Canada Computers & Electronics has launched its expansion plans in Atlantic Canada with the opening of its first store in the market area in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

And the company has its eye on future expansion in the area which it feels has been anxiously waiting for a retailer like itself in the computer and electronics field.

“Haingjin Moon (Marketing Manager) and I had the opportunity to get interviewed by a local newspaper there a few months ago when we first announced on our website that we were coming to the Halifax market and overwhelmingly the customer feedback was that they were waiting for a national brand for computer components to come to the market because unfortunately they didn’t have anybody as big as us out there,” said Arun Sharma, Director of Retail Operations.

“They had some mom and pop retailers but nothing like we can offer in terms of diverse selection and value. The other evidence is we had an overwhelming response from folks wanting to work at our Halifax store. It had the most folks send in applications for any other store that we’ve opened in the past few years. They’re excited for what we’re able to do.

“On the first day when we soft opened, our first customer sale was over $3,000 without any advertising or any sort of fanfare. So the excitement is definitely there.”

The store, located at Unit 36 – 201 Chain Lake Dr., is holding its grand opening on Friday – Black Friday – with door crashing sales at 8 a.m. in a festive environment that will include prizes, snacks and refreshments as well as a lucky draw.

Canada Computers was founded in 1991 as a retailer of personal computers, IT, and components, as well as consumer electronics.

The first Canada Computers location was in Kingston, Ontario.

The retailer does custom built PCs and has its own pre-built house brand computer system and in-house brand iCAN (brand features: office furniture, cables, keyboards, mouse pads, household appliances, etc.)

Today, the company has 37 locations – five in British Columbia, one in Nova Scotia, five in Quebec, and 26 in Ontario.

Next year, stores in Cambridge and Oakville, Ontario, are confirmed to opening.

“The population (in Halifax) is used to obviously Best Buy and Staples. However, at Canada Computers we have services such as building your custom PC. Whatever customer that comes in and has a need to build a unique PC, we’re able to execute and build it for them,” said Moon. “As you know nowadays esports are very, very popular. So the university students are very excited that we are in that space.”

The Halifax store is between 11,000 to 12,000 square feet.

Sharma said the company is excited about the potential of the market in Atlantic Canada.

“With the early success of the Halifax, we have thought very, very high level what it would be to continue to expand not only in the province of Nova Scotia but definitely taking a look at New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and PEI. All of the Atlantic would be part of that future long-term growth plan, especially given the early success of Halifax,” he said.

The mission statement of Canada Computers & Electronics is quite simple.

The retailer is dedicated to offering the best technology, advice, and service that enhances peoples’ lives.

And it has been doing that since it was first founded in 1991 as a retailer of personal computers, IT, and components, as well as consumer electronics.

Over its 28-year history, it continues to provide customers with the best products at the best value that the computer retail world can offer.

“We want to be the destination for Canadians that really want to experience the best that we have to offer with obviously a focus on the gaming clientele that’s growing – that’s a growth category for us as well as computer peripherals, hardware and attachments and accessories. And by extension the electronics includes other categories that we are definitely showcasing in some of our larger format stores such as televisions to the smart phone area,” said Arun Sharma, the retailer’s Director of Retail Operations.

Nick Lemieux, Director of Category Management, said the company is most well-known for being in the IT space specifically computer components – everything for a consumer to build their own PC. Notebooks, Desktops, Monitors, Printers, and all the peripherals that support the category.

“Consumer electronics I would say we are a little less known for, but we do carry a full gamut of all the popular categories – televisions, and audio, smart home just to name a few,” said Lemieux.

The first Canada Computers location established itself in the heart of Kingston, Ontario, with an initial vision of providing high-quality products for university students, at a student-friendly price.

The retailer does custom built PCs and has its own pre-built house brand computer system and in-house brand iCAN (brand features: office furniture, cables, keyboards, mouse pads, household appliances, etc.)

“A customer can come into Canada Computers and custom order their perfect desktop experience whether it be one for gaming or one for their offices. We can build that system from scratch and we have cases and parts that range in the hundreds to the thousands,” said Sharma.

“And we’re very proud to be able to customize that for our customers.”

Today, the company has 37 locations – five in British Columbia, one in Nova Scotia, five in Quebec, and 26 in Ontario.

Upcoming stores will be in Cambridge and Oakville, Ontario next year.

“We do have an aggressive road map ahead for the next year as well to expand our store network,” said Sharma, adding the company should be up to more than 40 stores next year as it is also looking at different locations in Quebec and possible expansion into Atlantic Canada. “Also, we want to expand our service providing under tech care to reach both the home as well as small businesses.

“One of the most important initiatives that we were able to launch this year was putting our strategic focus combined with the customer voice under our campaign called ‘Your Voice. We deliver’ where some of the strategic decisions that we’ve made have been based on what the customers have asked us to do.”

Dean Grey, Director of Corporate Sales, said the retailer’s business to business operation is operating in a call centre environment and that has been experiencing exponential growth this year.

“We’re probably going to triple in size in the next year,” he said.

Canada’s Computers & Electronics is a trailblazing force with more than 800 employees and Sharma said one of the key differentiators for the retailer compared to competitors is its knowledgeable staff.

“We have the most knowledgeable workforce within the Canadian space. The customers recognize our employee knowledge to be a top in class,” he said.

“The second thing is the experience we create for the customers in the store to be able to try some very new cutting-edge technology that they won’t be able to try at any of our competition.”

That knowledgeable staff will be in full force on Black Friday with stores opening early to meet the huge consumer throng looking for the best deals when it comes to computers and electronics.

“We’ll have generally best prices of the year on pretty much most of the items that we’ll be featuring. We’re focusing on the best brands – the items that Canadians want and then offering them really great deals at the same time,” said Lemieux. 

The Black Friday event, which began in the United States, has had a huge spillover into Canada with all key retailers in the computer and electronics space participating aggressively during this time.

“Customers have come to expect really great deals and that this is the time to buy,” he said.

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