The Metro Vancouver Retail Thread

[wrenegade]

A walk through of the new Apple...err...Samsung Store at Metrotown

I can't for the life of me figure out how to embed youtube clips, every fucking way just comes up with a blank box. So here is the link:

http://youtu.be/S10ZxJXonws?hd=1

[Vestry]

Originally Posted by wrenegade

A walk through of the new Apple...err...Samsung Store at Metrotown

I can't for the life of me figure out how to embed youtube clips, every fucking way just comes up with a blank box. So here is the link:

http://youtu.be/S10ZxJXonws?hd=1

• Video Link

[Van23H]

Target just announced the stores to open in BC in the coming year. The Zellers in Oakridge Centre looks to be not one of them. I wouldn't be surprised to see Saks, Bloomingdales or Nordstrom open in the location. As I had mentioned earlier in the year Nordstrom had advanced into serious discussions with Oakridge Centre, but due to the ancient lease that the Bay acquired from Woodwards they had a clause, which allowed them to choose what anchor tenants could open. This prevented Nordstrom from progressing further with the opportunity. But there is a possible loop hole. If they were to purchase the lease of an anchor tenant such as Zellers, the Bay might not have control over what can go into the leased space. Target might actually open in Oakridge Centre after all, but the lease is very valuable and would be worth selling to the highest bidder.

http://www.vancouversun.com/business...179/story.html

[SpongeG]

sounds interesting, its kind of a small space htough, they would need to expand it

another samsung video:

• Video Link

[ryanmaccdn]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

sounds interesting, its kind of a small space htough, they would need to expand it

another samsung video:

• Video Link

Thanks but no thanks Samsung.....

Absolutely nothing innovative about that.... looks like a bad Apple store reject.

Next time if your gonna copy a successful business strategy do it 100% ....

First off... its the size of the poster world around the corner... so your telling me a store that sells posters can afford the same space/location.. hrm guess your product has a crappy profit margin? ( i know lease rates/ect fluctuate location/timing but still it gives a bad impression)

Don't hire 100% asian nerd boys to staff the store.... it intimidates customers. Look at the Apple store at Pacific Center... and most Apple locations... there is a diverse workforce so any customer young/old, caucasian/middle eastern can shop at ease.

When opening a new brand/experience to customers... DONT do early views and please cover up the store from outside .... if I've seen what the store looks like without even going in... whats the point of coming back?

Rant over.

[Echowinds]

Originally Posted by ryanmaccdn

Thanks but no thanks Samsung.....

Absolutely nothing innovative about that.... looks like a bad Apple store reject.

Next time if your gonna copy a successful business strategy do it 100% ....

First off... its the size of the poster world around the corner... so your telling me a store that sells posters can afford the same space/location.. hrm guess your product has a crappy profit margin? ( i know lease rates/ect fluctuate location/timing but still it gives a bad impression)

Don't hire 100% asian nerd boys to staff the store.... it intimidates customers. Look at the Apple store at Pacific Center... and most Apple locations... there is a diverse workforce so any customer young/old, caucasian/middle eastern can shop at ease.

When opening a new brand/experience to customers... DONT do early views and please cover up the store from outside .... if I've seen what the store looks like without even going in... whats the point of coming back?

Rant over.

It's a store. What is there to innovate? The innovation is in the devices. There's also absolutely no point to build a store bigger than necessary, even if they can afford to do it.

Also, you want Samsung to hire people base on race/age, and that they shouldn't hire them because the look like "nerdy" and because they are Asian. That is a terrible practice and not something Canadians should do. If most of the applicants are "nerdy" and "Asian", but are qualified to do their job, then they should get their job. They are Canadians just like you and me, and I always find hiring for the sake of diversity is just as racist as hiring base on a single ethnic group.

When you go to a store, you go there to see the products and to purchase products. Why does it have to be those creepy cult-like openings (and have over-zealous fans line up overnight just to get in) that Apple keeps curating? You go back to a store because it provides the service you need, and I am sure that this Samsung store will provide a handy place to buy/repair/check out Samsung products.

There's other ways to open retail stores that are different from Apple. In fact, I personally boycott their products due to how I dislike their marketing and the way they conduct business.

[Klazu]

I visited Samsung Store yesterday during my lunch at Metropolis. There is nothing special about this store. It is very small and there are maybe 15 different products on display. There were lots of people in the store, but I got bored with their plastic smart phones very fast.

[ryanmaccdn]

Originally Posted by Echowinds

It's a store. What is there to innovate? The innovation is in the devices. There's also absolutely no point to build a store bigger than necessary, even if they can afford to do it.

