The Inevitable Demise of The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC)

The world's longest continually operating company (since 1670), the Hudson's Bay Company is in dire straights financially due to decades of disorganized mismanagement. Sold off to American interests earlier this decade, then flipped to another American company (Lord & Taylor) about two years ago, the floundering company has failed to address the changing market and the desires of the consumer.

Signaled by the demise of Woodward's and Eaton's, Canada's other retail giants, the consumers shopping habits have changed and Canadian big-box retail has failed to change with them. Customers don't want to shop in a box. They seek variety and dynamic visual appeal. They are turned off by "Bay Day's" and the perpetual tacky sales, markdowns, and Clearance racks. More recently they are turned off by the plethora of radio advertising featuring the manly baritone vocal stylings of company President Bonnie Brooks who is trying desperately to revive and revitalize the asphyxiated company.

The Hudson's Bay Company will always exist as a part of Canadian heritage. Our children, and their children, will study it's history. Soon, history may be all that is left, and the last of the "Canadian" big three will fall.