My sympathies Steve.

They say 'tis better to give than to receive.

I'm OK with that.

You're a nice guy Steve.

Moving on from the risque S&M quips, and the Latin show offs (salve nautem), I've discovered that quality stores don't tend to do well here because of the Canadian psyche, which tends to prefer "disposable" to "durable".

For example, trying to find a decent sofa, a la Tetrad, is proving difficult. Our neighbour explained that people would prefer to spend 500 bucks on a sofa that will last 3 years or so and replace it, rather than spend 5 grand on something they can pass on to their kids.

There's a weirdo logic there somewhere.

Trouble is, the 500 buck sofas look soooooo cr*p!

And that's why M&S, Waitrose, John Lewis etc. will never do well here... Canadians don't want quality.

M&S had close to 50 stores in Canada at one point. They never did well because M&S never got its brand properly established and was seen to be catering to oldies and British expats. Most of the western European stores have also now gone.

Twice.

Posting in a language other than English is against forum rules.

Hi,
I covered this topic a few months ago also emailed them and Next same reply but my Mum knows the MDs daughter !!!!!!!!!! will try and get in touch with her and beg and plead worth a go hey !

Some British stores just don't seem to do well in North America. About 8 years ago Next opened a store in the largest mall in New Jersey...a few months later it had closed.

M & S owned Brooks Brothers clothing stores...again they sold the stores a few years ago.

H&M otoh just arrived.

Pret a Mange (? spelling) had problems when they opened in New York.

M&S went through bad time in the UK, I seem to recall they were very close to being taken over at one time. Perhaps that was the same time they were withdrawing from the world market.

Boots was here for a few years and got swallowed up. WHSmith isn't the place it used to be once Chapters and Indigo came along.

only if you post the photo's

I believe they have already tried to make Canada a success back when I arrived in 96. Disappointed they left Toronto, long way to fly back to the UK to get decent undies and socks and their squash and crisps we all miss

Yes that was my thought too.
M&S went through a really bad faze around that time.
I remember wishing that I had some money to invest in the then very cheap shares. Sadly I didn't.

They have since turned it around big style and are now going great guns.

There was even a M&S in Moncton NB.

I would love to have them over here again.

Thing is, like Tesco in the US, they would have to cater to local tastes and supply chain to really make it work here. I can't see them shipping goods over from M&S UK to make an entire store. We would end up with a small 'UK imports' section within the store at grossly inflated prices. Forget those ready meals. IGA in Quebec already did a 'UK section' in some of their grocery stores, i don't know how long it lasted or if it still exists.

They would be a pale imitation of the UK stores.