Where Do We Go From Here: A Hudson’s Bay Company Case Study

Established in 1670, the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) has been a staple in Canadian retail over its 350 years. Positioned as Canada’s heritage brand, the company has been fraught with financial difficulties over the last decade, ultimately resulting in the company’s privatization on March 3rd, 2020 (Hudson’s Bay Co. Proxy (DEF 14A)). The purpose of my research is to conduct an in-depth analysis of HBC, parent company to Hudson’s Bay, Saks Fifth Avenue, Saks OFF 5TH, and Hudson’s Bay Properties and Investments (Hudson’s Bay Company 2019 Q3 Report 10). Through analysis which will include micro and macro environmental analysis and operational efficiencies the research identifies key strengths of HBC’s subsidiaries. These insights are used to support recommendations for e-commerce integration for Hudson’s Bay along with a growth strategy for HBCPI. This research serves to illustrate how HBC can evolve from a company which symbolizes Canada’s past to one that embodies its future.