Brandon’s Sears closing; Direct Wholesale moving in

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This article was published 04/02/2017 (3197 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon’s lone Sears retail space is shutting down in mid-April, to be replaced the city’s second Direct Liquidation centre, this one called Direct Wholesale.

It’s a sign of the times, local Sears owner Ron Shaluk said, adding that while the centre’s sales have been going up incrementally, profit margins have been decreasing on an almost yearly basis.

“It’s too easy to blame online shopping, but it does affect traditional retailers who had bigger stores and things like that,” he said. “Online shopping doesn’t help the brick and mortar stores any, but it’s a reality today.

“It’s not a depressing thing, it’s more we changed the way we shop and the need for bigger stores is just not there anymore.”

Shaluk has owned the local Sears retail outlet for the past six years, specializing in furniture and appliances, with a catalogue desk for other ordered-in items.

It has been located at its present 1828 18th St. North space for the past 20 years or so, having previously been found in the city’s downtown core.

Direct Liquidation owner Darcy Willey said that their second outlet, Direct Wholesale, is expected to open at the Sears space in May in celebration of Direct Liquidation’s one-year anniversary at 205 16th St. North.

Their second space will carry a different name in order to differentiate between the two spaces, with Direct Liquidation specializing in clothing, food and smaller appliances and Direct Wholesale specializing in mattresses, furniture and large appliances.

In short, they signed a lease on the current Sears space because they had too much stuff, Willey explained, noting that in order to keep their prices low they purchase in bulk, with little say in what they get and when they get it.

While this business model carries its challenges, it also allows them to offer uncommonly low prices on major label brands — a concept Willey said has been quite successful in Brandon over the past several months.

With Sears shutting down, Shaluk said that he’s likely to take some time off, which is something he has been unable to do as a business owner.

While his privately owned store is closing, Shaluk wanted to clarify that Sears Canada remains a viable company.

As evidenced by other recent closures, the business model for privately owned stores just doesn’t work anymore, he said, adding that Sears’ corporate office owns the company’s larger stores, such as those in Winnipeg.

Where more people used to shop via the Sears catalogue, the more popular option now is online shopping, where ordered items are delivered straight to you.

Even Sears now offers an online shopping option.

Brandon’s Sears location will be offering going-out-of-business sales to mid-April, or whenever they’re too low on stock to justify keeping their doors open.

They’ve already pared down their operations from a peak staffing level of 10 to their current three, including Shaluk.

» tclarke@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB