Calgary Openings, Closings, and Developments

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

It wasn't working out when they were a co-op either - they sold to private equity to try and salvage the operation.

I wonder why that wasn’t working. It was pretty much the goto place for everything outdoors.

[Sert]

They started as a place to get quality outdoor sports equipment you couldn't find elsewhere. Then decided to expand into already crowded marketplaces like cycling and outdoor and urban "lifestyle" fashions, and aggressively expanded in terms of locations, products and vendors at the expense of the aforementioned quality. I loved that place in my early years, now I just want my 5 bucks back.

[Brendone]

Originally Posted by Calgary14

Silverado still doesn't even have a coffee shop and/or a gas station, so annoying

100% with the Gas Station. Silverado is our go to area for groceries, etc., so filling up there at the same time would be ideal. Only real options without crossing Macleod are Shawnessy or Video Max Gas off James Mckevitt.

[Whynotnow]

Originally Posted by Sert

They started as a place to get quality outdoor sports equipment you couldn't find elsewhere. Then decided to expand into already crowded marketplaces like cycling and outdoor and urban "lifestyle" fashions, and aggressively expanded in terms of locations, products and vendors at the expense of the aforementioned quality. I loved that place in my early years, now I just want my 5 bucks back.

Yup a uniquely Canadian story destroyed unfortunately. They tried to grow too much, too much expensive real estate, and not enough equity to support all that. They lost the essence of who and what they were.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Sert

They started as a place to get quality outdoor sports equipment you couldn't find elsewhere. Then decided to expand into already crowded marketplaces like cycling and outdoor and urban "lifestyle" fashions, and aggressively expanded in terms of locations, products and vendors at the expense of the aforementioned quality. I loved that place in my early years, now I just want my 5 bucks back.

I kid you not, my mom bought me a black backpack from MEC when I started Jr. High. I kept it all through High School, it came with me to Europe 3 times not to mention Mexico and some other destinations. I consider it one of the best things I own and it still looks damned near new.

Make that. Thats what people want. And if it's that versatile and that durable then people will pay for it.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Locke

I kid you not, my mom bought me a black backpack from MEC when I started Jr. High. I kept it all through High School, it came with me to Europe 3 times not to mention Mexico and some other destinations. I consider it one of the best things I own and it still looks damned near new.

Make that. Thats what people want. And if it's that versatile and that durable then people will pay for it.

I also remember if anything happened to their gear, you took it in and they'd fix it. They had sewing machines in the back and new zippers, new buckles - no problem. If you bought anything, it was for life.

Unfortunately, people make decisions on "what does this cost me this second?" and now everything goes in the garbage because that's how the lowest prices are provided.

The other great part was everyone working there just did it to fuel their gear habit, and thus they all knew everything about the gear they were selling because they owned and used it all regularly.

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by Whynotnow

Yup a uniquely Canadian story destroyed unfortunately. They tried to grow too much, too much expensive real estate, and not enough equity to support all that. They lost the essence of who and what they were.

Agreed, they sold quality products, their staff knew their products and you could trust what you were being told while having confidence that what you bought was quality and would last.

But also, a big part of their attraction, was the essence of who they were. I wanted to shop there and I wanted them to be a success.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

I also remember if anything happened to their gear, you took it in and they'd fix it. They had sewing machines in the back and new zippers, new buckles - no problem. If you bought anything, it was for life.

Unfortunately, people make decisions on "what does this cost me this second?" and now everything goes in the garbage because that's how the lowest prices are provided.

The other great part was everyone working there just did it to fuel their gear habit, and thus they all knew everything about the gear they were selling because they owned and used it all regularly.

You are absolutely right. But you'd have to pry that backpack out of my cold, dead hands.

Okay, sorry, thats not strictly true.

Because, once I no longer needed it, I gave that backpack to my daughter when she started Jr. High. She's used it all through Jr. High, High School and she still uses it to this day through University and she is almost done.

And even if I were to ask, threaten or demand, she will never, ever, ever give it back. She will never relinquish that backpack.

Its still going strong. Never broken. Never repaired.

And its nothing super special. Its just a run-of-the-mill black MEC backpack that happens to have patches on it from all of the places I've been and now all of the places she has been.

So you'd have to pry it out of her hands and...good luck with that.

Thats what people want. Thats what we should aspire to. A quality piece that has essentially become...well...a 'partner.'

Its been through many, many schools, its been through many, many countries, its been on adventures and it's taken more than it's fair share of beatings on hikes and trips, etc...and it looks, patches aside, as though I bought it yesterday.

Thats what people wanted from MEC and, for a while, that was what they delivered.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Whynotnow

Yup a uniquely Canadian story destroyed unfortunately. They tried to grow too much, too much expensive real estate, and not enough equity to support all that. They lost the essence of who and what they were.

I thought all of this started when they got bought out and ceased being a co-op.

I did really enjoy that place and their sense of community. The gear swaps they’d host or the even having their own used buy and sell section on their page. Also the almost inevitable parking lot interactions where you gave your parking receipt to the next guy coming into the lot as you’re walking to your car.

[La Flames Fan]

According to the Wikipedia:

Facing mounting financial losses in 2019 and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, in September 2020, without consulting its membership, the board of directors of the co-operative entered into an agreement to sell its assets to Kingswood. Following the completion of the deal in late October, Kingswood began operating the retail assets as a for-profit business.

