Andrew Pottinger

Hosted by London Drugs consultants Andrew Pottinger and Blake Hudema, who presented recent resident survey findings, after opening comments the forum became a debate amongst businesses on the 106-year-old company's plans to open a Whistler Village location.
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That would depend on what extra demands would be imposed during the re-zoning application by the municipality, such as staff housing requirements or surcharges, Pottinger said.

London Drugs's community relation's manager Andrew Pottinger confirmed that London Drugs and Larco had agreed to an option on the space.

"I think it's fair to say that London Drugs has an option on that lease and Eddie Bauer would move to one side and Guess would leave," said Pottinger.

"We've done lots and lots of homework in the Whistler community over the past year to get to this point because we wanted to be sure that what we were proposing was a fit for the community," said Andrew Pottinger, a consultant for London Drugs.
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While the application is now in the hands of the municipal planning department and council, Pottinger says the store will continue to check with the community to see if there is anything they can do to help the project fit into the village.

Council is currently considering a bylaw that would limit the size of village stores to 5,000 square feet, The bylaw went to first reading on Monday, and could kill the London Drugs application if it is passed.

As it stands, the London Drugs proposal calls for a top floor area of 4,300 square feet and a bottom floor area of 12,750 square feet, space that currently sits empty.There will also be shipping dock elevator at street level.

"It's difficult to know what councillors will do," said Pottinger.
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According to Pottinger, those kinds of comments confirm what London Drugs believes , that the store will attract more shoppers to the village.

"We're just starting a retail study with a consultant to look at the anchor effect that this store will have in keeping money in Whistler," he said.

"The RMOW (study's) mandate, as I understand it, is pretty broad," said Andrew Pottinger, London Drugs spokesman.
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Pottinger noted that in an Aug. 17 presentation, Tourism Whistler Research Manager Ian Dunn said that recent visitor surveys indicate that the retail experience is one of the least satisfying aspects of a visit to Whistler.

Andrew Pottinger, a spokesperson for London Drugs, said he expects the process of deliberation on approval for the store to be a long one - up to a year, he said."This is a controversial project," Pottinger said, noting a strong show of opposition from people who fear the corporate giant will smother or extinguish local businesses."Their concerns are perfectly reasonable.However, we believe we will grow the pie and the anchor we provide will benefit (the entire business community), keeping dollars in Whistler that otherwise go to Vancouver."He said London Drugs will conduct a study on how the retailer might affect local businesses in an effort to address business owners' concerns.Pottinger said London Drugs will draw shoppers into the Village that otherwise wouldn't come - mainly local shoppers.He said once shoppers are in the Village, they will most likely visit other stores in the area."All of the surveys done show an overwhelming welcome and intention to use," Pottinger said.
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Pottinger said the store will adopt a " more boutique" style of displaying its products.He said the different departments would be grouped off, rather than displayed on long aisles.Pottinger said the company will become a valuable part of the community.He said the company will provide a huge marketing resource with the company's many locations throughout western Canada and can sponsor a variety of community events.The company has already been approached by Tourism Whistler to sponsor a Health and Wellness week, he said.

Andrew Pottinger, a spokesperson for London Drugs, said he expects the process of deliberation on approval for the store to be a long one - up to a year, he said."This is a controversial project," Pottinger said, noting a strong show of opposition from people who fear the corporate giant will smother or extinguish local businesses."Their concerns are perfectly reasonable.However, we believe we will grow the pie and the anchor we provide will benefit (the entire business community), keeping dollars in Whistler that otherwise go to Vancouver."He said London Drugs will conduct a study on how the retailer might affect local businesses in an effort to address business owners' concerns.Pottinger said London Drugs will draw shoppers into the Village that otherwise wouldn't come - mainly local shoppers.He said once shoppers are in the Village, they will most likely visit other stores in the area."All of the surveys done show an overwhelming welcome and intention to use," Pottinger said.
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Pottinger said the store will adopt a " more boutique" style of displaying its products.He said the different departments would be grouped off, rather than displayed on long aisles.Pottinger said the company will become a valuable part of the community.He said the company will provide a huge marketing resource with the company's many locations throughout western Canada and can sponsor a variety of community events.The company has already been approached by Tourism Whistler to sponsor a Health and Wellness week, he said.