LIQUOR STORES NA LTD 4.70 PCT DEBS T.LIQ.DB.B

RE:RE:RE:The Problems: Oil Prices and Alberta

[Goldbuggy1]

FootballFan1 wrote:
According to their latest Presentation dated Sept 2015, 74% of LIQ sales was in Alberta and B.C......Now, this may gradually change with the new USA stores, but the big concern is still how well the Alberta stores do and whether any increase in earnings in the USA may be offset by declining profitability in Alberta (after the associated costs of getting these stores built or, in the case of the NJ stores, paid for and integrated is done).........Also, I'm wondering how price-competitive LIQ is vs. the competition in Alberta...?....Jack Daniels is the same no matter where you buy it from, and though LIQ store locations look great (at least from pictures I've seen), are their competitors offering the same products at lower prices, do people really want wine and beer tasting, private label offerings, fancy stores etc. going forward in this economic environment...?......As for Suncor, they are an integrated O&G company with high-margin refineries and downstream retail (gas station) operations across Canada, plus operations in the U.K, Norway, etc. The Alberta oil plays are only one aspect of the company - Suncor is the largest integrated O&G player in Canada, has a great balance sheet, lots of cash on hand, and actually increased their dividend last year - no comparison to LIQ in my opinion.....

Are all the whistles and bells and fancy stores with wine tasters in them really needed to attract and keep customers? To be honest I don't know as I am not a Marketing Expert. To me the shop closest to on my way home and easy parking will do for me. Although a special events, good service, and low prices may attract me and keep me also. But I repeat, I am not a Marketing Expert who's business is to know such things. To put it another way, is that soft music they play when in a supermarket shopping for food necessary? It must cost extra money to do so why do it? I am sure there is a good reason as all of them do this. But just because I don't know what it is this doesn't mean it is a waste of money and they all should stop doing that. The first Liquor Store I entered as a kid with my father looked more like a prison than a Liquor Store. Even had bars on the windows and the room was dark. You had to know exactly what you wanted as you had to fill out a form to get what you wanted, because all alcohol was all hidden from you. You waited in line and then gave this form to the sales staff, who then went to the back room to retrieve it and then hid it in a dark brown bag for you. They were closed 2 days a week and every holiday and only open 6 hours a day. Women were not allowed in there to buy anything and only male children could join there fathers. We have come a long way in Liquor Store appearance since then.