Retail

A tipping option is displayed on a card reader tablet at X-Golf indoor golf in Glenview, Ill., Friday, Jan. 20, 2023. Tipping fatigue, it seems, is swarming America as more businesses adopt digital payment methods that automatically prompts customers to leave a gratuity. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Is tipping getting out of control? Many consumers say yes

Digital requests add social pressure some find difficult to bypass

 

A Zellers pop-up store inside the Hudson’s Bay store at the Burlington Centre in Burlington,Ont. is shown in a July, 2021 handout photo. Hudson’s Bay Company unveiled Wednesday a list of the first 25 Zellers locations to be opened inside select Hudson’s Bay department stores across Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Hudson’s Bay Co.

Hudson’s Bay Company unveils 25 Zellers locations to open inside select stores

B.C. to get 4, a decade after the discount chain closed most of its stores in Canada

 

People pass a large Christmas tree as they go shopping on Christmas Eve at a mall in Ottawa on Dec. 24, 2020. A new report from Deloitte Canada says holiday spending in Canada is expected to drop this year as inflation shrinks consumer buying power and economic uncertainty looms over household finances. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Retail spending in Canada shows signs of slowdown amid higher inflation, interest

Statistics Canada’s early figures for November indicated a weakening of spending on goods

 

Statistics Canada says retail sales fell 0.5 per cent to $61.1 billion in September led by a drop in sales at gasoline stations and food and beverage stores. People fuel up vehicles at a Shell gas station in Vancouver, on Saturday, May 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Statistics Canada reports retail sales down 0.5% in September

Sales drop led by gas stations along with food and beverage stores

Statistics Canada says retail sales fell 0.5 per cent to $61.1 billion in September led by a drop in sales at gasoline stations and food and beverage stores. People fuel up vehicles at a Shell gas station in Vancouver, on Saturday, May 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
FILE - The Amazon logo is displayed on a screen at the Nasdaq MarketSite, July 27, 2018. Amazon is stepping back into virtual care with a new service that uses secure messaging to connect patients with doctors for help with nearly two dozen conditions. The retail giant said Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, it will launch Amazon Clinic in 32 states to provide medication refills and care for conditions like allergies, erectile disfunction, hair loss, and urinary tract infections. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

Amazon plans new virtual care offering based on messaging

Amazon is stepping back into virtual care with new services including Amazon pharmacy

FILE - The Amazon logo is displayed on a screen at the Nasdaq MarketSite, July 27, 2018. Amazon is stepping back into virtual care with a new service that uses secure messaging to connect patients with doctors for help with nearly two dozen conditions. The retail giant said Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, it will launch Amazon Clinic in 32 states to provide medication refills and care for conditions like allergies, erectile disfunction, hair loss, and urinary tract infections. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
Julie Kalinowski, CEO of the dress and gown rental store The Fitzroy, is photographed in her Toronto store, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Alex Lupul

To rent or buy? What’s in store for the clothing rental industry in Canada

One fashion expert thinks major clothing brands may start launching their own rental segments

Julie Kalinowski, CEO of the dress and gown rental store The Fitzroy, is photographed in her Toronto store, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Alex Lupul
People fuel up vehicles in Vancouver, on Saturday, May 14, 2022. Statistics Canada says retail sales fell 2.5 per cent to $61.3 billion in July, the first drop in seven months, driven by lower sales at gasoline stations and clothing and clothing accessories stores. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Statistics Canada says retail sales fell 2.5% to $61.3 billion in July

Initial estimate for August pointed to a gain of 0.4 per cent for the month

People fuel up vehicles in Vancouver, on Saturday, May 14, 2022. Statistics Canada says retail sales fell 2.5 per cent to $61.3 billion in July, the first drop in seven months, driven by lower sales at gasoline stations and clothing and clothing accessories stores. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Parksville’s world-famous sandy beach is beautiful, but there’s lots more to discover in its inviting and walkable downtown.

Has it been a while? Rediscover walkable, remarkable Parksville Downtown.

We’re more than just a pretty beach!

  • Sep 12, 2022
Parksville’s world-famous sandy beach is beautiful, but there’s lots more to discover in its inviting and walkable downtown.
Minister of Environment Steven Guilbeault speaks during a press conference outside the GLOBE Forum at the Convention Centre in Vancouver, B.C., on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. A Canadian environmental organization is calling for more transparency and better enforcement of national regulations of toxic chemicals after more than one quarter of items bought at popular dollar stores tested positive for substances such as lead. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Toxic chemicals commonly found in dollar store items, testing shows

One in four products tested were positive for managed substances

Minister of Environment Steven Guilbeault speaks during a press conference outside the GLOBE Forum at the Convention Centre in Vancouver, B.C., on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. A Canadian environmental organization is calling for more transparency and better enforcement of national regulations of toxic chemicals after more than one quarter of items bought at popular dollar stores tested positive for substances such as lead. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
The ‘majestic’ banaduck sits calmly, unaware of the shopping frenzy it has unleashed (photo credit: @whit3lighter/Twitter)

