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Amid deepening trade tensions, stock shortages and tariff headaches across the border in the US, Therrien has come straight to the source. The shift has added weeks of legwork and logistical hurdles – but it may also be steering him toward a more sustainable and cost-efficient supply chain.

“One door closes, another opens,” Therrien said. “It will be hard for us for this particular season, as we are buying for the Christmas season. But from a pricing perspective, it’s obviously better for us [in the long run].

“For anybody in business right now, you’re going to have to finesse and find new ways to source products; that’s just the reality of things. We are going to have to move more and more of our purchasing outside of the US and try to find more direct players.”