HBC collapse signals big changes ahead for B.C. retail

HBC's demise, new market entrants, tech adoption, ‘Buy Canadian’ efforts among key shifts The collapse of Hudson's Bay Co. (HBC) has raised larger questions about the future of retail real estate in B.C. Experts say HBC's demise may be a harbinger for traditional department stores in Canada, though retail could rebound with a "Buy Canadian" movement, cashier-less technology, new market entrants and evolving consumer behaviours. Amid the disruption, retail real estate remains important, said David Ian Gray, principal of Port Moody-based retail consultancy DIG360 Consulting Ltd. "The idea that the store is dead is totally nonsensical. There are always going…