General Retail News

[mykl]

Originally Posted by bikegypsy

Mind you, I'm on the "I want you to succeed" side of things.

The inference here is that I don't want them to succeed? How about you stop putting words in my mouth, and stop responding to my comments in general. I find you're being quite rude.

I do want Nordstrom to succeed, and yet a lot of people in a store doesn't mean a lot of people are buying things. I've been in there many times, and I've bought one item, as a Christmas gift. To the people who think that not seeing Nordstrom bags walking around the mall is not an indication of their sales, I urge you to provide me with a better visual observation you can make than seeing people carrying the items they bought from a store. I see a lot of Sephora bags walking around, so in my mind I think "yes, people are shopping at Sephora in large numbers". As for nothing negative in the article, scroll back and you'll see that I'm not the only person who realizes that the responses are either canned responses to say everything is ok, or they entirely avoid answering questions. If anyone has read a statement made by a politician in their life, they should understand how to sift through this type of response.

[bikegypsy]

Originally Posted by mykl

The inference here is that I don't want them to succeed? How about you stop putting words in my mouth, and stop responding to my comments in general. I find you're being quite rude.

There's no inference on my part... Don't read into my comment for more than what it is; my opinion and how I see things in general, that's all. Where have I been rude? Dude, relax, it's just a conversation and we can simply agree to disagree.

[YOWflier]

I go to Rideau all the time and see lots of Nordstrom bags.

So, yeah.

[rocketphish]

Labour council challenges proposal for holiday shopping in the Glebe

Jon Willing, Ottawa Sun
First posted: Friday, January 29, 2016 01:19 PM EST | Updated: Friday, January 29, 2016 08:40 PM EST

City council would be making “a significant and major mistake” by allowing Glebe shops to open on six holidays, says Sean McKenny, president of the Ottawa and District Labour Council.

The labour group plans to ask the mayor and councillors to block a staff recommendation to make shopping legal in the Glebe on some statutory holidays.

And the organization says it would consider an appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board if city council approves the measure.

The Glebe BIA has asked the city’s permission for retailers to open New Year’s Day, Family Day, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day and Thanksgiving Day, plus any future holidays declared by the province.

Council’s finance and economic development committee is inviting residents to weigh in on the shopping proposal at a meeting Tuesday. City council is scheduled to vote on the committee’s decision Feb. 10.

McKenny argues those are days families want to be together rather than be scheduled to work.

“It’s incumbent upon our city council to ensure that we have that piece in play in our city,” McKenny said.

McKenny said he’s concerned city council will allow other retail districts to open on holidays if the Glebe BIA receives permission.

Allowing more holiday shopping in the Glebe would be “in the interest of maintenance and development of tourism,” city staff write in a report outlining their support.

The provincial law says shops can be considered for exemptions if they are within two kilometres of a tourist destination and at least one-quarter of the shops rely on tourists visiting the attraction for business.

The city identifies the tourist attractions close to the Glebe as Lansdowne Park, the Rideau Canal and the Canadian Museum of Nature.

The city can decide which commercial areas are exempt under the provincial Retail Business Holidays Act. Five areas currently have exemptions: The ByWard Market, Rideau Centre, Rideau between Sussex and King Edward Ave., Loblaws on Rideau Street and the Sparks Street mall.

There are no exemptions in Ottawa for businesses to be open Christmas Day, Good Friday or Easter Sunday.

Until last October, no shopping district had filed an application to remain open on holidays since the 2001 municipal amalgamation.

[email protected]
twitter.com/JonathanWilling

http://www.ottawasun.com/2016/01/29/...g-in-the-glebe

[Mugwumper]

Originally Posted by mykl

One cannot dictate what types of general observations I present. One also should be aware of the overall context of this discussion referring to an interview in which the manager of Nordstrom dodges the question of sales successes. If Nordstrom was doing well, they'd be willing to say so or at the very least hint at it.


As for Mugwumper's suggestion that the location is the issue, Eatons failed nationally (sadly) and Sears is also on the decline, especially shutting down lots of catalogue locations in small town Canada and trying to build a better online presence. Any location is the right location if you make it so.

Sears is still open in Ottawa in a couple of locations (Carlingwood and St. Laurent). It may have been doing somewhat OK at the Rideau Centre, but not well enough to meet climbing rents.

I doubt that Nordstrom is suffering. I was in there yesterday and it was packed. Yes, it's Winterlude, but it was full of shoppers buying things, not with skaters towing along young kids... and there weren't even any big sales going on. It was a total madhouse in there during Boxing Week sales.

