As two of Canada’s largest retailers scale back operations, the impact of layoffs will be felt in a number of cities in southwestern Ontario.
Sears Canada announced Thursday it is laying off almost 700 people from its department stores, distribution centres and head office.
In London, six people are being let go from the Masonville Place location and four from the Westmount Shopping Centre location.
Four people in Windsor are being laid off, as well as three in Sarnia and three in Chatham.
Meanwhile Best Buy Canada announced eight Future Shop and seven Best Buy locations are closing across the country.
The company has been a victim of so-called ‘showrooming,’ when people browse in store but buy cheaper online from competitors.
No stores in southern Ontario are affected and Best Buy says the move is the first phase of a strategy that will eventually see new Future Shop Small-Concept web stores and Best Buy Mobile locations open.
