Montreal-based Lightspeed, a leading provider of cloud-based, omnichannel commerce platforms, announced this week that it will integrate Google tools directly into its platform to help independent businesses as they reopen with a goal of expanding in-store capacity. The integration will allow independent retailers to manage various Google tools directly in their Lightspeed commerce platform at no additional cost.
New data from Google suggests that consumers are interested in shopping local with many starting their journey online. Remarkably, searches for “local” + “business(es)” have grown by more than 80% year over year, including searches such as “local businesses near me” and “support local businesses.” Furthermore, searches for “who has” + “in stock” have grown by more than 8,000% year over year, including searches such as “who has gym equipment in stock.”
The Lightspeed and Google collaboration integrates three crucial tools directly into the Lightspeed platform: Google Local Inventory Ads, Google Smart Shopping Campaigns, and Google My Business. The integration includes:
Google Local Inventory Ads: Retailers can reach local customers with local inventory ads, from directly within the Lightspeed platform. These ads help nearby shoppers know what they have in stock, driving more visits to their physical shop.
Google Smart Shopping Campaigns: Today’s consumers are shopping across platforms and devices, online and offline, seamlessly. With Smart Shopping campaigns, products are eligible to show up across all of Google’s properties and reach users wherever, and whenever, they’re searching or consuming content.
Google My Business: Lightspeed customers can get and manage a professional Google My Business listing straight from Lightspeed’s commerce platform. Retailers can keep customers up to date with their latest information, whether it’s store hours or COVID-19 safety protocols in place.
Enabling access to these digital tools directly within the Lightspeed platform strategically aligns with Lightspeed’s goal to simplify entrepreneurship and level the playing field for independent merchants. Combined with the Lightspeed Supplier Network, the integration creates a seamless path for local retailers to scale their omnichannel businesses.
“We know that so much of business today starts with a Google search,” said Lightspeed CEO Dax Dasilva, “By combining forces, Lightspeed and Google are eliminating the pain points that prevent SMBs from effectively promoting their products online to the communities who prefer to shop local, providing them a springboard to simplify and scale their businesses as they prepare for the welcomed return of in-store shopping.”
“Small and medium sized businesses have been hit the hardest during the pandemic, but globally we’ve seen a rallying cry to support them,” says Sabrina Geremia, VP & Country Director, Google Canada. “Customers are shopping both online and in-store and expect a seamless shopping experience between both. As we look towards recovery, this integration with Lightspeed will provide a scalable solution for Lightspeed merchants of all sizes looking to reach customers in this new omnichannel reality”
Google My Business and Local Inventory Ad integrations are currently available to all Lightspeed retail customers. Lightspeed’s Smart Shopping Campaign capability will become available in the coming months.
The Weekly: Special Edition 30 with Mario Toneguzzi
An off-schedule podcast discussion with Retail Insider journalist Mario Toneguzzi who was just named one of the world’s top 10 business journalists. Craig and Mario discuss how he became a journalist and what he’s seeing in Canadian retail during the pandemic through his interviews with top business leaders.
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In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the changing needs of consumers, M&M Food Market is now offering same-day grocery delivery to residents of southern Ontario with plans to roll out the concept to the rest of the country in the near future.
Andy O’Brien, the company’s CEO, said the delivery concept will start in select locations in Toronto, Milton, Cambridge, and Guelph.
Andy O’Brien
“M&M has always offered online ecommerce. We’ve been offering it for 11 years where people could go online and order— click and collect and pick it up in store. The natural evolution of that has been to provide consumers, our customers, with what they want. They wanted originally to come in store. Then they wanted to shop online,” said O’Brien.
“Then they wanted not to come into the store but actually put in their trunk at curbside and the natural extension to that was perhaps we should offer a delivery service. We started originally about a year ago maybe a year and a half ago with Instacart to start offering a delivery service, which took off really well. Which gave us the insight that there is definitely a need and our customers want a delivery service.
“So now we’re testing our own delivery . . . with the vision to within the next six months that M&M will be offering its own delivery service to our customers across the country.”
O’Brien said the goal is to provide delivery service within about an hour.
“Right now we offer an hour service. You order and you can pick up in an hour,” he said.
“The difference between Instacart and our own delivery service is really important. Instacart is a marketplace. It has all these other brands. We can’t offer our sale prices. We have a rewards, loyalty, program. We can’t offer that. As well, we can’t offer our branded delivery service.
