Employees, customers react to country-wide Future Shop closures
Photos of shuttered storefronts hit Twitter; some stores to be converted into Best Buy locations
Reaction poured in from across Canada over news that dozens of Future Shop locations will be closed.
Future Shop's parent company Best Buy Canada Ltd. said it was shutting down 66 Future Shop stores effective immediately. Meanwhile, another 65 stores will be closed for a week while they are converted to Best Buy stores.
NDP Leader Tom Mulcair tweeted his condolences to Canadians in response to the news.
The news from <a href="https://twitter.com/FutureShop">@FutureShop</a> today impacts hundreds of Canadian families. My thoughts are with them at this difficult time.
—@ThomasMulcairCBC reporters shared images of shuttered storefronts and employees who came in for work as normal, only to learn their fate on a weekend morning.
A sign at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FutureShop?src=hash">#FutureShop</a>'s Eaton Centre location. Read more: <a href="http://t.co/mYVNoTdbFb">http://t.co/mYVNoTdbFb</a> <a href="http://t.co/Fqb53jWyE7">pic.twitter.com/Fqb53jWyE7</a>
—@CBCTorontoFuture Shop employees hug it out after learning some of them have just lost their jobs <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbcmtl?src=hash">#cbcmtl</a> <a href="http://t.co/Zs0huHZzYO">pic.twitter.com/Zs0huHZzYO</a>
—@traceylindemanThe Futureshop in Fredericton has closed. Signs say it will reopen on April 4th as a Best Buy <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NB?src=hash">#NB</a> <a href="http://t.co/FV71r4EIqF">pic.twitter.com/FV71r4EIqF</a>
—@CBCShaneIn the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Fredericton?src=hash">#Fredericton</a> store alone 20-30 jobs were let go. Those employees will have to reapply for work at Best Buy which opens next week <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NB?src=hash">#NB</a>
—@CBCShane"It kinda sucks that people have to reapply for their jobs," says former Futureshop employee. "They gave no guarantees" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NB?src=hash">#NB</a>
—@CBCShaneLights are off and doors are locked at Saskatoon's Future Shop. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbcsk?src=hash">#cbcsk</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/yxe?src=hash">#yxe</a> <a href="http://t.co/FCJurAci8A">pic.twitter.com/FCJurAci8A</a>
—@MadelineKotzerCBC News asked Future Shop employees and customers what they thought of the sudden announcement. Here are some of their responses.
<a href="https://twitter.com/CBCNews">@CBCNews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/FutureShop">@FutureShop</a> signs were made and shipped out to stores. How long have they known?
—@bignotsmall.<a href="https://twitter.com/CBCNews">@CBCNews</a> almost every piece of electronics I've bought over the last 15-16 years was from <a href="https://twitter.com/FutureShop">@FutureShop</a>. Sad to see so many lose their jobs.
—@Relaxiknwarchie<a href="https://twitter.com/CBCNews">@CBCNews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/FutureShop">@FutureShop</a> unprofessional the way it all happened this morning. Ppls jobs at stakes. News release shud have been issued wks ago!
—@mohsinjeelani<a href="https://twitter.com/CBCNews">@CBCNews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/FutureShop">@FutureShop</a> I see all conglomerate businesses uniting: Burger King bought Tim Horton's, Dariy Queen bought Orange Julius. ETC.
—@TWEETSFROMKMWFuture Shop's Twitter account responded to some of the replies to our call out.
<a href="https://twitter.com/nattghan">@nattghan</a> Decisions that impact our people are never taken lightly; our first priority is to support them through this change.
—@FutureShop<a href="https://twitter.com/TWEETSFROMKMW">@TWEETSFROMKMW</a> We're happy to honour the warranties on your products at any Best Buy location! Here's more info: <a href="http://t.co/JaTY8iXlqn">http://t.co/JaTY8iXlqn</a>
—@FutureShopAre you a Future Shop employee or customer? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.