Rays and BCF to close stores

[JohnT]

Did anyone else catch the news tonight? A story on Rays and BCF closing stores.. Could this be the end for them.

[D4D]

Been on the cards for a while, they can't make Rays profitable...

In a statement to the stock market, Super Retail Group, which owns Ray's Outdoors stores, announced earlier this month that 12 stores would be re-branded to new-look RAYS stores, 16 would remain open and be converted to another brand within the group and the remaining 23 would be closed or converted depending on their financial status. The statement did not reveal plans for individual stores.

http://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20160505/pdf/43710nkyw8624q.pdf

[Nomad]

Unfortunately the writings on the wall for most bigbox operators. High rents, purely because of the space they require, and staff costs are killing that sector of retail, particularly when they are competing with online stores and the click and collect method. Harvey Norman saw it first and that's why each individual store has a separate franchise owner for each department.......Gerry is spreading the risk around.

I cringe every time an owner walks through my door saying that their showroom tenant is moving out and can I find another tenant. That exercise can take 1 to 2 years and the building is sitting there chewing its head off cost wise.

When you can run an online operation for less than half the rent and probably 25% of the staff costs it just doesn't make sense to have a shop front.

[Swannie]

I went in to a new branded Rays it was crap!

[Watty2975]

Rays Mackay was closing down a few weeks ago!

[baggs71]

Mt Barker SA closed today I heard?

[Paddler Ed]

In the last 4 years, Rays have closed their Erina store, and now their Lake Haven store is closing at the end of June. That leaves the nearest as Castle Hill and Kotara IIRC for the NSW Central Coast.

There was an interesting piece on the [ur=http://www.smh.com.au/comment/how-kmart-ate-target-a-story-of-retail-cannibalism-20160531-gp85os.htmll]SMH website about KMart eating Target[/url] - I can see something similar with BCF and Ray's as there is not sufficient differentiation between the two stores.

Add in the appearance of Decathlon from Europe, and that's going to really shake up the market sector - I used them a lot in the UK and France over the last 20 years or so; at one point it was the cheapest way to get a Shimano XT or XTR groupset, you even got a free frame and forks! Not quite as good value as it was, but still pretty good when you understand their brand hierarchy.

[Bill]

No BCF Stores are closing that I have heard of.
Newly rebranded Ray's stores are not after seasoned campers such as this group.
SRG have BCF for the more experienced outdoors people.
The new Ray's are after the weekend tryer outers.
The people who want to try hiking, camping, fishing etc.
But they want to spend as little as possible to see if they like it.
Little $$ usually equates to not so expensive stuff.
SRG have been revamping some Rays stores, closing some Rays stores and relocating other Ray's stores for nearly 2 years.
So that actually makes it old news.
Bill

[wakychapmans]

I used to shop at Rays.

Then they started house-branding every item in the store as "Wild Country"... so I moved to Anaconda... bad move.  They're worse.

BCF... same deal.

Sorry... but if I want to buy brand name camping gear... then that's what I want... not "insert generic brand here".

Online is the way to go.

[evolution]

I never understood why they competed against themselves.  Supercheap included.
It's silly when you Can buy the same item from Supercheap $200 cheaper than at bcf.
Hopefully most stores get rebranded rather than closing as to minimise job losses. 

Cheers
Nick

[Burnsy]

I used to shop at Rays.

Then they started house-branding every item in the store as "Wild Country"... so I moved to Anaconda... bad move.  They're worse.

BCF... same deal.

Sorry... but if I want to buy brand name camping gear... then that's what I want... not "insert generic brand here".

Online is the way to go.

Where is the like button, I am sick of businesses filling their shelves with self branded crap.

[archer63]

Was up at Mooloolaba a few weeks ago and bought an Amp-Fibian from the local Bunnings for $268....Ray's had them for $298.
If they were the same price or close to Bunnings I would have bought it there.

[feisty]

I used to shop at Rays.

Then they started house-branding every item in the store as "Wild Country"... so I moved to Anaconda... bad move.  They're worse.

BCF... same deal.

Sorry... but if I want to buy brand name camping gear... then that's what I want... not "insert generic brand here".

Online is the way to go.

Totally agree. I visit rays bcf anaconda etc and there is just the same old crap. My love in life is buying camping paraphernalia that I may not need or use.
Home brand stuff spoils this.

I walk through the local big name stores and are basically bored.  Same old same old.

I love going into specialised hiking shops or country camping stores because they have interesting items that campers need or lust after.

