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October 21, 2021

Buying your groceries online could become the norm

Walmart Canada is foraying into a new retail sphere, the world of selling food online.

The discount store quietly added food options to its website, which include items such as canned soups, pancake mix and gluten-free cereals, according to the Globe and Mail. The store typically has free shipping, except in the territories, and it's testing same-day shipping in Toronto. They could even offer fresh and frozen product options in the future, a spokesperson told the newspaper.

Many stores have shifted their businesses towards creating a robust shopping website as consumers have taken to showrooming, which means they check out the item at a brick and mortar store and then research on the Internet, sometimes even while in the store, for the best price.

While Canadians aren't as likely to shop online as other nations with 22 per cent of Canadians having never bought anything online, which is a stark contrast compared to four per cent of residents in China never buying anything online, more and more retailers are realizing that they need to grow their brands on the Internet.

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July 31, 2021

U.S. retailers land on Canadian soil

First we saw big box stores popping up everywhere in Canada.

Now we are seeing an invasion of U.S. and international retailers setting up shop on Canadian soil.

Forget Wal-Mart -- the Target empire is quickly spreading across Canada.

Our "Truly Canadian" Zellers stores have been taken over by the Americans and are transforming into the Target brand.

Since March, 48 locations have opened across the country with 20 more set to open this month. By the end of the year, Target is aiming to launch 124 Canadian retail stores.

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June 28, 2021

Mac's wants to sell liquor, hire more staff

Mac's logoForget the Froster...how about a case of beer?

Mac's Convenience Stores is set to create 1,600 new, full-time jobs in Ontario if given the go-ahead to sell beer, wine and spirits in it's stores.

The petitions have been on store counters for quite some time now gaining signatures in support from customers across the province.

Currently, two Mac's stores in Ontario (located in Thamesford and Craigleith) are permitted to sell alcohol.

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June 13, 2021

Big brother is watching you

Who knew government surveillance programs could encourage people to read more?

Dystopian classics such as George Orwell's 1984, Aldous Huxley's Brave New World and Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 have been flying off the shelves since news broke that the United States government has been undertaking secretive surveillance systems targeting phone and internet messages.

As a matter of fact, Orwell's 1984 novel, featuring a totalitarian futuristic society under the watchful eye of Big Brother, is listed as one of Amazon.com's top 200 bestsellers.

We are being watched and followed at every move. Whether, it's us willingly inputting data about ourselves on Facebook, LinkedIn or into the Twitter sphere...our information is out there for everyone to see.

There are surveillance cameras wherever we go. Shopping, offices, workplaces, streetscapes. Then there's Google maps where you can just zoom in on anyone's personal space.

There are even enthusiastic candidates who want to be under the watchful eye of Big Brother, the Canadian TV show, for millions to see their every movement.

And who is out there gathering our data and perhaps using our personal information?

Security is always a concern, especially as we move forward into a cashless society with debit cards, credit cards, swiping and tapping out our information in stores and over the internet.

We're seeing, hearing, and watching world events as they unfold. Not just through news agencies, but now through average citizens with their mobile devices in hand and on the scene at any given moment.

But who is watching the watchers? And what happens when someone does blow the whistle like Edward Snowden, a former U.S. National Security Administration (NSA) contractor?

Remember, Big Brother is watching you.

By Donna Donaldson, MSN Money

What do you think about government surveillance?

June 04, 2021

Many Canadian retailers oppose lifelong confinement of pigs

I think it was CTV's W5 investigation into pig farms called "Food for Thought" that did it for me.

I haven't eaten meat since.

Now, the Retail Council of Canada and some of Canada's largest retailers are jumping on board to sourcing fresh pork products from alternatives to gestation crates over the next nine years.

Canadian companies Wal-Mart, Costco, Safeway, Loblaw, Metro, Federated Co-operatives, Sobey's and Co-op Atlantic are all on board.

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April 11, 2021

Canadian men love their shoes

Move over Imelda Marcos -- make more closet room for Canadian men and their love of shoes.

A new report, released by global research company NPD Group, revealed that Canadian men really do like their shoes. 

In fact, sales of men's footwear in Canada stepped up by 13 per cent in 2012 way ahead of women's sales which grew by a modest three per cent. Overall, the industry saw a six per cent growth spurt socking in $5.1 billion in sales.

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April 02, 2021

Will Wal-Mart customers deliver the goods?

First we heard of Wal-Mart weddings, now the latest buzz from the world's largest retailer is that it is considering having its in-store customers deliver packages to its online customers.

With millions of customers across the globe, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is hoping that this growing trend called "crowd-sourcing" will create speedier delivery services for its online buyers.

The idea is still, well -- just an idea, and all the details have yet to be worked out. For instance, an in-store customer would receive perhaps a store discount for dropping off a package on the way home to an online customer.

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March 19, 2022

Canadian franchises have the right stuff

What do franchises like Pizza Nova, M&M Meat Shops, Cora and Coffee Culture have in common?

They all have the ingredients to be financially successful.

In Canada, one out of every five dollars spent ends up in the cash register of a franchise operation.

That's more than $100 billion each year, proving savvy marketing, solid fiscal planning and some calculated risks are helping franchises prosper north of the 49th parallel.

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March 15, 2022

The Bay goes back to its roots, eh

Talk about an evolution.

The Bay is rebranding the company and recently unveiled a new coat of arms logo along with a not so new name -- The Hudson's Bay Company.

I have to  admit, I do have a Hudson's Bay Company point blanket and coffee mug as well as an assortment of Canadian Olympic wear I purchased there such as my mittens, scarf, hoodie and yes, toque.

Heck, even Justin Bieber has been seen sporting what appears to be a Hudson's Bay toque with its trademark green, yellow, red and inidgo stripes in a selfie photo.

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Gordon PowersGordon Powers

A long-time fund company executive, Gordon Powers now heads up the Affinity Group, a financial services consulting firm. Gordon was a personal finance columnist for the Globe & Mail for many years, has taught retirement planning...