Has anyone been into this or another Shoppers Express? What did you think?Ok, so why is this even worth writing about? Well, I had also recently read an article in the November 29 edition of the Globe and Mail called "Looking good in a recession" by Marina Strauss. The article talked about which companies are thriving in this difficult retail environment and why. Shoppers, who has recently had huge success with their increased upscale offerings and higher margins, is nonetheless managing to grow their sales. Anyone who has been into one of the shiny new Shoppers stores has undoubtedly noticed the huge selection of premium frangrances in fancy white-washed display walls with clean looking sales girls wearing black pants and one of those little apron things. They took a big risk by moving to this part of the market, but the execution was excellent and they are grappling a piece of the market for themselves away from Wal-Mart. In fact, they have recently launched another format that pushes the fancy-shmancy envelope yet further.
"It's September and retailers are already feeling the pinch of sluggish consumer spending, but not here in a wealthy enclave in north Toronto. Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. is opening one of its biggest, glitziest new outlets and it doesn't look much like a drugstore, with its high ceilings, large windows and bright ambience." - from the Globe and Mail article
Ok so these musings lead to one question...why Shoppers Express? Am I correct in thinking that it is a low-price alternative? If I am wrong, what vulnerability for their plan have I exposed by even thinking that it was low-price? What is the significance of its location (Hamilton), compared to the other Shoppers store that is opening (The Beaches in Toronto)? And how about the timing? Will the format survive a launch into one of the most troublesome economic periods in our lifetime? Or maybe this is the best time to launch... hmmmmm.
The article in question is unfortunately not available online, but can be found in the back issues of the Globe in Innis library.
2 comments:
So after reading your blog, I was really interested in checking out this "Shoppers Drug Mart- Express" I went this morning and actually got to speak with the Pharmacist, Bhupinder Nagra and the Supervisor Mary. Mary stated, "The store carries everything but it’s a streamline which means there isn't a wide range of selection of products. We take requests from customers if they need a certain product that we don't carry that way we can satisfy our consumer needs."
I noticed they carried groceries as well as a post office, which will be available soon on the second level.
The thing that I found most fascinating was the DRIVE THRU PRESCRIPTIONS! Now that's what you call convenient! Customers can now order any refill prescription online or over the telephone and can pick it up through drive-thru! The Shoppers Drug Mart in the McDonalds plaza on Dundurn will be closed down on Dec. 26 2008. This location is great because you get students from McMaster University and it’s in the residential area and close to Downtown Hamilton so there's a lot of traffic!
Issues that can arrive from this Shoppers Drug Mart may be parking. I noticed the parking lot was fairly small. They are downsizing in a way because the location is much smaller than the one beside McDonalds but will this increase profit because of its "express idea" as being a "in and out convenient store?"
I was concerned Tim Hortons was going to move in!
Please note: If you stand in the fortino's parking lot, you can see Three (3) (1+1+1) Tim Hortons within walking distance.
Obviously this is because of the traffic layout of Hamilton. There are two major one way streets, and a grocery store. But wow... talk about a voracious appetite - for our money!
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