[rocketphish]

Finance committee says Glebe shops could open on some holidays

Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen
Published on: February 2, 2016 | Last Updated: February 2, 2016 6:59 PM EST

Retail shops in the Glebe and Lansdowne Park may soon open on some statutory holidays.

Ottawa’s finance and economic development committee Tuesday voted 8-2 in favour of the Glebe Business Improvement Area’s bid for an exemption to Ontario’s Retail Business Holiday Act.

The law allows a city to permit this if the retail area is within two kilometres of a tourist attraction — in this case the Rideau Canal, the Canadian Museum of Nature and Lansdowne Park.

The Glebe BIA, which included 100 letters of support from businesses in its application, asked to open New Year’s Day, Family Day, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day and Thanksgiving, plus any future holidays declared by the province.

Restaurants, coffee shops and movie theatres, as well as stadiums and arenas, are already exempt , so it’s not like the Glebe is entirely shut down on holidays. The Ottawa and District Labour Council, the owner of a grocery store outside of the Glebe and the executive director of the ByWard Market BIA, one of three Ottawa zones to already have the exemption, all spoke against the application.

“If granted, the floodgates will most surely open,” labour council president Sean McKenny warned.

Mayor Jim Watson was quick to note the Glebe BIA’s application is the first of its kind since amalgamation and that workers, by law, must be given the right not to work on a holiday.

The mayor said he wants city staff to consult with other BIAs, business organizations and labour groups to see it there’s a desire to expand the exemption to other parts of the city, particularly in 2017, when the city is hoping to draw millions of tourists to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Canada’s Confederation.

“I think the fewer regulations we have to tell businesses when to open and how to operate the business the better,” Watson said.

The Glebe BIA the exemption would give store owners the choice whether to open.

There are no exemptions in Ottawa for businesses to be open Christmas Day, Good Friday or Easter Sunday.

Whole Foods at Lansdowne Park stayed open on Good Friday last year, causing a protest and resulting in a conviction for violating the Retail Business Holiday Act. They were fined $30,000, plus a victim fine surcharge worth 25 per cent of that amount. Charges against the store manager and a second count against the corporation were withdrawn.

If council approves the exemption on Feb. 10, the first applicable holiday would be Victoria Day in May.

[email protected]
twitter.com/mpearson78

http://ottawacitizen.com/business/lo...-some-holidays

[eternallyme]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

Finance committee says Glebe shops could open on some holidays

Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen
Published on: February 2, 2016 | Last Updated: February 2, 2016 6:59 PM EST

Retail shops in the Glebe and Lansdowne Park may soon open on some statutory holidays.

Ottawa’s finance and economic development committee Tuesday voted 8-2 in favour of the Glebe Business Improvement Area’s bid for an exemption to Ontario’s Retail Business Holiday Act.

The law allows a city to permit this if the retail area is within two kilometres of a tourist attraction — in this case the Rideau Canal, the Canadian Museum of Nature and Lansdowne Park.

The Glebe BIA, which included 100 letters of support from businesses in its application, asked to open New Year’s Day, Family Day, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day and Thanksgiving, plus any future holidays declared by the province.

Restaurants, coffee shops and movie theatres, as well as stadiums and arenas, are already exempt , so it’s not like the Glebe is entirely shut down on holidays. The Ottawa and District Labour Council, the owner of a grocery store outside of the Glebe and the executive director of the ByWard Market BIA, one of three Ottawa zones to already have the exemption, all spoke against the application.

“If granted, the floodgates will most surely open,” labour council president Sean McKenny warned.

Mayor Jim Watson was quick to note the Glebe BIA’s application is the first of its kind since amalgamation and that workers, by law, must be given the right not to work on a holiday.

The mayor said he wants city staff to consult with other BIAs, business organizations and labour groups to see it there’s a desire to expand the exemption to other parts of the city, particularly in 2017, when the city is hoping to draw millions of tourists to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Canada’s Confederation.

“I think the fewer regulations we have to tell businesses when to open and how to operate the business the better,” Watson said.

The Glebe BIA the exemption would give store owners the choice whether to open.

There are no exemptions in Ottawa for businesses to be open Christmas Day, Good Friday or Easter Sunday.

Whole Foods at Lansdowne Park stayed open on Good Friday last year, causing a protest and resulting in a conviction for violating the Retail Business Holiday Act. They were fined $30,000, plus a victim fine surcharge worth 25 per cent of that amount. Charges against the store manager and a second count against the corporation were withdrawn.

