New Sydney, N.S., bookstore plans to stay on the same page
A few months ago, Mads Grace came home from work and her fiancée Katharine Hubbert asked a question that would change their lives.
'My fiancée said, 'What if we try to buy the bookstore?'' Grace said. 'I'd been thinking the same thing.'
Grace had been working at On Paper Books in Sydney, N.S., for a year when her boss told her she was planning on closing the shop to pursue a Bachelor of Education. The independent bookstore had been open since December 2020, building up a solid following among bibliophiles in the region.
'She was hoping she could find someone keep to the indie bookstore scene alive,' Grace said. 'I didn't jump on it right away.'
After talking about it with her fiancée, Grace decided to reach out to the owner about the logistics of taking over the store.
'We had a lot of meetings and phone calls with every person you can imagine,' Grace said. 'We kept it a secret for about two months as we were behind the scenes figuring things out.'
Grace said she got back into the habit of reading by working at the shop. She wants her store, which has been renamed On the Same Page, to offer something for every kind of reader.
'Whether you're an avid reader or more casual and want to take your book to the beach,' she said. 'Our used book section is still strong. There are a lot of the same things, but we've added a lot more children's books, teen and young adult reads.
'There are more laid back, lighthearted novels as well. We've added a stationary section.'
On the Same Page
On the Same Page is having its grand opening this weekend. (Source: Mads Grace)
Grace said they have been in contact with local artists to feature their work at the store.
'Ninety-nine per cent of our things are made in Canada and half are made in Nova Scotia,' she said.
On the Same Page will have its grand opening at 311 Charlotte St. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. Grace said they plan to be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday this summer.
Bookstore owners
Mads Grace, left, and her fiancée Katharine Hubbert are pictured. (Source: Mads Grace)
For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Globe and Mail
18 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Is Costco Stock a Buy, Hold or Sell After May Sales Results?
Costco Wholesale Corporation 's COST May sales results offer fresh insight into the retail giant's current performance. Known for its steady growth and strong position in the warehouse club space, Costco continues to appeal to long-term investors. However, the latest figures could have a meaningful impact on the stock's near-term trajectory. Let's take a closer look at the data to determine whether Costco stock is a buy, hold, or sell after May sales results. Breaking Down Costco's May Sales Numbers Costco's membership-driven model remains a key driver, with high renewal rates providing a reliable revenue stream. Its efficient supply chain and bulk purchasing power support competitive pricing and market position. The combination of strong customer loyalty and operational efficiency helps Costco maintain an edge in the competitive retail landscape. For the four weeks ended June 1, 2025, comparable sales in the United States, Canada and Other International markets grew 4.1%, 3.3% and 6.6%, respectively. Total company comparable sales rose 4.3%. This follows gains of 4.4% in April and 6.4% in March, signaling consistent momentum. E-commerce also remained a bright spot, with comparable sales surging 11.6%. (Read: Costco Sales Surge in May: E-Commerce Leads the Way With a 12% Jump) As a result, Costco's net sales for May increased 6.8% to $20.97 billion, up from $19.64 billion in the same period last year. This follows sales improvements of 7% and 8.6% reported in April and March, respectively, reflecting a strong and consistent sales performance over the past few months. What Makes Costco a Top Long-Term Investment Choice? Costco continues to impress with its stellar revenue performance, showcasing its ability to navigate shifting economic dynamics. The consistent growth in membership fee income, coupled with a high renewal rate of 92.7% in key markets like the United States and Canada, underscores the company's effective customer retention strategies and strong member engagement. With a substantial base of paid household members and increasing executive memberships, Costco ensures a steady flow of high-margin recurring revenues. At the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2025, the retailer had 79.6 million paid household members, up 6.8% year over year. Executive memberships, a more profitable segment, grew 9% to 37.6 million, now making up 47.3% of paid members and contributing to 73.1% of global sales. By steadily enhancing its e-commerce capabilities and investing in fulfillment infrastructure, Costco is creating a more integrated omnichannel shopping experience. Its e-commerce comparable sales rose 14.8% in the third quarter. Notably, Costco Logistics deliveries surged 31%, driven by increasing volumes of large and bulky items. The launch of a Buy Now Pay Later program in partnership with Affirm has offered members greater purchasing flexibility, especially for higher-priced items. The company takes a measured approach to expanding its global warehouse footprint. During the third quarter, Costco opened nine warehouses — including seven in the United States, one