Sony to close all its stores in Canada

[Regular_John]

2015 is off to a rough start.

http://ottawacitizen.com/business/lo...ores-in-canada

Sony Corp. will close all 14 of its Sony Stores across Canada as the company continues to struggle to reshape its business.

The company made the announcement on Thursday in a memo to the employees of its stores, one of which is located here in Ottawa at the Bayshore Shopping Centre, telling them that the stores will cease operations within the next two months.

The company confirmed the news in a statement released to The Citizen.

Although I do feel like brick & mortar retail stores have been circling the drain for a few years now. The never ending "sales" always suggested to me that the business was kinda flawed if they were never able to sell anything at full retail cost.

Future Shop next?

[Locke]

Sony 'struggles' to reshape their business? Give me a break, they make money hand over fist but they probably never should have been in the retail business to begin with.

Make the products, let other people sell it.

[Anduril]

Originally Posted by jaydorn

Future Shop next?

Kind of off-topic but not likely for years and years. BB/FS look to be in the process of streamlining their physical footprint and responding to the nonstop threat of 'showcasing' with their weird but expanding online selection and in store pickup. They still account for a fair chunk of sales for consumer electronics in Canada.

They probably won't grow anymore but it's difference than Sony who has long given the image of 'premium' in a consumer market that places importance on value rather than paying for a failing brand name.
Samsung should look to pull a Target and take over these locations. They've got a better range of products for more price points. Throw in a solid mobile section/experience and you'll at least have some consistent traffic.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Anduril

Kind of off-topic but not likely for years and years. BB/FS look to be in the process of streamlining their physical footprint and responding to the nonstop threat of 'showcasing' with their weird but expanding online selection and in store pickup. They still account for a fair chunk of sales for consumer electronics in Canada.

They probably won't grow anymore but it's difference than Sony who has long given the image of 'premium' in a consumer market that places importance on value rather than paying for a failing brand name.
Samsung should look to pull a Target and take over these locations. They've got a better range of products for more price points. Throw in a solid mobile section/experience and you'll at least have some consistent traffic.

A Samsung / Android store would actually be a good idea, and sell everything from phones Ultrabooks to appliances.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Anduril

Kind of off-topic but not likely for years and years. BB/FS look to be in the process of streamlining their physical footprint and responding to the nonstop threat of 'showcasing' with their weird but expanding online selection and in store pickup. They still account for a fair chunk of sales for consumer electronics in Canada.

They probably won't grow anymore but it's difference than Sony who has long given the image of 'premium' in a consumer market that places importance on value rather than paying for a failing brand name.
Samsung should look to pull a Target and take over these locations. They've got a better range of products for more price points. Throw in a solid mobile section/experience and you'll at least have some consistent traffic.

From what I understand, FS/BB own a good chunk of their brick and mortar stores, so they're not really Electronics Retailers, they're Real Estate holders who happen to sell electronics to pay their mortgages.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by Locke

From what I understand, FS/BB own a good chunk of their brick and mortar stores, so they're not really Electronics Retailers, they're Real Estate holders who happen to sell electronics to pay their mortgages.

Like Sears.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Barnes

Like Sears.

Does Sears own their stores? Like that ridiculously huge-ass Sears in Southcentre?

I'm not familiar with them really, but actually owning the stores makes a huge difference to the business model.

[TorqueDog]

So... liquidation deals at the Sony Store on 4th St SW in downtown?

[cDnStealth]

Actually it's been well publicized that Sony has been losing money for quite some time. I think the Playstation division is the only one that is actually turning a profit. Heck they reported a 1.2 billion dollar loss last Q3.

[Peanut]

Target, Mexx, Jacobs, Smart Set, Sony... Le Chateau next. Bad news on the Canadian retail front. Although Target is probably the only one I'll really miss out of that list.

[photon]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

A Samsung / Android store would actually be a good idea, and sell everything from phones Ultrabooks to appliances.

Their flagship Samsung Experience Store in London closed down in December after being open less than a year.

[Canehdianman]

Sony retail outlets were doomed as soon as they stopped being a premium electronics manufacturer.

I'd rather buy a Vizio TV than a Sony TV nowadays.

[FlamesAddiction]

I didn't even realize we had Sony stores in Canada.

[Igottago]

Sony store was always a great place to stop in, check some stuff out, and not buy anything.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

So... liquidation deals at the Sony Store on 4th St SW in downtown?

Didn't that store shut down a long time ago?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Igottago

Sony store was always a great place to stop in, check some stuff out, and not buy anything.

Yep. Nice to check up on their latest technologies most that will never be adopted mainstream.

I'm of the opinion that Sony could be no more by the end of the decade. They have been hemorrhaging money for years now. How long can they go losing billions annually?

[Calgary '89]

I think Apple is the only brand that can pull off this kind of specialty store. There's just too much to pick and choose from when it comes to electronics. Radio Shack is in trouble too and it's probably cause their variety sucks in comparison to BB/FS.

Sucks for those that will lose their jobs in all this, but retail needs to smarten up.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Igottago

Sony store was always a great place to stop in, check some stuff out, and not buy anything.

Yeah and I always thought their sales guys acted too cool for school. It's amazing what happens to the attitude of some dudes when you throw a suit on them. Quit acting like a big shot and give me my Walkman, guy.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Calgary '89

I think Apple is the only brand that can pull off this kind of specialty store. There's just too much to pick and choose from when it comes to electronics. Radio Shack is in trouble too and it's probably cause their variety sucks in comparison to BB/FS.

Sucks for those that will lose their jobs in all this, but retail needs to smarten up.

Came across an interesting article on how even the CEO of Radio Shack can't figure out how they're still in business.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Came across an interesting article on how even the CEO of Radio Shack can't figure out how they're still in business.

Not sure if serious.