LuisaViaRoma Acquires Holding IT, Establishes New Group – WWD

LuisaViaRoma Acquires Holding IT, Establishes New Group – WWD

MILAN — LuisaViaRoma said Thursday it has acquired Holding IT, the firm helmed by Tommaso Maria Andorlini, who was appointed chief executive officer of the Florentine luxury retailer in July. Holding IT is the parent company of FFW Srl, which has created and managed e-commerce sites for fashion brands since 2011, and Playground Srl, which operates … Read more

Loss of cooking skills has hurt our ability to adapt to rising food prices, experts say

Loss of cooking skills has hurt our ability to adapt to rising food prices, experts say

Cost of Living1:56Mike von Massow Skyrocketing prices have taken a big bite out of what Canadians are able to serve up for dinner but food economists say our ability to cope has been worsened by our collective decline in cooking skills. “We are less able to cook than we were 30 or 40 years ago, … Read more

The gold rush is back — and now at a big-box store near you

The gold rush is back — and now at a big-box store near you

Warehouse stores in Canada aren’t just selling large quantities of toilet paper these days — gold bars and coins and other precious metals are moving out of the realm of banking and jewellers and into their aisles. With gold hitting record-high prices in recent weeks, the metal’s popularity has been reflected at retailers, too. According to Costco’s chief financial officer, … Read more

Why flights between Newfoundland and Europe have Labrador Inuit shaking their heads

Why flights between Newfoundland and Europe have Labrador Inuit shaking their heads

Two Inuit leaders in Labrador are calling on the Newfoundland and Labrador government to chip in for flights to their fly-in communities as the province becomes the latest to support leisure travel to and from international destinations. Johannes Lampe, president of the Inuit Nunatsiavut government, and Barry Andersen, the AngajukKak — or mayor — of Makkovik, N.L., … Read more

Mastermind Toys customers warned to use gift cards by Dec. 24 as company is set to change hands

Mastermind Toys customers warned to use gift cards by Dec. 24 as company is set to change hands

Mastermind Toys shoppers have less than a week to redeem store gift cards.  The Canadian toy retailer announced earlier this month that it had signed an asset purchase agreement with Unity Acquisitions Inc.  Mastermind filed for creditor protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCCA) on Nov 24. Customers are now being told their gift cards will not be honoured … Read more

Canada’s inflation rate holds steady at 3.1%

Canada’s inflation rate holds steady at 3.1%

Canada’s annual inflation rate held steady at 3.1 per cent in November, matching the previous month’s rate, according to data released by Statistics Canada on Tuesday. Economists were expecting the rate to fall below the three per cent threshold, putting the economy closer to the Bank of Canada’s two per cent inflation goal. Mortgage interest costs and the high cost … Read more

As the holidays approach, Canadians say they’re being tipped over the edge

As the holidays approach, Canadians say they’re being tipped over the edge

Cathy Khalil recently tipped five bucks on an $18 box of doughnuts at one Ottawa store — and says she has no regrets. “I think when people see [the options on the debit machine] they feel obligated, sometimes, to tip,” Khalil said. “[But] I’m not tipping for the sake of tipping. I’m tipping because I want … Read more

Expect some food prices to get cheaper next year — but typical grocery bills may still go up by $700

Expect some food prices to get cheaper next year — but typical grocery bills may still go up by 0

Savvy shoppers should be able to find a few bargains at the grocery store next year, but even with prices for some essentials falling the typical Canadian family’s overall grocery bill is set to increase by about $700 next year. That’s the main takeaway from a closely watched annual report on the food industry, the … Read more