Hudson’s Bay Company on Cordova Street. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
On January 30, 1991, it is announced that after more than three centuries, the Hudson’s Bay Company is getting out of the fur trade.
Since May 2, 1670, the Hudson’s Bay Company has traded animal pelts for goods at remote outposts across North America. It was formed when England’s King Charles II incorporated to The Governor and Company of Adventurers of England trading into Hudson’s Bay, giving them the rights to “sole trade and commerce.”
In the late 1800s, the Hudson’s Bay Company started opening department stores. The original six were in Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Victoria and Saskatchewan.
Animal rights groups calls for a boycott of the company eventually won over business sales.
The Hudson’s Bay Company is the oldest company in North America.
However, in 2006, American businessman Jerry Zucker bought Hudson’s Bay Co. for more than $1 billion. Zucker’s company, Maple Leaf Heritage Investments, paid $15.25 a share to take over controlling interest.
The Hudson’s Bay Company, aka HBC, aka The Bay, has a long and rich history. To learn more about it, check out CBC Archives, HBC’s Official Webpage, HBC’s History from the Government of Manitoba, and I also recommend visiting the National Film Board (NFB) page for the documentary “Other Side of the Ledger” to hear about the accounts from the National Indian Brotherhood‘s point of view. And of course, there’s always Wikipedia.
Related articles
- HBC is the oldest corporation in North America (blogs.vancouversun.com)
- Hudson’s Bay Company announces dividend, but loss widens in inaugural report (business.financialpost.com)
- Trend Spotting – Fur Coats (thestylenewsnetwork.com)
- Hudson’s Bay Company Records Strong Third Quarter Retail Sales Increase and Initiates Quarterly Dividend to Shareholders (sys-con.com)
Shelli@How'sitgoingeh?
February 2, 2013 at 2:55 pm
An interesting history – I’d like to learn more about Hudson’s Bay. Thanks for all the links.
tkmorin
February 2, 2013 at 3:37 pm
You’re welcome! 🙂
seeker
January 31, 2013 at 8:52 pm
The Bay is landmark here in Vancouver. Good for The Bay for being respectful to those creatures.
tkmorin
February 1, 2013 at 8:24 am
Yes, I’m really surprised it took them so long!
alesiablogs
January 30, 2013 at 7:32 pm
is the hudson bay stores still open in CANADA? I was in Victoria a few years back and it seems I went into a Hudson Bay Store
tkmorin
January 31, 2013 at 9:36 am
Oh yes, alesiablogs, they have over 90 stores across Canada.
alesiablogs
January 31, 2013 at 9:46 am
I thought so..I love their store!
tkmorin
January 31, 2013 at 4:48 pm
I know, me too! When I see the blankets the’re known for, I can almost feel the history! 🙂
Cotton Boll Conspiracy
January 30, 2013 at 6:42 pm
I always found it interesting that Jerry Zucker was based out of South Carolina, which was chartered by Charles II in 1670, the same year as the Hudson Bay Company. The connections ended there, however.
tkmorin
January 31, 2013 at 9:37 am
It’s amazing though, isn’t it? 🙂