Blogs

Stats Can and media reported that September's retail sales gains exceeded expectations.  This surprises me.  They were exactly where they should have been.

First, the Lehman collapse did not occur til the second half of the month.  Furthermore, Gasoline prices were declining and the comparative August 2008 sales were low (a harbinger perhaps).  September was exactly where it should have been.

The rumoured purchase of the Hudson Bay Company by NRDC Equity Partners became reality today. 

On April 14^th, sports clothing retailer West 49 announced “it anticipates a $3.5 million, non-cash write-down of goodwill associated with its Off The Wall banner in the fourth quarter for the fiscal year ended January 26, 2008.”  

The cocktail discussions at the recent ICSC Whister Conference on retail real estate frequiently turned to the topic of 'green' malls and retail development.

Some comments by David appear in "Storefront Survival", by Alison Appelbe, BC Business Magazine, January 2008.

www.bcbusinessmagazine.com/bcb/top-stories/2008/01/01/storefront-survival

(Note, this will take you out of this site with a pop-up).

“Wiarton Willie, Canada's most famous weather prognosticating rodent, failed to see his shadow when roused from his slumber Saturday morning in the small southern Ontario community.

“An early spring is also the prediction of Canada's other famous groundhog, Nova Scotia's Shubenacadie Sam. He emerged from his burrow at Shubenacadie Wildlife Park and failed to see his shadow.

This week I had the privilege of moderating the Retailer Podium at the always tremendous ICSC Whistler Conference.  Working with a line-up of ten outstanding retail executives and on the heels of a keynote by  ex-Canucks' GM Brian Burke, a full house was assured.

“After testing and tweaking, David Ian Gray, Principal of DIG360 Consulting Ltd. officially launched the new business and the DIG360 website on January 29th, 2008.  

On the heels of a very disappointing end to 2007 for retailers in the US, Canadian retailers are reporting mixed results from the past Holiday season.