Grand & Toy
| Subsidiary | |
| Founded | 1882 |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Products | Paper, Office Supplies, Computer Supplies |
Number of employees | 2700[1] |
| Parent | Office Depot |
| Slogan | Performance Enhancing Offices |
| Website | grandandtoy.com |
Grand & Toy is a Canadian office supplies chain, founded in 1882 by James Grand as a home-based stationery printing business. A year later, Grand partnered with his brother-in-law, Samuel Toy, to open their first retail store in Toronto.[2]
In 1996, Grand & Toy was purchased by Boise Office Solutions, later renamed OfficeMax Inc., a US-based international office supplies distributor, for US$104 million.[3] OfficeMax then merged with Office Depot in 2013.[4]
Historically, the company's major competitors have included Office Depot (prior to its merger with OfficeMax) and Staples Inc.'s Canadian division. In early 2015, Staples announced plans to buy the combined Office Depot / OfficeMax, pending various regulatory approvals.[5]
In the early 2000s, Grand & Toy began to close many of its retail stores, especially in Ontario and suburban malls, retaining locations in urban areas close to the company's core business customers. On 23 April 2014, OfficeMax Grand & Toy announced it would be shuttering its remaining 19 retail locations in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario to focus on its internet-based retailing service.[6][7] At the time, 3% of its sales were derived from its retail operations.[6]
In early 2013, the company rebranded as OfficeMax Grand & Toy, as part of an effort by its U.S. parent company to present a unified brand to customers across North America.[8] However, by the end of the year, OfficeMax had merged with U.S. competitor Office Depot.[4] In December 2014, the Canadian operation announced it would rebrand back to simply "Grand & Toy", explaining the reversal as an expression of "confidence in Grand & Toy’s brand legacy and a strong commitment to its long-term success".[9]
Grand & Toy is commonly misconceived by the public as being a retail school supply store. In recent years, the company has distanced itself from selling school supplies, to focus on selling products such as office supplies, office furniture, meeting supplies, computer supplies and professional services, such as web design, shipping, and human resources.
Products and services
- Office supplies - National brands and high quality private label brands, and a comprehensive selection of environmentally preferable products
- Interiors - Space planning, project management and installation with cutting-edge products
- Technology – Electronic solutions you need to modernize your home or office
- Professional services
- Paper – Premium printer paper from top brands
- Print & Document Services - Full service business printing, sourcing program, supply chain management and life-cycle services
- Promotional solutions
- Facility supplies - Breakroom essentials: snacks and beverages, chairs and tables, utensils, plates, cups, cleaning supplies and more
Brief history
- 1882 - Company founded in Toronto at Colborne Street and Leader Lane
- 1895 - Toronto head office established on Wellington Street and Jordan Street
- 1926 - First retail store opened at 332 Bay Street, Toronto (closed 1981)
- 1955 - Head office moved to Don Mills at 33 Green Belt Drive
- 1962 - First computer installed
- December 1964 - First million dollar month
- November 1987 - First $20 million month
- June 1990 - Cara Operations Limited acquires G & T
- February 1996 - Boise Cascade Office Products acquires G & T
- May 1998 - Vaughan, Ontario distribution centre & Toronto branch opened
- 2003 - Boise purchases OfficeMax
- 2004 - Boise divests paper and wood products manufacturing and building materials distribution businesses, and renames itself OfficeMax
- 2007 - Grand & Toy celebrates 125 years in business
- 2008 - Grand & Toy launches DHL shipping centres at all of its retail locations across Canada.[10]
- 2009 - Grand & Toy opens new concept stores located in Vancouver
- 2010 - Grand & Toy continues the roll out of new concept Business Centre stores in Toronto
- May 2013 - Company rebrands as OfficeMax Grand & Toy
- November 2013 – Parent company OfficeMax completes merger with Office Depot
- Early 2014 - OfficeMax Grand & Toy announces closing of all remaining retail locations to focus on e-commerce
- Late 2014 - Company rebrands back to Grand & Toy and absorbs Office Depot's remaining (e-commerce) operations in Canada
References
- ↑ "Industry Canada: Grand & Toy Ltd. - Complete Profile". Retrieved 2006-07-05.
- ↑ "Grand & Toy: Corporate History". Retrieved 2006-07-05.
- ↑ "Boise Cascade Corp: 10K Annual Report". Retrieved 2006-07-05.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Dhanya Skariachan (5 November 2013). "Office Depot closes deal to buy OfficeMax". Reuters.
- ↑ Lance Whitney (4 February 2015). "Staples to buy Office Depot for $6 billion". CNET. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "OfficeMax Grand & Toy to close retail stores as business customers shift to growing e-commerce and direct sales channels". Canada NewsWire. 23 April 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
- ↑ "Grand & Toy To Close All 19 Retail Stores". The Huffington Post. April 24, 2014. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
- ↑ Laird, Kristin (2013-05-07). "GRAND & TOY JUMPS UP REPUTATION RANKINGS, REBRANDS TO THE MAX". Marketing. Retrieved 2014-12-30.
- ↑ Grand & Toy (2014-12-08). "Grand & Toy® Renews its Brand with a Nod to its Iconic Heritage". Retrieved 2014-12-30.
- ↑ "Boise Cascade Home Page". Retrieved 2006-07-05.
External links
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