and they did not have to wait in line. This concept was used in some New York and New Jersey stores before computerization became mainstream. Consumers Distributing undertook several initiatives to dispel this out-of-stock perception, including "super stores" that had all of the in-stock products on display, and free home delivery or store to store transfer for items that were not in stock. It also implemented a state-of-the-art inventory system that could check the availability of other stores in real time, and also would suggest alternate products at the store which were in stock. Consumers Distributing was one of the first to implement real-time stock checking and prepayment for products available at other branches and the main warehouse. These initiatives, including the superstore expansion, costly free delivery, and costly new inventory management software, overextended the company. High operating expenses, increasing competition, changing retailing trends (such as warehouse format stores), deflation in several product categories (jewellery and electronics), a deep lingering recession and the expansion of Walmart into Canada all contributed to the company's bankruptcy in 1996. Corporate offices Consumers Distributing's Canadian headquarters were located at 6303 Airport Road, in Mississauga, Ontario. See also List of Canadian department stores Service Merchandise — a defunct American company with similar business model References Catalog showrooms Companies based in Middlesex County, New Jersey Retail companies established in 1957 Companies that have filed for bankruptcy in Canada Defunct retail companies of Canada Defunct retail companies of the United States Retail companies disestablished in 1996 May Department Stores