The Brick
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| Type | Public (TSX: BRK.UN) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1971 |
| Founder(s) | Bill Comrie, Fred Comrie and John Comrie |
| Headquarters |  Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| Key people | CEO Bill Gregson[1], COO Troy Davis, CFO Nick Bobrow, CDO Frank Talarico |
| Industry | Retail |
| Products | Home Furnishing |
| Website | www.thebrickgroup.ca |
The Brick Group Income Fund (TSX: BRK.UN) opened its first store in Edmonton, Alberta in 1971, and has grown to become one of Canada's largest volume retailers of furniture, mattresses, appliances and home electronics. The company was founded as The Brick Warehouse LP in Edmonton, Alberta with the first warehouse opening in September 1, 1971. Its first expansion was to Fort McMurray, Alberta in the 1970s and later acquired a competitor in the city of Calgary.
Over the past 35 years, the Brick Group Income Fund has strategically executed its expansion across Canada and now operates 194 retail stores (including 20 franchise locations) in the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and the Yukon. In addition, the Brick Group Income Fund operates distribution centres in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto and Montreal. Quebec stores are branded simply as Brick.
The Brick Group Income Fund was founded by the Comrie brothers, John, Fred, and Bill. Bill and Fred were ice hockey players and Fred was once part of the Pittsburgh Penguins organization. Bill's son, Mike Comrie aka. "The Brick", is a hockey player in the NHL.
In March 2004, the company acquired United Furniture Warehouse which had 81 locations across Canada at the time.[2] In 2006, The Brick rebranded 24 of these stores under their own name in an attempt to save on advertising costs and increase sales.[3]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.integratir.com/newsrelease.asp?ticker=T.BRK.UN&news=2131022574&lang=EN&alt=
- ^ "The Brick plans $400M IPO as income trust". Ottawa Business Journal. 2009-05-31. http://www.ottawabusinessjournal.com/280637025308211.php.
- ^ "Brick to rebrand Sleep Better chain". National Post. 2006-01-17.
