Tuscani01
Senior Member
The problem is they would be opening a competitor to their own stores, which is a big no go for CT.
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The problem is they would be opening a competitor to their own stores, which is a big no go for CT.
Northern Light
Superstar
Outside of Kitchenware, I don't see the traditional version of HBC competing with CT.
By far, HBC's mainstay was fashion, something CT touches only peripherally.
After that, Kitchenware, Linens/bedding, furniture in select stores, limited heavy appliances (stoves/fridges etc.), seasonal (Christmas/toys).
Over at CT, Kitchenware, and Autoparts dominate (the Bay not in the latter space), followed by tools/hardware/electrical/plumbing (not the Bay at all), paint (not the Bay at all), cleaning supplies (not the Bay at all).
The only large overlap categories are Kitchenware and Seasonal (indoors)..
KW is easy enough to differentiate, CT does Mass market, 'The Bay' does high end (knives, crystal, bridal registry, high end appliances, you do a small bit overlap in gadgets and non-stick pans, not much else).
Tuscani01
Senior Member
I don’t see a world where the dealers would be ok with this money going to another store vs. them just being allowed to carry more product selection in their own stores.
longfortheoldview
New Member
A Stripes blanket?
Richard White
Senior Member
Can the stores carry more merchandise without suspending it from the ceiling?
Richard White
Senior Member
All joking aside, I don't see Canadian Tire selling Mikasa Crystal, Miele appliances, Zwilling pots/pans, etc.
Likewise, Hudson Bay got out of the automotive sector decades ago. They are no longer selling Hudson Bay Oil, Alcohol, or Hardware supplies. I don't think any reformed Bay would sell tires.
Unlike Sears who had Craftsman products (Lawnmowers, gardening supplies, tools, etc), the Bay never did that in recent years and I cannot see them doing that now.
Edit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson's_Bay_Oil_and_Gas_Company
Likewise, Hudson Bay got out of the automotive sector decades ago. They are no longer selling Hudson Bay Oil, Alcohol, or Hardware supplies. I don't think any reformed Bay would sell tires.
Unlike Sears who had Craftsman products (Lawnmowers, gardening supplies, tools, etc), the Bay never did that in recent years and I cannot see them doing that now.
Edit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson's_Bay_Oil_and_Gas_Company
TossYourJacket
Senior Member
I'd argue that it wasn't enough to keep a giant chain of department stores afloat, but a bunch of small boutique stores? That seems more plausible.
nightstreak
Active Member
I specifically avoid Canadian Tire because the stores are packed to the rafters. It's claustrophobic and all out unpleasant. When you try to sell everything, you specialize in nothing. Canadian Tire would not only remain relevant if it sold fewer categories irrelevant to the scope its known for, it would probably do better if it returned to its roots. A smaller boutique Hudson's Bay could open next to or near a Canadian Tire like they do with Marks and often Sport Chek so it could be owned and run by the same franchisee.
Richard White
Senior Member
Any reformed Hudson Bay SHOULD NOT be run by dealers and franchisees.
I'm sorry but that model would kill Hudson Bay. This isn't a hardware store where you stock merchandise suiting the local area.
They need a set, corporate owned and run format if they are to survive. Anything less than that would be stupid.
nightstreak
Active Member
I don't disagree, just responding to the comment that dealers would get upset if housewares were taken out of Canadian Tire and put into a Hudson's Bay boutique store.
The franchisee at Bay and Dundas is an open and shut case on how dealers would ruin Hudson's Bay's brand in no time. Going into the Dundas Canadian Tire has got to be one of the most unpleasant retail experiences I've ever been through in a big banner brand store. Does corporate not realize how the mismanagement of that store ruins the brand's reputation?
RGB_11
Active Member
Well, the stunt to pull is to be a second store under a different name.
Sort of like how, in some malls
International Clothiers has a store at one end of the mall and a Labels at the other, selling the exact same stuff.
Same owner and all...
nightstreak
Active Member
One of the brands that got stiffed by HBC during their bankruptcy is our client. They had a rough time during the pandemic because people stopped buying their products that had been popular in The Bay's Wedding Registry. Not just because stores were closed for a bit but because there were no weddings for almost 2 years. That business never returned after weddings re-started post-pandemic because people had gotten used to buying wedding gifts online instead.
I'm now convinced that this is what killed The Bay — and no, I don't think I'm exaggerating. It was a large part of their remaining department store relevance, the one category that could not be replicated anywhere else. The Bay owned the wedding registry market for decades up until the pandemic. They didn't pivot fast enough to an online wedding registry business model with a hybrid in-person experience.
If Canadian Tire Corp. were to revive The Bay Registry, they could run a business off that alone. Primarily online but with a few boutique stores scattered around the country in urban centres. The bride and groom could roam stores, picking their gifts, guests would order online. Extend it to Canadian Tire where they could add large appliances, hardware, tools, building materials and yard equipment for their new home.
No bride and groom is going to put their wedding registry at Canadian Tire. But they would do so at Hudson's Bay Registry and have expanded access into Canadian Tire's categories. They're not competing, they're complementary.
I'm now convinced that this is what killed The Bay — and no, I don't think I'm exaggerating. It was a large part of their remaining department store relevance, the one category that could not be replicated anywhere else. The Bay owned the wedding registry market for decades up until the pandemic. They didn't pivot fast enough to an online wedding registry business model with a hybrid in-person experience.
If Canadian Tire Corp. were to revive The Bay Registry, they could run a business off that alone. Primarily online but with a few boutique stores scattered around the country in urban centres. The bride and groom could roam stores, picking their gifts, guests would order online. Extend it to Canadian Tire where they could add large appliances, hardware, tools, building materials and yard equipment for their new home.
No bride and groom is going to put their wedding registry at Canadian Tire. But they would do so at Hudson's Bay Registry and have expanded access into Canadian Tire's categories. They're not competing, they're complementary.
longfortheoldview
New Member
^That's actually a really smart business idea. For CT or someone else. You go to a boutique, see items on display from different vendors/companies, and set up your registry.
Tuscani01
Senior Member
Canadian Tire used to have a pretty good gift registry before it was dismantled. (Full disclosure, I worked for a store and regularly set up accounts for people and showed them how to use it)
They’ve since re-launched it but you hear absolutely nothing about it these days. That said, I haven’t been to a wedding where a gift registry is used in the past 10 years. Everyone does cash only these days.
They’ve since re-launched it but you hear absolutely nothing about it these days. That said, I haven’t been to a wedding where a gift registry is used in the past 10 years. Everyone does cash only these days.