Good Bye Zellers...

[Shwa]

So here comes Target.

Target to open more than 100 Canadian stores

Cheap-chic discount department store retailer Target Corp. Has confirmed it will enter the Canadian market through the purchase of Zellers’ leaseholds.

The deal, valued at $1.825 billion, will allow Target to open its first Canadian stores in 2013.

The company, which is the second largest U.S. Discount retailer behind Wal-mart, said it is purchasing 220 leaseholds from Hudson’s Bay Co.

Under a complex leaseback arrangement, the stores will continue to operate as Zellers for the time being.

Target plans to convert 100 o 150 stores to its banner. Additional sites may be converted to other retail brands, the company said in a statement Thursday.

Well, at least we'll officially be in on the joke now.

[scribblet]

I'm not impressed with Tar-shay cheap but not chic

Edited January 13, 2011 by scribblet

[bush_cheney2004]

Most will find the shopping experience at Target to be an upgrade from WalMart. Is/was Zellers to die for?

Funny also is the Target symbol in the news given the past week's events in the US.

This is the good kind of Target!?

[Bonam]

Target and Zellers are quite comparable to begin with. Having shopped at Zellers many times, I felt quite at home at Target after moving to the states. I don't think this change will be particularly noticeable.

[bush_cheney2004]

Target and Zellers are quite comparable to begin with. Having shopped at Zellers many times, I felt quite at home at Target after moving to the states. I don't think this change will be particularly noticeable.

Target is ubiquitous in the US as the anchor in many big box commercial developments. There is more open floorspace and less merchandise density compared to a WalMart. Fixtures, logos, lighting, displays, etc. are all well coordinated for a bright, consistent store-to-store experience. Super Targets add food to the typical department store mix.

Target Corp. also sponsors 5% give back programs for local schools, charities, etc.

[scribblet]

I'd rather see a Kohl's here better clothing Now, if Bealls outlet stores could open up, I'd be in heaven...

[Shwa]

I'm not impressed with Tar-shay cheap but not chic

That's 'Tar-jey' to comply with official blingualism...

[M.Dancer]

Why is this a concern...I agree it merits a new item...but it is simply one americam retail chain being bought by another.

[bush_cheney2004]

Why is this a concern...I agree it merits a new item...but it is simply one americam retail chain being bought by another.

Can't you still buy beaver pelts from the The Hudson Bay Company?

[GostHacked]

It does not matter what chain is in place, all the products are made in China by child slave labour.

[M.Dancer]

Can't you still buy beaver pelts from the The Hudson Bay Company?

Yes but they are made in China by child slave labour...

[sharkman]

Yes but they are made in China by child slave labour...

And you have to know the secret knock, which you make at the back door, and give cash only to a guy named Jacques. It doesn't matter which store, it's always Jacques.

[Shwa]

This should be interesting, anyone taking bets?

Target may have to use different name in Canada

U.S. discount retailer Target might have to choose between using a different name in Canada, buying the Canadian rights to the Target trademark, or face a lawsuit, depending on what happens in a fight over ownership of naming rights.

Fairweather Ltd., which is owned by discount menswear chain International Clothiers, has owned the "Target Apparel" name in Canada for 10 years.

In July, the U.S. retailer filed a challenge with Canada's trademark office, claiming the Fairweather owner hasn't been using the Target name. The Canadian company has since opened stores called "Target Apparel" in Sudbury, Ont. and Nanaimo, B.C. It is not clear whether the company has plans to open more locations or convert its current stores to that name.

Fairweather has until the end of February to prove to that it has used the name in the last three years, or had plans to use it, in order to keep its ownership rights.

[dre]

I dont shop in large stores except for the odd time when I have too... but It hard for me to get thrilled about foreign buyouts of Canadian businesses.

[treehugger]

That's 'Tar-jey' to comply with official blingualism...

Unless the U.S Target can solve the copyright on the name Target that Fairweathers hold in Canada, they might have to search for another name.

Bullseye perhaps?

[Jack Weber]

Unless the U.S Target can solve the copyright on the name Target that Fairweathers hold in Canada, they might have to search for another name.

Bullseye perhaps?

I'll bet a large sum of money will be thrown around to grease the appropriate palms....

[M.Dancer]

I dont shop in large stores except for the odd time when I have too... but It hard for me to get thrilled about foreign buyouts of Canadian businesses.

