Retail Insider Canada
Canadian retail news and analysis.
Toys R Us Exits Saskatchewan as Canadian Store Network Shrinks
Toys R Us is exiting Saskatchewan, joining the recent British Columbia shutdown and leaving only 22 Canadian stores, down from a peak of 103. The remaining Saskatchewan locations in Saskatoon and Regina are in clearance mode and slated for liquidation. The contraction reduces the retailer’s western presence to a handful of Alberta stores and intensifies concerns about its financial health. Ongoing lawsuits total over $35 million, and ownership under Putman Investments appears focused on trimming liabilities rather than pursuing growth.
Toro Steel Buildings Backed by over 85,000 Successful Builds
Toro Steel Buildings, with over 40 years in business, has supplied more than 85,000 prefabricated steel structures across North America. Its kits are fully engineered to meet local snow, wind, seismic and hurricane codes, ensuring reliable performance in diverse climates....
Reliability at Sea: Why Vancouver’s Shipping Giants Invest in Strategic Maintenance
Vancouver’s shipping operators are treating vessel upkeep as a strategic business function rather than a routine expense. By leveraging engine analytics, repair logs and local dry‑dock access, companies like Ignition Marine align maintenance windows with commercial calendars, turning reliability into...
7 Best Places to Buy Affordable Jigsaw Puzzles
The article outlines seven retailers where puzzle enthusiasts can find affordable, quality jigsaw puzzles, ranging from mass‑market giants like Amazon and Target to specialty sites such as PuzzleWarehouse.com and heirloom‑focused Nautilus Wooden Puzzles. It highlights the pandemic‑driven surge in puzzle...
METRO Sees Sales Growth but Net Earnings Decline in Q1 2026 Financial Results
Metro Inc. reported first‑quarter fiscal 2026 sales of $5.285 billion, up 3.3% year‑over‑year, while net earnings dropped 12.8% to $226.3 million. Adjusted earnings showed modest improvement, with EPS rising 5.5% to $1.16. The decline was driven by a temporary shutdown of its...
Canadian Retailers Urged to Build Trust and Personalization Through Technology: SOTI Study
Canadian retailers are under pressure to rebuild consumer trust and deliver personalized experiences as inflation curtails spending, according to SOTI’s latest global retail tech study. The survey of 1,000 Canadians shows 83% are shopping more carefully, while 53% expect retailers...
How to Implement Effective Payment Plans for High-Ticket Retail in 2026: A Guide for Retailers
Retailers of high‑ticket items face declining conversions as consumers balk at large upfront costs and rising credit‑card rates. Offering flexible installment financing—especially 0% or low‑interest plans—creates a clear path to capture otherwise lost sales. The guide outlines a three‑step framework:...
Gen Z Fuels Resurgence of Physical Music in Canada as Vinyl and K-Pop Sales Surge
Physical music sales in Canada have rebounded, with overall record sales rising 19.1% YoY and physical‑media purchases climbing 34% between 2021 and 2023. The surge is driven largely by Gen Z, who value tangible collectibles such as limited‑edition vinyl and...
Gentle Fawn Leans on Longevity over Trends as Vancouver Fashion Brand Marks More than Two Decades
Gentle Fawn, a Vancouver‑based fashion label founded in 2003, has shifted its focus from wholesale‑only to a balanced omnichannel model, with its e‑commerce site now the largest sales channel. The brand serves roughly 600 retail partners across Canada and the...
Hike in Retail Sales in November: Statistics Canada
Canada's retail sales grew 1.3% in November, reaching $70.4 billion, with core sales up 1.6% after two months of decline. Food and beverage stores led the rebound, posting a 3.0% increase, driven by a 14.3% surge in beer, wine and liquor...
Canadian Holiday Shoppers Getting Savvier: NerdWallet
NerdWallet Canada’s Harris Poll reveals that 2025 holiday shoppers spent an average of $828 on gifts, $120 more than the $708 they expected in October. Only 7% attribute the overspend to poor planning, while 43% point to inflation as the primary...