If council approves the exemption on Feb. 10, the first applicable holiday would be Victoria Day in May.

[email protected]
twitter.com/mpearson78

http://ottawacitizen.com/business/lo...-some-holidays

Hypocritical that the Byward Market spokesperson is against it when they are already exempted - if you feel that way, then remove your exemption!

As for other BIAs and areas, many would not qualify unless the rules were really stretched. That said, with the 2 km rule, probably all businesses within a perimeter stretching from the Ottawa River to the north, the Rideau River to the south and east and the Trillium Line to the west would be successful if they applied for an exemption. That would add the Elgin Street corridor, Centretown Bank Street, Old Ottawa South, Chinatown and Little Italy as notable areas that such would be permitted if they desired.

[rocketphish]

Glebe businesses get city approval to open on some holidays
City council approved exemption Wednesday

By Kate Porter, CBC News Posted: Feb 10, 2016 11:05 AM ET Last Updated: Feb 10, 2016 11:13 AM ET

Businesses in the Glebe will be allowed to stay open on some holidays after Ottawa city council approved Wednesday a bylaw to give its business improvement area an exemption from provincial legislation.

Glebe retailers along Bank Street from the Queensway to Lansdowne Park now join other areas in Ottawa that currently receive an exemption from the province's Retail Business Holidays Act, including the ByWard Market and a section of Rideau Street.

The Ottawa & District Labour Council opposed the move.

The majority of workers it spoke with in the Glebe said they did not want to work on a statutory holiday, wrote the council's president, Sean McKenny, in a letter sent to councillors and the mayor before the vote.

The council also didn't believe businesses in the Glebe BIA met the criteria for a tourist designation deserving an exemption, McKenny wrote.

Statutory holidays that businesses will be allowed to remain open for include New Year's Day, Family Day, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day and Thanksgiving.

Several councillors opposed the exemption.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa...oved-1.3441803

[citydwlr]

Also, from Jon Willing (The Ottawa CitiSun) via Twitter:

@Ottawalabour will appeal #Glebe holiday shopping decision to the OMB, prez tells me. #ottpoli

[1overcosc]

^ Their argument is mostly about social reasons, which are beyond the OMB's purview. The only thing the OMB cares about is whether "tourist area" is an appropriate designation. And it's pretty hard to argue that the Glebe/Lansdowne is not a tourist area.

[Neednothing]

It's not clear to me why big department stores of yester-year like The Bay and Nordstroms continue to survive. I suspect that this next recession will test their resilience especially as shoppers continue to turn to online retailers. How much of the investment into these retail is based on Boomer-driven nostalgia? I attempted to find a pair of winter hikers at Nordstroms mid December and they had but 1 style. The restaurant is nice, and over a nice warm bowl of lobster bisque I contemplated the future of this place.

[SpongeG]

why would you look for winter hikers at a high end department store?

[YOWflier]

Got myself a fantastic pair of men's UGG boots at Nordstrom back in December. For hikers I'd go to Sporting Life, Sail, or any of the other 7 trillion outdoor-themed stores in this city.

Bazille is indeed an excellent restaurant.

I find the online shopping experience barely, if at all more convenient than shopping in store. I definitely shop online, but it really depends on what the item is. For wearables, nothing can substitute a real brick and mortar store. I need to see it, feel it, try it on, etc. Of course I can do that after receiving an online order, but if what I receive is a miss, I then need to go through the hassle of return shipping, or go to the brick and mortar store anyway to execute the return.

Plus, by shopping at the store I get the satisfaction that I'm supporting my local economy, instead of some external entity that doesn't employ people and offer services in my city, and generally make it better.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

^ Their argument is mostly about social reasons, which are beyond the OMB's purview. The only thing the OMB cares about is whether "tourist area" is an appropriate designation. And it's pretty hard to argue that the Glebe/Lansdowne is not a tourist area.

This was put together pretty hastily after whole foods opened illegally last year. OMB likes paperwork, I wonder if enough was done.

I would be surprised if glebe gets more tourists than other central areas

[eternallyme]

Originally Posted by acottawa

This was put together pretty hastily after whole foods opened illegally last year. OMB likes paperwork, I wonder if enough was done.

I would be surprised if glebe gets more tourists than other central areas

Pretty much any central area would qualify for the tourist designation if they applied for it.

