Goodwill closing 16 GTA stores because of cash problems

You are currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and that there are some features you can't use or read.

We are an active community of worldwide senior members participating in chat, politics, travel, health, blogging, graphics, computer issues & help, book club, literature & poetry, finance discussions, recipe exchange and much more. Also, as a member you will be able to access member only sections, many features, send personal messages, make new friends, etc.

Registration is simple, fast and completely free. Why not register today and become a part of the group. Registration button at the very top left of the page.

Thank you for stopping by.

Join our community!

In case of difficulty, email worldwideseniors.org@gmail.com.
If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Pages:
1
2
3

Goodwill closing 16 GTA stores because of cash problems
Topic Started: Jan 18 2016, 11:40 AM (676 Views)
goldengal	Jan 18 2016, 11:40 AM Post #1
Mistress, House of Dogs Posts: 11,674 Group: Member Member #715 Joined: March 31, 2010	This is Breaking News from CP24 so I do not have a link but am sure it will soon be in the news; Quote: Goodwill Industries says 16 GTA stores, 10 donation centres and two offices are closing effective today due to a cash flow crisis. In a statement, the organization says 430 employees in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Newmarket, Barrie, Orillia and Brockville are affected by the closures. Take care, Pat

Replies:
goldengal	Jan 19 2016, 12:23 AM Post #16
Mistress, House of Dogs Posts: 11,674 Group: Member Member #715 Joined: March 31, 2010	I was pleasantly surprised last week when I received a call from a gentleman at Salvation Army. He thanked me for my donation and my continued support and wished me a good day. Of course, I had been expecting a request for another donation, but that did not happen. No doubt they realize with such calls people will remember the next time they receive a request in the mail and be sure to donate. Take care, Pat



haili	Jan 19 2016, 01:14 AM Post #17
Gold Star Member Posts: 7,084 Group: Member Member #387 Joined: September 15, 2006	Sorry, I didn't notice this thread when I started another. I get some good deals on books and DVDs but agree that the prices on other things are too high and you can get new stuff just as cheap at the Dollar Store. I usually donate to Diabetes as they pick up from the door step. We don't have a Value Village here and Salvation Army is too far for me to walk, plus they hardly ever have books or DVDs that I'd like. A lot of people bought things at Good Will and they had half price days quite often. I'd see people with carts full of clothes and it was fairly busy compared to other stores in town so it will be missed.



angora	Jan 19 2016, 02:23 AM Post #18
WWS Book Club Coordinator Posts: 14,494 Group: Member Member #717 Joined: March 31, 2010	John and I donate to restore. They pick up and we also have bought lots of stuff from them, made a lovely backsplash in our kitchen from a batch of ceramic tiles that had been donated. We do not do business with the Salvation Army because of their stance on homosexuality.



heatseeker	Jan 19 2016, 02:33 AM Post #19
Veteran Member Posts: 10,320 Group: Member Member #713 Joined: March 30, 2010	Their balance sheet seems odd. In 2014 (and I'm going by memory so the figures are approximate) they did about $28 million in sales and their costs were $29 million. They got $4 million from various levels of government. All of their stuff is donated. Their premises, from what I've seen should not cost a fortune -- many are in crappy malls. My guess, and this is just a guess, is the problem comes down to incompetent management. With people who know what they are doing, it should be possible to operate indefinitely without losing money. The CEO's background does not inspire confidence.



Trotsky	Jan 19 2016, 02:58 AM Post #20
Big City Boy Posts: 38,319 Group: Member Member #79 Joined: September 8, 2005	Quote: My guess, and this is just a guess, is the problem comes down to incompetent management. And inflated paychecks. (All of these charities are VERY charitable to the people who run them.)



haili	Jan 19 2016, 06:21 AM Post #21
Gold Star Member Posts: 7,084 Group: Member Member #387 Joined: September 15, 2006	I just heard that Amity Goodwill is still open in Halton and Hamilton areas.



friendshipgal	Jan 20 2016, 04:35 AM Post #22
Guess everyone wants their own Trudashians Posts: 12,815 Group: Member Member #241 Joined: February 12, 2006	High rent and union problems contribute to their problems. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/high-rent-union-rules-blamed-for-closing-of-toronto-area-goodwill-stores/article28253342/



haili	Jan 20 2016, 06:29 AM Post #23
Gold Star Member Posts: 7,084 Group: Member Member #387 Joined: September 15, 2006	The director's salary is $200,000 plus so it wasn't just union wages, maybe it was executive incompetence.



