'It's become a burden': Longstanding Moose Jaw business to auction off items before shuttering
An iconic business in Moose Jaw for the last six decades, CanaDay’s Apparel Ltd. is shutting its doors and holding a massive auction for all its assets as the owners say running the company has become too expensive.
Established in 1953, many feel the company helped to build Moose Jaw’s local economy.
"It's been a wonderful experience. We've employed probably at our peaks 300 people and provided a lot of good jobs for them,” said Murray King, a co-owner of CanaDay’s Apparel Ltd.
The business was known primarily for men’s clothing. They have been distributors for some of the country's biggest retailers, Like Hudson’s Bay and Mark’s Work Warehouse.
King has been a part of the business since he was 18-years-old.
The company stopped production in 2017 and now, everything from the building and the equipment inside will go up for auction.
"It's a burden. I mean, if you look at the taxes we pay every year, the utilities that we pay every year, its coming and there is no profit coming. I mean it's drained our bank accounts,” said King.
Sewing machines, gym equipment, desks, chairs and old computers are all up for auction, which will be put on by Jeff Schwarz, the man behind the Canadian reality show ‘The Liquidator’.
Everything in the store's possession whether it was for sale or not will be up for auction. (AngelaStewart/CTVNews) "You know everyone's got a story like this one. They asked us if we were interested in working it. So we said why not. You know Saskatchewan you know has still got a relatively good economy so we thought lets give it a shot,” Schwarz said.
He said many businesses like CanaDay’s Apparel are being faced with economic challenges.
"Taxation is here. Everything you know we’ve constantly got property taxes going up. Rents are going up. Labour is going up, so sadly we are being uncompetitive, but there are still surprisingly a few Canadian manufactures that are producing.”
The auction is set for Thursday with the highest bidders taking home the equipment and memorabilia.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'There is no electricity': Canadian travellers in Cuba urge caution in hurricane's wake
Cuba's power grid was knocked out by Hurricane Rafael, which ripped across the country as a Category 3 storm. In western Cuba, it toppled buildings and pushed 50,000 people to find shelter elsewhere. Cubans were already enduring rolling blackouts due to energy shortages.
Sparks fly as MPs question minister on pension implications of proposed election date change
Sparks flew at a parliamentary committee Thursday as MPs questioned Canada's democratic institutions minister about a widely opposed provision in electoral reform legislation that seeks to delay the next fixed election date by one week.
Three charged in One Direction singer Liam Payne's death
Three people have been charged in relation to One Direction singer Liam Payne's death in a fall from his Buenos Aires hotel balcony last month, Argentine authorities said on Thursday.
America votes: How celebrities are reacting to Trump's decisive victory
Celebrities from Hulk Hogan to Ariana Grande are sharing their reactions to the U.S. election, which will see Donald Trump return to the White House.
Biden delivers remarks following Trump's win
U.S. President Joe Biden delivered remarks to the nation Thursday in what was his first appearance on camera following Donald Trump’s decisive victory over Kamala Harris.
RCMP already 'on high alert' for potential wave of migrants after Trump election
Canada's federal police force has been preparing for months on a contingency plan for a potential massive influx of migrants across the border following Trump's promise of 'mass deportations' of millions of undocumented immigrants in the U.S.
Canadian arrested in Florida for allegedly possessing child sex abuse content
A 25-year-old Canadian man was arrested in Florida last weekend after police say he was caught with child sex abuse content.
3 Winnipeg police officers charged with breach of trust, theft
Three members of the Winnipeg Police Service have been charged with breach of trust, obstruction of justice and theft following a lengthy investigation
PM Trudeau revives Canada-U.S. relations cabinet committee after Trump win
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is reviving a special cabinet committee dedicated to Canada-U.S. relations, following Republican Donald Trump's re-election.