Also, you want Samsung to hire people base on race/age, and that they shouldn't hire them because the look like "nerdy" and because they are Asian. That is a terrible practice and not something Canadians should do. If most of the applicants are "nerdy" and "Asian", but are qualified to do their job, then they should get their job. They are Canadians just like you and me, and I always find hiring for the sake of diversity is just as racist as hiring base on a single ethnic group.

When you go to a store, you go there to see the products and to purchase products. Why does it have to be those creepy cult-like openings (and have over-zealous fans line up overnight just to get in) that Apple keeps curating? You go back to a store because it provides the service you need, and I am sure that this Samsung store will provide a handy place to buy/repair/check out Samsung products.

There's other ways to open retail stores that are different from Apple. In fact, I personally boycott their products due to how I dislike their marketing and the way they conduct business.

Apple innovated alot actually..... in terms of a retail presence and brand experience they are beyond exceptional. They command the highest retail per sq foot across any malls and they have no doubt created a business model which most other companies rush to copy.

In terms of creating "diversity" in the store staff.. I still think its really important to have a staff as diverse as the customer base. I think having someone like my mom having her tablet explained to her by a female her own age would be miles better then some nerd boy who could care less and pocket texts.

You can break apart the product vs store operations and still see the store ops side of the business performs outstandingly.

[Conrad Yablonski]

hiring for the sake of diversity is just as racist as hiring base on a single ethnic group.

Yup!

[VanK]

is it just me but i saw more non-asian workers in that video vs asian.......

[connect2source]

CAMPER has their signs up at Robson and Thurlow where the Guess Accessories store was, I've been to their stores in the UK, Spain and Germany, great shoes, they also operate boutique hotels in Europe so a very strong and needed addition to the Robson mix. Best selection of CAMPER presently is at Gravitypope on W 4th.

[agrant]

Originally Posted by VanK

is it just me but i saw more non-asian workers in that video vs asian.......

I don't see this as being a conspiracy, if that's what you're thinking. Why doesn't anyone bring up the fact there are always hot chicks being hired at places like Earls and Cactus Club??? Seriously, I think this leads off the retail topic...

[Darren Tate]

Originally Posted by agrant

I don't see this as being a conspiracy, if that's what you're thinking. Why doesn't anyone bring up the fact there are always hot chicks being hired at places like Earls and Cactus Club??? Seriously, I think this leads off the retail topic...

Good point. At Earl's, "hot chicks" are good for business. I assume the Samsung store's hiring practices are based on what's good for business too. It's a non-issue—and yes, off topic.

[Darren Tate]

Originally Posted by connect2source

CAMPER has their signs up at Robson and Thurlow where the Guess Accessories store was, I've been to their stores in the UK, Spain and Germany, great shoes, they also operate boutique hotels in Europe so a very strong and needed addition to the Robson mix. Best selection of CAMPER presently is at Gravitypope on W 4th.

Yay CAMPER! Finally, something worthing going to Robson for. That, and CB2.

[GeeCee]

Tim Hortons is moving into the former Blenz location by London Drugs in Coquitlam Centre.

[Darren Tate]

Originally Posted by Echowinds

Also, you want Samsung to hire people base on race/age, and that they shouldn't hire them because the look like "nerdy" and because they are Asian. That is a terrible practice and not something Canadians should do. If most of the applicants are "nerdy" and "Asian", but are qualified to do their job, then they should get their job. They are Canadians just like you and me, and I always find hiring for the sake of diversity is just as racist as hiring base on a single ethnic group.

When you go to a store, you go there to see the products and to purchase products. Why does it have to be those creepy cult-like openings (and have over-zealous fans line up overnight just to get in) that Apple keeps curating? You go back to a store because it provides the service you need, and I am sure that this Samsung store will provide a handy place to buy/repair/check out Samsung products.

There's other ways to open retail stores that are different from Apple. In fact, I personally boycott their products due to how I dislike their marketing and the way they conduct business.

Ensuring ethnic diversity in any workforce that is highly visible to the public is good for public image, which in turn, is good for business. No business wants to be seen as biased towards any group, ethnic or otherwise. That would NOT be good for business.

[officedweller]

Vancouver Sun article on Express opening:

http://www.vancouversun.com/videos/r...64GACTvTSeOTtK

[VanK]

Originally Posted by agrant

I don't see this as being a conspiracy, if that's what you're thinking. Why doesn't anyone bring up the fact there are always hot chicks being hired at places like Earls and Cactus Club??? Seriously, I think this leads off the retail topic...

Sorry this is off topic.. so this will be my last comment regarding this.. my comment was just in response to someone's earlier comment about them hiring "100% asian nerd boys"......
anyways.. who cares!

[mooks28]

Oh lookie here: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/repor...rticle4426420/

[SpongeG]

cool news