What recession? MEC to open 2 new stores in Calgary

There is no recession evident at the downtown Calgary MEC on a weekday afternoon in July.

The parking lotis full, two cyclists on their way from Vancouver toSouth America have stopped byto stock up, parents are buying their children supplies for camp, and there is a sign at the rental area that says there are no sleeping bags left to rent for the coming weekend.

'Research has shown that Canadians are not as prone to going intothe pure wild anymore.'- David IanGray, DIG360 Consulting

All this helps to explain why MECis opening two new stores in Calgary over the next three years, despite a recession in the province that economists are calling the worst in decades.

One locationwill open on Calgary's western edge, on the way to the mountains, the other in Seton, in the city's deep southern suburbs.

"We've been hearing for years that people really love MEC, but that it's not really accessible," said Jerry McGillivray, western regional manager for the chain.

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MEC has more than 350,000 members inthe Calgary area, about half the total in Alberta. The retailerworks as a co-operative, in whichcustomers buy a $5 lifetime membership and are entitled to annual profit sharing. That also means the companyis able to trackevery purchase its members make, from climbing chalk,to paddleboards to road bikes.

'We have the advantage in that we know where all of ourmembers live," said McGillivray. "Soby having that information, we can really speak to what areas of the country and what areas of specific markets we should be in."

Stores coming in Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton

MEC has been going through a significant expansion in recent years. In 2016, it has already opened a location in Kelowna, B.C.,and isopeningnew stores in Edmonton, Laval, Que.,and the Toronto suburb ofNorth York later this year, as well as onein Kitchener, Ont., in 2017.

But Alberta is a retailing risk these days.

"We are very aware of the economic situation, said McGillivray. "If you look at theAlbertaretail market, both our MEClocationsbothin Edmonton and Calgary are faring much better than your typical retailer."

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MEC has broadened its offerings in recent years to appeal to a broader customer base than the hard-core backcountryenthusiasts who built the brand. At times, that has ruffledfeathers, but is expected to be an engine for growth. In 2012, before the branding change, MEC generated $302 million in sales from 16 stores. Last year, sales came in at $366 million from 18 stores. By the end of 2016, there will be 22 stores in Canada.

"For the brand to rejuvenate, sustain and rebuild, it requires reaching out to new people," said David Ian Gray,a retail analyst with DIG360 Consulting in Vancouver.

Not as many Canadians heading to back-country

"Research has shown that Canadians aren't as prone to going into the pure wildanymore, thebackcountry. That's the reality and MECisn'table to change that on their own,so they need to adapt to what people are doing and whatactivitiesthey'reparticipatingin."

Starting in 2012, MEC began holding running clinics andbike races,and offering paddling lessons to draw in less-outdoorsy customers, which has becomea key part of its strategy.

The stores physically become community hubs, saidMeriko Kubota, director of community investment with MEC.

"Wheremembers come to the stores, they're not only purchasing to get outside and recreate. but we connect them with the clinics, so they know how to get outside."

If MEC doesn't want to show people how to get outside, other stores are probably willing to, according to Gray.

"One of the reasons for the expansion is probably to get ahead of competitors who could come into Canada, or come at them from Canada. It's still an underserved market."

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