91ƵBusiness is good,91Ƶ said Melanie Teed-Murch, president of Toys 91ƵR91Ƶ Us and Babies 91ƵR91Ƶ Us Canada.
She was being interviewed in the Langley Toys 91ƵR91Ƶ Us store, a few weeks after a deal was completed to keep the Canadian chain of toy stores in business despite the shutdown of the U.S. parent company of the same name.
91ƵThey (Toys 91ƵR91Ƶ Us in the U.S) closed their door on June 29 and it is no more,91Ƶ she said.
Since then, Teed-Murch said, some former shoppers of the American stores have been coming north.
91ƵWe have lots of U.S. customers writing to us and crossing borders (to shop).91Ƶ
On June 1, Toys 91ƵR91Ƶ Us (Canada) Ltd. closed a deal with Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. to buy the chain, which operates over 80 stores and employs more than 4,000 people.
91ƵWe91Ƶre Canadian owned and operated,91Ƶ Teed-Murch said.
91ƵWe91Ƶre here to play and we91Ƶre here to stay.91Ƶ
Among Canadian customers, there has been some confusion about the fate of the two chains, Teed-Murch said, stressing the Canadian stores are doing well.
91ƵThe financial situation is bright,91Ƶ she said.
91Ƶ(The fact that) we91Ƶll be reinvesting in our stores is what Canadian customers need to know.91Ƶ
The Langley store happens to be the first new-concept store opened by Toys 91ƵR91Ƶ Us Canada, a 91Ƶcustomer centric91Ƶlayout that will be applied to 40 other stores in coming weeks, Teed-Murch said.
The format includes dedicated play areas, interactive stations for kids and mobile pay, part of an 91Ƶomnichannel strategy91Ƶ to connect to customers wherever, whenever and however they want through the chain91Ƶs online webstore, mobile and store shopping experience.
91ƵIt91Ƶs onwards and upwards,91Ƶ Teed-Murch says.
In announcing the deal with Fairfax Financial, the Canadian chain said it remained committed to its philanthropic initiatives, such as the Starlight Dashes across Canada where seriously ill children from the Starlight Children91Ƶs Foundation get three minutes to race around the store and fill their carts with toys.
When Toys 91ƵR91Ƶ Us in the States announced it was looking to sell off its Canadian subsidiary as part of its bankruptcy proceeding, Toys 91ƵR91Ƶ Us Canada issued a statement that its business was managed in Canada, operated autonomously from the U.S. operations, and had a 91Ƶstrong cash and liquidity position.91Ƶ
All customer programs like Baby Registry, 91ƵR91ƵClub loyalty and wish list continued to operate.
Gift cards purchased in Canada can be redeemed anytime online and in any store location across the country.
dan.ferguson@langleytimes.com
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