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HBC to shutter Home Outfitters, including three on Vancouver Island

TORONTO — Hudson’s Bay Co. is shuttering its Home Outfitters business and eyeing the closures of 20 of its Saks Off Fifth locations, in a bid to increase profitability.
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Hudson's Bay Co. holds its annual meeting of shareholders in Toronto on June 3, 2016. Hudson's Bay Co. says it will close its Home Outfitters business and estimates it will shutter 20 of its U.S. Saks Off Fifth locations.The Toronto-based retailer says the moves are part of plans to reduce costs, simplify the business and improve overall profitability. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

TORONTO — Hudson’s Bay Co. is shuttering its Home Outfitters business and eyeing the closures of 20 of its Saks Off Fifth locations, in a bid to increase profitability.

The Toronto-based company said its decision to shut down its household goods brand, with 37 stores in Canada, and review its roster of 133 Saks Off Fifth stores is part of a plan to “reduce costs, simplify the business and improve overall profitability.”

There are three Home Outfitters stores on Vancouver Island. They are in Tillicum Centre, 3170 Tillicum Rd., in Langford at 795 McCallum Rd., and in Nanaimo at 6950 North Island Highway.

“Further streamlining our retail portfolio enables even greater focus on our businesses with the strongest growth opportunities,” said Helena Foulkes, HBC’s chief executive officer, in a statement. “The divestiture of [online retailer] Gilt, rightsizing of Lord and Taylor, the recent merger of our European retail operations in Germany and today’s announcement exemplify the bold strategic actions we are taking to set HBC up for long-term success.”

Foulkes, who was not made available for interviews, and HBC have faced scrutiny over the past year due to the company’s performance.

The company has had to repeatedly defend itself against activist investor Land and Buildings Investment Management LLC, which sent a letter to HBC shareholders in late November, saying the board had failed to take decisive action to unlock value for shareholders.

Land and Buildings said it believes HBC could double or triple its share price and find benefits by selling Saks Fifth Avenue, its remaining 50 per cent interest in its European business to Signa Holding GmbH and Lord and Taylor to a mass merchant.

In its latest quarter, HBC’s net loss reached $164 million or 69 cents per share, including discontinued operations.

HBC said it expects the Home Outfitters closure and Saks Off Fifth review to be “slightly favourable to adjusted EBITDA.”

HBC said the shutdown of all 37 Home Outfitters locations will occur this year and most of the markets the brand is in will still be served by HBC.

The company said the review will allow it to focus on its “best locations” and on its e-commerce offerings.

Home Outfitters employed about 700 people.

“We know this news is difficult for our associates,” Foulkes said. “We are grateful for their ongoing efforts to serve our customers and we will work to find opportunities within HBC for impacted team members where possible.”

Retail expert Brynn Winegard said the demise of Home Outfitters is the product of a retail industry facing the challenge of maintaining margins and foot traffic in an age where consumers are comfortable searching, comparing and transacting online.

Winegard said in an email to the Canadian Press that HBC needs to focus on having well-trained floor staff “who provide advice, guidance shoppers need and can’t Google themselves,” and on creating an experience for consumers that stretches beyond shopping to include things like eating.

“That usually requires real estate and a price point that warrants this extra experiential space,” she said. “Home Outfitters does not service a target consumer willing to pay these higher prices, however.”

— With a file from the Times Colonist