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Olympic Gold Medalist Ross Rebagliati to Open Canadian Marijuana Stores

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Retail Insider
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Ross' Gold

Ross Rebagliati, the Canadian Olympic gold medallist professional snowboarder, will open Medical Marijuana retail franchises in Whistler BC, Vancouver and Toronto. Locations have yet to be determined, and we’ve been told their ‘flagship location’ will open in Whistler this spring after the Canadian federal government privatizes the medical marijuana production industry.

The franchise’s brand will be called ‘Ross’ Gold’, and Robagliati forecasts that the franchise could make millions. A third-party business partner assisted with preparing this through market and product analysis. 

Readers may remember the 1998 Olympic controversy surrounding Rebagliati after a blood test showed he had THC (the principal cannabinoid of the cannabis plant) in his blood. He was allowed to keep his gold medal, and Rebagliati  maintained that the THC readings were from second-hand smoke. His latest business venture makes us wonder. 

To quote his company’s ‘business model’: 
“The Canadian Government is only now privatizing the medical marijuana industry, and the company intends to build traction and revenues through the sale of legal retail items before other players enter the marketplace. This will give the company a competitive advantage while the application processes are vetted out by the government.  Ultimately, the company intends to successfully apply to become a medical marijuana producer and  build a franchise model to license stores throughout Canada.When and if marijuana is decriminalized in Canada like it has been in the American states of Washington and Colorado, the opportunity would also exist for the company to become a government licensed supplier to the general public.“

Ross’ Gold ‘Business Model’: http://www.rebagliatigold.com/business_model.html

$230million Redevelopment for Oshawa Shopping Mall

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Retail Insider
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Oshawa Centre (Image: Ivanhoe Cambridge)

Oshawa Centre (Oshawa, Ontario) will expand and renovate at a cost of $230million. The mall will expand by 75,000 square feet and renovate 185,000 square feet of current mall space. When done, the mall will be about 1.25million square feet and will have 60 new retailers. 

Construction starts this summer and is expected to be finished by Spring 2016. 

According to landlord, Ivanhoe Cambridge, these are the ‘project details’:

  • Over 60 new retail concepts, including two additional large format retailers
  • New 1,000-seat, sophisticated food court
  • New main entrances on the east side
  • New and updated entrances on the west side
  • Upgraded seating area elements, including floor and ceiling treatment
  • Fully renovated washrooms with modern upgraded finishes

The mall was build in 1956 and currently has 230 stores under about 1.1million square feet. It has the largest ‘Boathouse’ store in Canada. 

Oshawa Centre includes the following anchor stores: A 122,624 square foot Hudson’s Bay store, a 123,281 sq ft Sears store and anchors including Staples, Chapters, Old Navy, H&M and Sport Check. An 89,000 Target store will open in a former Zellers location, opening date to be announced. 

Renovation rendering. Image: Ivanhoe Cambridge

Ivanhoe Cambridge appears to be in an expansion and renovation mode. We previously reported on its expansion of Vaughan Mills in the suburban Toronto area. As per our article this morning, malls are changing and only the ‘best’ Canadian malls will survive. 

[Source: Retail Insider Gregory Huzar, who provided this press release (in .pdf)]

Oshawa Centre website: http://www.oshawacentre.com

Some Malls Will Live. And Some, Like The One, Will Be Demolished For New Ideas

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Retail Insider
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In the next decade, Canadians are going to see some of our shopping malls torn down. They may be replaced by new retail/multi-use concepts, or be replaced by entirely new uses. Today we’ll mention Edmonton’s Capilano Mall and its proposal to eliminate its interior mall space and replace it with ‘big-box retailers’.

Edmonton’s Capilano Mall is a mediocre shopping centre (we’re being generous in our description) located in the Eastern portion of the city. Yelp reviews give it ONE STAR (LOL!). Anchor tenants include Walmart and a Safeway grocery store. The mall was built in 1967 and is about 300,000 square feet (the size of a large suburban department store). The interior decore inspires yawning and its landlord could market it as a cure for insomnia. 

Capilano’s landlord obviously realized this and is spending $11million to eliminate interior corridor retail and replace it with larger stores surrounded by parking. We think this is also uninspired but it might make the landlord some money in the shorter-term, not to mention bring some new retail to an area of Edmonton that may be somewhat underserved by larger-format stores (at least compared to other parts of the city). 

Walmart, Capilano Mall Edmonton. Wow. Image: darrellinyvr, flickr

We’ve become interested in the ‘future of malls’. Some of the best will survive into the next decade. We think many will fail. Edmonton’s Heritage Mall, for example, was razed and replaced by a massive multi-family residential development. Numerous American malls have been demolished to the point that a website has been dedicated to the concept. 

We’ve been inspired to create an analytical article on the future of North American malls. Expect a post in the near future, once we’ve had time to compile some research materials and consult with some commercial real estate experts. 

Capilano Mall website: THERE IS NO WEBSITE. 