Tourisme Montréal, Palais Des Congrès Secure Slate of Major Conventions Worth Nearly $100M
Tourisme Montréal and the Palais des congrès de Montréal announced a pipeline of major international and North‑American conventions that will generate close to $100 million in economic benefits and more than 100,000 hotel‑room nights. The bookings, spread from 2025 through 2035,...
YOKKAO Becomes the World’s Most Watched Fight Gear Brand With Over 45 Million Monthly Views
YOKKAO, the Thailand‑born Muay Thai gear maker, has become the world’s most‑watched fight‑gear brand, logging over 45 million video views each month and more than 500 million annually across its social‑media channels. The brand’s digital dominance stems from a relentless content engine that...
Dr. Phone Fix Expands to 44 Stores After Rapid Late-2025 Growth, Reports Higher Same-Store Revenue
Dr. Phone Fix Canada Corp. expanded its retail footprint from 35 to 44 stores by the end of 2025, a 26% increase driven by acquisitions and organic openings. The company reported same‑store revenue growth, with average annualized sales climbing to...
Reebok Names KAROL G Global Brand Ambassador as It Relaunches Classics Line
Reebok has appointed Grammy‑winning artist KAROL G as its global brand ambassador to spearhead the relaunch of the Classics line. The partnership centers on the “Born Classic. Worn for Life.” campaign and a spring/summer 2026 collection featuring 100 % garment‑leather sneakers priced...
CFIB Business Barometer: Small Business Confidence Remains Steady in January
The CFIB Business Barometer shows small‑business confidence at 59.5 in January, just below its historical average. Owners remain cautiously optimistic, citing growth and sales as top expectations. However, high tax, insurance, wage and equipment costs strain firms, with 70% flagging...
Zellers Sets Sights on National Expansion After Edmonton Debut
Zellers reopened its first new standalone store in Edmonton’s Londonderry Mall in October 2025, marking the launch of a privately‑owned, smaller‑format “Zellers 3.0” concept. The store quickly outperformed traffic and sales expectations, validating a value‑driven department‑store model that blends core apparel and home...
Canadian Retail News From Around The Web For January 22, 2026
JLL projects that 65% of former Hudson’s Bay retail space in Canada will be leased within two years, driven by multi‑tenant strategies. Ontario’s new job‑posting regulations introduce mandatory pay transparency, AI disclosure and hiring follow‑up, reshaping retail employment practices. Brands...
Good Protein Sees Rapid Growth Through Costco Relationship
Good Protein, a Canadian wellness brand, has accelerated its retail footprint by securing placement in all Costco warehouses across Canada after a successful pilot in 2025. In its first year of retail, the company grew from zero to over 3,500...
Zucora Offers AI Powered Training Platform for Retailers
Zucora, Canada’s leading home‑furnishing protection provider, has launched Champions, an AI‑driven, mobile training platform for retail sales associates, offered free to its SmartOne partners. The platform delivers bite‑sized, gamified modules, virtual webinars, and a points‑based incentive system that rewards learning...
Northland Properties Acquires Full Canadian Rights to Denny’s Brand
Northland Properties, a Vancouver‑based hospitality group, has purchased the trademarks, intellectual property and exclusive Canadian rights to the Denny’s brand, adding an equity stake in Denny’s Inc. The deal gives Northland full control over strategy, development and brand direction for...
WOW Index Shows In-Store Experience Slipping in 2026
Léger’s 2026 WOW Index reveals a measurable decline in in‑store experience across Ontario and Western Canada, driven by higher prices, longer checkout waits, stockouts and fewer staff interactions. The study surveyed over 18,000 shoppers, evaluating 264 retailers in 34 sectors....
Casavogue Pays the Taxes This January
Casavogue has launched a limited‑time “We Pay the Taxes” promotion, covering sales tax on all furniture purchases and pairing it with a 12‑month interest‑free financing option. The offer focuses on high‑end sectional sofas, positioning them as the centerpiece of a...
Goodfood Reports Q1 2026 Results with Net Sales Dropping to $28 Million, Gross Profit Falling to $12 Million
Goodfood Market Corp. posted Q1 2026 results showing a 21% drop in net sales to $28 million and a 15% decline in gross profit to $12 million, resulting in a $3 million net loss. Despite lower revenue, the company achieved a 42.3% gross...