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Interior of M&M Food Market. Photo: M&M Food Market
Interior of M&M Food Market. Photo: M&M Food Market
Interior of M&M Food Market. Photo: M&M Food Market
“Our customers have really come to know that when you come into an M&M it’s a one-on-one service. Our meal advisors know our customers and we help them with their meals. We thought it would be way better as a branded experience to actually deliver the food right to our customers.”
O’Brien said the company will be launching a new website some time this summer which will allow customers to be able to decide if they want to pick up the food at a curbside or have it delivered to their homes. It will include the rewards program and all the specials.
During the pandemic with more people staying at home, they are also eating more at home.
“It’s really changed over the last 14 months. At the very beginning when everybody was asked to stay home, I think there was a bit of panic. Of course, back in March and April there was and we all know from our research that the average consumer has a repertoire of about eight to 10 meals. So when you think of 21 meals a week at home, after two months, people were pretty bored with what they were eating,” said O’Brien.
“So they started coming into our stores and saying okay what else do you have. I can’t keep feeding my kids chicken fingers every day. I’m tired of eating the same meal twice a week. We were all offering significant changes to their meal decisions by putting together meals for them. And over the course over the next six to eight months, consumers became very comfortable being at home.
“And they started going back into the kitchen and making food, realizing they can make some really good food at home and M&M has a lot to offer to make it simple and it’s a lot cheaper than going out to a restaurant. And it’s a lot safer. So we saw change from kind of panic of having to be home to really enjoying it and enjoying getting back to the kitchen. It’s been a massive change in terms of the consumer. And the perspective on frozen has changed. They look at it as a very safe, reliable, convenient, always available for you, always flash frozen at the height of perfection. It became a trusted segment in the food business and obviously M&M is a very trusted frozen brand.”
O’Brien said the company is continuing to look at new store openings with an eye of penetrating the urban markets such as Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and maybe Calgary and Edmonton as well.
“We’re really strong in the suburbs. We’re not very strong yet in the urban market and research has shown us that Millennials are really open to a frozen product and really love to assemble cook which is what we offer and very, very keen on delivery as we’ve seen with Uber Eats and Skip The Dishes. We’re testing that now in Toronto and it’s going really well,” he said.
Main Entrance at CF Chinook Centre in Calgary. Photo: Jessica Finch.
Retail Insider continues its Photo Tour series of Canadian malls to provide a glimpse into shopping centres which may be less frequented lately due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Google Map of Calgary with CF Chinook Centre Mall circled. Photo: Google Map with highlight by Retail Insider
Google Satellite Map of CF Chinook Centre in Calgary. Photo: Google Maps
CF Chinook Centre is an indoor shopping centre with approximately 217 retail stores over 1.38 million square feet of retail floor space. For the vehicular-inclined, the shopping centre has 5,500 parking spots and the centre is a 10 minute walk from the Chinook Ctrain light rail station. The shopping centre’s three retail anchors include Hudson’s Bay, Nordstrom which opened in the fall of 2014 and Saks Fifth Avenue which opened in early 2018.
History of CF Chinook Centre Mall
Initially built in 1960, the mall has gone through a number of expansions and renovations. A competing mall was built across the street in the 1960s and both merged after coming under common ownership in 1974. A new wing was added in the 1980s for specialty retailers, the entire complex was rebuilt in three phases in 2000, and an expansion adding 180,000 square feet opened in 2010. CF Chinook Centre recently completed a major $101 million redevelopment project that included the new 61 Avenue S.W. pedestrian bridge, the $17 million revitalization of the centre’s Dining Hall to include 835 seats and feature 20 dining retailers (by GH+A Design), and the south property redevelopment. The centre, which featured 45 stores on opening day, now offers more than 250 stores and services.
Breaking Up CF Chinook Centre
In order to make this photo tour manageable, the shopping centre needed to be divided by each floor/level as well as into additional zones.
Lower Level Tour Zones at CF Chinook Centre
The lower level at CF Chinook Centre is very long, stretching north-south in direction with a loop on the northern end.
