Canadian Retail Thread

[harls]

I got some Manmade gitch for Christmas, they are very comfy and I like their ads.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Manmade is not made in Canada,

Just as long as they aren't made in the Fascist Republic of Trumplandia, I'm cool with them.

[Djeffery]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Just as long as they aren't made in the Fascist Republic of Trumplandia, I'm cool with them.

Asia (China I'm sure). They don't actually hide this fact and have addressed it in social media that it's simply too costly to manufacture here, as much as they would like to. And they already are a premium priced brand. I'm also amazed at the celebrity endorsements they have managed to secure (as part of that price premium no doubt lol). Howie Mandel, Michael Buble, William Shatner, and even some Americans.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Just as long as they aren't made in the Fascist Republic of Trumplandia, I'm cool with them.

My impression is that they rely on producers in Asian countries other than China.

[theman23]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

Asia (China I'm sure). They don't actually hide this fact and have addressed it in social media that it's simply too costly to manufacture here, as much as they would like to. And they already are a premium priced brand. I'm also amazed at the celebrity endorsements they have managed to secure (as part of that price premium no doubt lol). Howie Mandel, Michael Buble, William Shatner, and even some Americans.

Being more expensive to produce here is obviously the reason. Not sure that pointing out the obvious counts as addresses the concern.


Apparently Decathalon has left the GTA. I just noticed it now, but they shut down all of their local stores in late July. Doesn’t bode well for retail when even the replacement hitters are striking out this quickly.

[savevp]

Originally Posted by theman23

Apparently Decathalon has left the GTA. I just noticed it now, but they shut down all of their local stores in late July.

Really a shame for Torontonians; I've found Decathlon's quality superior, with often-astoundingly low prices. They'd become my go-to for a lot of canoe trip outfitting. I'm no retail expert, but their stores (excepting the Decathlon City model) seem to have lots of open space, and a substantial back-of-house area. At the Scarborough location I frequented, there were wide areas for kids to kick soccer balls or do basketball. Made for a pleasant shopping experience, but with GTA real estate prices, it was perhaps too inefficient.

[MonctonRad]

They still exist elsewhere, including at Mic Mac Mall in Dartmouth (HRM) NS.

Why did the Toronto stores close???

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

They still exist elsewhere, including at Mic Mac Mall in Dartmouth (HRM) NS.

Why did the Toronto stores close???

Presumably they were losing too much money. The company statement when they GTA stores were closed said they were investigating future bricks and mortar stores in a smaller format, and in the meantime now have same day despatch from their warehouse for online purchases.

They still have 15 stores in the rest of Canada. The first in BC only opened last year. The company seems to pivot quickly, rather than stick with a format that isn't working in an area of the country. They're a pretty experienced retailer, and unusual in the sports equipment market in only selling own brands. Maybe the GTA buyers were looking for more familiar names on their products?

[WarrenC12]

Decathlon (correct spelling) has been great in my experience. It fills the "cheap but good" void left by MEC sometime in the early 2000s.

[Loco101]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

I've sometimes thought we should have a new thread where we could share tips on Canadian-made products that we can recommend. I've switched many of my personal care products away from made in USA and have been surprised what is/isn't made in Canada. Manmade is not made in Canada, but I like everything I've bought from them except the t-shirt, which is too stretchy for my taste. I admit its one of the few times I've succumbed to all the TV/on-line advertising.

I'm all for having a thread on Canadian-made products. I also try not to buy things made in USA. The one item I still haven't found a decent alternative for is antiperspirant.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by Loco101

I'm all for having a thread on Canadian-made products. I also try not to buy things made in USA. The one item I still haven't found a decent alternative for is antiperspirant.

I've been happy with Green Beaver and find that it is effective. It's made in Hawkesbury, ON and is sold online and in natural products stores. Unlike many antiperspirants, it does not contain aluminum. They also make shampoos and skin care products.

[Loco101]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

I've been happy with Green Beaver and find that it is effective. It's made in Hawkesbury, ON and is sold online and in natural products stores. Unlike many antiperspirants, it does not contain aluminum. They also make shampoos and skin care products.

I am aware of Green Beaver but find it to be too expensive for what it is. If Costco ever has a 3 or 4 pack of it I'll buy it to try.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by Loco101

I am aware of Green Beaver but find it to be too expensive for what it is. If Costco ever has a 3 or 4 pack of it I'll buy it to try.