Ducknana? Banaduck? London Drugs sells quacky deal and takes internet by storm

The strange sculpture is taking B.C. by storm

The ‘majestic’ banaduck sits calmly, unaware of the shopping frenzy it has unleashed (photo credit: @whit3lighter/Twitter)
A shopper wipes down a handle as they select a cart at an Ikea furniture store in Ottawa, Tuesday, May 31, 2022. Canadian retailers are struggling with higher shipping costs as couriers tack hefty fuel surcharges onto shipping rates to recoup record gas prices. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Canadian retailers grapple with soaring fuel surcharges to ship online orders

Extra charge topping 40 per cent for some carriers

A shopper wipes down a handle as they select a cart at an Ikea furniture store in Ottawa, Tuesday, May 31, 2022. Canadian retailers are struggling with higher shipping costs as couriers tack hefty fuel surcharges onto shipping rates to recoup record gas prices. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
A large Kmart sign is displayed in front of a shopping plaza in Avenel, N.J., Monday, April 4, 2022. When the Kmart in Avenel closes its doors on April 16, it will leave only three remaining U.S. locations for the former retail powerhouse. It’s a far cry from the chain’s heyday in the 1980s and ‘90s when it had more than 2,000 stores and sold product lines endorsed by Martha Stewart and former “Charlie’s Angel” Jaclyn Smith. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Former retail giant Kmart nears extinction as closure reduces US store count to 3

In its heyday, Kmart operated well over 2,000 stores and was firmly a piece of American culture

A large Kmart sign is displayed in front of a shopping plaza in Avenel, N.J., Monday, April 4, 2022. When the Kmart in Avenel closes its doors on April 16, it will leave only three remaining U.S. locations for the former retail powerhouse. It’s a far cry from the chain’s heyday in the 1980s and ‘90s when it had more than 2,000 stores and sold product lines endorsed by Martha Stewart and former “Charlie’s Angel” Jaclyn Smith. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
People ride an escalator at a shopping mall in Montreal, Saturday, January 15, 2022, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues in Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Retail sales dropped 1.8 per cent in December to $57B, Statistics Canada says

Sales were down in eight of 11 subsectors, representing 62.9 per cent of retail trade

People ride an escalator at a shopping mall in Montreal, Saturday, January 15, 2022, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues in Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Westcoastees employees show off some of the Vancouver Island-based and inspired clothing company’s merch at the Store Street location. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Fourth Vancouver Island location fulfils vision for art-driven Westcoastees clothing

Island-inspired graphics are designed by the owners themselves

Westcoastees employees show off some of the Vancouver Island-based and inspired clothing company’s merch at the Store Street location. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
A sales clerk sanitizes appliances at a furniture store in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que. on Monday, May 4, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Retail sales climbed 0.7 per cent in November to $58.1B, Statistics Canada says

Uptick in retail sales of 0.7 per cent was down from the 1.6 per cent growth recorded in October

A sales clerk sanitizes appliances at a furniture store in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que. on Monday, May 4, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Shoppers wait in line at an electronics store in Calgary, Alta., Friday, Nov. 27, 2020, amid a worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Black Friday arrives with little fanfare as stores launch sales ahead of retail event

Supply chain concerns have changed the nature of holiday shopping

Shoppers wait in line at an electronics store in Calgary, Alta., Friday, Nov. 27, 2020, amid a worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
People pass a large Christmas tree as they go shopping on Christmas Eve at a mall in Ottawa, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020. A Retail Council of Canada survey says Canadians are planning to spend more this holiday season as they prepare to return to stores a year after the COVID-19 pandemic prompted many to shop online. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Canadians to spend big on holidays, return to shopping malls, multiple surveys find

Accenture: Canadians will spend an average of $635 in 2021, an increase of more than 23 per cent

People pass a large Christmas tree as they go shopping on Christmas Eve at a mall in Ottawa, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020. A Retail Council of Canada survey says Canadians are planning to spend more this holiday season as they prepare to return to stores a year after the COVID-19 pandemic prompted many to shop online. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Mastermind Toys CEO Sarah Jordan poses in this November 2021 handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Mastermind Toys

Depth of Black Friday discounts depends on resiliency of retailers’ supply chains

Analyst says retailers may back off on on discounts because they don’t have the inventory

Mastermind Toys CEO Sarah Jordan poses in this November 2021 handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Mastermind Toys
More than 150 unmasked anti-vaccine protesters stormed the Canadian Tire store in Nanaimo on Monday, Nov. 1, drawing a police response. (File photo)

More than 150 anti-vaccine protesters storm Nanaimo store

No arrests made after ‘disruption’ at Canadian Tire causes most staff to vacate building, say RCMP

More than 150 unmasked anti-vaccine protesters stormed the Canadian Tire store in Nanaimo on Monday, Nov. 1, drawing a police response. (File photo)
Markus Spodzieja (centre) with his crew members at the Bikery bakery. (Kiernan Green / News Staff)

The Bikery opens Island’s first kosher bakery in Victoria’s Public Market

Baker Markus Spodzieja and business partner Kimanda Jarzebiak filling a local niche

Markus Spodzieja (centre) with his crew members at the Bikery bakery. (Kiernan Green / News Staff)