London Drugs
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Please help improve this article by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page. (January 2007) |
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| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1945 |
| Headquarters | Richmond, British Columbia |
| Industry | Retail |
| Products | Electronics, grocery, pharmaceuticals, health/beauty/tobacco products, and housewares. |
| Website | londondrugs.com |
London Drugs is a chain of Canadian retail stores that provides a wide range of products and health services. Its headquarters are located in Richmond, British Columbia. As of September 2005, it was the fourth largest pharmacy chain in Canada.[1] The store carries a range of merchandise including personal care products, foodstuffs, electronics, and computers. It currently operates 69 stores across the four Western provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. It is at present a private company and not publicly traded. Similar to the American Big Lots chain, it is mutually exclusive in Western Canada with the Hart and Bargain Giant stores in Eastern Canada.
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[edit] History
London Drugs was founded in 1945 as a small drugstore in Vancouver, British Columbia by Sam Bass. Later the store was sold to an American, then sold back to a Canadian. In 1976, the business was acquired by the H.Y. Louie Group under the direction of President Tong Louie.[2][3]
[edit] Management
London Drugs senior management consists of Chairman Brandt C. Louie, President and CEO Wynne Powell[4], CFO Laird Miller, and Vice President of Retail Operations and Distribution Clint Mahlman.[5]
[edit] Products
London Drugs owns the Certified Data house brand of computer products, which has been in production since 1984. Its advertising slogan is "Nobody Does it Better." London Drugs is known to carry brands such as Apple Inc. Onkyo, Grandview, Stewart Screens, DVDO, Sony, Toshiba, Samsung, Monster Cable, Klipsch and many more in their Photo/Electronics, Audio/Video Systems, and computer departments. They also have a full service photo department offering 1 hour photo processing, as well as passport photos and several "gifting" products, which allow customers to place their photos on items such as mugs, tiles, T-shirts, stretched canvas etc. Their Photo/Electronics department offers a large variety of point-and-shoot digital cameras, as well as many different DSLR cameras from brands such as Nikon, Canon, Sony, Pentax, and Olympus.
[edit] Services
London Drugs offers many types of insurance in the lower mainland branches. Additionally a pilot program is being introduced in the Westbank B.C. store trialing a potential Canada Post partnership in which a postal outlet will be run out of one of the store (replacing the cafe there). Previously, there were several cafes run by London Drugs in some branches as well. Delivery of prescription drugs is also available to a limited degree at several branches. Two locations offer spa services, under the name London Spa.
[edit] London Drugs Growth
The company started its expansion eastwards after the initial success of its first store in Vancouver. Then achieving successes in the provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta they continued to expand east. London Drugs is focused on steady conservative growth and is always looking for new locations and opportunities.
[edit] Tobacco
London Drugs has been checking ID for tobacco purchases for individuals who appear to be under 30 years of age. Starting May 1, 2007 London Drugs is joining a growing number of retailers who are asking for government issued ID for all tobacco purchases. Customers have been informed of this change by multiple signs in the store and around the Customer Service Desk; the area where tobacco products must be purchased. Questions have been asked as to why London Drugs has taken such action and the response has been to combat the sale of tobacco products to individuals who are under age. London Drugs now joins a small number of retailers who have enacted similar policies. This policy has however since been dropped due to complaints and is back to asking for ID for only those who look under the age of 30.
As a pharmacy first, London Drugs also offers Smoking Cessation information. All stores have pharmacists that can assist customers in their attempt to stop smoking.
As of January 1, 2009, London Drugs stores in Alberta have stopped selling tobacco products due to the Tobacco Reduction Act.[6] The space at the customer service desk where the tobacco used to be kept is now filled with trading cards and other related merchandise.
[edit] Customer Service
London Drugs' pricing is usually in line with other major retailers on most items. In the event that the competitor's price is lower, London Drugs will match the price on the condition that the item is the same (i.e.: not a different model), the price is verifiable, and the competitor has it in stock.
London Drugs offers price protection for up to 30 days after the purchase date. If a customer discovers the product they purchased at a lower price at either London Drugs or a competitor, the price will be matched. London Drugs will also take returns on items up to 15 days after the date of purchase provided the customer has the original receipt and the product is returned in its original packaging with all included accessories present.
[edit] List of Stores
- 01 - Main Street (BC) - (Pharmacy Closed)
- 02 - Granville & Georgia (Vancouver, BC) - Formerly located on Dunsmuir and Granville.
- 03 - Westminster Centre (New Westminster, BC) - Formerly located in Westminster Quay
- 04 - West Broadway (Vancouver, BC) - Located on the corner of Cambie and Broadway.
