Doug Putman

Doug Putman
Born
Douglas Robert Putman

(1984-03-25) 25 March 1984
Ancaster, Ontario, Canada
OccupationRetail businessman
Board member of
  • Cleo (CAN)
  • Crazy Forts! (CAN)
  • Famous Toys (CAN)
  • FYE (US)
  • HMV (UK, EU, CAN)
  • Makin' Waves Marine (CAN)
  • Northern Reflections (CAN)
  • Ricki's (CAN)
  • Sunrise Records (CAN)
  • Toys "R" Us (CAN)
Websitehttps://putmaninvestments.com

Douglas Robert Putman (born 25 March 1984) is a Canadian retail businessman, best known for his ownership of Sunrise Records (including FYE and HMV), and Toys "R" Us Canada. His firm, Putman Investments, owns numerous chains involving music/entertainment, clothing, toys, and home goods. He has since expanded into the United States and Europe.

Early life

Douglas Putman was born on 25 March 1984 and raised in Ancaster, Ontario.[1] His family owned Everest Toys, a toy distributor, which he started working for in 2010.[2]

Career

Canada

Sunrise Records and HMV Canada

In October 2014, Putman acquired Sunrise Records and began opening new locations.[3] In February 2017, it was announced that Putman had acquired the lease agreements from HMV Canada after it fell into receivership, converting these premises into Sunrise Records stores, massively increasing the number of Sunrise Records locations from 10 to 70.[4][3]

In February 2024, Sunrise Records announced that HMV Canada would return as a concession in Toys "R" Us locations.[5]

Toys "R" Us Canada

In August 2021, Putman announced he would buy Toys "R" Us Canada and Babies "R" Us Canada from Fairfax Financial.[6] Starting in 2025, unprofitable Toys "R" Us Canada locations were closed, reducing the chain from approximately 103 stores to 22 stores as of January 2026 and has gone into creditor protection as of February 3rd, 2026.[7][8]

Northern Reflections, Cleo, and Ricki's

In January 2025 it was announced that Putman had purchased women’s retailer Northern Reflections, which operates over 100 stores across Canada. Several months later Putman also purchased retailers Cleo and Ricki's out of administration adding over 100 more stores to his apparel empire.[9][10]

Everest Toys (formerly)

In August 2025, Everest Toys was placed into receivership by TD Bank due to significant financial issues, including a $25 million debt and the resignation of its board, closing the company. It had previously supplied Toys "R" Us Canada.[11]

Rooms + Spaces (formerly)

In May 2023, Putman acquired 21 Canadian retail locations from Bed Bath & Beyond and turned them into Rooms + Spaces.[12] In total, 24 Rooms + Space locations were opened. Most stores were closed after being open for only a few months, as the leases were defaulted. As of February 2024, only two Rooms + Spaces locations remain open (at West Edmonton Mall and Brantford.). As of April 2024, Google reports that the Brantford location has also closed and moved to Hamilton as an outlet store.[13][14][15]

T. Kettle (formerly)

In October 2020, Putman founded tea shop T. Kettle, rebranding 45 former DavidsTea locations.[16] As of April 2024, only two locations remained open.[17] The final T.Kettle shop closed on December 22, 2025.

United States

FYE

In January 2020, Putman saved entertainment chain FYE from bankruptcy for $10 million USD, which included Sam Goody and Suncoast Motion Picture Company.[18]

United Kingdom and Europe

HMV

On 5 February 2019, a number of HMV locations were 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 and Fopp brands under license from Hilco Capital.[19][20] Putman would reopen HMV in Ireland in 2023.[21] In November 2023, HMV expanded into Belgium.[22] In November 2025, HMV expanded into the Netherlands.[23]

Attempted acquisitions

In August 2023, Putman attempted to save the British home goods retailer Wilko from administration, but was unable to form a rescue deal in time, with the retailer collapsing.[24] In March 2024, Putman expressed interest in rescuing the British cosmetics chain, The Body Shop, from administration.[25] In January 2025, Putman expressed interested in the high-street WHSmith stores that were being disposed by the business, however they were sold to Modella Capital and rebranded as TGJones.[26] In September 2025, Putman expressed interest in saving Claire's UK.[27]

List of active companies

Active companies owned by Doug Putman include:[28]

