On eve of 350th anniversary, HBC's future in question

From “Rupert’s Land” to Fifth Avenue: Founded in 1670, Hudson’s Bay Co. began primarily as a fur trading business, occupying some 40 percent of what is now Canada and a significant portion of what became Minnesota and North Dakota. With the iconic retailer turning 350 this year, I wanted to revisit a company I used to cover and take a peak at where it might be headed next.

I wrote a lot about this company’s modern day operations over the years, some of which can be read here as well.

CTVNews.ca, Business, ReutersS HoJanuary 10, 2020Retail, HBC, Hudson's Bay Co

Employers increasingly frustrated by job interview ‘no shows’

Chef Devan Rajkumar, owner of newly opened Loch & Quay restaurant in Toronto, was short-staffed recently and rapidly lined up a bunch of interviews and trial shifts for cooks. His frustration mounted as a string of the candidates didn’t turn up.

Globe and Mail, Small BusinessGuest UserApril 8, 2018Restaurants, Retail, Jobs, Labour Market, Interviews, No Shows, Employment

Canada's Roots Corp sets C$14-C$16 per share IPO range: term sheet

Canadian apparel company Roots Corp has set a price range of C$14 ($14.00) to C$16 per share for its planned Toronto initial public offering (IPO), seeking to raise about C$200 million, according to a term sheet of the deal seen by Reuters on Monday.

Reuters, BusinessGuest UserOctober 2, 2017Roots, IPO, John Tilak, Retail

Sears Canada wins court approval for sale process

Sears Canada, which in 2012 was spun off from U.S. retailer Sears Holdings Corp, filed for creditor protection in June, 2017. After being in operation since 1953, the retailer finally shuttered its doors on January 14, 2018. Over the years, I checked in on Sears Canada amid a revolving door of CEOs who struggled to turn the business around, and followed the beginning of its demise during the summer of 2017. Here is some of that coverage.

Reuters, BusinessGuest UserJuly 13, 2017Sears, Sears Canada, Retail, Bankruptcy

Lululemon founder's family bets on casual luxury with new retail venture

Whether it was see-through yoga pants, Chip Wilson’s faux-pas about women’s thighs, or a string of forecast-beating results, Lululemon always gave us something to write about. From the Wilson family’s post-Lulu retail venture, Kit and Ace, to roller-coaster stock rides, here’s a sampling of my stories over the years on all things related to the athleisure wear company.

Reuters, BusinessGuest UserOctober 28, 2014Retail, Kit and Ace, Shannon Wilson, J.J. Wilson, Lululemon, Chip Wilson, Fashion, Julie Gordon

Exclusive: Target Canada's supply chain gridlock: how Barbie SUVs snarled traffic

A pink Barbie-branded SUV that seats two toddlers offers a surprising glimpse into the myriad problems that jammed up Target Corp’s supply chain when it set up shop in Canada, and the challenge facing Target’s new Canadian head.