January 14, 2011
Goodbye, Zellers; hello Target
A lot of people were sad to see Woodward’s go. Many were distraught to see the end of Eaton’s. Will anyone weep over the passing of Zellers? Probably not.
Zellers shoppers appreciate the good selection and low prices. Their collection of plastic storage bins is second to none. Unfortunately, the perception is that no matter how low the prices may be at Zellers, they will be lower at Walmart — in many minds the most popular department store in Kamloops.
Target will have the advantage of being better able to differentiate itself from Walmart, and carve out a nice little niche for itself in the retail scene. I’ve never shopped at Target, but judging by their website, they appear to be more upscale than Zellers, but still devoted to savings. I can imagine it doing well in budget-minded Kamloops.