Weyerhaeuser Co. reported Q2 profits of US$173 million, or $0.24 cents per share, down from $230 million ($0.31) a year earlier and on par with analyst estimates of $0.25 per share. Revenues of $1.94 billion were down by 3.0 percent and just shy of an estimated $1.97 billion. The Seattle-based lumber firm also announced that during the quarter it acquired 84,300 acres of timberland in Alabama for $244 million.

This year’s Hardlines Conference will once again feature the broadest lineup of speakers in the industry. They include Alexandre Lefebvre, CEO of BMR Group. A seasoned manager known for his passion, leadership, and commitment to the community, he was honoured as one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2017.

Jason Tasse is the president and COO of Lee Valley Tools, a family-owned Canadian business that has been serving the needs of woodworkers and gardeners since 1978. It has been recognized as one of Canada’s best-managed firms, top-ranking for in-store experience, and a leader in job creation for both manufacturing and retail.

The 28th Hardlines Conference, taking place Oct. 22 and 23 at Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu in Quebec’s Charlevoix region, will feature simultaneous translation in English and French. Our Premium Members (everyone who receives the Hardlines Weekly Report on Monday mornings) can take advantage of priority access and a 20 percent discount on registration—just one more reason to sign up for your membership if you haven’t already!

Canfor Corp. revealed this week that CEO and president Don Kayne will step down at year’s end. Susan Yurkovich, currently SVP of global business development, has been named as his successor, effective Jan. 1, 2025. Kayne will stay with the company through the end of next year in an advisory role. Yurkovich is a past president and CEO of the B.C. Council of Forest Industries.

West Fraser Timber Co. has reported Q2 earnings of US$105 million, compared to a $131 million loss in the comparable period of last year. Sales rose to $1.7 billion from $1.6 billion a year ago. According to CEO and president Sean McLaren, strong activity in new home construction tempered ongoing softness in demand for lumber in North America.

U.S. farm and hardware retailer Tractor Supply Co. reported a 1.5 percent increase in net sales for the second quarter of 2024 to US$4.25 billion. The increase was driven by new store openings, and partially offset by a 1.5 percent decline in comparable store sales. Gross profit increased 2.7 percent to US$1.56 billion.

Loblaw Cos. Ltd. reported second-quarter results that included a 1.5 percent increase in revenue to $13.95 billion. Operating income fell by 6.4 percent to $868 million. The company said Q2 results “reflected strong operational performance and the impact of the settlement of the bread price-fixing class actions commenced in 2017, which negatively impacted net earnings by $121 million.” E-commerce sales increased by 14.2 percent.

Mayall in 1964

Trailblazing blues rock musician John Mayall died this week at the age of 90. The “godfather of the British blues” picked up the music bug from his father, a guitarist and jazz fan. His eccentricities (from his teen years until his first marriage, he lived in a tree house he built in his grandparents’ back yard) belied his shrewd business sense. He was known to stand outside venues before performances and count the lineups, to ensure he wasn’t shortchanged from ticket sales.

In the 1960s, he fronted the band John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, helping to propel the careers of Eric Clapton and John McVie. He continued to perform to the end of his life and published an autobiography in 2019. By the 1970s, he was living full-time in the U.S. A 1979 brush fire destroyed his Los Angeles home, including his diaries of the previous 25 years and several Tudor-era antiques.

Mayall was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2005 on the occasion of Queen Elizabeth II’s 79th birthday. Earlier this year, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Universal Product Code barcodes have been in use for 50 years this summer, an op-ed by Retail Insider notes. The first one was scanned at a supermarket in Troy, Ohio, on June 26, 1974. Within weeks, they had spread to Canada, where a Steinberg grocery store in Dorval, Que., rolled them out in July.

“The success of the UPC barcode owes much to the GS1 standards, set by a relatively unknown non-profit organization, which have been instrumental in enhancing the reliability of supply chains worldwide,” writes agriculture professor Sylvain Charlebois.

RONA inc. is seeking District Manager, Dealer (Atlantic). This individual is experienced in retail management and business development and passionate about building relationships and driving growth. For details, check out our Hardlines Classifieds page!

RONA inc. has announced that its affiliate dealer, Doidge Building Centres Ltd., has acquired two stores in the Ottawa. region Located in Carp and Woodlawn, rural villages within the city’s limits, the stores will be converted to RONA’s colours.

It’s the first foray into the National Capital Region for Doidge’s network of RONA stores. Former owner James Roy (pictured right) will stay on as a shareholder partner in the business. Andrew Doidge (left), CEO and president of Doidge Building Centres, said in a release, “James built such an incredible business and is well-respected among his community. We are very lucky to continue to build this business together.”