As Brian mentioned earlier, some of the strategies will have a significant impact to that when you think about the signature categories that in general are a very positive mix which we saw in the 4th quarter. So this is one, bear with us a little bit and we’ll provide a lot more detail about what that algorithm looks like going forward and what we think the long term potential is for profit rates.
Brian Cornell, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
As John mentioned, we’ll spend a lot more time in March talking about this but you should certainly expect us to continue to focus on the elevation and the acceleration of those signature categories which play a very important role in improving our overall gross margin mix. We’ll clearly be looking to leverage technology as an enabler to drive greater efficiency in our business as I mentioned earlier we’ll go through in great detail our focus on improving our cost management throughout the organization. Those three elements will certainly allow us to enhance the margins that you’re seeing today.
Robby Ohmes
Sounds great. Thanks so much, guys.
Brian Cornell, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Thank you.
Operator
Your next question comes from the line of Michael Lasser.
Michael Lassser
Thanks a lot for taking my question. First, on the corporate and supply side resources that were dedicated within the Target Enterprise in Canada, can you frame how expensive that was and now what will be the benefit from re-purposing and re-focusing those resources back to the domestic side and then I’ll have a follow up.
Brian Cornell, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Sure. All the resources within the US headquarters that were dedicated to Target Canada, those expenses resided within the Target Canada P&L and so we would expect those expenses to be wound down just as all the other expenses in Target Canada. There won’t be any benefit to the US business as a result of that.
Michael Lasser
Okay, but my second question is obviously you are taking swift and decisive action with your asset base in a particular region that wasn’t going achieve a suitable profit anytime soon so what does that suggest about your willingness to do something similar in the US with stores that may or may not be achieving suitable hurdle rates?
Brian Cornell, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Michael, I think you know that evaluate our store base on an ongoing basis. We did announce actually earlier towards the end of 2014 the closure of several stores and we’ll continue to make sure that we evaluate our asset base on a regular basis and as with most good retailers, we’ll make some adjustments to our store base and you’ll see us open new stores and look at select closures.
Michael Lasser
Okay, so Brian do you think that’s a big opportunity or is it more just pruning the portfolio over time?
Brian Cornell, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
I think it’s very surgical, very selective. As you saw this last period, nine, ten, eleven stores were closed; a relatively small number and I would expect those surgical changes to continue going forward but no significant opportunity.
Michael Lasser
Thank you very much.
Brian Cornell, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Thank you.
Operator
Your next question comes from the line of Chris Horvers.
Chris Horvers
Thanks. Good morning. So, on the buy back, I guess what needs to happen for you to restart the buy back? Is it just having clarity on any curve balls coming out of Canada? Is it getting through 4th quarter in peak working capital time?
Brian Cornell, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Less so about peak working capital, you know, that’s not an issue for us. It is more about just getting, you know, we have a plan in Canada. We certainly shared that with the agencies, had those discussions. We feel good about the plan we have in place, the exposure for the corporation is certainly very, very manageable from our perspective and as I said the reduction in debt and the increase in EBITDA for the corporation, improve our metrics.
