91�� News - Charles de Brabant

Cree Nation Trust Fund part of bid to turn Bay Building into cultural centre

webfull — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 16:05:48 +0000

The Bay Building on Saint Catherine Street is one of Montreal’s most iconic retail locations. But after the Hudson’s Bay Company dissolved in 2025, is future is unclear. One of the bidders for it is the Cree Nation Trust Fund. Called James Bay Eeyou Corporation, they’re partnering with JHD Real Estate on a $400 million bid that would transform the 134-year-old building into a mixed use development that includes commercial space, housing, a hotel development, and a heritage hub with an Indigenous cultural centre and a museum.

Published: 2 October 2025

Inflation and tariffs a double whammy for retailers

webfull — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 15:47:15 +0000

Montreal-based clothing retailer SSENSE has filed for creditor protection. As recently as 2021, the company was valued at US$4 billion. “For retailers, it’s been a double whammy,” the Bensadoun School of Retail Management’s Executive Director Charles de Brabant told the BBC. “Inflation squeezed consumers, and U.S. trade policy changes have made it for a difficult landscape for retailers.”

Published: 25 September 2025

One year in, Montreal’s luxury-focused Royalmount mall is still seeking its sweet spot

webfull — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 17:05:48 +0000

It has been one year since the Royalmount Mall opened its doors, with a goal of transforming luxury retail in Montreal. The gleaming concourses of the upscale shopping centre are often largely empty, but that isn’t necessarily a sign that Royalmount won’t do well in the long run, according to Charles de Brabant, the Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management.

Published: 10 September 2025

SSENSE bankruptcy could be harbinger of trouble for Canadian retailers

webfull — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 17:04:06 +0000

On August 29, the United States ended the de miminis exemption, a rule that had allowed small value shipments to cross the border without duties for decades. It’s already affecting some retailers in Canada. The Montreal-based luxury fashion retailer SSENSE filed for bankruptcy the same day the de minimis rule was changed, and cited the change as a reason that it did. As recently as 2021, the company was valued at $4 billion by Sequoia Capital, a U.S. venture capital firm.

Published: 10 September 2025

Mid-market brands to benefit from consumers’ renewed focus on the basics

webfull — Wed, 21 May 2025 19:39:28 +0000

2024 was a rough year for retail in Canada, and 2025 doesn’t look much better, writes Charles de Brabant in Retail Insider. The Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management noted that the combination of high interest rates and high inflation has taken a toll on consumer pocketbooks, and they are expected to focus on the basics this year. That plays well for mid-market brands.

Published: 21 May 2025

Tariff-induced economic uncertainty is affecting Canadians’ purchasing decisions

webfull — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 19:38:04 +0000

Even as the venerable Hudson’s Bay Company liquidates its iconic department stores, some Canadian retailers are experiencing a renaissance. Quebec department store has been expanding, even as others struggle to stay in the black. But Trump’s tariffs are clouding the future for Canadian retailers.

Published: 27 March 2025

Software helps combat online shopping fraud

webfull — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 02:07:47 +0000

Buying clothing, wearing it once or twice, and then returning it is not a new practice, but online shopping has amplified the issue. To stay competitive with e-commerce giants, retailers have had to simplify their return processes, making them more vulnerable to abuse. “Amazon puts pressure on speed of delivery and the customer always being right,” says Charles de Brabant, Executive Director of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management.

Published: 6 February 2025

Keeping Christmas lights on to add ambiance can help set a shopping district apart

webfull — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 20:07:13 +0000

Christmas lights that glow softly through long winter nights are part of what makes the holiday season so atmospheric—but they can add to the ambiance any time of year. Some shopping districts are leaving their lights up for exactly that reason.

Published: 29 January 2025

Montreal retailer Frank and Oak files for creditor protection for second time

webfull — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 17:25:58 +0000

In January 2025, the Montreal-based retailer Frank and Oak filed for creditor protection for the second time in recent years. A company statement said it was to protect employees, assets and operations from creditor claims while exploring options to restructure. “The brand is not standing out in an environment where other brands have done well,” said Bensadoun School of Retail Management Executive Director Charles de Brabant in an interview with the Montreal Gazette.

Published: 17 January 2025

Pricing models for fitness memberships often hide hidden fees

webfull — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 18:05:10 +0000

Gym memberships come with varying price tags and fee structures that can be confusing. Often, a membership contract can come with unanticipated charges. In addition to monthly fees, some charge for signing up, cancellation costs, and annual dues, which is why it is important to do research before signing up, according to Bensadoun School of Retail Management Executive Director Charles de Brabant. “You don’t necessarily understand the natural pitfalls until you fall into them,” he tells The Globe and Mail.

Published: 15 July 2024

91������ News - Charles de Brabant