The Walmart Chronicles

[griffin]

Coles Group already have the combined concept, at least up here, for 15-20 years, with 2 'Hypermarkets'. If they or Woolworths wanted to see if the concept could work, they just have to see how effective these Hypermarkets are.

[i_amtrunks]

Coles Group already have the combined concept, at least up here, for 15-20 years, with 2 'Hypermarkets'. If they or Woolworths wanted to see if the concept could work, they just have to see how effective these Hypermarkets are.

Could you explain more?

We have had Coles and Kmart stores that sit alongside one another and are the only stores on their block, but they are two separate stores. Are these Hypermarkets altogether in the one building, under the same roof?

[jaydisc]

In America, There are Walmarts and Walmart "Supercenters". There are also Targets and "Super" Targets. The "Supers" both contain at supermarket additions under the same roof. I think both types of both already have pharmacies, garden centers, and all sorts of bonus sh1t.

[STL]

Great write up.

I'm not a fan of Walmart type vnetures not b/c of their customer service but more b/c of their business structure. As profitable as it is, it creates an unhealthy market position in the long run.

But who is to blame really? Regulators for not ensuring that such market power's not concentrated. Or ourselves for the pursuing the savings w/out a sense of business morality?

[TheDirtyDigger]

But who is to blame really? Regulators for not ensuring that such market power's not concentrated. Or ourselves for the pursuing the savings w/out a sense of business morality?

Well you can never trust the people to do the right thing concerning the greater good. Regulators need to be given teeth by the government. In the supermarket industry in Australia the big 2 are capped by the govt. at 80% market share. The greedy bastards try to get around this any way they can though.
I think a move to fascism is needed for a while to iron out all the kinks in society.

[i_amtrunks]

Thanks Griffin.

When you have a coles and a Kmart next to each other, and no other shops on the block anyway, I can't really see the difference to knocking the wall down.

Or am i the only one who does not like the idea of having meat, vegies, cereal and cat food in the same trolley as toys and t-shirts?

[jaydisc]

Costco, at least in the USA, is another departure from what we've been discussing here so far. Costco is what I refer to as membership-based wholesale. Basically, there is a yearly membership fee (e.g. US$50) which is required simply to gain entry to the store. The store is very warehouse-y in feel, and everything is sold in large quantities. For example, you can't buy a bag of chips, you buy a BOX of bags of chips. These stores have branched out to electronics and toys and naturally, don't apply the large quantity requirement there.

In the USA, this is the same as BJs and Sams Club (Walmart's wholesaler)

[MV75]

Jay, as I asked earlier, what are your thoughts on costco? How are they in comparison in the states? We will be getting them here at some stage soon.

And the hypermarket, it's great. I like the Aspley one. It's sort of a store lost in time, or how they used to be. As follows below.....

Thanks Griffin.

When you have a coles and a Kmart next to each other, and no other shops on the block anyway, I can't really see the difference to knocking the wall down.

Or am i the only one who does not like the idea of having meat, vegies, cereal and cat food in the same trolley as toys and t-shirts?

Mate, back in the day, a coles used to, as standard, have groceries, clothes, big toy aisle, etc. They used to all be in one. They often used to have cafe type resturants up the back of the store as well. They were more of a department store as standard.

I remember when they used to have the kmart/coles next to each other at Aspley as well. Back in the days where you could buy computer games, shot guns, clothes, christmas gifts, and do your shopping.

Years ago we did used to have this shopping nirvana.

Just yesterday I was wondering (on the size of northlakes, where you have to pack a lunch to trek from myer to target), at what point will people go, "nah stuff this, it's all too big". ?

I think that is coming. Shopping centres really are getting too large to be bothered going to every store. There are too many specialty shops inbetween.

I welcome the change back to department stores.

[Golden Phoenix]

In America, There are Walmarts and Walmart "Supercenters". There are also Targets and "Super" Targets. The "Supers" both contain at supermarket additions under the same roof. I think both types of both already have pharmacies, garden centers, and all sorts of bonus sh1t.

They have sort of been doing that with Big W
The one at Doncaster has an optometrist

[griffin]

Could you explain more?

We have had Coles and Kmart stores that sit alongside one another and are the only stores on their block, but they are two separate stores. Are these Hypermarkets altogether in the one building, under the same roof?

A hypermarket is a single store that is supposed to be a step up from supermarket - in that it covers pretty much everything a grocery and a department store has. Think of it as a Coles and a Kmart next to each other, with the dividing wall knocked down. They are really huge stores.
The only drawback is that their toy sections are pretty pathetic. I never go there to check out their toy stock, because they rarely have any TFs in stock.
Not sure if they are a successful concept though, as the two stores are still operating, but no others have been opened during that 15-20 year period. I had heard rumours that they were going to be reverted to Kmarts or Coles a few years ago when Coles Group was going through a huge restructure (which saw the end of the Bi-Lo brand in most states), but it never happened, so maybe wasn't true.