in Japan, and a relocation in Australia — and plans to open 10 more in the final quarter, including its second warehouse in Sweden and 20th in Korea. For fiscal 2025, the company expects 27 total openings (24 net new), bringing its global warehouse count to 914. Meanwhile, Costco's disciplined focus on cost control, product mix optimization, and growing penetration of its private-label brand, Kirkland Signature, continues to support margin expansion. Kirkland Signature sales outpaced overall company growth in the third quarter, with penetration rising 50 basis points year over year. The company continues to shift more Kirkland Signature sourcing to the regions where items are sold, helping reduce costs and mitigate tariff impacts. How Consensus Estimates Stack Up for Costco Over the past 30 days, analysts have raised their estimates for the current fiscal year by 8 cents to $18.04. For the next fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased by 14 cents to $19.90. These estimates suggest year-over-year growth rates of 12% and 10.3%, respectively. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Does Costco's Valuation Reflect Strength or Stretch? Costco stock has been a standout performer, with shares rallying 17.1% over the past year, outpacing the industry 's rise of 8.4%. This impressive growth underscores investor confidence in Costco's business model. Costco has even outperformed its peers, such as Dollar General Corporation DG, Dollar Tree, Inc. DLTR and Target Corporation TGT. Shares of Dollar Tree, Dollar General and Target have declined 9.4%, 11.1%, and 29.8%, respectively, in the past year. However, Costco is trading at a significant premium to its industry peers. Costco's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio stands at 51.44, higher than the industry's ratio of 32.81 and the S&P 500's ratio of 22.02. The stock is also trading above its median P/E level of 50.77, observed over the past year. Costco is trading at a premium to Dollar General (with a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 19.07), Dollar Tree (16.99) and Target (12.88). Now, the question arises whether Costco's current price is warranted or overvalued in today's market. Costco's high valuation shows that investors have strong faith in the company's steady growth, loyal customer base, and solid business model. This premium may be deserved, given Costco's consistent performance, but it also means the stock has less room for error. At this level, some of the future growth may already be priced in, making it harder to justify further upside. Should You Invest in Costco Now or Wait for a Pullback? Costco's May sales results reaffirm its position as a dependable stock in the retail sector, backed by strong membership growth, consistent comparable sales improvement and solid financial fundamentals. While the stock trades at a premium valuation, this appears justified given its operational resilience, expanding global footprint, and loyal customer base. For long-term investors willing to pay up for quality and stability, Costco remains a compelling choice. However, for value-conscious buyers, the elevated valuation may warrant patience for a more attractive entry point. Costco currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days Just released: Experts distill 7 elite stocks from the current list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buys. They deem these tickers "Most Likely for Early Price Pops." Since 1988, the full list has beaten the market more than 2X over with an average gain of +23.5% per year. So be sure to give these hand picked 7 your immediate attention. See them now >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Target Corporation (TGT): Free Stock Analysis Report Dollar General Corporation (DG): Free Stock Analysis Report Dollar Tree, Inc. (DLTR): Free Stock Analysis Report Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST): Free Stock Analysis Report
National Post
38 minutes ago
- National Post
Strategic Storage Growth Trust III, Inc. Announces Land Acquisition in New Westminster, British Columbia
Article content LADERA RANCH, Calif. — Strategic Storage Growth Trust III, Inc. ('SSGT III'), a private real estate investment trust sponsored by an affiliate of SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. ('SmartStop') (NYSE: SMA) in partnership with SmartCentres Real Estate Investment Trust (TSX: announced the acquisition of a 1.18-acre land parcel in New Westminster, British Columbia. Article content This high-impact land acquisition is located on Tanaka Court in New Westminster, B.C., about 10 miles from downtown Vancouver in the city's fast-growing Queensborough area. The site is set to become home to a six-story, Class A self-storage facility totaling approximately 99,260 net rentable square feet across approximately 1,170 climate-controlled units, supported by two elevators for convenient access. Article content With frontage on Boyd Street and direct exposure to Highway 91A, the site captures more than 102,000 vehicles daily. Article content Queensborough has transformed over the last decade from an industrial corridor into one of the region's most active residential growth zones. This market was identified as a strategic fit due to its dense housing, increasing household incomes, and limited existing storage supply. The facility will serve a wide catchment, including Queensborough, Queen's Park, Sapperton, Downtown New Westminster, Brow of the Hill, Glenbrooke North, and Victory Heights. Article content Construction is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2026 with a soft opening planned for late 2027. Article content 'This location checks every box: high income, strong growth, and a market that's still underbuilt,' said H. Michael Schwartz, CEO of SSGT III. 