In May 2019 the former chief financial officer at Best Buy Canada, Philippe Arrata, was appointed as CEO of MEC. Arrata had been an MEC board member between 2015 and 2018, and was also an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia's Sauder School of Business.[58]

In December 2019, MEC announced a net loss of $11.5 million for the fiscal year that had ended February 24, 2019, which included restructuring charges of $8.5 million. This compared to net earnings of $11.7 million a year earlier.

In May 2020 Steve Grant, a former MEC staff member and former member of the board of directors, along with other long-term members, accused the MEC board of rigging its own elections since 2012, to allow it to stack the board with its own preferred members. The board had amended its own rules to allow it to recommend candidates on the ballot that it wanted elected and exclude candidates it deemed unqualified.

Feels like they got MBA'd and Private Equitied. We all know how that ends.

[Whynotnow]

Originally Posted by Locke

I kid you not, my mom bought me a black backpack from MEC when I started Jr. High. I kept it all through High School, it came with me to Europe 3 times not to mention Mexico and some other destinations. I consider it one of the best things I own and it still looks damned near new.

Make that. Thats what people want. And if it's that versatile and that durable then people will pay for it.

It’s also a terrible business model from one sense. You bought exactly one backpack from them and then gifted it down a generation.

[Fuzz]

Only if your business model is unfettered growth and chasing sales. If you are co-op doing what is best for your members, it's a pretty good thing, because you have the utmost loyalty for when they need any product you sell. And you get more customers as they spread the word about all the awesome things MEC does right.


I think we can conclude one model led to great success, and the other one failed spectacularly.

[Barnet Flame]

Here in London, you’d regularly be able to spot the real Canadian, because rather than a maple leaf embroidered on their backpack, you’d see the MEC logo.

Haven’t seen it in a long time.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Whynotnow

It’s also a terrible business model from one sense. You bought exactly one backpack from them and then gifted it down a generation.

Cool. And you're not wrong, but if I need other things I'd likely have bought it from somewhere that sold quality goods.

Or I could get a plastic 'Avengers' backpack from Wal-Mart that lasts 2 months.

Thats not going to happen.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Barnet Flame

Here in London, you’d regularly be able to spot the real Canadian, because rather than a maple leaf embroidered on their backpack, you’d see the MEC logo.

Haven’t seen it in a long time.

Well okay, but we're not here to discuss British Optical care...

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by Wormius

I thought all of this started when they got bought out and ceased being a co-op.

I did really enjoy that place and their sense of community. The gear swaps they’d host or the even having their own used buy and sell section on their page. Also the almost inevitable parking lot interactions where you gave your parking receipt to the next guy coming into the lot as you’re walking to your car.

I think it started more like 2008-2010 when MEC started to bring in more 3rd party brands vs designing and sometimes making their own goods. Give me a MEC designed backpack at 30% less than a Timbuk2 or Jantzen one any day. You used to just know that the MEC one was just better and would be 30% less, and that if anything went wrong they'd warranty it (within reason). It seemed like the "we need to be more corporate" Board members infiltrated the Board until it was exactly that - corporate. Call it a takeover.

All of that is of course gone now. Not sure what MEC brings to the table that a Atmosphere / Sport Check / Sporting Life doesn't.

Arcteryx used to be like this - zipper go on an expensive Sabre AR jacket? Send it for a new one. Now - I've had quite a few claims rejected (i.e. taping on goretex seams all peeled off). Not worth full price anymore - I'm increasingly looking at North Face for gear as it at least goes on sale once in a while.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Whynotnow

It’s also a terrible business model from one sense. You bought exactly one backpack from them and then gifted it down a generation.

Once I changed from being broke into being a Professional I value the quality of things.

I have a briefcase which has thus far lasted a decade without even wear and tear. I buy quality knives, cookwear, shoes, mattress, bedding, appliances, etc I could go on and on. I shave with a straight razor so I dont buy disposable razors, I could go on.

I want quality things that will last, not something I'm going to have to throw out every 3-5 years and replace.

I want quality items that will last, not disposable items. Maybe some people prefer those, and thats their business and thats fine, to each their own, but its not mine.

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Only if your business model is unfettered growth and chasing sales. If you are co-op doing what is best for your members, it's a pretty good thing, because you have the utmost loyalty for when they need any product you sell. And you get more customers as they spread the word about all the awesome things MEC does right.


I think we can conclude one model led to great success, and the other one failed spectacularly.

Every time the Co-op grocery store gets mentioned people bitch about the prices but it’s locally owned with a focus on local products and services no one else provides. They’ve made some missteps lately that I fear could cause them to go the way of MEC, but I continue to support them and hope everyone else does, if they can afford to.

It’s a hard business model to succeed with in this race-to-the-bottom marketplace, but I pray they continue with it.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by DownInFlames

Every time the Co-op grocery store gets mentioned people bitch about the prices but it’s locally owned with a focus on local products and services no one else provides. They’ve made some missteps lately that I fear could cause them to go the way of MEC, but I continue to support them and hope everyone else does, if they can afford to.

It’s a hard business model to succeed with in this race-to-the-bottom marketplace, but I pray they continue with it.

I’m not even convinced the prices are much worse there. I think it depends on what you buy and how you shop. I’ve had this conversation with a couple friends over the past couple of months because they’re convinced everything is cheaper at Superstore.

[fotze2]

Are their places you can book oil change and it isn’t an all day affair?

Like a drive thru place but with the certainty of service within 20 minutes? No drop off come back 4 hours later thing?