Alli	Jan 20 2016, 07:53 AM Post #24
Mistress, House of Cats Posts: 4,732 Group: Member Member #711 Joined: March 30, 2010	This is the same woman Toronto Community Housing Corporation CEO Keiko Nakamura who was fired for incompetence and now another business under her "leadership" is gone under. Coincidence or Incompetence? Edited by Alli, Jan 20 2016, 07:59 AM.



Bitsy	Jan 20 2016, 10:26 AM Post #25
Veteran Member Posts: 31,383 Group: Member Member #267 Joined: March 11, 2006	Alli Jan 20 2016, 07:53 AM This is the same woman Toronto Community Housing Corporation CEO Keiko Nakamura who was fired for incompetence and now another business under her "leadership" is gone under. Coincidence or Incompetence? She is not available for comment. Quote: Goodwill Industries of Toronto, Central and Northern Ontario reported total revenue in 2014 of just over $28 million and expenses of $29,218,954, according to the registered charity�s tax filings � which also show it received more than $4 million in government funding. �It�s stunning to us that this happening because of the amount of revenue that they have either generated or received from various government levels,� Ellickson said. The charity lists one employee as earning between $200,000 and $250,000 and another with a salary range of $120,000 to $150,000. The employees are not named in the tax filings. �It�s supposed be a charitable organization, but they are paid handsomely,� Ellickson said. �Some of those people who are now terminated are vulnerable individuals with disabilities who have been hired through these government sponsored programs.� �It�s tragic for all of them,� Ellickson said. While the salary range for the workers is $11 to $27 an hour, most earn an average of $14. The Star was unable to reach Nakamura for comment. http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/01/17/16-ontario-goodwill-stores-shut-down.html



Oldsalt	Jan 20 2016, 11:01 AM Post #26
Small Star Member Posts: 977 Group: Member Member #892 Joined: February 5, 2012	Goodwill CEO classic case of 'failing upwards' The only Goodwill stores in trouble are those managed by Nakamura. Perhaps the salaries and building rentals are part of the problem. Quote: So pardon me if I suggest Nakamura is a classic case of failing upwards, considering that only the 16 Goodwill stores, 10 donation centres and two offices managed by her � and not any other operations in Ontario or beyond � find themselves closed due to what she characterized as a business model with �low margins and increasing competition� in the retail space. http://www.torontosun.com/2016/01/18/goodwill-ceo-classic-case-of-failing-upwards



friendshipgal	Jan 20 2016, 11:21 AM Post #27
Guess everyone wants their own Trudashians Posts: 12,815 Group: Member Member #241 Joined: February 12, 2006	She certainly could be part of the problem for sure but her salary is fairly low for a CEO, I guess you get what you pay for. Goodwill trains disabled people using the donated materials. e.g. trains them to repair furniture or appliances, then helps them to find jobs elsewhere among other community programs. Salaries and occupancy costs where the major problem, but according to the news it was union staffing rules, doesn't mention salaries.



haili	Jan 20 2016, 01:08 PM Post #28
Gold Star Member Posts: 7,084 Group: Member Member #387 Joined: September 15, 2006	Our Goodwill is still open and I bought a little teapot there today. The staff were Indian or Pakistani today though usually they were all young people and I'd got to know them a bit. I hope they moved on to other better jobs.



Alli	Jan 20 2016, 03:14 PM Post #29
Mistress, House of Cats Posts: 4,732 Group: Member Member #711 Joined: March 30, 2010	By the sounds of things she sounds to be a big part of the problem. She should look for something she is more qualified for being CEO of anything doesn't seem to be her strong point. Niagara has been unaffected.....



heatseeker	Jan 22 2016, 02:20 AM Post #30
Veteran Member Posts: 10,320 Group: Member Member #713 Joined: March 30, 2010	An employment lawyer interviewed by CBC says the directors of Goodwill still on hook for employee wages despite their en masse resignations last week. None of the employees are getting paid this week for the work they did before being locked out. Many are single mothers, disabled, etc. It's likely that the CEO is still being paid. Edited by heatseeker, Jan 22 2016, 02:21 AM.



1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)


Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Rants, Bouquets, Consumer Issues · Next Topic »

Pages:
1
2
3