North West Company Inc Q1 2020 Earnings Call Transcript

The following is excerpted from the question-and-answer section of the transcript.

Question: Stephen MacLeod - BMO Capital Markets Equity Research - Analyst : I just wanted to follow-up on the outlook for Q2. It sounds like it is still quite positive. Can you just provide a little bit of context around maybe a quantification, like how you're trending relative to the strength in Q1? I mean are you still expecting -- like would you still expect to put up a comp that's in the double digits? Or is it strong on a relative basis, but maybe down a bit from where you were in Q1?

Question: Stephen MacLeod - BMO Capital Markets Equity Research - Analyst : Okay. Yes, that makes sense. That's helpful. And then I think you sort of alluded to it, but I'm just curious with just such high levels of demand and logistics complications of getting product to remote locations. Have you seen any supply chain issues impacting the stores at all?

Question: Stephen MacLeod - BMO Capital Markets Equity Research - Analyst : Okay. Yes, that makes sense. And then maybe just finally, you talked about in the outlook, notwithstanding economic uncertainty in the Caribbean. And Alex, you sort of alluded to this as well. But you talked about opportunities to grow market share organically and through acquisitions. Can you talk a little bit about where you would look for those market share gains? Are they in specific niches? Or are you talking more just broadly?

Question: Sabahat Khan - RBC Capital Markets, Research Division - Analyst : Just I guess maybe a longer-term question. Have you noticed any change in sort of productivity of your stores at all? I know there's historically been a focus of what's kind of the top market and so forth. Do the recent event... without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters. 'Thomson Reuters' and the Thomson Reuters logo are registered trademarks of Thomson Reuters and its affiliated companies. JUNE 10, 2020 / 6:30PM, NWC.TO - Q1 2020 North West Company Inc Earnings Call

Question: Sabahat Khan - RBC Capital Markets, Research Division - Analyst : Hello?

Question: Sabahat Khan - RBC Capital Markets, Research Division - Analyst : Yes. Is it more around the -- do the recent events and the way consumers have been shopping, does that change your view on your store network, maybe making your bigger stores even bigger? Or is it too early to make those decisions?

Question: Sabahat Khan - RBC Capital Markets, Research Division - Analyst : Good. And then sort of just a follow-up on the e-commerce side. I notice some benefit as people are shopping more in market. But how did you find kind of the e-commerce competition? Do you find some of your local customers relying more on e-commerce than in the past? Or their habits there that they're developing that you're keeping an eye on?