Things Engraved closing all store locations
KITCHENER — A Kitchener-based retailer specializing in engraving gifts and keepsakes has closed all of its stores.
In a statement posted on the company’s website, Things Engraved said: “It is with a heavy heart that we had to make this difficult decision and move this swiftly, and we thank our customers and employees for all of your support these past 38 years.”
The sudden closure is the result of the company’s poor financial condition, the statement said.
“Time was of the essence in addressing this loss quickly so that we could ensure the availability of funds to meet our statutory obligations to our employees, notably pay in lieu of notice requirements.”
Customers who still have items at one of the dozens of stores across Canada are being asked to email customerservice@thingsengraved.ca with a description of the item and its location.
“We will work with mall management to do everything we can to retrieve your item for you.”
The online store will remain open until further notice, and the home page includes a promotion for a special sale with up 70 per cent off.
Founded in 1982, the brand has been owned by Serruya Private Equity since 2011. It’s headquarters was in Kitchener and it also had a store location at Waterloo’s Conestoga Mall.
It’s unclear exactly how many employees are impacted or just how many stores were across Canada. A story in The Record from August 2018 indicated there were 90 locations and about 500 employees, including 40 in Kitchener. About a third of the locations were kiosks. At the time, chief executive officer Shawn Brock highlighted new products and an emphasis on unique local touches rather than a chain-wide, cookie-cutter approach the company’s stores was coming.
A relaunched website was also in the works.
“It is no secret that the current brickand-mortar retail marketplace has not been a thriving sector of the Canadian economy, and this has unfortunately rung true for Things Engraved,” the statement said.