When I was nineteen, after being told that I was unemployable for every dishwashing, barbacking, and retail position that I applied for, I found myself working as a debt collector at a third-party collection agency. It was my job to motivate people to clear out their debts in the face of mounting interest or tarnished credit scores, and I was incentivized to do so by the opportunity to earn a commission percentage on each repayment I successfully negotiated. One of the most insidious things that I remember occurring in this industry was how we offered to close accounts if debtors agreed to pa ..read more

If you live in Canada, you’re probably part of the Loblaw ecosystem, whether you like it or not. The chains the company operates include Provigo, Zehrs, Fortinos, Independent, Real Canadian Superstore, No Frills, Maxi, T&T, Shoppers Drug Mart, and, of course, its own eponymous supermarkets. Its brands are household names: President’s Choice, No Name, Joe Fresh, Life. You almost surely have some Loblaw products on your shelves or in your cupboards. A domestic grocer that first saw the promise of self-serve shopping in 1919 (at the time, items were collected for you by clerks), Loblaw expan ..read more

In September, Vancouver City Council approved an array of new and increased fees for businesses and residents. Individuals adopting an exotic bird would now pay a $300 fee; standard business licences increased 46 percent, to $250. The motivation behind the fees was simple: to offset the proposed increases in property tax—which had risen by 10.7 percent in 2023, a hike obviously unpopular with homeowners—for the coming year. “I know increases like this are hard,” said Vancouver mayor Ken Sim when the raise was announced. “Frankly, they suck.” Everyone loves to complain about taxes, but in Vanc ..read more

With the spectacular failure of its futuristic workout device, the apparel giant proved that some business stretches go too far The post Lululemon Tried to Become a Tech Company. It Didn’t Work Out first appeared on The Walrus ..read more

Food insecurity expert Sylvain Charlebois explains why flawed business regulations are making food unaffordable The post Will Groceries Ever Be Affordable? first appeared on The Walrus ..read more

The coffee giant bills itself as a progressive company. But when employees started unionizing, corporate pushed back The post Why Is Starbucks at War with Its Unions? first appeared on The Walrus ..read more

Companies have tapped into a longing for the past as a powerful marketing tool. Are Canadians buying in? The post Zellers Is Back. Is Nostalgia to Blame? first appeared on The Walrus ..read more

The pandemic adoption rush has placed an unprecedented strain on the pet industry. Dogs are suffering too The post We Own More Dogs than Ever Before. We Didn’t Think It Through first appeared on The Walrus. We Own More Dogs than Ever Before. We Didn’t Think It Through was first posted on February 10, 2023 at 6:30 am. ©2023 "The Walrus". Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at web@thewalrus.ca ..read more

HBC saw its start during London’s bubonic plague and might see its end in the aftermath of COVID-19’s retail devastation The post Why Hudson’s Bay Company’s Future Is in Question first appeared on The Walrus ..read more

As other large North American retailers falter and close, the Quebec-based company has thrived The post Is Simons Canada’s Next Great Department Store? first appeared on The Walrus ..read more