Lower level of CF Chinook Centre tour zones. Photo: CF Chinook Mall map with zones overlaid by Retail Insider
The tour zones for CF Chinook Centre’s lower level include:
South End (highlighted in Red)
Central Zone (highlighted in Purple)
Northwest End (highlighted in Orange)
Northeast End (highlighted in Green)
Upper Level Tour Zones at CF Chinook Centre
The upper level at CF Chinook Centre does not stretch as long as the lower level and it is home to a substantial food court and various retail stores.
Upper level of CF Chinook Centre tour zones. Photo: CF Chinook Mall map with zones overlaid by Retail Insider
The tour zones for CF Chinook Centre’s upper level include:
Food Court and Central Zone (highlighted in Red)
Northwest End (highlighted in Purple)
Northeast End (highlighted in Green)
Retail Profile of CF Chinook Centre’s Lower Level
The lower level is the largest retail runway for CF Chinook Centre. A non-retail anchor, Cineplex, is on the south end of the shopping centre and continues to the retail loop on its north end.
South End of CF Chinook Centre’s Lower Level
South end of CF Chinook Centre on the lower level. Photo: CF Chinook Mall map with zones overlaid by Retail Insider
The uncontested major tenant on the south end of CF Chinook Centre is Hudson’s Bay. It comes in at 206,514 square feet of retail space stretching across two levels. The store has the most comprehensive selection of designer brands of any Hudson’s Bay store in Alberta.
East exterior promoting Hudson’s Bay near Pottery Barn Kids at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Hudson’s Bay on CF Chinook Centre’s lower level. Photo: Jessica Finch
Select CF Chinook retailers previously featured in Retail Insider include:
TopShop: The British multinational fashion retailer, purchased by ASOS in February 2021, opened the 15,000-square-foot store in CF Chinook Centre in November 2013, located adjacent to its franchise owner, Hudson’s Bay. Retail Insider will be discussing the future of TopShop Canada this month in an article.
Other select retailers in the south end of the mall’s lower level include Old Navy, H&M, Lammie’s Western Wear, Zara, Pottery Barn, Jewels by Maximes, Call It Spring, Bentley, Ricki’s, The Gap, Nature Collection, Garage, Dynamite, Melanie Lyne, Aldo, and la Vie En Rose.
East exterior of Pottery Barn and The GAP at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Other select CF Chinook Centre retailers on the south end of the lower level
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Call It Spring on CF Chinook Centre's lower level. Photo: Jessica Finch
Bentley on CF Chinook Centre's lower level. Photo: Jessica Finch
Aldo and American Eagle Outfitters on CF Chinook Centre's lower level. Photo: Jessica Finch
Melanie Lyne and Aldo Accessories on CF Chinook Centre's lower level. Photo: Jessica Finch
le Vie en Rose on CF Chinook Centre's lower level. Photo: Jessica Finch
Former NYX Cosmetics location next to Ricki's on CF Chinook Centre's lower level. Photo: Jessica Finch
South building extension hosting Cineplex and Old Navy at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Central Zone of CF Chinook Centre’s Lower Level
Central zone of CF Chinook Centre on the lower level. Photo: CF Chinook Mall map with zones overlaid by Retail Insider
Centre escalators from lower level at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
The main attraction for this section of the lower level is the main entrance from the east as well as the circular viewpoint that allows visitors to look upwards to the second level. Before we head up to the second level, the tour proceeded around the escalators to continue on the lower level behind the escalators.
Centre view point from lower level looking upward to upper level at CF Chinook Centre
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Centre view point from the lower level looking upward to the upper level at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Centre view point from the lower level looking upward to the upper level at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Select CF Chinook retailers previously featured in Retail Insider include:
Featured retailers on CF Chinook Centre's lower level in the central zone
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INDOCHINO on the lower level at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
HUGO BOSS and Williams and Sonoma on the lower level at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Nespresso on the lower level at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Other select retailers in the centre zone of the mall on the lower level include American Eagle Outfitters, La Senza, Banana Republic, Sunglass Hut, L’Occitane, Chapel Hats, Ecco Shoes, Purdy’s Chocolatier, Club Monaco, Williams-Sonoma, Lululemon, Wilfred, Shoppers Drug Mart, Aritzia, Steve Madden, TNA, Ever New Melbourne, and RW&CO.
