Target shutting down in Canada

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I really think their biggest mistake was trying to sell their donuts in stores across the city. They never seemed to sell well; I know I wouldn't buy them not knowing how old the donuts were. They have to be fresh to be really good. They should have just opened a second location in the south (like along MacLeod) and they two stores would have done well.

Instead not only did they have the cost of making and distributing products that didn't sell, but they had people buying that inferior product and having comments like yours. I say that because the majority of people who have said that never bough donuts fresh from the location in the NE.

It might have hurt them in that it was hard to get in to that location. If there were a bit closer to foot traffic or a parking lot entrance, it would have made the "on-a-whim" visits more frequent.

It's a bit like Safeway or Modern Jelly. They both have (subjectively) better donuts than Tim Hortons, but it's too much of a chore to go to those places.

Tim Horton's seem to thrive partly because they're easy to find and get to. Usually they're no less than one or two turns off a main street.

Though, I would be curious how the particular Tim Horton's that took over the location is doing and if they changed anything to make it more inviting.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Wormius

It might have hurt them in that it was hard to get in to that location. If there were a bit closer to foot traffic or a parking lot entrance, it would have made the "on-a-whim" visits more frequent.

It's a bit like Safeway or Modern Jelly. They both have (subjectively) better donuts than Tim Hortons, but it's too much of a chore to go to those places.

Tim Horton's seem to thrive partly because they're easy to find and get to. Usually they're no less than one or two turns off a main street.

Though, I would be curious how the particular Tim Horton's that took over the location is doing and if they changed anything to make it more inviting.

The decision for KK to open at Sunridge Mall always seemed odd to me. Makes me wonder what sort of demographic information they had that supported the location over other parts of the city. There were plenty of other areas with higher levels of growth and disposable income.

[Ace]

^ Traditionally "fast food" type places use to do better in a lower income district according to my old boss who use to be in the industry. At the time (10+ years ago), it was known that these districts tend to eat out more vs. higher income districts. That could explain KK's choice.

This could be different in today's society with people being so "busy" all the time.

[polak]

Originally Posted by AcGold

Produce is often wildly different in grocery stores. The shelves OK but if you buy a lot of produce the store matters.

Produce and meat.

I get that. But to say you "LOVE" X and "HATE" Y is strange. The experiences are more or less the same. You just have better meats and produce in some stores. I've never left Wal-Mart or Superstore and thought "This was such a great time. I love this place". It's all a slight deviation from a pretty standard experience.

From my time in logistics I can tell you that for produce it doesn't matter much which Chain you go to. It's usually just luck as they're all coming from the same place for pretty much every chain, then they're all going to the same distribution for every store within that chain.

[T@T]

Heard today Sobeys/Safeway looking at the huge Target distribution warehouse in Balsac.

[MrMastodonFarm]

http://globalnews.ca/news/1777927/se...arget-workers/

Sears Canada is reaching out to workers affected by the exit of American retailer Target from the Canadian market.

Sears says it’s extending a special offer to Target Canada employees and is encouraging those interested in job opportunities at Sears to visit its website.

Beginning early next week, Sears says the site will publish information on special events regarding career opportunities such as local job fairs across Canada.

[Hemi-Cuda]

I've only started shopping at Walmart in the last year, and that's because of the new one they built on 17th ave and Stoney. It's the closest one to Chestermere, and being brand new with not much else around there it's never that busy, always clean and well stocked, and it's the only Walmart I've been inside that doesn't immediately make me feel depressed. I'm sure that'll change eventually when more stuff goes up in that area and it gets busier, but for now it's nice

I tried to shop at Target a couple of times when they first opened, but I could never grasp their concept of not actually stocking anything

[bizaro86]

It basically seems like they've been liquidating for months. We go to the market mall location fairly often. My wife bought the last three packs of disposable bibs in September, and they've never gotten replaced since then. We'd go back after a week and not one new product would be in the baby aisle.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

http://globalnews.ca/news/1777927/se...arget-workers/

Sure, leave one company going out of business this year for another that will go out of business next year.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by polak

Produce and meat.

I get that. But to say you "LOVE" X and "HATE" Y is strange. The experiences are more or less the same. You just have better meats and produce in some stores. I've never left Wal-Mart or Superstore and thought "This was such a great time. I love this place". It's all a slight deviation from a pretty standard experience..

Slight deviations can make big differences. I might pay more at Safeway but it's not nearly as chaotic of an experience compared to Superstore or Walmart. Safeway's tend to be well stocked, organized, and cleaner then the previous. I can get in line at Safeway, have my items bagged for me and still have someone ask me if I need a hand out if needed. It's much nicer.

The gong show that is Superstore can be very annoying. I don't mind bagging my own items but dealing with strugglers in front of you when it's busy can ruin a good shopping experience, two lanes for groceries aren't enough for some idiots.

Gladly pay more to shop at Safeway than Superstore or Wal Mart.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Slight deviations can make big differences. I might pay more at Safeway but it's not nearly as chaotic of an experience compared to Superstore or Walmart. Safeway's tend to be well stocked, organized, and cleaner then the previous. I can get in line at Safeway, have my items bagged for me and still have someone ask me if I need a hand out if needed. It's much nicer.