Luckily this isn't a buyout of a Canadian business. Zellers hasn't been Canadians in years.

[dre]

Luckily this isn't a buyout of a Canadian business. Zellers hasn't been Canadians in years.

Youre probably right.

[kimmy]

I dont shop in large stores except for the odd time when I have too... but It hard for me to get thrilled about foreign buyouts of Canadian businesses.

My local Zellers is a dump that only sells garbage. If it's closed down, it'll be no loss to the shopping public. If it's one of the onces that is renovated and reopened as a Target store, then first off the necessary renovations will employ local tradesmen and laborers. And secondly it'll give me another option when I go shopping. Whether Target is a better option than Zellers remains to be seen, but they couldn't possibly be worse.

Funny also is the Target symbol in the news given the past week's events in the US.

This is the good kind of Target!?

In light of recent events, and in light of the trademark dispute with Fairweather, perhaps they should call their Canadian locations "Constructive Dialogue".

-k

Edited January 15, 2011 by kimmy

[dre]

My local Zellers is a dump that only sells garbage. If it's closed down, it'll be no loss to the shopping public. If it's one of the onces that is renovated and reopened as a Target store, then first off the necessary renovations will employ local tradesmen and laborers. And secondly it'll give me another option when I go shopping. Whether Target is a better option than Zellers remains to be seen, but they couldn't possibly be worse.

-k

Yup, im sure some positives will come out of it.

Im just not a big box store guy. Id rather have the hundreds of smaller shops that get put out of business every time a walmart or target opens up. But you pay a bit more for stuff that way, so Im in the minority in my community and would be in most others.

Eventually there will just be one big store that sells everything.

Edited January 15, 2011 by dre

[bush_cheney2004]

....Eventually there will just be one big store that sells everything.

Yes...I sure miss jumping on my horse and going to the dry goods store for sacks of flour, butcher, cobbler, and blacksmith shoppe.

[dre]

Yes...I sure miss jumping on my horse and going to the dry goods store for sacks of flour, butcher, cobbler, and blacksmith shoppe.

Thats actually essentially how I shop. I buy meat from a local farmer by the side... higher quality better price. I buy local produce as well. Food is actually one of the easier things to buy without going to mega-stores, unless you only eat processed food products. When I DO need to buy groceries I go to a smaller store thats a block or two away. The prices are a tiny bit higher but the quality is better, and they actually sell a fair ammount of locally produced stuff.

[Shwa]

Eventually there will just be one big store that sells everything.

It's called WalMart.

[dre]

It's called WalMart.

Yeah they just built one in my town... wont shop there. Id Rather pay more for higher quality stuff. We actually had quite the political debate about it in my town, and folks here didnt want one built. City council rejected their application. But the store went to the local indian band (they can do pretty much anything they want) and got things done that way.

In any case walmart only sells cheap junk to poor people. That leaves a pretty big sector for higher end shops, specialty stores etc. But eventually it will probably be able to use its clout to dominate that market as well.

Edited January 15, 2011 by dre

[Moonlight Graham]

Even though Zellers/HBC has been owned by US interests recently (which is kind of sad in itself, but i suppose is the nature of the beast), this story is still a bit of a sad for me. Despite the US ownership, Zellers is still a uniquely Canadian brand that has been around for a long time.

But once Walmart came into Canada, the nail was in the coffin for Zellers. I'm actually surprised Zellers lasted this long. Since the Walmart invasion, most of the time the only reason i shopped at Zellers was that they had some different brands or the occasional good sale. Zellers just couldn't compete with Walmart's super-low prices. Ahh, i can still remember the days when K-Mart and Zellers were the go-to low-price department stores.

This is a significant event in Canadian retail history. Walmart and Target are retail powerhouses with dirt-cheap prices, meaning it's just impossible for any Canadian company to compete unless they offer a significantly different product. With super Walmart's also popping up in Canada, this will also put more pressure (and money losses) on large "Canadian" store chains like Loblaws and Canadian Tire.

Despite my Canadian sentimentalism, Zellers was already dying and Target is a really good store that will add true competition for Walmart here. I've shopped at Target a bunch of times. It's a similar type of store to Walmart and i don't find a huge difference besides some clothing, but most people i know prefer Target over Walmart.

Better cash in your "Club Z" points people. "Where the lowest price is the law!"