With the announcement this week that HBC would split its physical store operations from its e-commerce side — following the lead of sister company Saks Fifth Avenue — the parent company continues to focus on maximizing the value of its stock price while minimizing the effectiveness of its retailing business. The Hudson’s Bay split will play along the same lines as what the company did with Saks: separate corporate entities but at least theoretically continued coordination of the two sides of the business when it comes to merchandising and customer service. Besides the SFA split and now The Bay move it is also doing the same deal with its off-price Saks Off Fifth brand. The company also announced it will set up WeWork stations inside former Lord & Taylor store locations as a way to utilize that now-empty space.