I love the concept behind Joe Fresh. I love the idea behind simple, easy, just classic and wearable…read moremen's design (this review is for the men's clothing specifically) that isn't too over the top, too flashy or too trendy. Joe Fresh is great for that.
Basic tees, basic track pants, simple but cool sweaters and baseball 3/4 tees, and flannel pants to lounge in at home in comfort. I love all the ideas of basic, easy and very comfortable clothes. I really think that both men and women like this very simple idea which is not represented out there In the retail market today.
I'm reviewing the store at 60 Carlton St. specifically, which is contained in the old Maple Leaf Gardens which is now a massive, well done everything store you could want grocery extravaganza! They did this Canadian historical building justice; that's very important.
Joe Fresh is located on the 2nd floor easily accessible right at the front door with an escalator or elevator (thanks for keeping people with accessibility issues in mind).
I'd say that this is probably the second largest Joe Fresh. There is a larger one on St. Clair West but fir us downtown people, travekking out to St. Clair West isn't in my playbook.
That being said, and here's where some negative criticism comes in but with the amount of space they have (it IS a large Joe Fresh), I would say the stock for men vs women on the floor is about 30% - 70% , respectively. Retailers these days are odd - they believe that men do not seem to understand that men enjoy shopping as well so like usual, like every retail store or retail chain out there, Joe Fresh has given literally a small cut out section of the entire floor to men and the rest is of course women's clothes. (I guess good for women, of course).
But that is typical retail floor planning and Joe Fresh does the same thing very well.
Joe Fresh, take into consideration that there are plenty of men , especially in this neighborhood, who love shopping. You have to give the male audience just as much air time as women. Joe Fresh , when they started off, I thought they were going to finally go that route but at this location, stock for men, space allotted for men is again, compromised.
A couple of quick notes, the store is no more than the old concrete shell of the Maple Leaf Gardens, and that's concrete floor, concrete beams and columns which is kind of modern but the floor is very hard in your feet and legs (may sound trivial but it's not) and that they cannot change, I get that. This is a historical building so many things they cannot just rip out and I don't think , like many Canadians would want that per se.
Second, customer service , like many others Joe stores I've read about and visited is not wonderful; hell it is sparse. Finding someone generally is not easy unless you get help at the cash register; there were no staff around , floating on the floor for assistance. Joe Fresh, take note, YOU REALLY NEED TO HAVE YOUR ENGAGE YOUR CUSTOMERS MORE. Those customers are there , spending and in turn, laying your employees and keeping store locations alive. I think from the start, and reading others' reviews, this has been a big challenge and I don't know why. I can say it drives nuts when you see , literally, no staff on the floor. Oh, my bad, as for the maybe 40 minutes I was in the store, I saw one person on the floor but he was stock I think more so than a sales person.
Joe Fresh, you really have to train staff to not be afraid of customers - or at least have sales people on the floor. I couldn't find my size in a men's awesome basic tee; after a while, I just put it back on the shelf because I needed someone to come to me (that's what customer service is) and see if I needed help. I mean someone at the cash must have seen me looking like I wanted help but no one approached. Lost sale there.
Oh, an interesting observation, and I don't know what it is but the 2 people at cash were so completely bored, I assume with nothing to do (you could have come and helped me, lol !),they both had some pretty sour looks on their faces - they were utterly bored , and you know what? For a retailer, that shows big time. It sets the vibe for just not a very fun or entertaining or friendly place TO shop.
Not much else to say. Prices are great but you do get what you pay for so keep in mind - I walked out with 2 sweaters and socks for about 35$. Not bad at all. Just watch the quality, and hold onto your receipts.
Oh, one very cool thing. You can use your PC points for shopping.
So for this location, in this historical building, I rated it a 3/5.
Definitely the largest store (all being relative) downtown and worth a visit.
