Brick Group plans bedding chain
By Michael J. Knell -- Furniture Today, April 24, 2005
Edmonton, Alberta — The Brick Group Income Fund will roll out a national bedding chain beginning this year as part of a multi-pronged growth strategy designed to cement its position as Canada's largest furniture and bedding retailer.
"The Brick Group is already a leading mattress retailer through its existing banners — The Brick, United Furniture and HomeShow Canada," said Brick Group President and CEO Kim Yost. "Our new national bedding chain, which will be launched under a new banner to be announced at a later date, will feature a mid- to high-end product line, including national brands and exclusive specialty products.
"The initial launch of this bedding chain is scheduled to occur in August through the opening of eight stores in the Toronto area. Plans are also under way to open up to 100 stores across Canada in the next three years," he said.
For the past decade or so, The Brick has been one of the top three bedding retailers in Canada. Sears Canada is believed to be No. 1, with The Brick and specialty sleep shop chain Sleep Country Canada fighting it out for second.
Armando Murillo has been named to head the new bedding chain. Before joining The Brick Group, he was a vice president of retail sales for Serta in the United States, working with nine factories. Earlier, he was in sales at Sealy.
The Brick also plans to expand its existing stores this year, including "upgrading and relocating stores under The Brick banner and developing its infrastructure to handle larger volumes in the future," Yost said.
Upgrades are scheduled for stores in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Hamilton, Burlington and Toronto, Ontario. Stores in Brampton and Kingston, Ontario; Calgary, Alberta, and Victoria, British Columbia, will be relocated. The company is building an 800,000-square-foot distribution center in Mississauga, Ontario, which is expected to be in operation in spring 2006.
In Quebec, stores will be opened in the Marche Central region in May and in Sherbrooke this fall. "This will spread (Quebec) regional infrastructure costs over a larger revenue base," Yost said.
The Brick also will have its first store in Atlantic Canada sooner than expected, opening a franchised location in Halifax, Nova Scotia, later this year.
Yost said at least four other Brick franchises will open this year, but didn't specify locations.
Other changes on the way include:
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A computer-driven store-within-a-store area of roughly 500 square feet called Brick Plus that will give consumers access to over 6,000 additional items. Details are being worked out, but Yost said the aim is to boost same-store sales.
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Infant furniture will be added to the product mix this year, presumably in all banners.
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A third HomeShow Canada store will open in Oakville, Ontario, this summer.
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The group expects that United Furniture Warehouse's operations will be completely integrated with the rest of the group by the end of June.
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The Brick Group rolling out bedding chain
May 1, 2005 -
The Brick Group rolling out bedding chain
Apr 14, 2005
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