Other select CF Chinook Centre retailers on the central zone of the lower level
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Aritzia on the lower level at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Lululemon on the lower level at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
TNA on the lower level at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Ever New on the lower level at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Browns Shoes on the lower level at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Wilfred on the lower level at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Shoppers Drug Mart on the lower level at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
La Senza on the lower level at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
ECCO Shoes on the lower level at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
L'Occitane on the lower level at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
American Eagle on the lower level at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Club Monaco on the lower level at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Club Monaco Men's on the lower level at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Steve Madden on the lower level at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Between RW&Co. and Shoppers before entering the northwest end on CF Chinook Centre’s lower level. Photo: Jessica Finch
Northwest End of CF Chinook Centre’s Lower Level
Northwest end of CF Chinook Centre on the lower level. Photo: CF Chinook Mall map with zones overlaid by Retail Insider
Louis Vuitton on lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Louis Vuitton on lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Featured retailers on CF Chinook Centre's lower level in the northwest section
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TUMI on the lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Moose Knuckles on the lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Casper and Clearly on the lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Dyson on the lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Aesop on the lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Maison Birks on the lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Other retailers include MAC Cosmetics, The Alley, GNC (General Nutrition Centre), Claire’s, The Source, Ardene, and Zumiez.
Other select CF Chinook Centre retailers on the northwest end of the lower level
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MAC Cosmetics next to Saks Fifth Avenue on the lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
MAC Cosmetics on the lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Zumiez on the lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Art Space & Design Galleries on the lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Pearl Vision on the lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Pearl Vision on the lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Chatters on the lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Rogers on the lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
TELUS on the lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Fido, Tim Hortons ,and Tbooth Wireless on the lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Northeast End of Chinook Centre’s Lower Level
Northeast end of CF Chinook Centre on the lower level. Photo: CF Chinook Mall map with zones overlaid by Retail Insider
The northeast side of the retail loop on the north end doesn’t have any retail anchors over 10,000 square feet in size. Select CF Chinook retailers previously featured in Retail Insider include:
‘Opening Soon’ signage for APM Monaco on lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Architectural feature in the northeast section of the lower level at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Other retailers include Mackage, Apple, Tiffany & Co., Harry Rosen, A|X Armani Exchange, Oak + Fort, Freddy, Abercrombie & Fitch, Urban Outfitters, Plus, Peloton, Icebreaker, Kiehl’s, Coach, Burberry, October’s Very Own, Arc’teryx, and Michael Kors. This would be considered the most upscale section of CF Chinook Centre overall.
Other select retailers on CF Chinook Centre's northeast end of the lower level
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Apple on lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
October's Very Own (OVO) and Burberry on lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Mackage on lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Arc'teryx and Tiffany & Co. on lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Harry Rosen on lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Armani Exchange on lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Oak + Fort on lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Abercrombie & Fitch on lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Urban Outfitters on lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Plus and Swatch on lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Peloton on lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Icebreaker on lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Freddy on lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Kiehl's on lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Michael Kors on lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Michael Kors and Apple on lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Canada Goose, Harry Rosen, and Armani Exchange on lower level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Retail Profile of CF Chinook Centre’s Upper Level
The upper level is home to CF Chinook Centre’s renovated food court and is accessible from parking to the west. While there isn’t any additional retail anchors on this level, all of them have a second floor which we won’t go into detail a second time.
Central Zone and Food Court on CF Chinook Centre’s Upper Level
Central zone and food court at CF Chinook Centre on the upper level. Photo: CF Chinook Mall map with zones overlaid by Retail Insider
Hudson’s Bay is the main anchor for the central zone which is across from Sport Chek — however, the food court is the main attraction for this section of the shopping centre.
Hudson’s Bay entrance on upper level in CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Sport Chek on upper level in CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Cafeteria at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Cafeteria at CF Chinook Centre.
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Cafeteria at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Cafeteria at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Cafeteria at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Cafeteria at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Cafeteria at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Other retailers include Sport Chek, Foot Locker Kids, DavidsTea, Soft Moc, Mountain Warehouse, Torrid, HotTopic, Sunrise Records, Bath & Body Works, Lego, Volcom, Vans, Champs Sports, Journeys, Bootlegger, Lids, Levi’s, and House of Hoops.
