Kelowna is the major retail and business centre in the BC Interior with a total of seven shopping centres. Orchard Park Shopping Centre is the largest shopping centre between Calgary and Vancouver. Most major chain stores are represented locally including Wal-Mart, Costco, The Brick, The Bay, Sears, Zellers, London Drugs, Chapters, Home Depot, and Rona.
According to a Financial Post survey, the total estimated retail sales for 2005 in the Central Okanagan (RDCO) are expected to be approximately $2.0 billion. Regional District retail sales increased 96.7% between 1995 and 2005, compared to 46.0% for BC in 2005.
Additional information on the retail and wholesale industry can be found in our Economic Profile.
 Wholesale & Retail Sector
| RDCO |
BC |
| Year |
Total Sales |
% Change |
Total Sales |
% Change |
| 1991 |
$912.80 |
-2.50% |
$23,537.00 |
-2.70% |
| 1992 |
$972.90 |
6.60% |
$24,433.00 |
3.80% |
| 1993 |
$981.40 |
0.90% |
$26,348.00 |
7.80% |
| 1994 |
$1,018.90 |
3.80% |
$29,032.00 |
10.20% |
| 1995 |
$1,021.80 |
0.30% |
$30,837.00 |
6.20% |
| 1996 |
$1,058.40 |
3.60% |
$31,252.00 |
1.30% |
| 1997 |
$1,098.80 |
3.80% |
$32,848.00 |
5.10% |
| 1999 |
$1,401.40 |
27.50% |
$34,881.80 |
6.20% |
| 2000 |
$1,477.50 |
5.40% |
$37,437.70 |
7.30% |
| 2001 |
$1,845.90 |
25.00% |
$36,141.40 |
-3.50% |
| 2002 |
$1,761.30 |
-4.60% |
$39,321.10 |
8.80% |
| 2003 |
$1,904.00 |
8.10% |
$42,184.20 |
7.30% |
| 2004 |
$1,944.20 |
2.10% |
$43,039.30 |
2.00% |
| 2005 |
$2,009.80 |
3.40% |
$45,035.00 |
4.60% |
| 2006 |
$2,458.80 |
22.3% |
$49,914.50 |
5.7% |
| 2007 |
$2,706.7 |
10.1% |
$53,113.3 |
6.41% |
Source: FP Markets Canadian Demographics 2002-2007
|
The table below breaks down the estimated retail sales by expenditure.
| Item |
2003 |
2004 |
2006 |
| Groceries |
$329.00 |
$290.50 |
$660.40 |
| Other Food |
$25.20 |
$25.60 |
$341.70 |
| Women's Clothing |
$24.90 |
$23.40 |
$313.30 |
| Men's Clothing |
$9.40 |
$7.30 |
$193.90 |
| Other Clothing |
$40.90 |
$41.00 |
$164.40 |
| Shoes |
$9.70 |
$8.60 |
$162.60 |
| Motor vehicles & recreation vehicles |
$601.20 |
$585.70 |
$115.30 |
| Gasoline, automotive services |
$135.20 |
$126.80 |
$101.60 |
| Auto parts and accessories |
$82.80 |
$92.90 |
$74.00 |
| Household furnishings |
$92.80 |
$82.30 |
$73.00 |
| Household Furniture & Appliances |
$17.90 |
$23.30 |
$68.30 |
| Other durable goods |
$57.70 |
$69.30 |
$62.50 |
| Other semi-durable goods |
$46.30 |
$51.90 |
$41.30 |
| General merchandise |
$288.00 |
$373.60 |
$35.10 |
| Pharmaceuticals, medicine, etc. |
$62.60 |
$56.80 |
$35.00 |
| All other retail |
$80.30 |
$85.20 |
$16.40 |
| Total |
$1,904.00 |
$1,944.20 |
$2,458.80 |
Source: FP Markets Canadian Demographics 2000-2004
(2005 & 2007 statistics were not published in the report) |
Wholesale & Retail