Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - December 17, 2007, Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg repress. Com c Ity & b business m onday december 17, 2007 City editor Paul Samyn 697 7292 City. Desk free press. My. Ca i Winnipeg repress. Com b 1 downtown office glut tenants Market forecast for year ahead wow. A Jana. Com business b 6 by Marie to Proulx k keep it open and they will come. Which is just what shoppers like Candice Myran were doing Well past Midnight last week now that select superstore and Wal Mart outlets Are keeping their Cash registers ringing 24/ 6. For Myran and her Friend the lure of Moonlight shopping was enough to get them to drive from Portage la Prairie in a storm to the superstore on Mcphillips Street in Hopes of crossing even More purchases off their Christmas lists. They were leisurely trolling for bargains while the kids Are asleep. Myran said they came especially for electronics. They hoped to find those later when they took their shopping expedition to Wal Mart a few blocks up the Road. Our store at Home did not have any of what we wanted. The women also picked out a few seasonal items such As tree ornaments and wrapping paper. Meanwhile throughout the stores 33 aisles the overnight staff were Busy restocking the shelves. The place looked like an obstacle course and Many products were out of reach behind Walls of canned goods in half open boxes. Some aisles were temporarily off limits As a Crew of three men mopped and dried the floor. Jason a nurse whose shift just ended said superstore is a frequent Stop on his Way Home. My wife called to Tell me we need milk he said As he hurried to the Dairy Section. Only one Cash Register was open but with barely a dozen customers scattered throughout the Maze of food housewares clothing and giant gift pack displays it was enough. A smiling Renata worked the 11 30 p. M. To 6 30 a. M. Shift. There is no complimentary bagging service. Over at Wal Mart the parking lot was noticeably busier. Inside a steady Stream of shoppers pushed carts brimming with toys and Christmas decorations. Kim Bailes drove from St. Vital in 15 minutes to avoid the usual Day traffic. She said she saved about half an hour on the commute and is confident she will also save on her shopping Bill. Bailes is flying to Cuba in a few Days to take gifts to two families she and her husband Are helping. They have two kids a seven and a two year old both born on dec. 25, she said. And theress no real Christmas there because of the regime. By the time Sheds done Bailes expects she will have spent Between $ 300 and $ 400. According to store manager Barry Pederson the extended hours have surpassed expectations. He said Wal marts late shopping is a life Saver for people who cant otherwise make it to the store during regular hours. He said gamers looking for the latest electronics Are frequent lat night customers but families come in As Well. In the toy department couples perused the merchandise picking up talking cars and comparing other plastic contraptions. Clayton Pretti and Jennifer Houle were looking for a doll stroller but those Are All gone. Its easier to sneak the gifts in when the kids Are asleep Pretti said. They have six children and did not anticipate getting All their shopping done in one night. Big Box stores started pumping out announcements about extended opening hours Back in october. In Winnipeg Wal Mart superstore and Zellers All indicated they would increase the number of stores staying open around the clock for the pre Christmas Rush. While retailers must respect Manitoba ass sunday store hours and wait until noon to open their doors All prohibitions Are lifted when it comes to online shopping. Some chains Are banking on that option to boost sales. The Mountain equipment Coop store on Portage Avenue is extending its hours for the last two weeks before Christmas but manager Ken Berg said there is not enough demand for a move to All night shopping. I cant remember one time when folks asked that our store stay open beyond 9 p. M. Berg added that customers use the company is website to research products but they tend to trek out to the store to make purchases. Mecys online sales have been steadily growing Over the last few years but he said they Are not yet surpassing in person transactions. Chuck Davidson of the Winnipeg chamber of Commerce is planning to do his shopping both online and in the stores possibly even late at night should the need arise. Creative the difference in advertising budgets Between big Chain stores and smaller Independent retailers Means that the latter have to be More creative to get repeat customers Davidson said. He said a personal touch Superior service and Quality products Are the Best tools for businesses wanting to compete. Bob and Susan Negen co authors of marketing your retail store in the internet Agea popular self help Book would agree. They consider a willingness to pay to get new customers As the first key to Success for fledgling businesses. For Many companies Large and Small this investment begins by securing a qualified workforce. The chamber released a report on dec. 13 that Points to the availability of qualified staff As the no. 1 concern for businesses considering an expansion of their operations. Maria cilia a customer relations manager working the night shift at Wal Mart said the store usually keeps about 15 Cash registers open until 11 p. M. She said she loves her Job and that her colleagues on the Large overnight team enjoy the Busy work environment. Not everyone has shopping on their mind in the Middle of the night. Across the Street from Wal Mart shapes a 24 hour fitness Centre with rows of treadmills and televisions beckoned the fitness conscious. Night manager Sharon Mariano said they typically get fewer than 10 people at a time in the wee hours. I think people want to avoid the Rush she said adding that they sometimes get Crank Calls but night shifts Are usually quiet. This May change in january As product returns and exchanges taper off and new years resolutions kick in. Shopping the night away crowd wary customers keep registers ringing Long after dark photos by Boris Minkevich / Winnipeg free press late night shoppers go through the till at the Wal Mart on Mcphillips Street last week. The stores manager says night traffic has been higher than expectations. Charise Duck and Marc Moody Check out toys at Wal Mart. Its easier to sneak the gifts in when the kids Are asleep Clayton Pretti ;