Canada's Top 10 furniture and bedding retailers
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, June 28, 2006
| Estimated Canadian furniture and bedding sales Sales in C$ millions | Percent change | Number of units selling furniture and bedding | ||||
| Rank | Company, home base, Web address, notes | 2003 | 2002 | 2002 to 2003 | 2003 | 2002 |
| 1 | Sears Canada | C$620 | C$650 | -4.6% | 313 | 306 |
| Toronto, www.sears.ca | Total revenues: $6,223 | |||||
| This publicly held department store, majority controlled by U.S.-based Sears, Roebuck and Co., is one of Canada's largest single retailers. It also continues to be this country's largest retailer of furniture and bedding as well as all other home goods categories, including appliances, electronics and window coverings. Sears Canada has five main channels of distribution for furniture: mall-based department stores, free-standing furniture and appliance stores called Sears Home, independent dealer stores, catalogs and the Internet. Historically, the catalog, the largest and most frequently published merchandise catalog in Canada, has accounted for about 30% of sales. Opened five Sears Home stores in 2003, bringing the total to 47, and plans to open three additional units this year. Will also test three new-format Sears Appliance and Mattresses stores in the second half. Of the mall-based department stores in operation at the end of 2003, about 16 had full furniture floors. All but 12 had bedding aisles. Of the 144 independent dealer stores, 80 carry bedding and 30 have furniture displays ranging from 3,500 to 8,000 square feet. These franchises have access to the complete furniture lineup and are the company's retail platform for small towns. | ||||||
| 2 | Ikea Canada | $460 | $425 | 8.2% | 11 | 9 |
| Burlington, Ontario, www.ikea.ca | ||||||
| Fiscal year ended Aug. 31. Part of the Sweden-based international modern/contemporary furniture and home furnishings giant, with a large ready-to-assemble business. In April 2002, opened a new store in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, followed by a new store in the Montreal suburb of Boucherville in March 2003. Also relocated its store in South Edmonton, Alberta, in June 2003, and opened its new-concept store in the Toronto suburb of Vaughn. The final stage of the Canadian portion of its North American expansion plan will be the relocation and expansion of its Calgary, Alberta, store, expected to be completed later this year. It is expected that Calgary will generate C$80 million in total revenues from some 2 million shoppers in its first year. Operates a national telephone desk from Montreal, which also handles orders sold on the Web site. | ||||||
| 3 | The Brick Warehouse Corp. | $445 | $428 | 3.9% | 76 | 70 |
| Edmonton, Alberta, www.thebrick.com | Total revenues: $922 | |||||
| Fiscal year ended Feb. 29, 2004. Privately owned, promotional to midpriced chain operates 66 The Brick stores; 10 The Brick franchised stores and four distribution centers. Also owns Homeshow Canada, a single-unit superstore merchandised as a collection of manufacturers' galleries, in the north end of Toronto. Plans to build two more Homeshow Canada stores in metro Toronto in 2004. Earlier this year, acquired United Furniture Warehouse and its 81 Canadian stores (see No. 9). In late 2003, sold its two Toronto-area La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries stores. In April 2004, opened six Brick stores in metro Montreal, the first of 16 planned for Quebec over the next three years. The seventh Quebec store is set to open in Kirkland this month. Also this month, plans to complete an initial public offering, becoming The Brick Group Income Fund. | ||||||
| 4 | Leon's Furniture | $442 | $434 | 1.8% | 55 | 50 |
| Toronto, www.leons.ca | Total revenues: $590 | |||||
| This publicly held, family-managed, high-impact promoter continues to be one of the most consistently solid performers in the Canadian furniture industry. At year's end, Leon's had 30 corporate and 25 franchise stores in every Canadian province except British Columbia. Total corporate sales, including appliances and electronics, grew 1.5% last year to C$456.4 million. In 2003, opened one new corporate store in Dorval, Quebec, and four franchises, one each in Sarnia and Woodstock, Ontario, Lethbridge, Alberta, and Gander, Newfoundland. Several existing stores were completely renovated. In 2004, will open new corporate stores in Hamilton, Ontario, Edmonton, Alberta, Quebec City and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, with renovation projects slated for Ottawa; Burlington, Windsor and Kitchener, Ontario; and Winnipeg, Manitoba. Also, three franchises will be added this year, one each in Ontario, New Brunswick and Quebec. Company is debt free and is financing its expansion from cash reserves. Last year's major merchandising initiative was the launch of Integrity Pricing, a version of everyday low prices, where promotional events center on financing and terms rather than price. Historically, furniture, bedding and accessories have accounted for 75% of sales, with the balance from appliances and electronics. | ||||||
