Marika Kokoshke is the district manager for Fields, the retail giant that owns 62 department stores in Western Canada and the Northwest Territories. After a three-year absence, Fields is returning to Osoyoos with a new store located in the former Stedman’s Department Store on Main Street in downtown Osoyoos. (Keith Lacey photo)
After a three-year absence from the Osoyoos market, retailing giant Fields department store is set to open its doors at a new location this weekend.
Dean Petruk, the president and chief operating officer for Fields, said the company has wanted to return to the Osoyoos market for a long time. He is thrilled to be doing so with a “soft opening” set for Friday and grand opening set for Nov. 13 at its new store that will be located in the space formerly occupied by Stedman’s department store on Main Street.
Fields was formerly located in the space occupied by Red Apple department store in the large strip mall across from the Buy Low grocery store on Main Street on the north end of town.
“The decision to close the Osoyoos store was made by HBC (Hudson’s Bay Company) management … but our new management team have recognized that Osoyoos was a very strong market for us in the past and we needed to come back to this community,” said Petruk. “The Osoyoos market has been high on our list since we started our new company three years ago and we’re thrilled to be back with our new store in a great location downtown.”
Petruk and his business partners currently own 62 Fields locations in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories.
Hudson’s Bay Company announced an aggressive expansion strategy for Fields, adding 53 new stores in 2007-2008, with another 35 locations planned for 2008-09 and had planned on opening 800 new stores across Canada.
But the worldwide recession hit the retail industry very hard and by December of 2011, HBC announced that Field’s stores would cease operations. In February of 2012, 26 stores closed in Ontario. The remaining 141 stores were also announced to close in phases throughout the year, ending in the fall of 2012.
In May, 2012, Petruk and his partners with FHC Holdings Ltd. announced it had purchased 57 Fields stores across western Canada and the NWT.
The new store in Osoyoos will offer a wide variety of products, including clothing, household items, electronics, small appliances, home décor and groceries, said Petruk.
The store is in the process of hiring a manager as well as six to eight full-time employees and another few part-time employees, he said.
With Red Apple still in town and Osoyoos Home Hardware located right across the street, Fields will have major competition in the local market, but that’s good news for local consumers, said Petruk.
“In retail, competition is good,” he said. “We’re up against Red Apple and one of the finest home hardware stores in the province, but that will keep us sharp and ensure we have to offer quality products at a reasonable price and be committed to outstanding customer service.
“We’re confident we can all easily co-exist in the Osoyoos market.”
The company has signed a multi-year lease to roughly 6,000 square feet of space, which indicates a long-term commitment to this community, said Petruk.
Opening in late October will allow the store to benefit from the busy Halloween and Christmas shopping season, while providing time for staff to get acclimatized to their jobs before the busy tourist season begins in the spring, he said.
“We will be primed and ready for next summer, when things get really busy,” he said.
Mayor Sue McKortoff and members of town council have been invited to participate in the grand opening on Nov. 13.
The company is excited about the recent move to co-ordinate its head office with the company’s warehouse and distribution centre in Delta, B.C., said Petruk.
“Having our head office and distribution centre in the same location is very exciting news for the company and our customers,” he said.
The new Fields store will be open seven days a week and hours of operation are posted at the store.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