I decided early on that, if I was serious about buying Canadian, I'd have to be open to paying a premium. With luck, their increasing sales could lead to better prices. I do the same with my shaving cream - Roberts is a U.S. company but their aerosol foam is made in Canada for some reason. It's feels like a premium product and I can get it for 20% off at Shoppers on seniors day, so that helps.

It's a bit back to the future for me - growing up in Kitchener, there was nothing more normal than buying local products.

[SpongeG]

I always used to find Green Beaver at Winners or Marshalls, not sure of the regular price. Anti-perspirant is hard to find in any brand these days, I find, its mostly just deodorant.

[whatnext]

Canadians should be outraged that we even allow this kind of thing:

How can the owner of three B.C. malls and a mansion not be 'a resident of Canada for tax purposes'?
Opinion by Douglas Todd • 1w

A Canadian court case has provided insights into the convoluted world of the trans-national rich.

Weihong (Ruby) Liu — who has acknowledged she was a leading member of business organizations in China created by the Communist Party to advance the government’s agenda — now owns three shopping malls and a golf course in B.C....

....Documents Liu provided last month to the Ontario Superior Court , first brought to light by journalist Bob Mackin, confirm she is not a citizen of Canada.

Instead, when Liu was required under B.C.’s new transparency register to list all of her “countr(ies) of citizenship / permanent residency,” she answered with only one: “China.”

China does not officially allow dual citizenship. Liu once told a Times-Colonist reporter she is a permanent resident of Canada, and her daughter enjoys living here. But the court documents do not mention any immigration status in Canada....

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canad...ents=1&wcseo=1

[Nite]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Canadians should be outraged that we even allow this kind of thing:

How can the owner of three B.C. malls and a mansion not be 'a resident of Canada for tax purposes'?
Opinion by Douglas Todd • 1w

A Canadian court case has provided insights into the convoluted world of the trans-national rich.

Weihong (Ruby) Liu — who has acknowledged she was a leading member of business organizations in China created by the Communist Party to advance the government’s agenda — now owns three shopping malls and a golf course in B.C....

....Documents Liu provided last month to the Ontario Superior Court , first brought to light by journalist Bob Mackin, confirm she is not a citizen of Canada.

Instead, when Liu was required under B.C.’s new transparency register to list all of her “countr(ies) of citizenship / permanent residency,” she answered with only one: “China.”

China does not officially allow dual citizenship. Liu once told a Times-Colonist reporter she is a permanent resident of Canada, and her daughter enjoys living here. But the court documents do not mention any immigration status in Canada....

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canad...ents=1&wcseo=1

Why should Canadians be outraged about non-Canadians owning commercial properties???

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Nite

Why should Canadians be outrages about non-Canadians owning commercial properties???

It is commercial and (two) residential properties. And no tax collected from the income of this billionaire. it all goes back to her buddies in Communist China. Totally emblematic of how Liberal gov'ts sold Canadians down the road to foreign money. Let's hope she doesn't get her hands on those old Bay leases.

[Nite]

Originally Posted by whatnext

It is commercial and (two) residential properties. And no tax collected from the income of this billionaire. it all goes back to her buddies in Communist China. Totally emblematic of how Liberal gov'ts sold Canadians down the road to foreign money. Let's hope she doesn't get her hands on those old Bay leases.

I really don't see the problem, she is a permanent residence and so can buy residential property, and the income she makes in Canada will be taxed in Canada.
Isn't Canada desperate for foreign investment currently???
If an American company or American billionaire owned commercial property in Canada, would you also want Canadians to be outraged??

[Wigs]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

I always used to find Green Beaver at Winners or Marshalls, not sure of the regular price. Anti-perspirant is hard to find in any brand these days, I find, its mostly just deodorant.

I'm assuming because antiperspirants block/clog your armpit sweat glands, and that's not good. Also potential health concerns over aluminum salts.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by whatnext

It is commercial and (two) residential properties. And no tax collected from the income of this billionaire. it all goes back to her buddies in Communist China. Totally emblematic of how Liberal gov'ts sold Canadians down the road to foreign money. Let's hope she doesn't get her hands on those old Bay leases.

Is she breaking the law or are you just on another one of your borderline racist rants?