Retail

A sign pointing shoppers to self-checkout stations is shown at a store in New York on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023. Self-checkout faces a reckoning of sorts just as retailers are in the midst of their busiest time of the year. (AP Photo/Anne D’Innocenzio)

Self-checkout here to stay, but not without frustrations, not for everyone

Theft and clunky technology plague retail push to save labour costs

 

Workers at the Sephora store in Kamloops’s Aberdeen Mall are set to hold a strike vote Dec. 21 and 22, 2023. (Alex Passini photo)

Workers at Sephora cosmetics in Kamloops to hold strike vote

The workers’ union is preparing to take on the cosmetics giant ahead of the holiday shopping rush

 

Workers at the Hudson’s Bay store at Aberdeen Mall in Kamloops, B.C., have walked off the job after their union and the company were unable to reach a wage agreement. A Hudson Bay Company store in Toronto is shown on Monday, Jan. 27, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Workers at Hudson’s Bay store in Kamloops, B.C., on strike

Talks have been ongoing since July without success

 

Cyber Monday –- a term coined back in 2005 by the National Retail Federation –- continues to be the biggest online shopping day of the year, thanks to the deals and the hype the industry has created to fuel it. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)

Today’s Cyber Monday may be the biggest online shopping day of all-time

U.S. retail observers say Black Friday weekend trends look positive for the industry

Cyber Monday –- a term coined back in 2005 by the National Retail Federation –- continues to be the biggest online shopping day of the year, thanks to the deals and the hype the industry has created to fuel it. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)
Shoppers walk through Yorkdale Mall in search of Black Friday sales in Toronto on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. This Black Friday, retailers are promising its usual wave of discounts, door crashers and sales timed to the holiday season. However, the annual shopping bonanza comes as Canadians are feeling particularly stressed about money. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tijana Martin

Economy, sales shift lead to a quieter Black Friday for Canadians

Deloitte predicts the average Canadian shopper will spend $1,347 this holiday season

Shoppers walk through Yorkdale Mall in search of Black Friday sales in Toronto on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. This Black Friday, retailers are promising its usual wave of discounts, door crashers and sales timed to the holiday season. However, the annual shopping bonanza comes as Canadians are feeling particularly stressed about money. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tijana Martin
A sign announces Black Friday specials on luggage sets inside a Macy's department store on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023, in Denver. Retailers are kicking off the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season on Friday with a bevy of discounts and other enticements. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Retailers pumped for Black Friday, not sure consumers feel the same way

Buying trends show dwindling resources in face of the economy leading to shopping pullback

A sign announces Black Friday specials on luggage sets inside a Macy's department store on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023, in Denver. Retailers are kicking off the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season on Friday with a bevy of discounts and other enticements. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The barrage of Black Friday advertisements might have many tempted to whip out their wallets, but experts caution against unnecessary discretionary purchases this year amid inflation and the skyrocketing cost of living. People navigate through Yorkdale Mall in search of Black Friday sales in Toronto, Nov. 26, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tijana Martin

‘Not every deal is a good one’: Black Friday shopping caution urged

‘When it comes to cash flow, that’s really how it needs to be framed’

The barrage of Black Friday advertisements might have many tempted to whip out their wallets, but experts caution against unnecessary discretionary purchases this year amid inflation and the skyrocketing cost of living. People navigate through Yorkdale Mall in search of Black Friday sales in Toronto, Nov. 26, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tijana Martin
Buildings are reflected in the windows of the new IKEA store on its opening day in San Francisco, Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

New Ikea Canada CEO leaning into efficiency as he works to improve back end

Company leaning on automation as it overhauls fulfilment network

Buildings are reflected in the windows of the new IKEA store on its opening day in San Francisco, Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
A group of more than 30 British Columbia retailers, trade associations and other groups is calling for a co-ordinated government response to repeat offenders they say are behind a wave of theft, vandalism and violent crime. A police officer works at the scene of a fatal shooting outside a shopping centre, in Delta, B.C., on Saturday, May 1, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. retailers call for ‘critical’ crime crackdown on repeat offenders

Staff safety, increasing loss from theft a widespread problem across the province, group says

A group of more than 30 British Columbia retailers, trade associations and other groups is calling for a co-ordinated government response to repeat offenders they say are behind a wave of theft, vandalism and violent crime. A police officer works at the scene of a fatal shooting outside a shopping centre, in Delta, B.C., on Saturday, May 1, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A London Drugs store is shown In Vancouver on Wednesday Oct. 18, 2023. London Drugs president Clint Mahlman says the company has no plans to close stores due to escalating violence and theft, though the issue has reached a “crisis point” for Canadian retailers.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nono Shen

No closures planned but London Drugs says escalating violence a concern

Rising crime and related issues around some locations has reached a crisis point: COO

