Mar 21, 2025
Future of Hudson Bay remains uncertain
Canada’s oldest department store , The Hudson Bay Company, is facing multiple store closures after saying it plans to liquidate many of its assets to battle its growing debt. More than 9,000 workers could be affected across 96 locations and many small businesses are watching. Nav Nanwa spoke with founder and CEO of JustSimcoe.ca Andrew De Jong, who is an online local-focused retailer. They spoke...
Mar 20, 2025
Barrie’s Hudson’s Bay could be on the chopping block if the company goes under. What does that mean for the future of retail?
TwitterEmailPrintCopy article linkSaveAttention Hudson’s Bay shoppers: this store may not be long for this world.The struggling department store chain spent Monday and Tuesday this week in front of a superior court judge, seeking permission to begin the process of liquidating all of its 96 stores, affecting more than 9,000 workers.While Justice Peter Osborne held off on a ruling, saying he needed time to digest the......
Feb 6, 2025
Canadians are waiting to see how and if possible American tariffs will affect daily life. Here’s what Barrie businesses are saying
TwitterEmailPrintCopy article linkSaveWait and see.It appears many Simcoe County businesses are in a holding pattern, waiting to see what effects some recently announced trade war tariffs could have on the local economy, should they eventually take effect.On Feb. 1, the United States government confirmed threats made by President Donald Trump, that it would be imposing 25 per cent tariffs on imported....
Feb 3, 2025
Shopping local is essential during trade war, says Just Simcoe
As tensions rise between Canada and the United States in an ongoing trade war, the effects are being felt not just in government offices but in communities across the country.While much of the focus has been on tariffs and trade negotiations, the real impact is hitting small- and medium-sized businesses — businesses that are at the heart of Canadian communities. Now, more than ever, building a self-sustaining local...
Dec 16, 2024
Starter Company Plus Spotlight: Andrew de Jong
With Just Simcoe, you can shop from hundreds of Simcoe County businesses all in one place – even including FREE same-day delivery on thousands of products! Andrew’s mission is to bridge the gap between shopping online and supporting our local economy by bringing local online brands together into a single, convenient marketplace, complemented with a local delivery service. Follow JustSimcoe.ca to....
Dec 9, 2024
No mail? Don't fret, you can still get response from Santa
t's a question that's becoming more pertinent the longer the Canada Post strike goes — will a lack of mail delivery hamper correspondence between Santa Claus and kids this holiday season?While postal workers and the government agency continue to struggle to reach a new collective agreement, grinding mail delivery to a halt for more than three weeks, this job action has also affected one of Canada Post’s most popular...
Nov 29, 2024
Just Simcoe delivery service sees 'surge' in business amid postal strike
Looking for a local alternative to get around the Canada Post strike?Just Simcoe, an online marketplace and delivery service, is billing itself as a “crucial lifeline, stepping in to support the local economy.” “Small businesses are often at the mercy of larger corporations when it comes to infrastructure like shipping and delivery,” said Andrew de Jong, a Barrie resident and the company's founder. “The Canada Post strike...
Nov 01, 2024
New local online platform takes on big retail delivery service to support local businesses
While online shopping has become a multi-trillion-dollar worldwide industry, a new online marketplace launched in Simcoe County in recent weeks is making it easier and more affordable to keep e-commerce local.That marketplace is JustSimcoe.ca, which connects consumers with county-based products and provides same-day delivery service in a similar fashion to large worldwide couriers.“Here in Simcoe County.....
Oct 28, 2024
Shop local with ease thanks to new Simcoe County-based delivery service
“Just Simcoe will aim to offer a wide range of products from thousands of local businesses across Simcoe County,” said the founder and chief executive officer of Just Simcoe, Andrew de Jong. “These products cover various categories including, but not limited to, gourmet food and drinks, home goods and decor, health and wellness, beauty and fashion, sporting goods and pet supplies.”......