Grand & Toy
Encyclopedia
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
office supplies chain, founded in 1882 by James Grand
James Grand
James Grand was a Canadian businessman who founded the stationery store Grand & Toy with his brother-in-law, Samuel Martin Toy, in 1883.-References:...
as a home-based stationery printing business. A year later, Grand partnered with his brother-in-law, Samuel Toy, to open their first retail store in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.
In 1996 Grand & Toy was purchased by Boise Office Solutions
Boise Cascade
Boise Cascade Holdings, LLC, which uses the trade name Boise, is an American pulp and paper company, ranked as the thirteenth largest forest products company in the world....
, since renamed OfficeMax
OfficeMax
OfficeMax , is an American office supplies retailer that was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Naperville, Illinois.-History:On April 1, 1988, OfficeMax was founded in Cleveland, Ohio, by Bob Hurwitz and Michael Feuer. Hurwitz served as executive chairman and chief executive officer and Feuer...
Inc., a US-based international office supplies distributor, for $104 million USD.
One major competitor of Grand & Toy is Staples Business Depot
Staples Business Depot
Staples is a Canadian office supply retail chain, part of the United States-based office supply company Staples Inc...
.
Grand & Toy is commonly misconceived by the public as being a retail school supply store. In recent years, the company has distanced itself from selling school supplies, to focus on selling products such as office supplies, office furniture, meeting supplies, computer supplies and professional services, such as web design, shipping, and human resources.
Products & Services
- Office Supplies
- Interiors
- Technology
- Professional Services
- Paper
- Print & Copy Centres
- Promotional Solutions
- Facility Supplies
Brief history
- 1882 - Company founded in TorontoTorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
- 1895 - Toronto head office established on Wellington Street
- 1926 - First retail store opened at 332 Bay Street, Toronto (closed 1981)
- 1955 - Head office moved to Don MillsDon MillsDon Mills is a mixed-use neighbourhood in the North York district of Toronto, Canada. It was developed to be a self-supporting "new town" and was at the time located outside of Toronto proper. Consisting of residential, commercial and industrial sub-districts, it was planned and developed by...
- 1962 - First computer installed
- December 1964 - First million dollar month
- November 1987 - First 20 million dollar month
- June 1990 - Cara Operations Limited acquires G & T
- February 1996 - Boise Cascade Office ProductsBoise CascadeBoise Cascade Holdings, LLC, which uses the trade name Boise, is an American pulp and paper company, ranked as the thirteenth largest forest products company in the world....
acquires G & T - May 1998 - Vaughan, OntarioVaughan, OntarioVaughan is a city in York Region north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Vaughan is the fastest growing municipality in Canada achieving a population growth rate of 80.2% between 1996–2006, according to Statistics Canada having nearly doubled in population since 1991. Vaughan is located in Southern...
distribution centre & Toronto branch opened - 2003 - Boise purchases OfficeMaxOfficeMaxOfficeMax , is an American office supplies retailer that was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Naperville, Illinois.-History:On April 1, 1988, OfficeMax was founded in Cleveland, Ohio, by Bob Hurwitz and Michael Feuer. Hurwitz served as executive chairman and chief executive officer and Feuer...
- 2004 - Boise divests paper and wood products manufacturing and building materials distribution businesses, and renames itself OfficeMax
- 2007 - Grand & Toy celebrates 125 years in business
- 2008 - Grand & Toy launches DHLDHL ExpressDHL Express is a division of the German logistics company Deutsche Post providing international express mail services. DHL is a world market leader in sea and air mail....
shipping centers at all of their retail locations across Canada. - 2009 - Grand & Toy opens new concept stores located in VancouverVancouverVancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British ColumbiaBritish ColumbiaBritish Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. - 2010 - Grand & Toy continues the roll out of new concept Business Centre stores in TorontoTorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, OntarioOntarioOntario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....