Walmart to Build 37+ Canadian Supercentres in 2013

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Retail Insider
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Walmart (Photo: Wikipedia)

Walmart will build at least 37 Canadian supercentres in the next year (‘Fiscal Year’: between February 1st 2013 and January 31st 2013). The estimated cost of this expansion will be about $450million.  Impressively, nine supercentres will open in Canada this Friday, January 25th.

Walmart will also expand its Canadian distribution network to support its recent expansions. Walmart says this expansion will create 7000 temporary and full-time jobs. It is clear Walmart is serious in staying competitive with retailers like Target, slated to open its first Canadian stores in March.

Walmart will open a total of 73 Canadian stores in fiscal 2013. The company plans to continue opening 35-40 Walmart supercentres in Canada every year. Walmart will have a total of 388 Canadian stores by the end of January 2014. Walmart employs almost 95,000 people in Canada.

Walmart will also be opening smaller ‘urban Walmart’ stores in Canada. We will follow this up with an article in the coming days.

[Source: Canadian Newswire]

Walmart Canada website: walmart.ca

Target’s Canadian Merchandise Will be More Expensive Than in America

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Retail Insider
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Target (Image: Getty Images)

Target’s Canadian stores will have merchandise, on average, more expensive than that in American locations. It’s an unfortunate reality of a geographically large country with relatively high import tariffs and a comparatively small population. 

A study by Field Agent Canada for The Globe and Mail shows Walmart’s Canadian prices are, on average, 23% higher in Canada than in the US. In the US, Walmart’s prices are only about 0.5% less than Target. We can likely expect Target’s prices to be similarly higher when it opens its first Canadian stores in March. 

Target’s answer to higher Canadian prices is that it will be a ‘unique experience’, offering differentiated merchandise (including designer collaborations) and experiential interiors that will keep Canadians coming back. Time will tell if this will be successful. 

So Canada: Will you shop at Canadian Target stores if their prices, on average, will be 23% higher than in the US? Or will you cross-border shop (or shop online) for bargains? 

[Online Source – Globe & Mail]

Target Canada website: www.target.ca

hr2 By Holt Renfrew Opening Second Location at Vaughan Mills

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Retail Insider
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Lease Plan: Ivanhoe Cambridge

Holt Renfrew’s discount concept hr2 will open its second Canadian location at Toronto’s Vaughan Mills Shopping Centre. It will be located at the current ‘Holt Renfrew Last Call’ store currently on site, and be about 28,000 square feet. Holt Renfrew Last Call will close permanently to be replaced by hr2.

Holt Renfrew Last Call will close February 2nd so renovations can begin. The new hr2 will open April 2013. 

We previously reported on hr2’s inception, as well as its first location that will open in suburban Montreal in March of this year. 

Lease Plan: Ivanhoe Cambridge

We’ll update you on more hr2 news as we get it!

Holt Renfrew website: www.holtrenfrew.com

Sears Canada Innovates: Teams With Buffalo and ALDO

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Retail Insider
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Aldo (Bayshore Shopping)

Sears Canada is partnering with Buffalo and ALDO. Both companies will produce private-label merchandise for Sears. 

Buffalo International will design and manufacture Sears’ ‘Nevada’ line of clothing for both men and women. ALDO will design and manufacture brands ‘Nevada’ and ‘Attitude’ clothing for men and women, as well as the ‘Jessica’ brand of women’s shoes. These product launches will happen for the Fall 2013 season.

Buffalo is a 1973-founded Montreal-based clothing manufacturer and retailer with distribution in 18 countries via about 3000 retail locations. It was started by designer David Bitton.

Image: bootlovers.typepad.com

ALDO is a 1972-founded Montreal-based shoe manufacturer and retailer with about 1,600 retal stores in 80 countries. According to Sears’ press release, “ALDO Product Services (APS) is a division of the ALDO Group dedicated to providing branded wholesale and private label fashion footwear and accessories. Through its work with select retail clients, APS creates and develop brands, by offering all the tools and resources to help companies succeed, from research, product design and development to branding, marketing and distribution.“

Sears Canada seems serious about succeeding. We’ve been told by someone close to the company that we can expect other innovations under their CEO, Calvin MacDonald. We’ll report on more Sears activity when received. 

Sears issued two press releases from which this article was written. The link to Buffalo’s involvement is here, while the link to ALDO’s involvement is here. 

Sears Canada website: www.sears.ca

Buffalo Jeans website: www.buffalojeans.com

ALDO website: www.aldoshoes.com

Canada’s Largest Outlet Mall to Expand and Include ‘LegoLand® Discovery Centre’

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Retail Insider
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Vaughan Mills (Image: whattodotoronto.com)

Suburban Toronto’s Vaughan Mills is about to enlarge by 150,000 square feet, bringing in about 50 new retailers and three anchors, including ‘LegoLand Discovery Centre’. This isn’t just significant for Toronto… Canada is about to see a boom in outlet mall shopping.

Vaughan Mills isn’t just an ‘outlet mall’, however. It’s got some ‘concept stores’ as well as some full-priced retailers, and it also considers itself to be an ‘entertainment venue’. Entertainment will be important to future retailing, as we described in yesterday’s Retail Insider article about the future of retail.

