Good news!
:beer:
Now they need one in SLC.
http://www.wcax.com/story/25642323/ll-bean-coming-to-burlington
:beer:
Now they need one in SLC.
http://www.wcax.com/story/25642323/ll-bean-coming-to-burlington
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LL Bean Opening up First Vermont Store
- Thread starter thetrailboss
- Start date
Edd
Well-known member
"Several other shoppers say they would have preferred a Target in that location."
LOL
LOL
Hopefully it works out
L.L. Bean didn't make it in downtown Portland. It was an L.L. Bean Outlet, so not their best stuff, but I still equate outdoor stores like L.L. Bean, Cabella's etc, with having to have a large store foot print and ample parking. Cherry Street obviously doesn't offer that in Burlington.
L.L. Bean didn't make it in downtown Portland. It was an L.L. Bean Outlet, so not their best stuff, but I still equate outdoor stores like L.L. Bean, Cabella's etc, with having to have a large store foot print and ample parking. Cherry Street obviously doesn't offer that in Burlington.
VTKilarney
Well-known member
Not good news. Shipping is free for catalog orders and now they will charge Vermonters sales tax.
Edd
Well-known member
Because there's a store there now? I'm not understanding what free shipping and taxes have to do with each other.
WWF-VT
Well-known member
There are already plenty of independent outdoor gear shops in Burlington. LL Bean has a broad mix of products and will hopefully attract more people and business to the shops and restaurants that are near the planned location in Burlington.
Meanwhile, Trader Joe's opening in Burlington was a big story :
http://www.wcax.com/story/25536749/crowd-turns-out-for-trader-joes-opening
Meanwhile, Trader Joe's opening in Burlington was a big story :
http://www.wcax.com/story/25536749/crowd-turns-out-for-trader-joes-opening
VTKilarney
Well-known member
Correct. If a mail-order company does not have a physical retail presence in a state they do not need to charge sales tax when shipping a product to that state. Now that LL Bean will have a physical presence in Vermont they are obligated to charge sales tax for all Vermonters who order from LL Bean - even those who live two hours away from the store.
Since LL Bean does not charge for shipping, we didn't need a physical store to get their products. So the end result is that we can get the same products at the store, but ALL Vermont customers of LL Bean must now pay sales taxes.
Mind you, I always pay use tax anyway...
VTKilarney
Well-known member
I am shocked it took so long for Trader Joe's to get to Burlington. It was a perfect market.
Yeah I was wondering that.
The Trader Joes thing was funny with folks complaining about it hurting "local" business. Here's my take: if you don't like it, don't shop there. Same with OGX vs. LLB. The two really don't overlap that much. LLB mainly sells its own line of stuff. If anything places like Eddie Bauer need to be worried.
drjeff
Well-known member
The reality is with local businesses, and being a part of my communities small business association where we just had a super Walmart open in the area, I've heard PLENTY of other small, local business owners say this, is that if they're worried about loosing customers to a big chain moving into the area, then the reality is that they aren't listening to what their customers wants and needs are and then making the changes to adapt to those wants and needs. Many times the big chain moving into an area will drive a small local business or two out of business not because of prices, but because of that small businesses failure to regularly change to meets the current wants and needs of their existing customer base
Bingo
AdironRider
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2005
- Messages
- 3,699
- Points
- 83
While true to some extent, the biggest thing that hurts the local retailers is inventory costs. The big retailers can afford to bring in items that might gather dust for a while, cause it doesn't hurt their margins, or cant afford the initial buy in.
You have to spend 20-25k to get an initial order in with Carhartt these days.
Other times companies will no longer sell to you because the larger retailer moves in. Try and find Filson anything within 50 miles of Kittery Trading Post. Not possible because the brand will not even entertain your business. Try and be a small Mom and Pop and break that barrier.
So yeah its easy to say they small business should be catering and working more proactive to bring in products people want, but its much easier said than done. I know in my knife shop, I cant just bring in Benchmade because a hedge fund backed outfitter already has them.
Anyone who uses the argument that small business just needs to adapt and their survival is guaranteed has never tried to buy products wholesale.
SIKSKIER
New member
It called capitalism gentlemen, and it works.
SIKSKIER
New member
Same thing in Manchester NH.I went in that outlet once and its a big letdown after being in the Freeport store.
They actually have two tiers of stores if you look closely. http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/1000001703?nav=ftlink
"LL Bean Retail Stores", which are their current products and main items and "LL Bean Outlets" which are the returned, blems, overstock, closeout items. The former is better than the latter in my experience. And in NH only the West Lebanon one is a "Retail Store". My memory is that it was way better than the outlets.
Hopefully they do a full Retail Store in BTV.
Why would you shop at an Outlet in Portland when you can drive 10 minutes up to Freeport and shop at the big store and outlet? Not to mention all the other shops up there.
I'm assuming they wanted to capitalize on Portland residents who didn't want to be bothered with going to Freeport. In my two years living in Portland, I only made it up to Freeport twice and both times were at the urging of my girlfriend. :lol:
clearly that market wasn't there.
clearly that market wasn't there.
You've seen what a clusterf&*k Freeport can be. Especially in the summer.
I thought it was an odd location for an outlet...at least where it was in downtown Portland. Had it been at the Maine Mall I think it would have done better.
VTKilarney
Well-known member
That's what did the Portland store in. If it was in South Portland or Scarborough it would have done just fine.
And keep in mind that it was not even in the touristed part of Portland. If it was down by the water I bet it would have survived.
And keep in mind that it was not even in the touristed part of Portland. If it was down by the water I bet it would have survived.
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