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Hudson's Bay Company

There was a report in today's Globe that the owners are considering an IPO to bring HBC back into the public realm.

So, all the economic nationalists who were sick at the thought of an American owning Canada's oldest company can put their money where their mouths/hearts are and bring it home!!!
 
The Bay's biggest problem is that a lot of their stores--even their flagships--are desperately in need of a serious renovation. They seem to be doing a good job with Queen Street but the Ottawa Downtown (Freiman Mall) store, for example, is a shambles. The acoustic tile, stained carpet and white walls look won't cut it if you're trying to sell trendy products at high prices.
 
The Bay's biggest problem is that a lot of their stores--even their flagships--are desperately in need of a serious renovation.

I was about to bring up this issue. The Erin Mills Town Centre Bay is undergoing a reno, and the flyer is even mentioning this.. So perhaps more than just the EMTC location is renovating? They were having a "Reno Vation Sale" this last week.
 
Most Bay stores, especailly in the suburbs, look depressingly bare and old. Looks like the stores are waiting for a closure.
I am hoping there will be a renovation/revamp to all of their stores, as it's not a bad place to shop and a Canadian icon.
 
Most Bay stores, especailly in the suburbs, look depressingly bare and old. Looks like the stores are waiting for a closure.
I am hoping there will be a renovation/revamp to all of their stores, as it's not a bad place to shop and a Canadian icon.

They must've heard you. Was listening to the radio this afternoon and Bonnie Brooks said that 84 of their 92 locations are currently undergoing renovations...

Guess they are using their new found wealth (from Target) wisely.
 
The Bay's biggest problem is that a lot of their stores--even their flagships--are desperately in need of a serious renovation. They seem to be doing a good job with Queen Street but the Ottawa Downtown (Freiman Mall) store, for example, is a shambles. The acoustic tile, stained carpet and white walls look won't cut it if you're trying to sell trendy products at high prices.

That's a strange location: it's got "ex-Freimans" (as opposed to "ex-Simpsons") written all over it...
 
That's a strange location: it's got "ex-Freimans" (as opposed to "ex-Simpsons") written all over it...

The Ottawa downtown Bay store has been a disaster since the (unfortunate) rennovations in the early 1980s (done when the Rideau Centre opened across the street). On top of the cheap finishings, it's a rabbit warren.

I don't know that all their suburban stores are in such bad shape. When I walked into their Fairview store here in Toronto recently, it momentarily looked like it had been rennovated. But then I realized that they'd simply organized the merchandise in a pleasing way, which is something the Bay never used to be able to do. It made the store look clean and bright in a way it never had before, and in direct contrast to Sears on the other side of the mall. A few bucks on some rennovations and it might not be half bad.
 
This is the news to which airplane-dude was referring.

The Bay to renovate 80 of its 91 stores across Canada

Toronto Star

Department store chain The Bay is giving itself a makeover as part of a multimillion-dollar project aimed at fixing up nearly all of its locations, ahead of a reported public offering of the parent company's stock.

The Hudson's Bay Co. says it has already started work on renovating 80 of its 91 stores across the country, and expects to finish by August.

The announcement comes after Hudson's Bay agreed last November to sell most of its Zellers locations to U.S. discount retailer Target.

The company previously said it would take money it receives from the Target deal to reinvest in its remaining stores.

Reports have suggested that Hudson's Bay is also looking to make an initial public offering of 20 per cent of its shares, with a listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange and potentially a U.S. stock market.

The Bay has been undergoing major changes over the past few years repositioning itself as a higher-end retailer as discount U.S. retailers such as Wal-Mart Stores inc. and Target Corp. ramp up their presence in Canada.
 
Your hearing from a lil birdie. You can expect HBC's Home Outfitters chain to have a downtown Toronto presence within a year or two. Exec's are currently scouting retail space. There should be another 5 locations opening up within the GTA as well. The chain is also expanding outside of Canada with two new stores opening in New Jersey, same concept and layout as Home Outfitters but labeled with the Lord&Taylor Home name. The chain overall has seen significant growth and opportunity over the past few years that expansion is imminent.
 
I had similar thoughts.....but if you got a $50 haircut every two weeks.....that is $1,300 worth.....even if you said the haircut is only "worth" $25 you are still at $650's worth....after that any other services included in the membership are just bonuses (boni?)

The membership is for full service. So it includes the massage, manicure, shampoo, hot towel etc. I used to go to the John Allan at Sak's in NYC and always liked it. Also they are getting a liquor license so you can have a beer while you get your haircut.
 
The Bay Yorkdale to House Canada's First Topshop and Topman Destination Locations

Canada NewsWire

TORONTO, June 9, 2011

"Topshop and Topman Summer Takeover" Will Provide a Season of Shopping Previews

TORONTO, June 9, 2011 /CNW/ - The waiting game is over for fashion lovers across Canada. The Bay revealed today that its Yorkdale Mall store in Toronto will house the first destination locations of the highly-anticipated Topshop and Topman, the UK-based retail fashion phenomena. The Yorkdale store-within-a-store concept is slated to open September 2011, but those who are craving the original, affordable fashions from the UK, won't have to wait that long to get a taste of what's to come.

The "Topshop and Topman Summer Takeover" will provide shopping previews of the brand's cutting-edge London fashions at temporary Pop-up shops and Canadian-specific Facebook and Twitter sites will help fashionistas keep up with the schedule of activities.