- 05 - North Vancouver (North Vancouver, BC)
- 06 - Kingsway Plaza (Burnaby, BC)
- 07 - East Hastings (Vancouver, BC) - Soon to be expanding to the entire store block.
- 08 - London Station, King George Hwy (Whalley) (Surrey, BC)
- 09 - Guildford Town Square (Surrey, BC)
- 10 - Kerrisdale Station (Vancouver, BC)
- 11 - #3 Road & Westminster Hwy (Richmond, BC)
- 12 - Spall Plaza (Kelowna, BC)
- 14 - Saanich Centre (Quadra St, Victoria, BC)
- 15 - Coquitlam Centre (Coquitlam, BC) - Formerly located at Poco Place Mall in Port Coquitlam.
- 16 - West Oaks Mall (Clearbrook, Abbotsford, BC)
- 17 - Delta (BC)
- 18 - Langley (BC)
- 19 - Robson Street (Vancouver, BC)
- 20 - Village Market (Sherwood Park, AB)
- 21 - North Town Centre (Edmonton, AB) - Relocated to end of mall block in 2008
- 22 - Jasper Gates (Edmonton, AB)
- 23 - London Centre (Edmonton, AB)
- 24 - Red Deer (AB)
- 25 - Lougheed Mall (Burnaby, BC)
- 26 - West Edmonton Mall (Edmonton, AB)
- 28 - Wessex (BC)
- 29 - Harris Green Village (Yates St, Victoria, (BC)
- 30 - Heritage (Calgary, AB)
- 31 - London Towne Square (Calgary, AB)
- 32 - London Place West (Calgary, AB)
- 33 - Brentwood Mall (Calgary, AB)
- 34 - Gateway Power Center (Grande Prairie, AB)
- 35 - Kamloops (BC)
- 36 - Port Place Mall, Nanaimo (BC)
- 37 - Ladner (BC)
- 38 - Lethbridge (AB)
- 39 - Vernon (BC)
- 40 - Beddington Towne Centre (Calgary, AB)
- 41 - Chilliwack (BC)
- 42 - South Surrey (BC) - Soon to be relocated to 24th Avenue and 160 Street from its current location at King George Highway and 24th Avenue.
- 44 - Park Royal North (West Vancouver, BC)
- 45 - Oliver Square West (Edmonton, AB)
- 46 - Colwood Corners (Colwood, BC)
- 47 - Valley Fair Mall (Maple Ridge, BC)
- 48 - Inglewood Mall (St. Albert)
- 50 - Davie Street (Vancouver, BC)
- 51 - Parkwood (Prince George, BC)
- 52 - Ironwood Plaza (Richmond, BC) - Located close to the Head Office.
- 53 - 41st and Victoria (Vancouver, BC)
- 54 - Tillicum Centre (Victoria, BC)
- 55 - Mission (BC)
- 56 - Brentwood Mall (Burnaby, BC)
- 57 - South Edmonton Common (Edmonton, AB)
- 58 - Mount Royal (Calgary, AB)
- 60 - Medicine Hat (AB)
- 61 - Gibsons (BC)
- 62 - 8th Street (Saskatoon, SK)
- 63 - First Regina East (Regina, SK)
- 64 - First Calgary SE (Calgary, AB)
- 65 - Mall at Lawson Heights (Saskatoon, SK)
- 66 - St. Vital Centre(Winnipeg, MB)(the farthest eastern store currently)
- 67 - Courtenay (BC)
- 68 - Royal Oak (Calgary, AB)
- 70 - Penticton (BC)
- 71 - Marine Way (Burnaby, BC)
- 72 - North Nanaimo (BC)
- 73 - Campbell River (BC)
- 74 - Broadway & Vine (Vancouver, BC)
- 75 - Cloverdale (Surrey, BC)
- 76 - Louie Drive (Westbank, BC)
[edit] Trivia
- In the movie Catch and Release near the end, Gray tosses an envelope of photos on Dennis's desk. The envelope is a London Drugs 1 Hour Photo envelope circa 2006.
- A campaign for Sunday store openings in Red Deer, Alberta in the 1980s was led by London Drugs store manager Bill Statnyk, and was eventually successful.
[edit] References
- ^ London Drugs Lays the Groundwork For Growth With Network Modeling
- ^ londondrugs.com - Company History
- ^ The Greater Vancouver Book, p.51. 1997, Linkman Press, Vancouver, BC
- ^ Answers.com
- ^ London Drugs Lays the Groundwork For Growth With Network Modeling
- ^ Ban on tobacco sales in pharmacies takes effect Jan. 1
