The Bay (Hudson's Bay)
Hudson's Bay (formerly the Bay) was the largest fashion department store in Canada, with 86 stores across the country in major cities like Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver. Hudson's Bay was a full-line department store chain concentrating on exclusive fashion merchandise in apparel, health and beauty products, accessories, and soft home categories. It's also good to know that the luxury retailer Saks Fifth Avenue was also owned by Hudson's Bay Company.
Store Overview
History and Growth
The Bay Canada is the short form for Hudson Bay Canada (HBC), the oldest corporation in Canada and the second oldest in North America. Hudson's Bay Company, or Compagnie de la Baie d'Hudson in French, was founded in 1670, and its primary activity at the time was the fur trade. It's also good to know that the Bay Canada was the parent business of Home Outfitters and Zellers.
On March 8, 2013, the Hudson's Bay Company, known as The Bay, announced that it would now be called Hudson's Bay. The department store retailer also introduced a new logo. It's good to know that the company also has some stores in the U.S. and in some European countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
Hudson Bay Canada Liquidation Sale
Hudson's Bay, Canada's oldest retailer, has announced plans to liquidate its entire business due to financial challenges. Pending court approval, liquidation sales are expected to begin next week across all Hudson's Bay locations, including its licensed Canadian Saks Fifth Avenue and Saks Off 5th stores.
Key Details:
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Timeline: Liquidation sales are anticipated to start as early as next week, following a court hearing scheduled for Monday.
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Store Operations: During the liquidation process, Hudson's Bay stores will remain open to serve customers, both in-store and, for a limited time, online at TheBay.com.
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Impact on Employees: The closure would affect approximately 9,364 employees across Canada.
Background:
Hudson's Bay has faced significant financial difficulties due to subdued consumer spending, trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada, and a decline in downtown store traffic post-pandemic. The company filed for creditor protection and explored restructuring options but was unable to secure the necessary financing to continue operations.
What to Expect:
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Discounts: Customers can anticipate significant discounts on merchandise during the liquidation sales.
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Store Closures: The liquidation process is expected to conclude by June, 2025, after which all Hudson's Bay locations will close permanently.
This development marks the end of an era for a company that has been integral to Canada's retail landscape since its founding in 1670.
If you would like to learn more about the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC.ca)
and the Bay locations and the new outlet store, please use the following links:
the Bay Info
on Wikipedia encyclopedia