After opening a “Zellers space” at the Galeries d’Anjou last fall, the Hudson’s Bay Company announced the return of the famous brand on Wednesday, nearly 10 years after its disappearance, which is a delight for consumers.
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“I was there almost every month when they were open. I was a bit shocked when they closed,” sums up the Log Nives Dolzan.
Photo Helene Schaff
Nives Dolzan said she was very fond of Zellers and was “a bit shocked” when they closed a decade ago.
The Toronto retailer plans to relaunch Zellers in early 2023. The revival will take the form of an e-commerce site and stores in its network of The Bay stores.
The company wants to offer “a digital-centric shopping experience inspired by the nostalgia of the chain that people here know and love.”
Happy former customers
At the Galeries d’Anjou store, there were already several customers to know the news and to have questioned the staff on the subject.
Brigitte Mancini went to “her” Zellers in Montreal to buy household items, plants, underwear and even stationery. She remembers the family outings very well.
“I miss the Zellers store. It is no longer there, but each time we pass it, we say to ourselves: “Hey, we were going to Zellers”, she says.
The Montrealer thinks that the return of the brand is positive, since it is a Canadian brand.
“We lose almost all of them,” she comments.
Nives Dolzan appreciated the diversity of the items sold and their attractive price, for a “quality that was good”, she specifies.
“Sure, I’m going to pay my visit to Zellers [quand ils vont rouvrir]. »
Photo Helene Schaff
The Zellers space, which has occupied part of the La Baie store in the Galeries d’Anjou in Montreal since last fall.
Founded in 1931, then acquired by the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1978, the stores had the slogan “Where the lowest price rules”.
The chain reached its peak in the late 1990s and had 350 stores nationwide.
But in the 2000s, the brand struggled to face competition, that of Walmart in particular.
The Canadian retail giant sold Zellers’ leases to US giant Target for $1.8 billion in 2011.
However, Target’s “Canadian venture” was short-lived and ended in a fiasco. The vast majority of stores have been closed since 2013.