Even though the doors to his Sears franchise outlet will officially close on Monday, Karim Kassam says the store will go on, under a new name, of course.
The longtime owner of the Sears Hometown store in Airdrie, Alta., north of Calgary, told CTV Calgary that he has been a registered dealer for the retailer for the past 11 years. Before that, Kassam worked as a Sears鈥� salesperson for 13 years.
鈥淎ltogether 24 years in business with Sears. It鈥檚 very sad,鈥� Kassam said on Friday.
Sears Canada has been under court protection from creditors since June when the embattled retailer announced its plans to cut thousands of jobs and close its remaining stores.
鈥淵ou never expect a big company like Sears to go under,鈥� Kassam said. 鈥淚t was a shock.鈥�
Kassam, who also owned the Okotoks Sears location that closed earlier this fall, said he鈥檚 still waiting for Sears to pay him commission for sales he made from October to the present. He would typically receive those payments within 30 days, he said.
鈥淪ears is in court protection so we haven鈥檛 been paid since October,鈥� he explained. 鈥淚t was a little scary.鈥�
Joel Shaffer, a spokesperson for Sears Canada, told CTV Calgary that Kassam and other franchise owners will receive their outstanding payments in the near future.
鈥淭he balance of payments owing will be paid on or before December 31,鈥� the statement read. 鈥淪ears Canada is on target to make these payments.鈥�
Kassam said he still has about $100,000 in remaining Sears鈥� merchandise to sell before he closes the store on Monday. Despite this, the franchise owner has already started moving in new stock to sell at his new independently-owned business called Airdrie Appliance and Furniture.
鈥淲e are not letting go any of our staff,鈥� Kassam said. 鈥淲e still have the full eight people staying here with us, so [it鈥檚] business as usual, but just no Sears or no Kenmore name.鈥�
Irene Herron, a Sears鈥� employee for approximately 15 years, said she鈥檚 glad Kassam plans to keep the doors of the store open.
鈥淗e knows the Sears customer, he knows the Sears way, he knows the Sears pricing,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n a different way, Sears will continue.鈥�
The new Airdrie Appliance and Furniture store will continue to carry parts for Kenmore appliances that will be sourced through third-party manufacturers, Kassam said.
With a report from CTV Calgary鈥檚 Shaun Frenette