A London Drugs store is shown In Vancouver on Wednesday Oct. 18, 2023. London Drugs president Clint Mahlman says the company has no plans to close stores due to escalating violence and theft, though the issue has reached a “crisis point” for Canadian retailers.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nono Shen
The stationary aisles are expected to be busier this year as parents and students stock up on back-to-school essentials, though their baskets may be a little less full. A parent shops for school supplies deals at a Target store, Wednesday, July 27, 2022, in North Miami, Fla. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Marta Lavandier

Back-to-school shoppers expected back in stores but pulling back spending

Biggest chunk of school shopping dollars will go towards stationary, survey suggests

The stationary aisles are expected to be busier this year as parents and students stock up on back-to-school essentials, though their baskets may be a little less full. A parent shops for school supplies deals at a Target store, Wednesday, July 27, 2022, in North Miami, Fla. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Marta Lavandier
Rylie Tarry stands in front of the downtown Victoria Value Village where she says she was accused of switching tags. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

Victoria bargain shoppers say they were falsely accused of ‘switching tags’

Woman says items were seized in store and then given higher prices

Rylie Tarry stands in front of the downtown Victoria Value Village where she says she was accused of switching tags. (Ella Matte/News Staff)
The entrance to a Bed Bath & Beyond store is seen in Anchorage, Alaska. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Bed Bath Beyond returns as an online retailer

Overstock.com after a purchase of the box store is bringing it back in a online format

The entrance to a Bed Bath & Beyond store is seen in Anchorage, Alaska. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
A moviegoer steps into an auditorium at a Cineplex Movie Theatre in Toronto on Friday, July 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Movie ticket price-dripping case should be dismissed: Cineplex

Competition Bureau says fees applied to some online movie tickets constitute price dripping

A moviegoer steps into an auditorium at a Cineplex Movie Theatre in Toronto on Friday, July 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Produce is shown in a grocery store in Toronto on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018. Canada’s competition watchdog is expected to release a study today examining whether the highly concentrated grocery sector is contributing to rising food costs. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Canada needs more grocery competition, federal watchdog finds

Most Canadians buy groceries in stores owned by a handful of grocery giants

Produce is shown in a grocery store in Toronto on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018. Canada’s competition watchdog is expected to release a study today examining whether the highly concentrated grocery sector is contributing to rising food costs. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Co-owner of Cherry Bomb Toys, Candice Woodward, in front of newly painted mural in her toy store. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

VIDEO: Beloved Victoria toy store finds a new home

Cherry Bomb Toys includes a toy museum

Co-owner of Cherry Bomb Toys, Candice Woodward, in front of newly painted mural in her toy store. (Ella Matte/News Staff)
Shoppers at the ReLove Market at Market Square. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

Extreme ‘hustling’ trend upsets Victoria secondhand clothing sellers

$6 shirts being found for $50 at a vintage pop-up store

Shoppers at the ReLove Market at Market Square. (Ella Matte/News Staff)
Customers make their way through the parking lot of a Target store Wednesday, May 24, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. Target is removing certain items from its stores and making other changes to its LGBTQ+ merchandise nationwide ahead of Pride month after an intense backlash from some customers including violent confrontations with its workers. (AP Photo/George Walker IV

Target on the defensive after removing some products aimed at LGBTQ+

Target once distinguished itself as being boldly supportive of the LGBTQ+ community.…

Customers make their way through the parking lot of a Target store Wednesday, May 24, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. Target is removing certain items from its stores and making other changes to its LGBTQ+ merchandise nationwide ahead of Pride month after an intense backlash from some customers including violent confrontations with its workers. (AP Photo/George Walker IV
A Hudson’s Bay department store is shown in Toronto, Friday, February 25, 2022. Hudson’s Bay is laying off another 250 workers, the second round of cutbacks this year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Hudson’s Bay cutting 250 corporate jobs amid efforts to ‘flatten the organization’

Shift will not affect retail workers at the Bay’s 84 department stores across Canada

A Hudson’s Bay department store is shown in Toronto, Friday, February 25, 2022. Hudson’s Bay is laying off another 250 workers, the second round of cutbacks this year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
People fuel up vehicles in Vancouver, on Saturday, May 14, 2022. Statistics Canada says retail sales fell 0.2 per cent to $66.3 billion in February as a drop in sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors and general merchandise stores led the way lower. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canadian consumers pull back on spending amid high prices, interest rates: Experts

Retail sales slipped 0.2 per cent to $66.3 billion in February

People fuel up vehicles in Vancouver, on Saturday, May 14, 2022. Statistics Canada says retail sales fell 0.2 per cent to $66.3 billion in February as a drop in sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors and general merchandise stores led the way lower. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck