More than 600 jobs available at fair for new Richmond mall

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Hundreds of job seekers flocked to job fair in Richmond today, hoping to be offered a job at Metro Vancouver’s newest outlet mall.

McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Vancouver Airport is set to open later this spring. This weekend, retailers set to open their doors at the new mall held a job fair in hopes of filling the more than 600 positions available.

“I’ve always worked in the restaurant industry, but I actually really enjoy fashion myself so I’ve always wanted to get into the retail industry and I thought this would be a good opportunity as such a big outlet mall is opening,” said Julie Wang, one of the many students hoping to get a job for the summer.

The mall is making a giant leap onto the local retail scene. McArthurGlen is well known in Europe, but this is the company’s first foray on the other side of the pond.

McArthurGlen Designer Outlets is set to open at a time when there have been so many departures. Target is in the midst of its final days in Canada. Late last month, Future Shop announced it too would be shutting its doors. Other mall staples like Mexx, Jacob and Smart Set are doing the same.

However, retail analysts are optimistic this mall will satisfy shoppers demands here. Ian Thomas, chairman of Thomas Consultants, says lower mainland shoppers know what they want and are willing to hunt for deals on both sides of the border. He says shoppers here are very familiar with outlet shopping.

“They have been to these malls in the U.S., and there’s a predictability, an anticipation, and an expectation of what that mall is to supply,” said Thomas.

“I think the quicker they can get it up to a normal size configuration with a product offering, it’s going to be even more successful.”