mass produced main in china stuff now. No more special attention to detail or unique items.

Rusty van Reddick · #**626** Posted **Nov 10, 2006, 12:38 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

i just noticed that Vancouver is the only Canadian City to have an Armani Exchange store

Huh? What happened to the one by Holt Renfrew (on Bloor) in Toronto?

samne · #**627** Posted **Nov 10, 2006, 3:39 AM**

^
gone, I think for at least 5 years. I dont know whats there right now.

miketoronto · #**628** Posted **Nov 10, 2006, 4:11 AM**

HMV has taken over the space

Taller Better · #**629** Posted **Nov 10, 2006, 7:15 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by miketoronto

That is weird about Tiffany's opening up in Calgary, considering they don't even have a Montreal store yet.

To be honest all these super high end chains I don't really think show class anymore.

Tiffany's use to be something when it was only the 5th Ave store, and they had high attention to detail, etc.

Now that it is a multinational chain, I personally don't find it that special anymore. You can now find a Tiffany's in any major city. So why go dump a couple grand there, when I can go to Yorkville and dumb a couple grand at a unique Toronto only store, and get a unique one of a kind bracelet or something?

Thats just my view. Same with Gucci, and all those names now. Its just mass produced main in china stuff now. No more special attention to detail or unique items.

Tiffany's is opening a free standing, 4000+sq ft store in Vancouver (I must admit though, I am not crazy about the look), and the one in Calgary is just going to be a shopping centre boutique. It doesn't surprise me that they chose Vancouver over Montreal to open a second proper Canadian Tiffany's store.

I don't agree with the Debbie Downer attitude toward international couture and jewelry shops opening in Canada. Gives people a choice. And frankly Birks needs a kick in the ass to improve its second rate performance as a jeweler.
As for Gucci, did you think that they still hand sew all that stuff in a little shop in Milan? You are paying for the styling, not for where it was made.There is a lot more to Gucci than handbags, nowadays.

"Tiffany's use to be something when it was only the 5th Ave store, and they had high attention to detail, etc."

did you actually go to Tiffany's in NYC when there was only one store?

Quote:

Originally Posted by squeezied

vancouver had versace, let alone THREE versaces??? wow wat happened?

Well, I think perhaps his dying put a damper on things. I am no expert, but I don't think Versace carries the
same weight today as it used to when he was alive.

SpongeG · #**630** Posted **Nov 12, 2006, 12:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by miketoronto

That is weird about Tiffany's opening up in Calgary, considering they don't even have a Montreal store yet.

To be honest all these super high end chains I don't really think show class anymore.

Tiffany's use to be something when it was only the 5th Ave store, and they had high attention to detail, etc.

Now that it is a multinational chain, I personally don't find it that special anymore. You can now find a Tiffany's in any major city. So why go dump a couple grand there, when I can go to Yorkville and dumb a couple grand at a unique Toronto only store, and get a unique one of a kind bracelet or something?

Thats just my view. Same with Gucci, and all those names now. Its just mass produced main in china stuff now. No more special attention to detail or unique items.

there's only two Tiffanys in Canada and not that many in the states - I was looking at their web site and was surprised by how few locations there were

I can agree that as more US and European chains open up in Canada it gets less exciting to go to those stores

I hope Target never Opens in Canada - I love going to the one across the border - its always exciting

neilson · #**631** Posted **Nov 12, 2006, 1:20 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

there's only two Tiffanys in Canada and not that many in the states - I was looking at their web site and was surprised by how few locations there were

I can agree that as more US and European chains open up in Canada it gets less exciting to go to those stores

I hope Target never Opens in Canada - I love going to the one across the border - its always exciting

But Zellers IS essentially Target.

I feel the same way whenever I visit Zellers, just like you guys do whenever you visit Target.

