Abstract
The history of the Hudson's Bay Company is really interesting and intriguing to study because it is this company that has influenced Canada's economy and history more than any other Canadian firm. We can even say that the history of Canada is inseparable from the history of this company. Since the HBC was founded in 1760, it has played a predominant role in Canada's economy. Firstly, HBC has taken the lead in the fur trade, which was booming at that time. Secondly, by expanding and diversifying into other activities thereby gaining ground as a land company and a store keeper. As habitation was striving towards the West during the nineteenth century, the company had indeed started to transport goods from isolated places. It thereafter entered the retail business in 1881 through its launch of its first department store in Winnipeg. So the firm has a proven and a strong ability to follow the transformation of Canada, and it has succeeded in being an important player in the construction of the infrastructures of the country. Today, more than three centuries after its creation, The Hudson's Bay Company still exists, which makes it one of the oldest continuously operating commercial firms in the world. Even if it is not involved in the fur trade anymore, (as it has sold all of its remaining trading posts in 1991) this firm it is still one of Canada's prominent companies. Credit goes to the weightage it gained in the retail store business. The company has indeed transitioned into a successful Canadian retailing corporation. It owns close to 500 stores in Canada and exists as the renowned department store chain ?The Bay and the mass merchandiser Sellers.'