Other select CF Chinook Centre retailers in the central zone of the upper level
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Bath & Body Works in central zone of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Mountain Warehouse in central zone of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Sunrise Records and Hot Topic in central zone of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
DavidsTea in central zone of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Kids Foot Locker in central zone of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Champs Sports in central zone of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Volcom and Lego in central zone of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
House of Hoops in central zone of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Bootlegger in central zone of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Vans in central zone of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Lids in central zone of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Foot Locker in central zone of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Northwest End of CF Chinook Centre’s Upper Level
Northwest end of CF Chinook Centre on the upper level. Photo: CF Chinook Mall map with zones overlaid by Retail Insider
The retail loop on the north end of the shopping centre has the second level entrances for both Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom.
Second level of anchor tenants on north end of CF Chinook Centre
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Saks Fifth Avenue entrance on second level of CF Chinook Centre, April 2021. Photo: Jessica Finch
Nordstrom entrances (upper and lower levels) seen from second level of CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Architectural feature in the northwest section of the upper level at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Select CF Chinook retailers previously featured in Retail Insider include:
Celyn Roze, Bailey Nelson, and Merle Norman at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
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SportCheck Women at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
SportCheck Women at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Other retailers include The Body Shop, Below the Belt, Skechers, Ben Moss Jewellers, Maggie’s Diamond Boutique, West 49, Nutrition House, QE Home, Shefield & Sons, EBX, The Children’s Place, Jersey City, Le Chateau, and The Discovery Hut.
Other select CF Chinook Centre retailers on the northwest side of the upper level
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The Children's Place at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
EBX at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
West49 at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Quits Etc. at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Nutrition House at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Freedom Mobile and Sketchers at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
LensCrafters at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Maggie's Jewellery at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Ben Moss Jewellery at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
The Body Shop at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Le Chateau at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Discovery Hut at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Discovery Hut at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Mobility dealers at CF Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Northwest interior of Chinook Centre. Photo: Jessica Finch
Northeast End of CF Chinook Centre’s Upper Level
Northeast end of CF Chinook Centre on the upper level. Photo: CF Chinook Mall map with zones overlaid by Retail Insider
Select CF Chinook retailers previously featured in Retail Insider include:
Featured Retailers in CF Chinook Centre North East section
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While onsite, we noticed the 1,077 square foot Sunglass Hut was currently under renovation and reopening soon.
Select retailers include Roots, Swarovski, Little Burgundy, Oakley, Sephora, Jack & Jones, Boathouse, Guess, VVS Jewellers, Eddie Bauer, Hakim Optical, Hollister, Anthropologie, LUSH Cosmetics, Caposhie, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Saje Natural Wellness, Bluenotes and CaseLogix.
Other select retailers in CF Chinook Centre's North East Section
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We had a very interesting photo walk around CF Chinook Centre Mall in southern Calgary and we hope you enjoyed coming along with us. Don’t forget to check out our other retail photo tours over the past few months. Thank you for taking this tour with us.
Discover More Related Retail Photo Tours From Retail Insider:
One of the centrepieces of the development is the unique The Shops at Buffalo Run in the Taza Exchange section of the overall project.
Recently, officials announced the first round of businesses that will make up the unique tenant mix at The Shops at Buffalo Run with the following tenants confirmed:
Tim Hortons
BMO
Dollarama
Lavish Nails
Buffalo Run Dental
HAPPY CUP
Complete Health Chiropractic & Massage
TiNi Vietnamese
BarBurrito
Bryce Starlight
Bryce Starlight, the VP of Development for Taza, said the retail development is currently in for development permit approval with the intention of construction starting in June of this year.
“We’re expecting openings in 2022. Most likely in Q3-Q4,” he said.
Total square footage for The Shops will be just under 260,000 square feet and there will eventually be between 35 to 40 individual tenants “including the potential for a 20,000-square-foot professional office, and that would be in addition to (The Shops)”.
The Shops will be located near the Costco store which opened in August 2020. Starlight said Costco has been “phenomenal”. It was the first Costco on a First Nation in North America.
“From a business standpoint, just from my conversations with Costco, it’s been very well received and at the end of the day even from an overall relationship standpoint it’s been phenomenal. Just a great working relationship with the community, with the Nation. They’ve been amazing tenants even above and beyond the fact that they’re just a phenomenal retailer,” said Starlight.