SpongeG · #**632** Posted **Nov 12, 2006, 1:29 AM**

what Zellers did you visit?

its crappy and each store is different

some are better than others but most suck and are awful. they are messy, un organized, prices are wrong, service is crappy, selection is boring

--------------------

Canada Post: U.S. retailers reaching Canadians at holidays

American retailers are ramping up their marketing efforts via the Internet and through catalog distribution in order to reach out to Canadian shoppers and take advantage of what’s predicted to be a strong holiday season in Canada’s direct retail industry, according to Canada Post.

Revenue figures among U.S. retail partners of Canada Post’s Borderfree service has increased more than 50 percent in 2006, and Canada Post forecasts a strong holiday season, estimating this rate will continue to the end of December.

Through Borderfree’s suite of e-commerce technology and cross-border logistics solutions, Canada Post enables direct retailers to manage their international customer shopping experience and optimize their logistics operations.

Consumer confidence, the strong Canadian dollar and the marketing efforts of Canada Post’s retail partners largely contributed to the figures. Overall retail spending in Canada during the holidays last year reached $1.9 billion, up 27 percent from the previous year.

This market is spurring an increasing trend among electronics, apparel and cosmetics retailers to double their efforts in the Canadian retail market, now estimated to be $329 billion in U.S. dollars, Canada Post said. U.S. merchants including Crate & Barrel, Sephora, Brookstone, Domestications and Casual Living are among those using Canada Post’s Borderfree service to ensure an easy “cross-border” experience.

Canada Post also mentioned that this month launched the first lookbook catalog, described as a “catalog of catalogs” which includes product lines of more than 12 U.S. retailers and is being distributed to 700,000 Canadian households.

The first retailers to participate in the lookbook include Eddie Bauer, Smarthome, Brookstone, Cabela’s and Tiger Direct.

Because of intense retailer interest, Canada Post said it has released plans to offer direct retailers the opportunity to add their product selections within the pages of the lookbook for the Spring and Holiday 2007 editions. The participation deadline for the spring issue is Nov. 27.

http://www.dmnews.com/cms/dm-news/di...ail/38933.html

SpongeG · #**633** Posted **Nov 12, 2006, 1:31 AM**

Wal-Mart revives Christmas emphasis in holiday marketing

This holiday season, Wal-Mart isn't trumpeting big bargains only. It's also bringing "Christmas" back into its marketing, after several years of playing down the term.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s Christmas cheer seems to be a hot trend this season, as several other retailers, including Kohl's Corp. and Macy's, a division of Federated Department Stores Inc., are also stepping up their Christmas marketing.

The moves respond to mounting criticism from religious groups that staged boycotts of Wal-Mart and other merchants after they eliminated or de-emphasized Christmas in their advertising.

"We learned a lesson from that. Merry Christmas is now part of the vocabulary here at Wal-Mart," said Linda Blakley, a Wal-Mart spokeswoman.

Wal-Mart said Thursday that it will launch its first Christmas-specific television ad in several years, feature Christmas shops, previously called Holiday Shops, and increase the number of seasonal merchandise labelled "Christmas" instead of "holiday" by 60 per cent.

U.S. department store Macy's is also adding Christmas signage in all of its department stores, and Kohl's is playing up Christmas this year in its television, print and radio advertising, according to Vicki Shamion, a Kohl's spokeswoman.

http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/200...christmas.html

malek · #**634** Posted **Nov 12, 2006, 2:18 AM**

did anyone post something about Simons establishing in Toronto?

Taller Better · #**635** Posted **Nov 12, 2006, 5:43 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by malek

did anyone post something about Simons establishing in Toronto?

No, but I've long heard rumblings that they were going to open a store, and
that would be just fine by me. I think it would be the ideal tenant for the Yonge and Bloor Hudson Bay Store site. I think there is one in Ottawa, is there not?

malek · #**636** Posted **Nov 12, 2006, 5:56 AM**

they are looking for a 10,000 sqm location. The Sears location in the Eaton center is in their crosshair.

they don't have a store in Ottawa.

malek · #**637** Posted **Nov 12, 2006, 6:00 AM**

La Maison Simons cherche un emplacement à Toronto

Mise en ligne 09/11/2006 09h20

La chaîne de magasins Simons ne cache plus son intention de prendre d'assaut le marché de Toronto.
Le président de la Maison Simons, Peter Simons, a déclaré au journal Les Affaires qu'il a retenu les services d'un courtier immobilier pour dénicher l'emplacement idéal à Toronto.

