Target shutting down in Canada

[Dynamic]

I liked shopping there. They never catered to the absolute low prices and stocked only crap like wal mart. I went to buy a small second stroller and they had several to choose from and not just the crap ones. They had some more expensive quality brands that would never be at wal mart. I'm not saying it was top of the line stuff but just a step above.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Idiots? They operated the stores according to their business model, which happened to be unsustainable at Canadian prices. This is a logistics and pricing problem, not target thinking Canadians will pay anything to shop at Target because its from the States. Canada is far too large and decentralized.

Other American retailers have succeeded. i.e.: Walmart.

Target came in thinking the Target brand would sell Target. It didn't. They were understocked, overpriced, and little different than Zellers.

Did they seriously think "Like Walmart, but worse in every way" was going to appeal?

[Calgary14]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

it will be interesting to see how/if this affects any future forays into canda by US retailers (although i am not sure who is elft to come into canada)

I think they're slowly starting to realize what sells in the US might not necessarily sell in Canada

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Other American retailers have succeeded. i.e.: Walmart.

Target came in thinking the Target brand would sell Target. It didn't. They were understocked, overpriced, and little different than Zellers.

Did they seriously think "Like Walmart, but worse in every way" was going to appeal?

It was arrogance. They thought believed in their brand so much they thought that would be enough. You just can't poach that much talent and expect the supply chain to be the same. It doesn't work

[Byrns]

People forget Sam's Club failed in Canada too, so not even Walmart is immune.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

it will be interesting to see how/if this affects any future forays into canda by US retailers (although i am not sure who is elft to come into canada)

There's actually lots that have lined up and this may shake that up. Nordstrom's, and others have been watching the Target situation keenly

There's been a belief for a while that Canada's retail landscape was and easy place because we didn't have the tough competitors that the US does. As with most things, they found out it was much more complex than that

[Ne7en]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Other American retailers have succeeded. i.e.: Walmart.

Target came in thinking the Target brand would sell Target. It didn't. They were understocked, overpriced, and little different than Zellers.

Did they seriously think "Like Walmart, but worse in every way" was going to appeal?

Walmart came in with no serious competition. I find it interesting so many people claim Target is understocked, while that is exactly what I find everytime I step foot in Walmart. Target offered significantly better quality for a reasonable price. Walmart sells cheap quality for cheap, and people love cheap.

[Regular_John]

Can't say I'm surprised, just didn't seem like Target never really caught their stride here. As others have said, it was basically "clean Zellers" and it sure seemed like everything was always picked over.

Regardless of the time of week/day you visited, the stores never seemed to be properly stocked. It was bizarre actually, shiny new shelves/displays, clean and concise signage, but when you got to the shelves... nothing.

[WhiteTiger]

Originally Posted by Ne7en

I find it interesting so many people claim Target is understocked, while that is exactly what I find everytime I step foot in Walmart.

I don't know, I rarely went into either, but I can't think of any Walmart I was ever in where the store felt and looked empty, of staff, customers and stock. Every time I went into Target, the store looked half empty of product, staff was almost non-existent and there were hardly any other customers.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Ne7en

Walmart came in with no serious competition. I find it interesting so many people claim Target is understocked, while that is exactly what I find everytime I step foot in Walmart. Target offered significantly better quality for a reasonable price. Walmart sells cheap quality for cheap, and people love cheap.

Walmart had competition from Zellers, K-Mart, Sears, Canadian Tire, Eatons, in some respects even places like Giant Tiger.

If anything, Walmart faced more competition when it entered in 1994 than Target did in 2013.

[Drury18]

I shopped at Target a few times and usually only for kid's clothes. While the adult ones were a terrible quality, the kids ones were decent and they seemed to be one of the only places that offered a few more character options (especially My Little Pony of which my kid is obsessed) then Walmart/Sears/Chain Store did.

But yea, that place is a ghost town. I went I think mid December in the afternoon as was the only person there. Right in the midst of peak holiday shopping and the place was still empty.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Walmart had competition from Zellers, K-Mart, Sears, Canadian Tire, Eatons, in some respects even places like Giant Tiger.

If anything, Walmart faced more competition when it entered in 1994 than Target did in 2013.

Don't forget Woodwards in Western Canada!

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Walmart had competition from Zellers, K-Mart, Sears, Canadian Tire, Eatons, in some respects even places like Giant Tiger.

If anything, Walmart faced more competition when it entered in 1994 than Target did in 2013.

There is far more competition today then there was then. Waaaaay more

[Jbo]

When do the fire sales start?

[Drummer]

Bye Target. Every time I went to a Target store (once a week), I'd always tell my wife "I can't believe these guys are still open".

[White Out 403]

a union busting American super store that provided absolute garbage product at high prices is leaving Canada?

Oh no.

[Jbo]

Originally Posted by Drummer

Bye Target. Every time I went to a Target store (once a week), I'd always tell my wife "I can't believe these guys are still open".

Once a week? You must have been there most loyal customer!

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

There is far more competition today then there was then. Waaaaay more

Such as?

Zellers is gone. Eatons is gone. K-Mart is gone. Sears is dying. Giant Tiger has limited locations (in Calgary). Canadian Tire is thriving, but there is only a partial overlap in product. Perhaps it works if you consider Canadian Tire and Marks as one entity.

There would be a level of competition from the Bay, though it aims for higher end product. Some high-end competition has arrived, such as Nordstroms, and there is always going to be direct competition for specific items (Sportchek for sporting goods, the various discount shoe stores, etc.), but most of those were here back then too.

All-in-one department stores though? What else is left?

[Drummer]

My memories of Target here:
1- one time at the Sunridge store I went to pay and ALL the tills were closed. Walked over to customer service and they said "oh that's ok I'll ring through your order". Like it was no big deal all the tills were closed. This was no where near closing time.
2 - At the 17th Ave store they had a "as advertised" price sticker over top of the old price. It was paper towel and the old price was about $2 cheaper than the flashy "as advertised". All you had to do was flip up the "as advertised" thing to see the old price.
3 - A few months ago at the 17th Ave store the only cashier that was open stopped taking customers and proceeded to argue with his manager about taking a break - this over the walkie talkie system they use.
4- The walkie talkies drove me nuts.

[Ne7en]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Such as?

Zellers is gone. Eatons is gone. K-Mart is gone. Sears is dying. Giant Tiger has limited locations (in Calgary). Canadian Tire is thriving, but there is only a partial overlap in product. Perhaps it works if you consider Canadian Tire and Marks as one entity.

There would be a level of competition from the Bay, though it aims for higher end product. Some high-end competition has arrived, such as Nordstroms, and there is always going to be direct competition for specific items (Sportchek for sporting goods, the various discount shoe stores, etc.), but most of those were here back then too.

All-in-one department stores though? What else is left?

There are 382 Walmart stores today. None of those examples were equivalent to the competition that Walmart is today.
In 1994 K-Mart closed 110 stores.
In 1993 Woodwards went bankrupt.
Zellers was struggling and in 1996 bought by The Hudson's Bay Company.