MONTREAL, June 11, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - Birks Group Inc.
(the "Company" or "Birks Group") (NYSE American: BGI) announced
today that after temporarily closing all of its Maison Birks stores
across Canada due to COVID-19 in
March 2020, the Company is gradually
welcoming guests back to select store locations where permitted.
The Company is taking a measured approach, carried out
week-by-week, market-by-market, in accordance with the directives
of local government and public health authorities. As of today, the
Company has reopened 18 of its 30 stores across Canada.
"We are pleased to announce to our clients that our Maison Birks
stores are gradually reopening," said Jean-Christophe Bédos,
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. "The health
and safety of our employees and guests remain our top priority
during these unprecedented times. We have put in place
additional measures to provide a safe shopping environment for
all."
To ensure the health and safety of its guests and employees as
stores reopen, the Company has put into place hygiene protocols and
enhanced its store environment and operating procedures. These
measures include:
- The wearing of protective equipment by the Company's sales
professionals.
- Limiting the number of clients in store.
- Practicing 2- metre physical distancing.
- Installation of a hygiene station in every store.
- Encouraging digital payment over cash.
- Frequent cleansing of client touch points and merchandise and
sanitization of service areas prior to opening each day.
As stores reopen, the concierge service remains available for
clients who prefer to shop by phone at +1 (855) 873-7373. As
always, clients will be able to continue shopping from their home
at MaisonBirks.com and benefit from direct complimentary shipping
to their door.
About Birks Group Inc.
Birks Group is a leading designer of fine jewellery, timepieces
and gifts and operator of luxury jewellery stores in Canada. The Company operates 27 stores under
the Maison Birks brand in most major metropolitan markets in
Canada, one retail location in
Calgary under the Brinkhaus brand
and two retail locations in Vancouver under the Graff and Patek Philippe
brands. Birks Collections are available at Mappin & Webb and
Goldsmiths in the United Kingdom
in addition to several jewellery retailers across North America. Birks was founded in 1879 and
has become Canada's premier
retailer and designer of fine jewellery, timepieces, and gifts.
Additional information can be found on the Company's web site,
www.birks.com
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains certain "forward-looking"
statements. Given such statements include various risks and
uncertainties, actual results might differ materially from those
projected in the forward-looking statements and no assurance can be
given that we will meet the results projected in the forward
looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are
not limited to the following: (i) the magnitude and length of
economic disruption as a result of the worldwide novel coronavirus
(COVID-19) outbreak, including its impact on macroeconomic
conditions, generally, as well as its impact on the results of
operations and financial condition of the Company and the trading
price of its shares; (ii) a decline in consumer spending or
deterioration in consumer financial position; (iii) economic,
political and market conditions, including the economies of
Canada and the U.S., which could
adversely affect the Company's business, operating results or
financial condition, including its revenue and profitability,
through the impact of changes in the real estate markets, changes
in the equity markets and decreases in consumer confidence and the
related changes in consumer spending patterns, the impact on store
traffic, tourism and sales; (iv) the impact of fluctuations in
foreign exchange rates, increases in commodity prices and borrowing
costs and their related impact on the Company's costs and expenses;
(v) the Company's ability to maintain and obtain sufficient
sources of liquidity to fund its operations, to achieve planned
sales, gross margin and net income, to keep costs low, to implement
its business strategy, maintain relationships with its primary
vendors, to mitigate fluctuations in the availability and prices of
the Company's merchandise, to compete with other jewelers, to
succeed in its marketing initiatives, and to have a successful
customer service program and (vi) the Company's ability to execute
its strategic vision. Information concerning factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially are set forth under the
captions "Risk Factors" and "Operating and Financial Review and
Prospects" and elsewhere in the Company's Annual Report on
Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on June 24, 2019 and
subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The
Company undertakes no obligation to update or release any revisions
to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or
circumstances after the date of this statement or to reflect the
occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by
law.
SOURCE Birks Group Inc.