The Big Box Store
There is this company that runs big box store sites in Ontario called SmartCentres. They are currently planning on building a big box store plaza in downtown Toronto along the waterfront. The land is currently being used as a film studio. This past weekend there was a protest on the site to keep the movie studio and not let the big box stores into the property.
I have seen this story in a couple of different media outlets. Local area residents do not want the big box stores to go there. The local politicians are against the big box centre going into that property.
So, if everybody near the property is against the big box store, then why would a retailer open a big box store there? Because the retailer knows something that the people do not. The retailer knows that the people are spineless jellyfish who would sell out everything they believe in to save a couple bucks.
Sure, everybody would like to shop at the little corner store that specializes in customer service but guess what, fewer and fewer people are actually shopping at those little corner stores. If people kept on shopping at those little stores, they wouldn’t be closing down, would they?
And the belief that the smaller store has better service is a fallacy. You can get great service at the small store, but you can also get poor service at the small store. The same goes with the big box store. If the associate helping you with your purchase is passionate about their work, you will get great customer service. Also, that little anecdotal story we all hear about how somebody got shitty service at the big box store or the time you yourself got shitty service, sometimes, the customer is a dick and doesn’t deserve good service. But you’ve never heard that side of the story, unless you’ve worked one day of retail.
As for this specific example with the movie studio on the Toronto waterfront; if the movie studio was making money, there wouldn’t be a push by the landowners to bulldoze it. So, let’s all rush to save a failing business from being replaced by a successful business. That is the Toronto way.
Tags: News
April 14, 2008 at 8:31 pm
That’s the bourgeoisie kapitalist swine’s way.
April 14, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Vancouver kept Walmart out in the same manner - which is fine by me. On the other hand, if a big box is going to come downtown they should respect the urban fabric and architecture. We have a costco, home depot, canadian tire etc all in the downtown-ish area, but they are all completely different concepts than the suburban stores and they work. It makes more sense to have access to these stores in your neighbourhood if you live downtown than to have to drive out to the suburbs.
One store that drives me crazy is Zellers - they have horrible inventory! They need to get it together and be more like Target.
April 15, 2008 at 2:45 am
When you say Big Box… are you actually referring to boxes?(yeah yeah, dumbest question ever!) Also, would retailers really be passionate about selling boxes?
Thirdly, I agree with you. Although if I owned a small business, I would probably NOT agree.
April 15, 2008 at 7:33 am
Woozie - Then yeah for bourgeosie capitalist swines!
Rawbean - I dislike when new things built in old neighbourhoods are forced to build in a manner that matches existing architecture. It stiffles creativity and originality, I feel.
Jillian - Big box stores are stores like (I’m thinking you’ve got these stores in wherever the heck you’re from) Best Buy, Walmart and such.
April 15, 2008 at 8:46 am
Oh hell, I admit it, I’m a sucker for big box stores. I love me some Target. It’s like the modern day general store. It’s not really a new concept at all.
Small stores are over priced and the service is often shitty because the till is being watched by the owner’s angry teenage kid.
April 15, 2008 at 9:52 am
I used to work for a big box store actually and I hate them at times. There are a couple of chains I don’t shop at because I don’t like there business practices, but I won’t force anyone to not go. Let people make a choice. If they don’t like the store then they can choose not to shop there.
April 15, 2008 at 10:07 am
You’re right, some big stores can offer great service and they can be more efficient. I wouldn’t mind seeing a big store in that area. The downtown care and Leslieville don’t have that… and they just use gas driving to the suburbs to shop!
April 15, 2008 at 11:25 am
Good god I had issues with two of them recently when trying to get information about purchasing Tivo it was ridiculous. I asked if it was compatible with my cable company…I got a noooo from one store, mumbled about needing digital, I got an ummmm yeah??? from another store, then when I told him what the first guy said he changed his answer to ummmmm noooooo??? Completely unsure of what the answer was.
April 15, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Yea those suburban parks full of big boxes and applebees laid out at crazy angles with huge parking lots are really creative. That shit needs to be controlled.
April 15, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Jessica - I shop at the big box stores too. Well, not Walmart. Walmart’s a dungheap, but some of the others are nice.
Wiwille - good point. If you don’t like it, take your protest with your wallet, don’t shop there.
Aurora - I take it you’re not a real Torontonian.
Miss Ash - yeah, the people at (I’m guessing you went to either) Best Buy or Futureshop or something like those. I buy my electronics at 2001 Audio/Video. I always get good service there. And they are sometimes located in SmartCentres. The one I shop at is.
Rawbean - I can’t tell, are you being sarcastic. I’ve found that some are setup real well and others and just like hell.
April 15, 2008 at 4:04 pm
If they build it, the shoppers will come. It never matters how big the outcry is against a retailer - once they come into town with their flashy advertising and low prices, no one sheds a tear for the small business. I want to save money as much as anyone, but it is sad that every city in North America is starting to look the same. May as well not go anywhere. Wait, I don’t go anywhere anyway! I guess there’s no problem…
April 15, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Spark - why do cities have to look different?
April 15, 2008 at 10:42 pm
I was being sarcastic.
April 16, 2008 at 10:04 am
Hippy.