Winnipeg Retail

[cllew]

Originally Posted by Riverman

That's interesting, I hadn't heard of that.

It was suppose to look the one that was build on St. Mary's Road by the Red Top.

[cllew]

Did a little digging and the idea was floated to the Board of Adjustment in Jan 2003. look for DCU268A/2002c

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by Riverman

I think they try to build on the inbound routes whenever they are on a busy street.

Another target location for Tim's is major outbound routes, for example the Trans Canada, that is partly why there are two locations within minutes of each other on the west end of Portage Ave.

[thebasketballgeek]

This is a feel good retail story from a person in Charleswood

Candle company glowing
It started in her kitchen, has outgrown her home and its current building is bursting at the seams

A candle-making operation that got its start in the kitchen of a Charleswood home is now supplying soy candles to more than 300 stores across the country and looking to move into a bigger factory in 2015.
Sheila Sorochan and her partner, Bruce Reynoldson, say the tiny business she launched nine years ago -- Soy Harvest Candles -- not only outgrew her home, it's now outgrowing the 2,500-square-foot building it's been operating out of for the last 2 1/2 years.

So now they're planning another move, this time into what they hope will be an 8,000- to 10,000-square-foot factory somewhere in the city. They haven't found the right property yet, but Reynoldson said they hope to make the move sometime in 2015.

"We are just growing so rapidly," he explained in an interview as he and Sorochan prepared to host an open-house event for about 140 retail representatives at the Fort Garry Hotel.
"We can't make them fast enough. It's crazy. We used to (hand-) pour about 1,500 candles every 90 days about two years ago. Today, we do about 6,000 pieces per week."

But to meet their current demand for product, Reynoldson said they'd have to boost production to about 25,000 items per week.
'We can't make them fast enough. It's Crazy.'
"So it's critical that we expand to a bigger facility."
He said to boost production to that level, they also would have to more than double the size of their workforce to 25 to 30 people from the current 11, which includes the two of them and nine contract employees.
Sorochan noted the company not only makes its own line of soy-based candles, it also manufactures private-label soy candles for about 500 retail outlets in Canada and the United States.
"That (making private-label candles) is a big, big business for us," Reynoldson added.

Most of Soy Harvest's customers are independent gift shops, spas and specialty retailers. But Reynoldson said he's in talks with a number of national retail chains -- he wouldn't say which ones -- which are also interested in carrying its products.

"I think we're on the cusp of (taking the business) to that next level," he said.
Shelmerdine Winnipeg Garden Centre is one of about 80 stores in Manitoba that carry Soy Harvest's candles. Company president Nicole Bent said Shelmerdine has carried about 20 different brands of candles over the years, including some celebrity-endorsed products.
"But we haven't seen any successes like we've seen with Soy Harvest. Our sales just continue to grow. They have become our staple brand of candles."
Asked why she thinks the candles are so popular with Shelmerdine customers, Bent said they're an all-natural, environmentally friendly product, the quality is consistent, they come in a variety of pleasing fragrances, and they're Manitoba-made.

"Winnipeggers are becoming very supportive of locally made goods," she added.

So much so, that Shelmerdine has set aside an area in its boutique that's devoted exclusively to Manitoba-made products -- everything from Soy Harvest candles to handmade slippers.
Sorochan said she launched the business in 2005 with the help of her now-deceased father, George. He was a manufacturer's agent with a lot of retail connections and found her two or three retail customers that first year.
But Sorochan had another full-time job she wasn't prepared to give up, so her venture grew pretty slowly until Reynoldson came on board about three years ago as a partner and full-time sales and marketing manager.
"That changed everything," Sorochan said.
Although she continues to work full time for another company -- she wouldn't say which one -- Sorochan realizes that at some point she might have to quit that job and devote more time and energy to managing Soy Harvest Candles.
"If I didn't work for such a good company, it already would have happened. But the company I work for has been amazingly good to me."

