The end has come for one of Canada’s largest discount department stores. It was announced last year that American company, Target, would be expanding into Canada by taking over the Canadian Zellers. But what does this mean for Canada?

Canadian department stores have the difficult task of competing against dominating American retailers. With the emergence of mega companies like Walmart and Costco, Zellers has been slowly fading into the background. Department stores are popular in the United States, with each one finding its specific niche to fit into. It is a different situation in Canada where it seems like department stores are losing their popularity and Zellers’ failure is in part due to its lack of points of difference which separate them when compared to other retailers. Its target is the mid to lower income demographic however other companies, such as Sears and Walmart, have slowly but surely taken over Zellers’ position.

With Target now entering the Canadian market in the near future, it is still unclear how successful it will be. Will Target be able to fiercely compete in a way Zellers was not able to? Only time will tell.

Article: With a healthy dose of humour, Zellers says goodbye

When it comes to advertising, how far is too far? Bic Canada recently faced public outcry after airing a controversial commercial as part of their back-to-school campaign. The TV ad, which can be seen here, was set in an Asian prison and was criticized for being discriminatory. Almost immediately following the commercial’s first airing, Bic was bombarded by offended viewers. This latest controversy raises the issue of marketing ethics and offensive advertising. Humour has always been an effective marketing tool and it is widely used by many companies in their advertising campaigns. But what if the humour is at the expense of others? Where is the line drawn between funny and offensive?

Racy commercials are amusing and will leave a lasting impression on the viewer, especially if it’s well done. However, if the ad discriminates against any particular social group, there is bound to be public criticism. Offensive advertising is no new issue and there have been other protests most recently against Nivea and Groupon. Concerning this ethical issue companies must make a decision: Is it worth sacrificing political correctness for a provocative ad?

Article: Bic Canada withdraws TV ad, apologizes

Welcome to UBC Blogs. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!