In case you have not herd about Winners...

Here's some information that I've gathered on Winners in preparation for my job interview: 

1. It is a public company 
2. It is part of a parent company TJX Companies Inc. that also includes Home Sense, Marshalls, Stylesence in Canada and Marmaxx, and HomeGoods stores in the United States; T.K. Maxx - Europe's first and only off-price retailer
3. It has a free loyalty program that includes all three brands and offers special services for customers such as extended return period, shopping at early hours, email notifications about new arrivals, special offers, etc.
4. The company was founded in 1982 in Toronto
5. In 1990 (5 stores) it was acquired by TJX Companies Inc. - the world's leading off-orice retailer of home and apparel fashions
6. Winner's offering to customers: "winning combination of the latest brand name fashions for up to 60% less that arrive fresh daily so that the customers can experience the "Thrill of the find" or "high fashion for low prices"
7. Buyers use runway as an inspiration
8. The true value is identified through Winners "compare at" ticketing
9. In '95 the giftware and home goods categories are offered; 97 woman's footwear; 2001 Home Sense - unique accessories and designer home decore lines  2006 - expansion of the shoes and home goods departments; 2007 - launch of runway; 2009 Stylesense - shoes and accessories
10. 216 stores in Canada and 20 in the GTA
11. Winners stores average approximately 29,000 square feet in size
11. Stores have specialty and expanded departments and are all unique
12. TJX faces competition from various players in the sector, both domestically and internationally, local, regional and national: low-cost operators like American EagleOutfitters, discount retailers, wholesalers and distributors, catalog businesses, department stores, local retailers, online e-commerce retailers; super center stores, wholesale clubs.
13. Major competitive factors: members, employees, warehouse sites, product availability, customer service, product offerings, quality and price
14. SWOT analysis - http://callisto.ggsrv.com/imgsrv/FastFetch/UBER1/309534_GDRT33675FSA
15. Marshalls Canada arrived in downtown TO in 2011 and now has 6 stores with plans to open up to 100 new locations; in 2012, 15 new Marshall's stores are scheduled to open in Canada
16. TJX has plans for opening another 30 Winners and 15 HomeSense locations
17. Off price retailing - product availability - major concern 
18. TJX strategy that eliminates this concern: A. 25 key vendors comprise only 25% of all of the products purchased; overall the company has over 15k vendors B. good relationships with vendors C. can easily take advantage of market opportunities by shifting merchandise categories inside the stores ("no walls" between departments) D. "we are an attractive outlet for vendors": we buy less than full assortment of items, style and sizes and quantities ranging from small to very large; can disperse inventory across a wide geography; pay promptly; do not ask for return, markdown or advertising allowances; E. leaner inventories - means that retail environment is less promotional, which raises the pricing umbrella between TJX and traditional retailers; excess inventory in the vendor marketplace = lower cost of goods for the company
19. TJX has a vision to grow to be a $40 billion company 
20. Carol Meyrowitz, Chief Executive Officer of The TJX Companies, Inc
21. TJX has been increasing their dividends and paying them regularly
22. In September 2011, Doug Mizzi, 52, was promoted to President, TJX Canada. -  started with TJX in 1988 and rose through the ranks of store operations at Marmaxx. In 2004, Mr. Mizzi went to Canada as Senior Vice President, Store Operations and in 2006, became Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer of TJX Canada. He has most recently served as a Managing Director for TJX Europe for two years and returned to Canada earlier this year to head TJX Canada. Mr. Mizzi will report to Nan Stutz, Senior Executive Vice President, Group President.