[thebasketballgeek]

Here's a brand new article on the new outlets build by Harvard Developments

Designer savings
Retail complex to feature premier fashion outlet centre

A giant retail mall unlike any other in the province is being planned for the north half of the IKEA-anchored Seasons of Tuxedo development in southwest Winnipeg.
The 854,000-square-foot Outlets of Seasons development will be built on a 47.3-hectare site immediately north of the 818,000-square-foot Seasons of Tuxedo development and will also include an 11-hectare residential component.
One of the distinguishing features of the mixed-use development is the centrepiece of what's billed by Regina-based developers -- Harvard Developments Inc. and Forster Projects Inc. -- as "Manitoba's first and only premier fashion outlet centre."
called Outlet Collection at Winnipeg.

Premier or premium fashion outlet centres typically feature leading and designer-brand items at 25 to 65 per cent off regular retail prices.
One of the leasing agents for the Outlets of Seasons Development -- Derek Chartier of CBRE Winnipeg -- said although fashion outlet centres are fairly new to Canada, they're a very active and growing segment of the U.S. retail market.
"I think this is a tremendous win for Winnipeg," Chartier said in an interview Monday. "This will help bring more destination shoppers and travellers to Winnipeg, which creates all kinds of spinoff benefits for all the other businesses in the city, whether they be restaurant businesses, hotel businesses, or whatever."
Charier said the development's fashion outlet mall is expected to draw shoppers from as far away as eastern Saskatchewan, northern Manitoba, northwestern Ontario, northeast North Dakota and northwest Minnesota.

Chartier and Blair Forster, president of Forster Projects and vice-president of development for Harvard Developments, were being tight-lipped Monday about what the fashion outlet centre will look like -- whether it will be open-air or enclosed -- and who the tenants are likely to be. The website also says the project will open next spring.
They said details will be unveiled today at the third biennial Winnipeg Real Estate Forum -- a one-day event organized by Toronto-based MMPI Canada. More than 600 real estate industry officials from across Canada are expected to attend the forum, which will examine trends and investment opportunities within Winnipeg's commercial and residential real estate markets.

Forster said the overall development will feature elements of both traditional retail shopping malls, such as Polo Park or St. Vital Centre, and conventional "box-campus" shopping centres, such as the ones found at the intersection of Kenaston and McGillivray boulevards or Regent Avenue and Lagimodière Boulevard.
For example, there will be some stores that will open onto a street or parking lot, as in a typical box-campus centre, he said, although none of them will be large-format stores such as the ones found in many big-box retail centres.

But the stores and restaurants in the 385,000-square-foot fashion outlet centre will open onto a central concourse or mall, rather than onto a street or parking lot. The outlet centre is slated to open in spring 2017, while the main complex is looking at a spring 2015 opening.
Preliminary design drawings on the Outlet of Seasons website show contiguous rows of stores, shops and restaurants opening onto an open-air pedestrian concourse decorated with trees, benches, ornamental lighting, fountains and giant planters -- not unlike the concourses in major regional shopping malls.
But Forster said some major changes have been made to the original design. He wouldn't say if the central concourse will be open-air or enclosed.
The same two partners that developed the south half of the 1.6-million-square-foot Seasons of Tuxedo development -- IKEA and Winnipeg's Fairweather Properties Ltd. -- were originally expected to also develop the north half.

But Forster said Forster Projects and Harvard Developments struck a tentative deal about 16 months ago to buy the site from the original developers.
He said the deal formally closed in January, but neither side made a formal announcement. And he wouldn't reveal the selling price.
Although Harvard Properties has been a major player for years in the Saskatchewan and Alberta real estate markets, this is its first development in Manitoba. the street.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/bus...257104561.html

[esquire]

^ Interesting article. When Seasons was first pitched, the northern part was basically supposed to be like a regular slightly higher-end mall, but just outdoors. It is only since Harvard got involved that the focus changed to making it an outlet mall. I wonder why the change? Maybe Winnipeg has enough conventional retail space... there certainly has been a lot of it added over the last 15 years.

For what it's worth an outlet mall is probably a good strategy for Winnipeg!