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Central Eagle Canopy. Rendering: Taza Development Corp
Central Eagle Canopy. Rendering: Taza Development Corp
Central Eagle Canopy. Rendering: Taza Development Corp
West facade at Central Spine location. Rendering: Taza Development Corp
View from the rear facade from the north west. Rendering: Taza Development Corp
Street level view of Central Plaza and Eagle Canopies. Rendering: Taza Development Corp
“The Shops will be a mix between high-visibility retail, mid-box retailers, and out parcels with your standard smaller retailers. It will be a mix of everything from QSR to sit down restaurants. Your 1,200-to-1,500-square-foot retailers, professional office uses, as well as aesthetic uses like nails, hair, personal care.”
Starlight said the Nation is confident about the retail success of the project, partly because of the under-serviced nature of southwest Calgary.
Also The Shops will be easily accessible through main roadways such as the Ring Road.
“Secondly, the approval process that’s been implemented by the Nation is very business friendly. So it allows for a quick speed to business. It ensures that the rules of how people are applying are very consistent and very transparent. We have a lot of quicker approval processes. Similar to what you would see in other municipal districts like Rocky View and Foothills County where it’s a 90 or 120 day turnaround time,” he said.
“And really we use common sense as it relates to the variances and just understanding what the overall goal is for the Nation, for the development, and making sure that the uses fit within that use.”
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Central Eagle Canopy. Rendering: Taza Development Corp
View from the rear facade from the north west. Rendering: Taza Development Corp
View from the east of north east corner tower. Rendering: Taza Development Corp
View from the east of south east corner tower. Rendering: Taza Development Corp
East facade showing feature mural. Rendering: Taza Development Corp
Starlight said the Nation also has a very competitive tax rate which is attractive for businesses.
The overall Taza development is located on about 1,200 acres of Tsuut’ina land. It consists of three unique, but related development Villages — Taza Park, Taza Crossing, and Taza Exchange — that are integrated through a comprehensive framework of Tsuut’ina and City of Calgary infrastructure. The Villages are physically connected via Tsuut’ina Trail, which is part of the Southwest Calgary Ring Road.
“We’ve got another development upcoming at Taza Park. We’re looking to actually make some tenant announcements over the next couple of months here on that site as well,” said Starlight. “That’s going to be more auto oriented. But we’re looking at some additional retail offerings up in that area as well.”
Starlight said the Taza development is looking to draw innovation, technology and health care uses to the site. Also, there is a housing component that could eventually see 8,000 to 9,000 multi-residential units.
The Tsuut’ina Nation was established in 1877 by the signing of Treaty 7, which predates the incorporation of the city of Calgary in 1894 and the establishment of the Province of Alberta in 1905. Tsuut’ina has a fully independent culture and a long history of progression and innovation. Tsuut’ina is governed by a Chief and Council and operates its own Administration, Business, and Service programs, including Tosguna (Police), the Tsuut’ina Fire Department, Public Works, and Civic Services.
Seattle-based Amazon has announced a significant investment in the Vancouver area. It includes a new robotics fulfillment centre at the Port of Vancouver, a sort centre in Langley, and three delivery stations in the region.
The 450,000-square-foot robotics fulfillment centre in the Port of Vancouver — a first in British Columbia — will launch in late 2021. More than 1,000 jobs will be created. In later 2021, a ‘sort centre’ will open in the city of Langley creating more than 500 jobs. In the areas of Pitt Meadows and Delta, delivery stations will open in later 2021 — creating hundreds of jobs at both locations — following the February opening of a delivery station in Langley Township that opened in mid-February creating 200 jobs.
They will join massive distribution facilities already operating in New Westminster, Delta (Annacis Island), and Tsawwassen.
Amazon says that over the past decade it has invested more than $3 billion in the province of British Columbia. The company currently employs more than 5,500 full and part-time people in the province in operations, corporate, and technology positions — currently the highest number outside of Washington State. Amazon is significantly expanding its presence in downtown Vancouver by leasing more than one million square feet at The Post which is currently under construction. Amazon has already leased space in several downtown office buildings.
Robotic warehouse. Photo: Amazon
In February, Amazon was named one of the province’s top 100 employers. Hourly wages start at $16 and jobs include medical, vision, and dental coverage, a group RRSP plan, stock awards, and performance-based bonuses that start on the first day of employment.
