The big box malls are indeed cheaper to build. But with malls being abandoned all over the USA, even more important, each footprint building can be re-developed, or sold-off independently, with or without the adjacent parking area.
Sears Canada
- Thread starter SkyRider
- Start date
Sears Canada to close 59 stores, lay off 2,900 people in restructuring
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/sears-canada-ccaa-1.4172736
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/sears-canada-ccaa-1.4172736
I was watching BNN earlier to-day and one of the talking heads asked if Sears can be bailed out (like Home Trust). The guest talking head said you can't bail out a company where the underlying business stinks.
I think Sears is dead company walking (limping?).
I think Sears is dead company walking (limping?).
Surprised it took this long.
All I know is that the locations I'd go to in the past in the GTA look like they'd never been renovated in 30 years. You know, that bland beige colour everywhere.
Also, I have no problem buying new office clothes from department stores, but I'd take The Bay's clothes 100 times out of 100 times I need a new shirt or pants.
Clothing is a high margin category. You'd think they would try to get new styles and nice brands. Instead you get Arnold Palmer golf shirts and probably 6-7 store brands which nobody buys. The Bay has more designer brands and nicer sections.
Such old crusty stores too.
I guess they've tried milking that 50 year old+ target audience and it ran out. With Canada/US having lots more older people you'd think it actually might help sales.
Problem is the new batch of old people aren't like our parents who loved shopping at Eatons and Simpsons. I remember shopping with them as a kid and those are the only stores they went to.... department stores. People now grow up shopping for spiffier brands and at other stores. So when they get older, they will continue doing so and avoid department stores except for the odd purchase.
All I know is that the locations I'd go to in the past in the GTA look like they'd never been renovated in 30 years. You know, that bland beige colour everywhere.
Also, I have no problem buying new office clothes from department stores, but I'd take The Bay's clothes 100 times out of 100 times I need a new shirt or pants.
Clothing is a high margin category. You'd think they would try to get new styles and nice brands. Instead you get Arnold Palmer golf shirts and probably 6-7 store brands which nobody buys. The Bay has more designer brands and nicer sections.
Such old crusty stores too.
I guess they've tried milking that 50 year old+ target audience and it ran out. With Canada/US having lots more older people you'd think it actually might help sales.
Problem is the new batch of old people aren't like our parents who loved shopping at Eatons and Simpsons. I remember shopping with them as a kid and those are the only stores they went to.... department stores. People now grow up shopping for spiffier brands and at other stores. So when they get older, they will continue doing so and avoid department stores except for the odd purchase.
TJX does great because they buy product at heavy discounts. They carry last years fashions and buy up closeout deals. They also have hardly anyone working at the stores, since it's one where people are expected to handle it themselves in a bargain bin/treasure hunt setting.
Employees there are paid little, since they are mostly cashiers and stockers. They don't have many (if any) personnel that are specialized salespeople that cost more.
No severance for employees and pensioners will probably have to take a haircut.
It sucks for unique stores. For chains, not so bad. They can float it and get more customers. You're typical Jack Astors probably gets more sales than 3-4 boutique eateries combined.
And that's where the whole supply/demand and capitalism comes in.
One one hand, every person will claim they like unique mom and pop stores. And that Walmarts are shit.
But when it comes down to their wallet and their typical weekly grocery run, where do they go? Not that corner market. It's probably Loblaws chains or Metro and such.
I am sorry for the employees who will lose their jobs. I live in a house full of Sears appliances and tools. Failure to honor a warrantee and a hot water heater repair time of one month--equivalent to not honoring the warrantee- made me unwilling to enter Sears ever again. Corporate greed killed them. They can't close their doors soon enough for me.
People and companies focus on low costs and price because it helps them keep more $$$ in their pocket.
If I'm buying basic groceries, Walmart, No Frills (Loblaw's cheap brand) and Food Basics (Metro's cheap brand) sells it for the cheapest. I can surely find the same product (or very similar) from Loblaws and Metros normal stores, but they cost more there. Same product. Same costs from suppliers (I know), but at Loblaws or Metro everything costs $1 more. Or if you want to pay double, find what you're looking for at a gas station or Shoppers Drug Mart.
People don't care for service much because most products don't need someone tell them about it. The only time I need help at a store is a salesman at a suit store helping me with styles, fit and tailoring.
Dollar stores and Costco are the two biggest growing kinds of stores. Both have the WORST service, but the best bang for your buck, so that's why people shop there. If I have a question about a TV at Costco, I am 100% certain zero people will know the answers. Not even the store manager. But who cares, I'll do my own online comparisons.
Most places also have good store return policies, so even if something doesn't work out, they can return it so people don't care. Now if every store was a no-refund policy, then I'm sure people would source more education and service from sales people to help them pick the best product, but even then people will have doubts as the specialized sales people (suits, electronics, etc.....) are often commission based so their best interests may not even be you anyway. It's trying to sell you as much shit they can to get that 3% commission. That's why these retards are always trying to sell you monster cables, add a tie or belt to the purchase, etc.... so people don't like that shit and prefer to go lone wolf shopping.
It's like Future Shop vs Best Buy. Same company, mostly the same products. Take one step into FS and a guy will pounce on you and follow you around. Take a step into BB and nobody hassles you. If I have a question, I'll ask.
43 Executive Employees will get millions in bonuses. The poor employees are all set to lose their pensions. Very sad state of affairs at Sears. Yet many of the Sears stores are undergoing renovations.
This is why company pensions are to be avoided in favor of matching rrsp contributions. Businesses are supposed to take risks, it's good for the economy when they make bets or when some new business topples the incumbent, but it isn't good for employee pensions and the company ALWAYS finds a way to dip into them.
Much better if the retirement cash isn't under company control.
But in order for Amazon Prime to ship me items in one or two business days doesn't it mean there's likely a warehouse, delivery guys etc that are local who are getting paid?
Also, don't smaller companies have an opportunity to sell things on Amazon? I thought it was easier to get your product on the website than it is to get it into the shelves of a major retailer like Sears. So doesn't that help small businesses?
I shop online if it is cheaper or easier. In the cases where I save money. That usually means money that is then put into the economy through other businesses/services or investments.
I disagree that there has to be a brick and mortar store. Sears/Hudson Bay could close up a bunch of their stores, sell online with a few flagship stores for people who really like to see products and keep going.
Rent outside Toronto are pretty bad too. I know of a local spot that has changed ownership three times in 8 years. The rent is 6K/month. That's a lot of product to move just to pay rent..... nevermind employees, taxes, overhead etc.
http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2014/01/amazon-vancouver-now-hiring/
This was back in 2014 but Amazon hired 1000 people in Vancouver for
Software Development
Project/Program/Product Management (Technical)
Operations, IT & Support Engineering
Project/Program/Product Management (Non-Technical)
Systems, Quality and Security Engineering
Database Administration
Research Science
I see your point, I am just trying to point out that it's not just a few people in a giant warehouse with robots.
Pot and the kettle,...
Have you finished checking all of my posts for the last week yet frank,...a little creepy here,...???
Except I wasn't "wrong",...a total of two book stores in North America,...yep,...that's huge,...when Sears alone just shut down 59 actual brick and mortar.
Have you finished checking all of my posts for the last week yet frank,...a little creepy here,...???
Where did I post ANYTHING suggesting I have been checking your posts?!!!??? Please quote.
What I'm referring to is that you stated that there "must be" brick and mortar stores and you never explained why there "must be" brick and mortar stores.
You won't waver from that, and that's the lack of changed that I am referring to.
And no this is not a pot and kettle situation because unlike you I am willing to change.
Maybe we need more "...," so you can understand us.
