Hudson’s Bay Co. says it is separating its online and bricks-and-mortar businesses, rebranding the latter as Hudson’s Bay. The Bay brand, meanwhile, will be used exclusively for e-retail. The company explained the decision by saying it will help drive its digital strategy and improve customer experience in both segments.
Retail analyst Bruce Winder, however, told the Canadian Press the move is likely designed to boost the value of the e-retail business. “The department store sector within retail has very low valuations,” he said. “If you chop off the department stores, the e-commerce company can command a much higher valuation.”
