Bowring Brothers
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail, Shipping (historically) |
| Founded | January 1, 1811 in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada |
| Founder | Benjamin Bowring and family |
| Defunct | 2019 |
| Fate | Bankruptcy and liquidation |
| Headquarters | St. John's , Canada |
Area served | Canada, United States (historically international) |
| Products | Gifts, home furnishings, department store goods |
Number of employees | Unknown |
| Parent | Fluid Brands Inc. (until bankruptcy) |
Bowring Brothers Ltd.—commonly referred to as Bowring—originated in Newfoundland and, following the province's entry into Canada, expanded its retail presence across the country with a specialization in gifts and home furnishings.
With a commercial legacy spanning over two centuries in Newfoundland, Bowring once operated on an international scale.
History
Established in 1811 by Benjamin Bowring and his family in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, the company initially focused on clockmaking and dry goods before transforming into a prominent department store situated on Water Street.
Bowring diversified its business to include ship ownership, fish trading, general merchandise, and steamship agency services. During the late 1800s, the firm chartered vessels such as the Nelly to facilitate fish exports abroad. The company managed the Red Cross Line steamships servicing Newfoundland and Labrador and owned the SS Florizel, among the earliest passenger vessels engineered for navigation in icy waters. The Florizel was repurposed as a troop transport during World War I but tragically sank in 1918 with significant casualties. Between 1818 and 1937, Bowring maintained detailed records of its fleet operations.
After the Second World War, Bowring refocused on retail, running a department store in St. John's alongside more than 100 gift outlets located within shopping centers across Canada and the United States. By the late 1980s, ownership transferred from the founding family to American retailer Hallmark Cards. In 1993, Royal Canadian Securities acquired Bowring through Tereve Holdings; this period saw the closure of the St. John's department store, temporarily ending Bowring's retail footprint in its home city for over ten years.
In October 2005, Fred Benitah—CEO of Toronto-based Benix & Company Inc., a home goods retailer—purchased the financially troubled Bowring chain. The Benitah family controlled various retail brands including Fairweather and International Clothiers. Under their management, Bowring shifted its emphasis toward standalone home stores located in Canadian power centers, reaching a peak of 34 outlets (including one in St. John's), while also operating 31 mall-based locations in major urban markets.
Following the 2007 bankruptcy of U.S.-based Bombay Company, its Canadian division was acquired by the Benitah brothers and integrated with Bowring and Benix & Company operations.
Bankruptcy and liquidation
On November 6, 2018, Fluid Brands Inc.—the supplier for both Bowring and The Bombay Company and owned by retail entrepreneur Fred Benitah—filed for insolvency protection under Canada's Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, citing debts amounting to $50 million. By that time, both Bowring and The Bombay Company had ceased supplier website operations and commenced liquidation processes. By January 2019, all retail locations under both brands had permanently closed.
See also
- Bowring Park (St. John's), a public park established on land donated by Bowring
- Bowring Downtown Centre, an office development converted from Bowring’s former department store premises in St. John's
External links
- Articles with short description
- Bowring Brothers
- Defunct companies of Newfoundland and Labrador
- Privately held companies of Canada
- Home decor retailers
- Retail companies established in 1811
- Retail companies disestablished in 2019
- Companies based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
- Defunct shipping companies of Canada
- 1811 establishments in Canada
- 2019 disestablishments in Canada
- 1811 establishments in North America
- 1811 establishments in the British Empire
- 19th-century establishments in Newfoundland
- 2019 disestablishments in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Canadian companies established in 1811
- Canadian companies disestablished in 2019
- Companies that have filed for bankruptcy in Canada