Prince George is losing another retailer.
Lowe's Canada announced today (Nov. 20) there will be 34 "underperforming stores" closed come the new year, including the Massey Drive location in Prince George.
As a result, 109 people will be without a job come February.
“While making decisions that impact our associates and their families is never easy, closing underperforming stores is a necessary step in our plan to ensure the long-term stability and growth of our Canadian business,” said Tony Cioffi, Interim President of Lowe's Canada in a news release.
“We are taking decisive action to build a healthy business which will provide us with the flexibility to reinvest in our future growth. This includes having a clear strategy for our banners, built on the strength of our Lowe’s, RONA and Reno-Depot brands. It also means investing in our omnichannel and supply chain capabilities, our web platforms, and our existing corporate stores and affiliated dealer network. Our objective continues to be providing our Canadian customers with the right products and the best service and value across every channel, for the long term.”
The Prince George location will officially shut its doors on Feb. 19, 2020.
The company says they are taking the following actions to "improve performance and better position itself for the future":
- Closing 34 underperforming stores to optimize its network
- Undertaking a process to simplify multiple store banners to drive efficiency and reduce operational complexity
- Reorganizing the corporate support structure across the country to better support store and customer needs; and
- Rationalizing the product assortment to present a more coordinated offering to Canadian customers
Lowe's says employees affected by the closures will be supported throughout the transition with eligible employees offered the chance to transfer to a nearby store.
The two other stores in B.C. are RONA Surrey (Newton) and RONA Osoyoos.
