Hudson's Bay Company

[Richard White]

Interesting. Sherway Gardens Saks Fifth? Bramalea City Centre? Scarborough?

Maybe Markville, Upper Canada Mall, Oshawa Centre or Fairview?

 

[matrix]

Maybe Markville, Upper Canada Mall, Oshawa Centre or Fairview?

Yeah could be those as well. Upper Canada could use one for sure.

 

[Richard White]

Yeah could be those as well. Upper Canada could use one for sure.

As Northern Light knows too well.

I'm very bored and can name every mall in Ontario if needed but I digress.

 

[officedweller]

However..............the next Simon's store announcement shouldn't be too far off now. It will not be a former Bay store.

Maybe Vancouver's Nordstrom space.

 

[officedweller]

Picking up that segue and bringing it back to The Bay, I attended a business breakfast with a CTC executive at our table and naturally we all asked her what they were doing with Hudson's Bay and her lock and key gesture didn't lead on much but her non-answers did hint at what they are not-not-doing. I was left with the impression that Canadian Tire is not-not open to reviving Hudson's Bay as a standalone store in some capacity. The insinuation was that The Bay's body isn't even cold yet — the CCAA proceedings are expected to close in the coming weeks.

With that in mind, King Toronto would be a nice fit for a smaller boutique Hudson's Bay Co. focused on Canadiana. The timing works too. It'll be just over another year before Whole Foods is expected to open, about a good waiting period to announce Canadian Tire Corp's plans for Hudson's Bay.

I think I suggested this before, but a Hudson's Bay Outfitters store akin to an Eddie Bauer or LL Bean clone
(with limited outdoorsy camping, hiking and patio equipment) would probably work well.

 

[nightstreak]

I think I suggested this before, but a Hudson's Bay Outfitters store akin to an Eddie Bauer or LL Bean clone
(with limited outdoorsy camping, hiking and patio equipment) would probably work well.

There's synergy with Atmosphere and perhaps Sport Chek though the latter may be more at home inside/alongside a Canadian Tire. Fashion definitely isn't and I just can't see myself buying clothing (other than work gear) at a place that smells like a car garage.

It was a smart acquisition by CTC but only if they end up using it. Having The Bay for fashion and housewares would help bring Canadian Tire back to its roots. Those stores are way too stuffed as an everything store that can't shake off its "the place you buy tires" — it's in the darn name!

 

[longfortheoldview]

Canadian Tire should open small stand alone stores, that concentrate on selling the Stripes and other Bay house brands (Distinctly Home, Gluckstein, etc.). I could see Stripes collections themed for different holidays, with variations on the colours (ie. Easter pastels). Call the store "Hudsons" or something that distances itself from using "The Bay" and it's (now) negative connotation.

 

[Richard White]

Canadian Tire should open small stand alone stores, that concentrate on selling the Stripes and other Bay house brands (Distinctly Home, Gluckstein, etc.). I could see Stripes collections themed for different holidays, with variations on the colours (ie. Easter pastels). Call the store "Hudsons" or something that distances itself from using "The Bay" and it's (now) negative connotation.

You can't change it too much otherwise nobody will go.

Sears tried to rebrand Eatons and it failed miserably, they closed up permanently a year or so later.

What they need to do is reopen full on Bay stores, called the Bay not the Hudsons Bay (like it was after a minor rebranding). Make it a competitor to Simons not the Canadian Naturalist.

 

[nightstreak]

Canadian Tire should open small stand alone stores, that concentrate on selling the Stripes and other Bay house brands (Distinctly Home, Gluckstein, etc.). I could see Stripes collections themed for different holidays, with variations on the colours (ie. Easter pastels). Call the store "Hudsons" or something that distances itself from using "The Bay" and it's (now) negative connotation.

Almost the entire reason CTC acquired Hudson's Bay was for the name. The other reason was for the Stripes. The history attached to that name and for the Stripes that have brand recognition as much as the name itself are the entire value. Changing the name would be a huge mistake.

A Hudson's Bay boutique of some sort would work but it would need to retain the name to piggyback on the brand recognition, otherwise it gets lost in the sea of mid to no-name brands out there. Hudson's Bay or The Bay doesn't have to remain a department store. HBC itself has evolved over hundreds of years from trading furs to eventually becoming a department store. The size of the store is largely irrelevant to the brand.

 

[torontowest91]

I also think - how much stripes can someone own? The bay sold striped items for many many years - clearly not enough to keep them afloat.

Yes - there was some demand since everyone thought it was gone forever - so when it came back to CT - wow - amazing - but long term? I have a striped blanket (from before) and that's enough...

 

[stevensontransit]

This is what the former Hudson’s bay flagship space look like along with the bridge to Toronto eaton centre I filmed as of today:

 

[officedweller]

Thanks.
That is a crazy amount of corridor space to have to police - especially at closing time.

 

[PL1]

Thanks.
That is a crazy amount of corridor space to have to police - especially at closing time.

Nah, they just close both sets of doors and release the sleeping gas...

(Joking)

 

[Richard White]

Nah, they just close both sets of doors and release the sleeping gas...

(Joking)

Meh.

All good, just as long as they give me a pillow and blanket.

 

[Tuscani01]

This is what the former Hudson’s bay flagship space look like along with the bridge to Toronto eaton centre I filmed as of today:

Looks just as busy as it was when HBC was actually open