[TheGoods]

Originally Posted by Neednothing

It's not clear to me why big department stores of yester-year like The Bay and Nordstroms continue to survive. I suspect that this next recession will test their resilience especially as shoppers continue to turn to online retailers. How much of the investment into these retail is based on Boomer-driven nostalgia? I attempted to find a pair of winter hikers at Nordstroms mid December and they had but 1 style. The restaurant is nice, and over a nice warm bowl of lobster bisque I contemplated the future of this place.

Most high end stores are doing fairly well such as Nordstrom since most people that willing to spend a lot of money, want to be able to try out the close to see if it actually fits right on them or even, it suits them. I cannot see my wife trying to buy an evening gown let’s say for a wedding online without her trying it on, I think she would try the whole department and multiple other stores before settling on a specific dress.

Same for me, if I want to by a suit, I prefer going to a brick and motor store to be fitted. I know some online stores such as Frank and Oak (just opened an Ottawa location on Richmond Rd) and Indochino, which were online only stores have opened a retail store (showroom) to allow customer to come in and get measured, feel the material, see patterns, try out a jacket, etc…

[Mugwumper]

Originally Posted by TheGoods

Most high end stores are doing fairly well such as Nordstrom since most people that willing to spend a lot of money, want to be able to try out the close to see if it actually fits right on them or even, it suits them. I cannot see my wife trying to buy an evening gown let’s say for a wedding online without her trying it on, I think she would try the whole department and multiple other stores before settling on a specific dress.

Same for me, if I want to by a suit, I prefer going to a brick and motor store to be fitted. I know some online stores such as Frank and Oak (just opened an Ottawa location on Richmond Rd) and Indochino, which were online only stores have opened a retail store (showroom) to allow customer to come in and get measured, feel the material, see patterns, try out a jacket, etc…

I'm no retail expert, so these are just my observations... They do their homework, and they know what price range certain population groups prefer for products. So if I go to a boutique-type shop like say, Zara, I know that most of the new merchandise is going to be in the $45 - $55 range. Going into a Coach store, much of their stock is priced $350-$450 and up.

If I go to a department store like Nordstrom, there's a bit of a mix because they're looking at appealing to a few different groups under the same roof... affluent professionals, and young affluent professionals with a bit less disposable income, but who are still squarely in the trendy "affluent" demographic.

The tough part is testing product lines and styles and seeing what appeals to Ottawa, the geographic, regional element. Nordstrom's barely been open here for a year, so it takes some time to get the mix right.

Most people still haven't figured out that you can order online and pick up stuff at the store. Easy peasy. This is how the chains are going to keep the bricks and mortar shops running in the future. It makes great business sense.

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

Mugwumper

The tough part is testing product lines and styles and seeing what appeals to Ottawa, the geographic, regional element. Nordstrom's barely been open here for a year, so it takes some time to get the mix right.

Yep! They will pay close attention to what moves and what does not.

A while back a Sales associate told me that they are told to diligently pass along customer comments to management to help them figure out what merchandise Ottawans want to see in the store.

[Neednothing]

Originally Posted by TheGoods

Most high end stores are doing fairly well such as Nordstrom since most people that willing to spend a lot of money, want to be able to try out the close to see if it actually fits right on them or even, it suits them. I cannot see my wife trying to buy an evening gown let’s say for a wedding online without her trying it on, I think she would try the whole department and multiple other stores before settling on a specific dress.

Same for me, if I want to by a suit, I prefer going to a brick and motor store to be fitted. I know some online stores such as Frank and Oak (just opened an Ottawa location on Richmond Rd) and Indochino, which were online only stores have opened a retail store (showroom) to allow customer to come in and get measured, feel the material, see patterns, try out a jacket, etc…

Let's see what the earnings call on the 18th reports.

While its true that trying on clothes is a benefit of being in the store shopping I'm not so sure that it is truly worth making the trip all for the sake of trying on the clothing. A fitted suit is certainly a specific instance where this is useful, but this doesn't quite justify in itself the existence of these larger stores who really don't know what they want to be when they grow up. They're either empty with little inventory and selection, or like Sears, overpacked without any method of organization or merchandising.

[YOWflier]

Reposting this from the Rideau Centre thread:

Originally Posted by citydwlr

Based on previous articles on Retail Insider and Ottawa Magazine, Zara Home, Zara Kids, and Massimo Dutti were said to be coming.

A quick search on the job site indeed shows that they are currently staffing for Anthropologie, H&M, and Ted Baker London.

Some great firsts and additions for Ottawa here.

I'm especially pumped about Ted Baker; love that brand. The stuff's on the pricy side but the fashion is excellent (both men's and women's).