The gong show that is Superstore can be very annoying. I don't mind bagging my own items but dealing with strugglers in front of you when it's busy can ruin a good shopping experience, two lanes for groceries aren't enough for some idiots.

Gladly pay more to shop at Safeway than Superstore or Wal Mart.

I go 5 feet into a Walmart and I'm angry. Superstore is close. It may be ambiance or slight deviation, but I'll pay more to not be angry

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I really think their biggest mistake was trying to sell their donuts in stores across the city. They never seemed to sell well; I know I wouldn't buy them not knowing how old the donuts were. They have to be fresh to be really good.

To me their biggest mistake was not opening a location downtown and capitalizing on the expense accounts of oil & gas... I would have bought dozens of boxes more had they been closer, but there was no way I was going to go out to Sunridge to pickup stuff. Nor was I going to the Petro Canada for KK....

Do Americans even bother doing research as to how local Canadian cities tick? Or do they just expect us to conform to their ways? I read that Target underestimated the Canadian tendency to go to multiple special purpose stores vs going to a "all in one" store. Having worked for US big business - it seemed that way all the time... which is also leading to their demise..

USA! USA! USA!

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Slight deviations can make big differences. I might pay more at Safeway but it's not nearly as chaotic of an experience compared to Superstore or Walmart. Safeway's tend to be well stocked, organized, and cleaner then the previous. I can get in line at Safeway, have my items bagged for me and still have someone ask me if I need a hand out if needed. It's much nicer.

The gong show that is Superstore can be very annoying. I don't mind bagging my own items but dealing with strugglers in front of you when it's busy can ruin a good shopping experience, two lanes for groceries aren't enough for some idiots.

Gladly pay more to shop at Safeway than Superstore or Wal Mart.

I've done my grocery shopping at Superstore exactly once in my life. That's all that was required

[Roast Beef]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

I've done my grocery shopping at Superstore exactly once in my life. That's all that was required

Went there once....will never go back again. I will gladly pay extra and never set foot in that hellhole again. The shelves were dirty, the meat was gross, the produce was rotten. Crap was just put everywhere. The layout made no sense, the people shopping there were scummy, the checkouts were ghetto. No thank you.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Roast Beef

Went there once....will never go back again. I will gladly pay extra and never set foot in that hellhole again. The shelves were dirty, the meat was gross, the produce was rotten. Crap was just put everywhere. The layout made no sense, the people shopping there were scummy, the checkouts were ghetto. No thank you.

LOL, did you go to the Compton location?

[Zevo]

Originally Posted by Roast Beef

Went there once....will never go back again. I will gladly pay extra and never set foot in that hellhole again. The shelves were dirty, the meat was gross, the produce was rotten. Crap was just put everywhere. The layout made no sense, the people shopping there were scummy, the checkouts were ghetto. No thank you.

Originally Posted by pylon

LOL, did you go to the Compton location?

Welcome to Stockton, bitches!!

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Despite this being a Target thread I find it interesting with regard to SuperStore.

They must be much nicer on the East Coast because I grocery shop almost exclusively at SuperStore. It's big, clean, lots of selection, I love PC products, staff is friendly, and unless it's like Saturday afternoon there aren't huge lines and if there are they open all the registers.

Perhaps it's easier to find competent managers out here? I dunno.

I find Sobey's here (which there are many more of, understandably) are generally smaller, and there's something about Our Compliments that doesn't do it for me.

No Frills (do you guys have those) are cheap and quick but I'll pick up my favourite battery acid like No Name Grapefruit Juice there (I love the stuff, only person I know who does).

That said, Boo Target, Boo

[craigwd]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

No Frills (do you guys have those) are cheap and quick but I'll pick up my favourite battery acid like No Name Grapefruit Juice there (I love the stuff, only person I know who does).

That said, Boo Target, Boo

There are a fre No Frills scattered around here. I love them - good prices, nice staff, easy access in the aisles. So what if I have to get my stuff in a box.

I must be the only person who liked shopping at Canadian Target.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by Roast Beef

Went there once....will never go back again. I will gladly pay extra and never set foot in that hellhole again. The shelves were dirty, the meat was gross, the produce was rotten. Crap was just put everywhere. The layout made no sense, the people shopping there were scummy, the checkouts were ghetto. No thank you.

People who get "angry" at grocery stores need to chill out. Product quality and stock is one thing, but what does "checkouts were ghetto" mean? Not enough middle aged white cashiers for your liking?

If anything makes me angry, its paying $7.95 at Safeway for something I can get at Walmart or Superstore for $3. But I guess I should be happy that people still shop there -- makes the stores I go to less busy.

Signed,
Scummy guy that shops at Walmart/Superstore

[DoubleK]

Target's store brand of linens and housewares are fantastic.

I shopped their flyer pretty regularly, and to be quite honest did my best to support them so long as their prices were reasonable. I found their rain check policy to be less painful than say Canadian Tire.