Vaughan Mills will grow to about 1.274million square feet. Construction starts either late April or early May, according to a source at landlord Ivanhoe Cambridge. The mall will spend a reported $87million on the expansion. When completed, Vaughn Mills will have 250 stores and 19 ‘major tenants’ (large in size, we presume).

According to their press release, the expanded Vaughn Mills will include:
-50 new retail concepts and 3 new major tenants including LegoLand® Discovery Centre
-An entirely newly-designed Entertainment court that will build off the existing “Discover Ontario” theme which celebrates the beauty and diversity of the province within an innovative and contemporary setting
-Renovations to the common areas and the food court
-A highly visible and distinctive new entrance as part of the centre’s unique design and existing neighbourhood extension
-450 new parking stalls for a total of over 6,500 stalls
Upgraded common area elements, including floor and ceiling treatments, in addition to energy efficient LED lighting

Vaughan Mills’ current floorplan. Source: searchingtoronto.com

“Today, over 13.5 million shoppers, families and tourists visit Vaughan Mills year after year for a shopping experience that includes: 16 specialty anchors, brand fashion, 50%+ brand and luxury outlets, entertainment components and unique dining options all within 6 themed neighbourhoods and 6 themed transition courts.

Vaughan Mills includes attractions such as Bass Pro Shops and the world’s largest Pro Hockey Life. Its powerful retail mix offers many Canadian retail “firsts” and “exclusive-to-Vaughan Mills” concepts, such as Holt Renfrew Last Call, Michael Kors Outlet, Juicy Couture Outlet, J. Crew Factory, UGG Australia Outlet, Calvin Klein, Lacoste Outlet, A/X Armani Exchange Outlet, North Face Outlet, Banana Republic Factory Store, and many more.”

We’re still doing our homework on other outlet mall retail coming to Canada. We’ve reported on some already. Soon, there may be no desire to cross the Canadian border to shop in the United States for bargains or otherwise. 

Source: Ivanhoe Cambridge Press Release
Vaughan Mills website: www.vaughanmills.com

What Will Future Canadian Stores Look Like?

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Retail Insider
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Breuninger, Stuttgart. Image: http://www.schnickschnacksystems.com

What will Canadian stores look like in a few years? Here’s a glimpse of what some experts predict.

Technology will play a big role, not surprisingly, while ‘bricks-and-mortar’ stores will become more ‘entertainment’ based rather than simply a means to a purchase. We’ll post some pics and descriptions.

1) Sales associates on the sales floor with hand-held devices. Auto-charging customer’s accounts via smart phone technology will become common, and is already used at retailers like Nordstrom (see image below).

Image: Nordstrom

2) Cash registers, when used at all, will be streamlined, flexible, and integrate the mobile technology described above. The cash register below is an iPad placed within a bamboo holding.

Image: gizmodo.com

3) In some stores, inventory may not even exist in the “store” environment, but will instead be shipped to your home via a distribution centre. This has already been initiated at the House Of Fraser.com store in Aberdeen, Scotland (though customers often use iPads at H of F to browse merchandise, not unlike Canada’s defunct catalogue store Consumers Distributing).

Image: Ikea

4) Some retailers will devote less space to sales floor ‘mass product’ while devoting more space to ‘product immersion’. Think Apple Stores, for example.

Image: Apple Store (Dubai)

5) Retailers will create actual ‘playrooms’ rather than showrooms so shoppers may experience products. Ikea, again, is a good example.

Image: http://hookedonhouses.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/ikea7.jpg

6) Displays will become more ‘sleek’ and ‘modern’, incorporating technology. This one is designed by King Retail Solutions.

Image: KRS

7) Technology will be integrated into retailing, including this chef’s specials illustrated on digital screens above him. This is a grocery store where LED signage will be used liberally, below.

Image: KRS

We can expect new technologies to be quickly integrated into innovative retailers. Canadian Nordstrom stores will certainly use hand-held checkout technology, for example. In the coming years we’ll see store technology that we may not have yet have dreamed of.

Information Source: King Retail Solutions

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Will Walmart Open REALLY Small Canadian Stores?

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Retail Insider
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Walmart on Campus

Walmart is thinking ‘small’. It’s opening a 2,500 square foot store on a university campus in Atlanta, GA, and already has 3,500 square foot store at a university in Arkansas. Could Walmart ’boutiques’ come to Canada? 

It’s a novel idea that might actually work in some markets. Walmart’s low prices within a ‘convenience store’ might be welcomed by those otherwise paying higher prices at smaller stores in locations not served by larger-floorplate discount retailers. 

The mini-Walmart will include “ramen noodles, power bars, frozen pizza and soda” (According to this article) as well as some electronics like iPods, peripherals, and grocery items like frozen foods, fresh foods, ‘grab-and-go’ and beverage items.

We may be reporting on what could become a new trend for Walmart in Canada. Target’s Canadian store openings (starting in March) will give Walmart a run for its Canadian money. We’ll keep our ear to the ground to see if any new, interesting retail concepts arrive in Canada. 

Source: http://nique.net/news/2013/01/11/16214

Walmart website: walmart.ca

Target website: www.target.ca

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