Workers, shoppers shocked by Future Shop closures

Future Shop stores across Canada were closed down Saturday by parent company Best Buy Co., Inc.

Customers and employees alike were surprised by the sudden closure of Future Shop stores around Edmonton.

According to a statement released Saturday by the stores’ parent company Best Buy Co., Inc 66 Future Shop locations were closed across the country “effective immediately”.

It also stated that an additional 65 stores would be temporarily closed as they “transition to the Best Buy brand”.

A University of Alberta researcher told CTV News he was not surprised at the move.

“It is not a huge surprise that this has happened but at the same time there is always a bit of a shock when an announcement like this is made,” Craig Patterson said.

“It is a tough time for Retailers to be doing business in Canada. The dollar is down, a lot of these companies are importing, and there is a lot of competition both from other retailers as well as online retailers.”

The company acknowledged there were about 500 full time and 1,000 part time jobs lost due to the change.

“The affected employees will receive severance, employee assistance and outplacement support," the statement indicated.

However, for some, that won’t be enough.

“In my opinion, it is nothing near what some people deserve,” full-time employee Amir Mohajery told CTV News

“There are people who have been here for years. They are in their mid-forties, early-fifties and they don’t have jobs. They are coming into a market that is fast-growing, fast-paced and I feel for them more than anything.”

Mohajery said he was at an early morning staff meeting Saturday where the announcement was made.

A meeting that part-time employee Chris Wells described as a surprise.

“We figured it was going to be your average staff meeting.

“It was like ‘Surprise the stores are closing across Canada and here is the talk about what that is going to look like, transitioning into your new career paradigm’.”

Wells however has a different outlook on the change.

“It sucks right now but all of us are going to bounce back. We’ve got great people here. They are highly-employable. They are awesome people.

“It is negative today but perhaps this is the seeds of great opportunity where people go forward and do better. Maybe something better is coming up for all of us.”

However, the goodwill may not extend to Best Buy.

“It is kind of dirty how they closed down the store,” customer Gary Villenvuve said.

“Everyone losing their jobs with no notice is absolutely unfair. I don’t think there is going to be any brand loyalty left for them, at least from me and a lot of consumers.”

Those sentiments were echoed across social media and the hashtag #futureshopmemories was created.

Edmonton’s downtown, northeast and St. Albert locations are expected to reopen as a Best Buys.

According to Best Buy Co., Inc. all Future Shop gift cards will be accepted at their Best Buy stores and any product orders, service appointments and warranties will continued to be honoured. As well, items purchased at Future Shop can be returned or exchanged at Best Buy.

With files from Veronica Jubinville