'This isn't just another site. It's a strategic play to expand into an underserved pocket of Greater Vancouver.' Article content About Strategic Storage Growth Trust III, Inc. (SSGT III): Article content SSGT III is a Maryland corporation that elected to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. SSGT III's primary investment strategy is to invest in growth-oriented self-storage facilities and related self-storage real estate investments in the United States and Canada. As of June 13, 2025, SSGT III has a portfolio of twelve operating properties in the United States, comprising approximately 9,540 units and 1,130,800 net rentable square feet; four operating properties in Canada, comprising approximately 2,380 units and 272,800 net rentable square feet; and joint venture interests in three developments in two Canadian provinces (Québec and British Columbia). In addition, a subsidiary of SSGT III serves as the sponsor of a Delaware Statutory Trust, which currently owns two operating properties in the United States comprising approximately 1,040 units and 123,000 net rentable square feet. Article content About SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (SmartStop): Article content SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. ('SmartStop') (NYSE: SMA) is a self-managed REIT with a fully integrated operations team of more than 600 self-storage professionals focused on growing the SmartStop ® Self Storage brand. SmartStop, through its indirect subsidiary SmartStop REIT Advisors, LLC, also sponsors other self-storage programs. As of June 13, 2025, SmartStop has an owned or managed portfolio of 222 operating properties in 23 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada, comprising approximately 158,900 units and 17.9 million rentable square feet. SmartStop and its affiliates own or manage 42 operating self-storage properties in Canada, which total approximately 35,700 units and 3.6 million rentable square feet. Additional information regarding SmartStop is available at Article content Article content Contacts Article content David Corak Article content Article content Article content
National Post
an hour ago
- National Post
The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Digital Transformation Strategy Profile 2025: Diving Into CIBC's Latest Tech Operations and ICT Investments
Article content Article content DUBLIN — The 'Enterprise Tech Ecosystem Series – The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce 2025' company profile has been added to offering. Article content The report provides insights into The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce's tech activities, including its digital transformation strategies, its innovation programs, and its technology initiatives. Article content Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) is a provider of personal, small business, and commercial, and corporate banking solutions. It operates through four main strategic business units (SBUs): Canadian Personal and Business Banking, Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, and Capital Markets and Direct Financial Services, all supported by Corporate and Other. The Canadian Personal and Business Banking division offers Canadian client's financial advice and services through branches and digital platforms. Article content Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management focuses on personalized services for entrepreneurs, high-net-worth individuals, and institutional investors across Canada. U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management provides banking and wealth services, primarily targeting middle-market and mid-corporate clients across six US markets. The Capital Markets and Direct Financial Services division offers global market products, investment banking, and digital-first solutions for banking and investing. Article content The report provides information and insights into Boeing's tech activities, including: Article content Insights of its digital transformation strategies and innovation programs. Overview of technology initiatives covering partnerships, product launches, investments and acquisitions. Insights on each technology initiative including technology theme, objective, and benefits. Details of estimated ICT budgets and major ICT contracts. Article content Reasons to Buy Article content Gain insights into CIBC's tech operations. Gain insights into its tech strategies and innovation initiatives. Gain insights into its technology themes under focus. Gain insights into various product launches and partnerships. Article content Key Topics Covered: Article content Overview Digital Transformation Strategy Accelerators, Incubators, and Innovation Programs Technology Focus Technology Initiatives Investments Acquisition Partnership, Investments, and Acquisition Network Map ICT Budget Key Executives Article content For more information about this company profile visit About is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content Article content Article content
