Doug Putman
Born
Douglas Robert Putman

(1984-03-25) 25 March 1984
Ancaster, Ontario, Canada
Known for
Board member of
  • Everest Toys
  • Sunrise Records
  • hmv UK

Douglas Robert Putman (born 25 March 1984) is a billionaire Canadian business executive. Putman is the owner of Canada's largest toy chain, Toys "Я" Us Canada, Babies "Я" Us Canada, music retailer Sunrise Records, T. Kettle, Rooms + Spaces, music retailer FYE, Everest Toys, and HMV UK, as well as many other companies.[1][2][3]

Early life

Douglas Putman was born on 25 March 1984 and raised in Ancaster, Ontario.[4] His family owned Everest Toys, which he managed as of 2017.[5]

Career

In 2017, it was announced that Putman had acquired the lease agreements for HMV Canada after it fell into receivership, at which time he expanded Sunrise Records Canada-wide. The former subsidiary of HMV UK is now operating as Sunrise Records.[6] On 5 February 2019, HMV UK was acquired by Sunrise Records, owned by Putman, for £883,000, saving 100 stores and 1,600 jobs. The company continues to trade under the HMV brand.[7]

In 2021, Putman, through his Putman Investments, announced he would buy Toys "R" Us Canada from Fairfax Financial.[8]

In 2023, Putman acquired 21 Canadian retail locations from Bed Bath & Beyond[9] and turned them into Rooms + Spaces.

References

  1. ↑ "HMV chain saved but some stores will close". Bbc.co.uk. 5 February 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  2. ↑ "Spill Feature: The Fun Of Going To A Record Store Is The Treasure Hunt - A Discussion With Sunrise Records' Doug Putman". The Spill Magazine. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  3. ↑ Kirby, Jason (25 February 2022). "Doug Putman has revived unloved brands like Toys'R'Us and HMV with a plan to make retail fun again". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  4. ↑ McNeil, Mark (3 March 2017). "Ancaster entrepreneur riding the wave of analog at 33 revolutions per minute". Thespec.com. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  5. ↑ "Will Sunrise Records avoid costly downtown Toronto?". The South Bayview Bulldog. 28 February 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  6. ↑ "Sunrise Has Plan to Succeed Where HMV Failed: Owner Talks Vinyl Surge, Antsy Suppliers & (More) Expansion". Billboard.com. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  7. ↑ "HMV chain saved but some stores will close". Bbc.co.uk. 5 February 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  8. ↑ "Putman Investments to Purchase Toys'R'Us and Babies'R'Us Canada". www.businesswire.com. 19 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  9. ↑ "New Canadian retail chain set to launch from ashes of former Bed Bath & Beyond locations". 3 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.


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