References

  1. ^ McNeil, Mark (3 March 2017). "Ancaster entrepreneur riding the wave of analog at 33 revolutions per minute". The Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  2. ^ "Will Sunrise Records avoid costly downtown Toronto?". The South Bayview Bulldog. 28 February 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  3. ^ a b Bliss, Karen (8 February 2019). "Sunrise Records Chief Doug Putman Talks Rescuing UK's HMV Music Chain, Plans to Bring It Profitable". Billboard. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Sunrise Has Plan to Succeed Where HMV Failed: Owner Talks Vinyl Surge, Antsy Suppliers & (More) Expansion". Billboard.com. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  5. ^ Deschamps, Tara (1 February 2024). "HMV making comeback through Toys 'R' Us locations". CTVNews. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Putman Investments to Purchase Toys'R'Us and Babies'R'Us Canada". www.businesswire.com. 19 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Toys R Us Closes Final British Columbia Store in Langley". retail-insider.com. 14 January 2026. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  8. ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/toys-r-us-canada-creditor-protection-9.7073015
  9. ^ Johnson, Maya (18 February 2025). "Putman Investments Buys Ricki's and Cleo from Comark". Retail Insider. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  10. ^ Deschamps, Tara (18 February 2025). "Court grants sale of retailers Ricki's, Cleo to Putman Investments". Financial Post. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  11. ^ "Everest Toys Placed in Receivership After Collateral Shortfall and Board Resignations". insolvencyinsider.ca. 14 September 2025. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  12. ^ Toneguzzi, Mario (10 August 2023). "Inside Doug Putman's New Home Furnishings Concept 'rooms + spaces' as Retailer Expands Rapidly in Canada [Interviews/Photos]". Retail Insider. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  13. ^ Staff, Victoria Buzz (15 February 2024). "Victoria's Rooms + Spaces closes just months after grand opening". Victoria Buzz. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  14. ^ KelownaNow. "Rooms+Spaces forced to close at Kelowna's Orchard Plaza". KelownaNow. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  15. ^ "rooms and spaces · 221 Henry St, Brantford, ON N3S 7R4, Canada". rooms and spaces · 221 Henry St, Brantford, ON N3S 7R4, Canada. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  16. ^ Bolton, Dan (1 December 2020). "T. Kettle Rebrands 45 Former DavidsTea Stores". STiR Coffee and Tea Magazine | Global Business Insight on Coffee and Tea. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  17. ^ "T. Kettle Locations". 9 April 2024.
  18. ^ Nazir, Sahar (24 January 2020). "HMV owner Doug Putman bags US music & film retailer for £7.6m - Retail Gazette". www.retailgazette.co.uk. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  19. ^ "HMV chain saved but some stores will close". Bbc.co.uk. 5 February 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  20. ^ https://trademarks.ipo.gov.uk/ipo-tmcase/page/History/1/UK00002460933. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  21. ^ "HMV opens first store in Dublin in a decade". BreakingNews.ie. 28 June 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  22. ^ "[In the picture] HMV opens first store in Belgium". RetailDetail EU. 23 November 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  23. ^ Beevers, Angela; angela-beevers (9 February 2026). "HMV to open second shop in the Netherlands | Retail Bulletin". Retail Bulletin | Daily UK Retail News. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
  24. ^ Butler, Sarah (25 August 2023). "HMV owner makes last-ditch bid to rescue Wilko". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  25. ^ Goldfingle, Gemma (11 March 2024). "HMV owner mulls The Body Shop bid as US and Canada arms collapse - Retail Gazette". Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  26. ^ Morgan, Aoife (28 January 2025). "HMV owner in talks for WHSmith's 500 high street stores - Retail Gazette". Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  27. ^ "WH Smith buyer and HMV owner in race to save Claire's". Sky News. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  28. ^ a b c d Putman, Doug. "Investments – Putman Investments". putmaninvestments.com. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  29. ^ Putman, Doug. "Putman Investments". putmaninvestments.com. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  30. ^ "UK music retailer HMV sold to Canada's Sunrise Records – Putman Investments". putmaninvestments.com. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  31. ^ "Sunrise Records Completes FYE Acquisition From Trans World Entertainment – Putman Investments". putmaninvestments.com. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  32. ^ a b Putman, Doug. "FYE Store Locator". FYE. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  33. ^ a b "Putman Investments to purchase Toys'R'Us and Babies'R'Us Canada – Putman Investments s'apprête à acheter Toys'R'Us et Babies'R'Us Canada – Putman Investments". putmaninvestments.com. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  34. ^ Casaletto, Lucas (1 February 2024). "HMV making a comeback through Toys "R" Us locations". CityNews Vancouver. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  35. ^ Toneguzzi, Mario (9 January 2025). "Putman Investments Acquires Northern Reflections Retail Chain". Retail Insider. Retrieved 17 February 2025.
  36. ^ a b Proctor, Jason (16 February 2025). "Ransomware, disease and 'ultra low-cost retailers': Why 3 iconic Canadian clothing stores went broke". CBC News. Retrieved 17 February 2025.


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