[steveosnyder]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ Interesting article. When Seasons was first pitched, the northern part was basically supposed to be like a regular slightly higher-end mall, but just outdoors. It is only since Harvard got involved that the focus changed to making it an outlet mall. I wonder why the change? Maybe Winnipeg has enough conventional retail space... there certainly has been a lot of it added over the last 15 years.

For what it's worth an outlet mall is probably a good strategy for Winnipeg!

I don't mind outlet shopping, but I have to say... How the hell does this stuff get approved.

[IMG]http://media.winnipegfreepress.com/images/800*824/5847326.jpg[/IMG]
I look at this picture and want to throw up a little. What the actual fuck? How, in the 21st century, are we actually building shit like this? And why won't that image link work?

http://media.winnipegfreepress.com/i...24/5847326.jpg

[bomberjet]

Because it's still people aged 50 or 60+, the ones raised on the "American Dream" of sprawling suburbs with white picket fences, that are approving all this stuff and allowing it to go through. You need the hipster, urban, high rise folk to get in power and maybe things will start to change. Not for another 20-30 years. Until then, good luck.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by steveosnyder

I don't mind outlet shopping, but I have to say... How the hell does this stuff get approved.

Same rationalization process that gets used everytime someone wants to build something 100% contrary to the city's official plans.

"Hurr durr, well there's a Burger King in the parking lot across from the Crocs Outlet, so I guess it's mixed use, right?"

[Authentic_City]

What really gets me is that the city (or the Free Press) calls it a mixed use development. How on earth is this a mixed use development in any real sense of the word? It's acres of open air parking strewn with big box retail outlets and a few restaurants.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

Because it's still people aged 50 or 60+, the ones raised on the "American Dream" of sprawling suburbs with white picket fences, that are approving all this stuff and allowing it to go through. You need the hipster, urban, high rise folk to get in power and maybe things will start to change. Not for another 20-30 years. Until then, good luck.

There is a clear generational divide on this point. So far as I can tell, the dividing line seems to be around mid 30s.

When I was a kid in the 80s, it seemed that every young couple that got married moved as far out into the suburbs/exurbs as they could. That doesn't seem to happen quite as much any more. Winnipeg hasn't seen crazy Vancouver-style gentrification, but there is no question that inner neighbourhoods devoid of bays and cul-de-sacs are rising in popularity among younger families. So the tide is turning... as we've pointed out before, the increase in the number of people without drivers licenses is a pretty good indication of that.

[Simplicity]

Originally Posted by Authentic_City

What really gets me is that the city (or the Free Press) calls it a mixed use development. How on earth is this a mixed use development in any real sense of the word? It's acres of open air parking strewn with big box retail outlets and a few restaurants.

Broadstreet/Seymour Pacific has 189 units going in. It'll be mixed use in about the lowest capacity needed to still qualify. Also, there's the Ft. Whyte planned community in the works, so I'm guessing they figure this will all service seniors nicely in the future.

[steveosnyder]

Originally Posted by Authentic_City

What really gets me is that the city (or the Free Press) calls it a mixed use development. How on earth is this a mixed use development in any real sense of the word? It's acres of open air parking strewn with big box retail outlets and a few restaurants.

But you have to hand it to them -- they have trees to shield the street and building from the parking lots... Just add trees and people will go outside!

[Authentic_City]

Originally Posted by steveosnyder

But you have to hand it to them -- they have trees to shield the street and building from the parking lots... Just add trees and people will go outside!

Indeed! On my last trip to Ikea, I could barely see the store for all the tiny emaciated stick trees in the parking lot.

[Cyro]

Originally Posted by steveosnyder

I don't mind outlet shopping, but I have to say... How the hell does this stuff get approved.

[IMG]http://media.winnipegfreepress.com/images/800*824/5847326.jpg[/IMG]
I look at this picture and want to throw up a little. What the actual fuck? How, in the 21st century, are we actually building shit like this? And why won't that image link work?

http://media.winnipegfreepress.com/i...24/5847326.jpg

Sample of Retailers likely to set up shop.