•"One-weekend-only" Pop-up Location - Queen West and Soho Street
June 17 to 19, 2011
The "Topshop and Topman Summer Takeover" launches with Pop-up locations of Topshop and Topman unlike anything Toronto has seen before. The temporary stores will feature summer essentials, free frozen treats to keep shoppers cool, and a shopping soundtrack provided by high-profile DJs. The first 200 customers each day will receive a limited-edition reusable fabric bag, and the weekend shopper deemed to have the best Toronto Street Style will win tickets to the Yorkdale VIP Opening Party in September, and a $500 shopping spree with a Topshop Topman Personal Shopper.
Hours : Friday, June 17; from noon to 8pm
Saturday, June 18; from 10am to 8pm
Sunday, June 19; from 10am to 5pm


•Topshop Capsule in The Bay Queen Street, Yonge and Queen Street, 3rd Floor
Opening Thursday, June 30, 2011
Curated by Tommy Ton, Toronto's own internationally acclaimed street style photographer and fashion blogger, the Topshop Capsule features a specially selected collection of Tommy's favourite Topshop pieces. The Capsule will be in The Bay Queen Street throughout summer to get Torontonians ready for the Yorkdale launch.


•"Farewell to Summer" Topshop and Topman Pop-ups in Muskoka
July 30 to August 1, 2011
This will be the last chance to shop Topshop and Topman before the Yorkdale store opening, so get your hands on it before anyone else.
Hours: Store hours to be provided at a later date
"The Bay is thrilled to provide another unique and outstanding first for Canadians with the Topshop and Topman shopping previews this summer," says Bonnie Brooks, President and CEO, The Bay. "The excitement for the first store opening in September continues to grow, and the addition of Topshop and Topman to our fashion roster cements The Bay as Canada's go-to fashion destination."

Canadian Online Shopping an International First
The Bay also announced that coming this September, shoppers from across Canada will be able to purchase Topshop and Topman merchandise through thebay.com/topshop and thebay.com/topman websites. This agreement is an international first, and will allow fashion lovers from across the country to be a part of the Topshop and Topman experience.

Canadian-specific social media sites have been developed to keep Topshop and Topman devotees in the know. Check out details at Facebook.com/TopshopCanada and Facebook.com/TopmanCanada as well as on Twitter @Topshop_Canada and @TopmanCA. Watch the sites for news on the hottest trends out of the UK as well as details on Canadian events and exclusive contests.

About The Bay
Hudson's Bay Company was incorporated in 1670 by a British royal charter under King Charles II. With an unrivalled 341-year history in Canada, Hudson's Bay Company is renowned for its historical role in the development of the nation. Today, The Bay is Canada's leading department store and has established a reputation for quality, service, and more than ever, for style. A world-class department store, The Bay offers well edited assortments of exclusive and popular fashion, beauty, home and accessory designers and brands. The stores are continually evolving to provide customers with new and exclusive merchandise, as well as customized services to set The Bay apart from any other retailer in Canada. The Bay operates 90 stores in 8 provinces across Canada as well as www.thebay.com, the company's online store.

About Topshop
Since it launched in 1964, Topshop has become a major style authority and one of fashion's biggest success stories. Topshop began as Peter Robinson's Top Shop, a young fashion brand in the basement of the former department chain, Peter Robinson Ltd. The first standalone Topshop store was opened in 1974.

In 1994, the Topshop flagship store was born, as the brand took over a 90,000 sq ft space at London Oxford Circus. It remains there today, and is considered the world's largest fashion store on the high street, attracting over 200,000 shoppers each week. In April 2009, the first American Topshop store opened its doors in New York.

In 2005, Topshop showed its own in-house designed collection, Unique, as part of the official London Fashion Week schedule. The only high-street brand to show on schedule, Unique's witty approach to style has made it a first choice for those who like to stay ahead. 2012 will see the tenth anniversary of Topshop's sponsorship of New Generation, which has nurtured an impressive roster of British talent over many seasons of London Fashion Week.

About Topman
Topman has earned its sartorial stripes with an unswerving, energetic approach to producing truly exciting high-street men's fashion. Driving trends forward while shifting the way men approach shopping, the Brand's attitude to creating brilliant, affordable and authoritative menswear is second to none.

Born in 1978, Topman is the male equivalent of successful stable-mate; Topshop. With over 210 stores in its native Britain, almost every high street in the country boasts its very own slice of Topman. London's mega Oxford Circus flagship - one of several chief stores in the major cities throughout the UK - sees over 75,000 pairs of feet storm its two floors every week. The rest of the globe is catching up too. Here's the math: there are Topman stores in over 70 cities worldwide, stretching across 20 countries while boutiques in America, China, Germany, Belgium and Japan stock the Brand.

As one might suspect, its fashion forwardness continues into cyberspace with transactional website topman.com seeing over 450,000 unique visits per week and current shipping to over 100 countries across the globe.

About Arcadia Group Limited
Owned by Sir Philip Green and his family and with eight of the United Kingdom's best-known fashion and high street brands, each with its own distinctive identity and market segment, Arcadia Group is the UK's largest privately owned clothing retailer with more than 2,500 outlets, and an international business that trades in 37 countries and delivers on line to more than 100 countries worldwide. In January 2011 Sir Philip was honoured with the International Retailer Award at the National Retail Federation's annual convention in New York.
 
Your hearing from a lil birdie. You can expect HBC's Home Outfitters chain to have a downtown Toronto presence within a year or two. Exec's are currently scouting retail space. There should be another 5 locations opening up within the GTA as well. The chain is also expanding outside of Canada with two new stores opening in New Jersey, same concept and layout as Home Outfitters but labeled with the Lord&Taylor Home name. The chain overall has seen significant growth and opportunity over the past few years that expansion is imminent.

IIRC there used to be an Outfitters at Yonge & Shuter on the northeast corner. They shut it down even tho it was making $ but I can't remember why.
 

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