The landscape in Canadian retailing is changing, in part due to landlords’ desires to add stronger tenants and foreign companies looking to expand into an attractive, and relatively untapped, Canadian market. While Canadian consumer debt is high, competition among retailers is not nearly as fierce as it is south of the border. That has retail giants such as Target and Wal-mart making calculated, but strong, moves to the north. At the same time, Canadian retailers are resizing and changing the look of some of their stores.

QUESTIONS:

1. Discuss the importance of planning on all sides of this retail equation (i.e., for landlords like Anthony Casalanguida, for Canadian retailers like Isaac Benitah, and for foreign retailers like Target).
2. One thing is certain – Canadian landlords are showing little loyalty to traditional Canadian retailers like Fairweather. How should Mr. Benitah revise his planning in light of decisions recently made at Yorkdale? How might he benefit from rethinking his plans?
3. Assume that Mr. Benitah is pursuing a growth strategy. What tactical plan(s) would you recommend?
4. If you were a Canadian retailer, what planning tools would you use to make strategic decisions?

SOURCE: M. Strauss, “Retailers Gear Up for Foreign Competitors,” The Globe and Mail (Retrievable online at http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/retailers-gear-up-for-foreign-competitors/article1887056/singlepage/#articlecontent)