Consumers Distributing

Consumers Distributing was a catalogue store which, at its peak, operated 460 stores throughout the United States and Canada. They operated stores for almost 40 years before going bankrupt and closing all of their stores by 1996. In 2023, Marco Revah bought the rights to the name and plans to bring back the chain by Fall of 2024. 
== History ==
Consumers Distributing was founded in 1956 by Jack Stupp and Sydney Druckman. The first store opened in Toronto, Ontario. Consumers Distributing wasn't like any standard department store such as Zellers or Sears, they used a catalogue store concept. Catalogue stores don't have many products in the store, instead, most products are kept in warehouses, and items are selected through a catalogue book, items would then be picked up at a Consumers Distributing store. This kept operating costs lower, since stores didn't have to be as big as a proper department store, and there wasn't as much stock at stores, and these savings would be passed on to the customers.
The catalogue would be completely changed with all new items twice a year, although seasonal catalogues were also available. Many stores also had film labs where people could get film developed. Stores also sold film, batteries, and other items that were only in store and not in the catalogue. 
Through different acquisitions, Consumers Distributing was able to expand throughout Canada, and eventually into parts of the United States. In 1969, Consumers Distributing went public on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Soon after, Oshawa Group bought a 50% stake in the company, this let the company expand even further. 
By 1979, Oshawa Group sold their stake in the company, however, this didn't stop their expansions. By the 1980s, Consumers Distributing had locations in all 10 Canadian provinces and 9 American states. In this decade, Consumers Distributing expanded their operations with Toy City, which was a chain of toy stores which operated in Canada. By the 1990s, most stores were ether closed or turned into Consumers Distributing locations. 
In 1987, the grocery chain Provigo bought Consumers Distributing. By 1993, the company was once again sold to a holding company called Ackermans & van Haaren. By this time, the chain was starting to struggle because of competition from various discount department stores. 
In 1996, Consumers Distributing entered bankruptcy protection, by 1997, all Consumers Distributing locations were permanently closed, marking the end of the chain. 
== The Future of Consumers Distributing ==
In 2023, Marco Revah bought the rights to the Consumers Distributing name. The new stores, which are planned to open by the end 2024, will be up to 300,000 square feet, which is almost double the size of a typical Walmart location. These new stores are planned to open in old department store locations such as Sears, JCPenney, Macy's, and others. The first 4 locations are planned to open in San Francisco, New York City, Miami, and Chicago. https://retail-insider.com/podcast/2023/08/consumers-distributing-retail-chain-to-be-revived-by-veteran-entrepreneur-interview/
=== Canadian Expansions ===
Marco also plans to open Canadian locations in the future in cities like Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver. 
As no locations have opened yet, its unknown if the plan will actually come to fruition, so we'll have to wait and see. 
== Locations ==
Category:Canada
Category:USA
Category:Defunct
Category:Defunct Mall Retailers
Category:Catalogue Stores
Category:1957 establishments
Category:Clothing stores
Category:Furniture Stores
Category:Electronic Stores
Category:North America
Category:Franchises
Category:Companies
Category:Brands
Category:Retailers
Category:Retailers that filed for bankruptcy
__NOTOC__
__INDEX__