Amazon is said to have one of the most advanced fulfillment networks in the world, and thousands of small and medium-sized businesses already sell on the platform. Many businesses use Fulfillment by Amazon, a ‘you sell it, we ship it’ service that enables local businesses to store their products in Amazon’s fulfillment centres and use Amazon to ship their orders, handle customer service, and take care of their returns.
Canadian sellers on Amazon grossed more than $2 billion on Amazon’s stores around the world, and Retail Insider will follow up with a feature article including interviews with several sellers.
Amazon continues to invest in the Canadian market with new distribution initiatives. That includes a hub near Halifax Nova Scotia as well as a warehouse for the Winnipeg market, according to reports. The retailer is also said to be making further investments in the Toronto market with announcements forthcoming.
2020 was a challenging year for many retailers. With most brick and mortar stores across the country subject to continuous lockdowns, and many local businesses struggling with the sudden pivot to e-commerce, it wasn’t a particularly promising time for entrepreneurs to establish themselves or main street retailers to grow. However, amid the chaos, American e-commerce website, Etsy, enjoyed a hugely successful 2020, crossing the billion-dollar (US) revenue mark for the first time in company history after a staggering year-over-year increase.
According to data, Etsy experienced a 110.75% year-over-year increase in revenue in 2020 after setting a company record $1.7 billion in revenue — with Etsy’s marketplace earning $1.3 billion, amounting to 75.5% share of the platform’s total revenue and a 119.5% year-over-year increase from 2019.
Revenue from its services segment amounted to $422 million in 2020 which makes up the rest of its total revenue, an 88% year-over-year increase from 2019. A large portion of this increase is attributed to the growth of its on-site advertising revenue.
In 2019, Etsy recorded 46.35 million active buyers on their site, a figure that grew by almost 77% in 2020 to 81.9 million. The number of sellers also grew by an impressive 61.7% year over year to 81.9 million in 2020.
Image of Etsy’s Marketplace. Photo: Etsy
The company believes this impressive influx of new customers and sellers was a direct result of the lockdowns imposed in many developed markets around the world, especially in North America. Additionally the trend towards shopping local and supporting small businesses has driven some to choose Etsy over alternative e-commerce platforms such as Amazon.
With many different outlets such as Digital Main Street, Shopify, and social media selling tools like Instagram Shopping available for small businesses to seek help with the accelerated move to e-commerce, Etsy positions itself somewhat as a hybrid model — an e-commerce platform with an emphasis on community and support.
The Etsy website reads, “In a time of increasing automation, it’s our mission to keep human connection at the heart of commerce. That’s why we built a place where creativity lives and thrives because it’s powered by people. We help our community of sellers turn their ideas into successful businesses. Our platform connects them with millions of buyers looking for an alternative — something special with a human touch, for those moments in life that deserve imagination”.
The e-commerce platform has also reported more than half of its sales coming from mobile devices — a staggering 51%. In 2020, that share had risen to 61%.
The Brooklyn-based e-commerce site was founded in June of 2005, years before having a digital presence was a must for most small businesses. The site specializes in handmade and vintage products, in addition to crafts and DIY supplies. Unlike a place like Amazon, everything on the site is made, collected, curated, and sold by its sellers. These independent business owners not only produce their own goods but manage their orders and inventory, too. Etsy acts as the middle-man, giving smaller, independent creators a platform to find and attract customers — an opportunity that, for some, would otherwise be out of reach.
As we all know, however, the support local trend can often mean facing higher price points for items also found at discounted prices in places like Walmart and Amazon. In an attempt to compete against the retail giants of the world, in 2019 Etsy announced it would be encouraging sellers to offer free US shipping on all orders over $35. Or rather, it announced that sellers who didn’t offer free shipping would be de-prioritized by the site’s highly-competitive search algorithm. On a platform with more than 60 million things to buy, this can mean functional invisibility for brands unable to afford free shipping. Additionally, despite positioning itself as an affordable and accessible e-commerce platform, costing a mere $0.20 to list your first item, some sellers have found fault in Etsy’s transaction, payment processing, and offsite advertising fees saying that these inconspicuous costs make it difficult to grow amid a competitive market.
Despite the debate on who is really reaping the benefits of Etsy’s massive success, there is no denying the move toward supporting entrepreneurship and small businesses is the way forward, and as certain Canadian provinces continue to suffer the consequences of lockdowns, having an e-commerce marketplace for main street retailers is paramount.