| 5 | Groupe BMTC | $360 | $339 | 6.2% | 20 | 20 |
| Montreal, www.braultetmartineau.com, www.tanguay.ca | Total revenues: $803 | |||||
| This publicly held merchant is Quebec's dominant furniture and bedding retailer, operating under two banners: Brault et Martineau, a high-impact promoter concentrated in metro Montreal, and Ameublement Tanguay. In 2003, the Tanguay store in Beauport was expanded and relocated to a new 60,000-square-foot building. Will relocate its Rimouski outlet this year. Brault et Martineau opened a new 70,000-square-foot store in Brossard, replacing a 40,000 square foot facility, while expanding its St. Hubert store by 10,000 square feet. The planned expansion of the Ste-Thérèse store has been postponed to 2005. Brault et Martineau is Quebec's most powerful appliances retailer, and has a strong presence in electronics. | ||||||
| 6 | Wal-Mart Canada | $230 | $206 | 11.7% | 235 | 213 |
| Mississauga, Ontario, www.walmartcanada.ca | ||||||
| This wholly owned subsidiary of Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart is celebrating its 10th anniversary in Canada. Its furniture and bedding mix includes a large presentation of ready-to-assemble case goods from North American sources, bedding from Canadian producers, and imports from China and the Pacific Rim in categories such as occasional chairs, all at promotional price points. Launched membership warehouse club Sam's Club in Canada last year and now has five stores averaging 120,000 square feet in the Ontario cities of London, Etobicoke, Pickering, Richmond Hill and Vaughn. Does not sell on its Web site. | ||||||
| 7 | Costco Canada | $224 | $210 | 6.7% | 62 | 61 |
| Ottawa, www.costco.com | ||||||
| Wholly owned Canadian subsidiary of the U.S.-based membership warehouse club giant. Furniture assortment includes bedding, ready-to-assemble case goods and upholstery from a variety of Canadian and U.S. sources, as well as some offshore goods in promotional to midrange price points. | ||||||
| 8 | Staples/Business Depot | $210 | $192 | 9.4% | 224 | 212 |
| Markham, Ontario, www.staples.ca | ||||||
| Founded in 1991, The Business Depot, known as Bureau en Gros in Quebec, was acquired by Boston-based Staples in 1994. Furniture assortment focuses on home office/small office items from Canadian and U.S. manufacturers. Core case goods offerings are ready-to-assemble in the promotional to midrange price points. Has three channels of furniture distribution: free-standing stores, a catalog and the Web site. Just opened its 226th store in Whitehorse, The Yukon. | ||||||
| 9 | United Furniture Warehouse | $210 | $210 | 0.0% | 82 | 148 |
| Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, www.ufw.com | ||||||
| This privately held furniture and bedding specialist was acquired earlier this year by The Brick Warehouse Corp., which is operating it as a separate division. UFW is a high-impact promoter with a no-frills atmosphere at entry level and promotional price points. Until early 2003, it was the only Canadian-based furniture retailer with stores on both sides of the border. At one time it had 56 stores in the Pacific Northwest. Exited the U.S. market throughout 2003, saying its stores were the victims of a sagging economy. Also closed its 12 Now, formerly Wosk's, stores in British Columbia and Alberta, converting them to Welcome Home Liquidation Centers. Paul Comrie, son of The Brick Chairman Bill Comrie, was named president of UFW. The Brick said it intends to make UFW a national chain; currently it has no stores in Quebec or Atlantic Canada. | ||||||
| 10 | Sleep Country Canada | $166 | $151 | 9.4% | 87 | 79 |
| Toronto, www.sleepcountry.ca | ||||||
| Canada's largest retail bedding specialist went public on April 15, 2003, becoming an income trust. Attributes its growth to aggressive radio and TV advertising, and its focus on the Simmons, Serta and Sealy brands. President and founder Christine Magee has become a household name in parts of Canada through her appearance in the ads. Stores range from 3,500 to 5,000 square feet, clustered in seven regions in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. Opened eight new stores in 2003, three in the interior of British Columbia, a new region, with a supporting distribution center; the remainder were fill-in stores in existing markets. Plans to open eight stores in 2004, all in existing markets, and already has opened two, one each in Penticton, British Columbia, and Toronto. Currently developing a comprehensive strategic plan to guide growth over the next few years. Four regions under study for expansion are Winnipeg, Manitoba; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Quebec City and Montreal. | ||||||
| Top 10 totals | C$3,366 | C$3,245 | 3.7% | |||
| All sales information, except for that supplied by publicly held companies that break out furniture and bedding sales, are Furniture/Today market research estimates. All data for calendar 2003 and 2002 unless otherwise noted. All dollar figures are in millions of current Canadian dollars. All figures are rounded. Source: Furniture/Today market research |
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