The local bcf are having a clearance sale. Went in to have a look today and yawned.  Total country hike arama rugged ...... spare me.

Feel sorry for the staff that will lose their jobs though.

[Bill]

Totally agree. I visit rays bcf anaconda etc and there is just the same old crap. My love in life is buying camping paraphernalia that I may not need or use.
Home brand stuff spoils this.

I walk through the local big name stores and are basically bored.  Same old same old.

I love going into specialised hiking shops or country camping stores because they have interesting items that campers need or lust after.

The local bcf are having a clearance sale. Went in to have a look today and yawned.  Total country hike arama rugged ...... spare me.

Feel sorry for the staff that will lose their jobs though.

Some of the best camping, fishing and hunting stuff I have ever bought came from little out of the way shops.
Usually Mom and Pop shops.
Bill

[MDS69]

I used to shop at Rays.

Then they started house-branding every item in the store as "Wild Country"... so I moved to Anaconda... bad move.  They're worse.

BCF... same deal.

Sorry... but if I want to buy brand name camping gear... then that's what I want... not "insert generic brand here".

Online is the way to go.

There use to be a great little camping shop in a back street just off Pennant Hills Rd at Thornleigh. Sadly I don't think it is there anymore.

[campingaroundoz]

Snowys in Adelaide the only way to go

[Humphreythebear]

There's a really good one in Launceston - Tas . In addition to the really top shelf ones , paddy Palin , mountain designs .
Or a ripper in Mansfield - small mum dad operation .

[McGirr]

Online is the way to go.

Thats why stores are closing.  We all want bargains for reputable brands. Then in ten years we will all be complaining that everything is online and no stores to visit. Next we will be complaining everything is coming from China..... hang on we do that now 

Mark

[scrapsD40]

I went in to a new branded Rays it was crap!

[Burnsy]

Thats why stores are closing.  We all want bargains for reputable brands. Then in ten years we will all be complaining that everything is online and no stores to visit. Next we will be complaining everything is coming from China..... hang on we do that now 

Mark

True as this is I refuse to pay inflated prices for Chinese crap I can get for 10% of the price online so if I want cheap stuff that I am willing to take a gamble on and throw out then online it is.  If I want quality stuff, need advice, fitting or aftermarket support I will happily buy it from a quality (non big box) store to support local small business.

[Nomad]

Totally agree. I visit rays bcf anaconda etc and there is just the same old crap. My love in life is buying camping paraphernalia that I may not need or use.
Home brand stuff spoils this.

I walk through the local big name stores and are basically bored.  Same old same old.

I love going into specialised hiking shops or country camping stores because they have interesting items that campers need or lust after.

The local bcf are having a clearance sale. Went in to have a look today and yawned.  Total country hike arama rugged ...... spare me.

Feel sorry for the staff that will lose their jobs though.

Same......

Best camping shops I have been into are the Newsagency / Haberdashery / Camping store in Winton......dusty old shop with different stuff and packed to the rafters. In NZ last year walked into a camping store in Rotorua and it was full of awesome stuff from diving to shooting and all high quality branded gear. I am not big into guns but that was really interesting to see.......

[Bird]

Where is the like button, I am sick of businesses filling their shelves with self branded crap.

2 Coles stores I went to tonight had no milk but their own brand...

Some of the best camping, fishing and hunting stuff I have ever bought came from little out of the way shops.
Usually Mom and Pop shops.

I'll agree with that.

[BaseCamp]

Thats why stores are closing.  We all want bargains for reputable brands. Then in ten years we will all be complaining that everything is online and no stores to visit. Next we will be complaining everything is coming from China..... hang on we do that now 

Mark

This post sums it all up very well....

Have a close look at 'category killer' Spotlight and their party section - Sparties....   

Shocking crap service and (most) products crap for both.....  But in the meanwhile they have destroyed every  independent mom & pop craft and haberdashery store...   because "all the morans" (sorry) wanted a bargain. ...   now the independent party shops are falling in the same way as the independent craft shops. ....   that's down to the Sparties element of Spotlight - as well as what Big W etc are doing in the craft and party categories ..........

Sent from my SM-N910G using Tapatalk

[Burnsy]

2 Coles stores I went to tonight had no milk but their own brand...
I'll agree with that.

No one should be going to Coles to get milk (or any other Australian grown produce for that matter), I am surprised you went to two of them, are there no independent stores over that side of the island?

[oldmate]

Where is the like button, I am sick of businesses filling their shelves with self branded crap.

yep me too