Banana Republic
Brooks Brothers
Bench
Calvin Klein
Hugo Boss
J. Crew
Polo Ralph Lauren
Michael Kors
Coach
Hudson's Bay Outlet


What is the scope of the 11 hectare residential component mentioned in the freep?

[steveosnyder]

Originally Posted by Authentic_City

Indeed! On my last trip to Ikea, I could barely see the store for all the tiny emaciated stick trees in the parking lot.

Instead of creating a place people will actually spend time, they include the "green space" in the centre of traffic circles plus the stuff along parkways between drive lanes and parking as a part of their mandatory 10% of land coverage. I really don't fault the developers for this though, they are forced to utilize so much land for automobiles they need to make their margins some how -- taking away more leaseable land for actual green space will cut in to the point they won't build anything.

The only solution I can think of is to eliminate parking minimums. Let the business decide how much parking, they are better equip to decide these things. They know which stores will be leased to, which will require a lot of parking (like IKEA, because you can't load that shit onto a bus), and which won't.

[Komatiite]

Originally Posted by Cyro

Sample of Retailers likely to set up shop.

Banana Republic
Brooks Brothers
Bench
Calvin Klein
Hugo Boss
J. Crew
Polo Ralph Lauren
Michael Kors
Coach
Hudson's Bay Outlet

What, no Quiznos?! I guess I'll just have to cross the street for my fine dining experience.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ Interesting article. When Seasons was first pitched, the northern part was basically supposed to be like a regular slightly higher-end mall, but just outdoors.

I think more interesting is that the original manager was Cadillac Fairview, the manager of Polo Park and the stadium site redevelopment however it has now changed to Ivanhoe Cambridge. Perhaps there was a perceived, or real, conflict of interest with the stadium site redevelopment.

Ivanhoe Cambridge also does not appear to have significant experience is manager outlet mall properties so it will be interesting to see if they are able to compete with Tanger and RioCan who are planning their own outlet mall for Winnipeg and have been for several years. I suspect the Tanger team could be involved in The Downs retail development.

The other piece I think is interesting is on the south side of the Seasons development the layout has stayed relatively static since the first leaked plans. There seems to be some delay in developing the larger format locations between Ikea and Cabela's though hinting that the north-east corner of the outlet mall side is a longer term plan.

In terms of shops, as Ivanhoe Cambridge as yet to open an outlet mall it is hard to predict who their partners are, however it would be surprising to get to this point without HBC/Off 5th being secured as an anchor. Coach also seems to be a fixture of every outlet mall regardless of manager and with their store in Polo Park they seem likely. In terms of new to market stuff? I suspect we will see the usual handful of athletic clothing stores which do not currently operate stand alone stores in Winnipeg show up. I would be shocked though to see an HR2 open here.

The biggest elephant in the room though is if Winnipeg is big enough for two outlet malls as Tanger and RioCan seem set on coming to this market. Also what might two outlet malls mean for the likes of Off 5th, HR2 and Nordstorms Rack they seem to potentially have limited reach in this market.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

The biggest elephant in the room though is if Winnipeg is big enough for two outlet malls as Tanger and RioCan seem set on coming to this market. Also what might two outlet malls mean for the likes of Off 5th, HR2 and Nordstorms Rack they seem to potentially have limited reach in this market.

On a related note, I thought these outlet malls generally located way on the outer fringes of cities? Every one that I have ever been to has been way outside the city, at least 45 minutes out from the downtown area.

Even Edmonton's is going up in the middle of nowhere, i.e. the airport.

[bomberjet]

Originally Posted by esquire

On a related note, I thought these outlet malls generally located way on the outer fringes of cities? Every one that I have ever been to has been way outside the city, at least 45 minutes out from the downtown area.

Even Edmonton's is going up in the middle of nowhere, i.e. the airport.

I think you got your quotes messed up from the above post. It was Cory B, not I who said that stuff.

Originally Posted by CoryB

The biggest elephant in the room though is if Winnipeg is big enough for two outlet malls as Tanger and RioCan seem set on coming to this market. Also what might two outlet malls mean for the likes of Off 5th, HR2 and Nordstorms Rack they seem to potentially have limited reach in this market.