Simons cherche des locaux de 10 000 mètres carrés en plein centre-ville, ce qui est plutôt rare. Mais l'entreprise est prête à mettre le temps qu'il faudra avant de réaliser son projet et se refuse à établir un échéancier précis.

L'un des sites possibles est le Eaton Centre qui accueille actuellement un magasin Sears.

La Maison Simons, fondée en 1840, exploite actuellement sept magasins au Québec et emploie 900 personnes.

IntotheWest · #**638** Posted **Nov 13, 2006, 9:34 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Built Form

But all the luxury brand retailers are moving quickly to open or expand (as was the case for Chanel) in Vancouver first, especially with the Olympics coming. Sorry Calgary you'll just have to wait your turn before blowing your own horn.

I think it's a matter of space in Calgary more than anything...Calgary did manage to get a Williams-Sonoma before Vancouver (which I wouldn't call a "luxury" store, but it does cater to the higher-end).

There is also a Louis Vuitton store in Banff, and its been there for at least 5 years.

Unfortunately, these other stores looking to get into Calgary are waiting for a supposed expansion at Chinook, instead of into downtown.

EDIT: I'm surprised Burberry hasn't opened a store in at least TO or Vancouver...It's amazing how popular the brand has become, and see it everyday (scarves, handbags, coats, etc). Holt Renfrew has some stuff, but not like it's own stores.

miketoronto · #**639** Posted **Nov 13, 2006, 3:21 PM**

I think Burberry is fading now. Everyone keeps walking around with the same pattern that it is getting a little old.

But then if I get high-end stuff I am more into unique stuff, then the brand everyone else is wearing.

Taller Better · #**640** Posted **Nov 13, 2006, 3:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by malek

La Maison Simons cherche un emplacement à Toronto

Mise en ligne 09/11/2006 09h20

La chaîne de magasins Simons ne cache plus son intention de prendre d'assaut le marché de Toronto.
Le président de la Maison Simons, Peter Simons, a déclaré au journal Les Affaires qu'il a retenu les services d'un courtier immobilier pour dénicher l'emplacement idéal à Toronto.

Simons cherche des locaux de 10 000 mètres carrés en plein centre-ville, ce qui est plutôt rare. Mais l'entreprise est prête à mettre le temps qu'il faudra avant de réaliser son projet et se refuse à établir un échéancier précis.

L'un des sites possibles est le Eaton Centre qui accueille actuellement un magasin Sears.

La Maison Simons, fondée en 1840, exploite actuellement sept magasins au Québec et emploie 900 personnes.

Thanks for the article, malek! That is very heartening... I thought maybe they stopped looking. Sears would be even better than the HBC Centre at Yonge and Bloor. Very ambitious, as it is a huge store, but it would be perfect..... I keep my fingers crossed!

Quote:

Originally Posted by IntotheWest

EDIT: I'm surprised Burberry hasn't opened a store in at least TO or Vancouver...It's amazing how popular the brand has become, and see it everyday (scarves, handbags, coats, etc). Holt Renfrew has some stuff, but not like it's own stores.

I'm surprised as well... they have been opening free standing stores all over the world. But, like Mike says, the "trend" is over and people wearing it are looking a bit "naff". I saw a middle aged couple from London last week (they sounded like they were from Essex) and she was decked out in the hat, etc... and it looked totally "chavette" and cheesy. I think Burberry itself was torn about the trend, especially when all the rappers started doing it ages ago and all the knockoffs were being made, as they knew it was putting them in a dangerous position of losing prestige... sort of like Gucci found itself years ago with the knockoff bags on every street corner. But Gucci redefined itself with a top designer, and Burberry may be able to do the same.