STRATFORD, P.E.I. - In the competitive discount retailer industry, Greg Butler has grown his business from two seasonal stores on P.E.I. more than a decade ago to 10 today, including a new, permanent, year-round store scheduled to open in Stratford by the end of the month.
“I just felt that the timing was good, that there’s going to be lots of new development happening, which is going to create more traffic and offer more services and product for the people in the Stratford area,” said Butler, owner of Christmas Discounters.
“I felt that we could bring something to the table as well – a mix of product that people would be excited about in Stratford, things that weren’t being offered.”
The new Stratford Discounters store is going to be located in the former Benjamin Moore paint building (and most recently a butcher shop) at 3 Clinton Ave. off the Trans-Canada Highway. The store is in the same area as the former Home Hardware building that is being redeveloped.
“Our merchandise is arriving now. We’re finishing off construction on the location. Most of the major construction is done. But we have a few things – signage and some odds and ends – to finish off,” he said.
“I think there’s still some opportunities on P.E.I. for another community or two for another location. And, since we’re based in P.E.I., we’d like to continue to grow here.”
-Greg Butler
Butler bought the 6,000 square-foot building that, once opened, will have eight employees and two casual workers.
Butler also has eight people working in the recently re-opened Christmas Discounters store in the Charlottetown Mall. The store operated in the same location in the mall last year.
He explained the seasonal stores are called Christmas Discounters while the permanent stores take the name of the city or town they’re located in, such as the two other permanent stores on the Island – Montague and Summerside Discounters.
“They’re part of the community,” he said.
Butler also has a permanent store in Moncton and seasonal stores in Saint John, Truro, Bridgewater, Halifax and Amherst.
“We’ve been able to grow the business and hope to continue to grow the business. We’ve always got our ear to the ground and eyes open for new locations,” he said.
“I think there’s still some opportunities on P.E.I. for another community or two for another location. And, since we’re based in P.E.I., we’d like to continue to grow here.”
