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Home Depot to acquire another trade distributor

The Home Depot announced this morning it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire SRS Distribution Inc., a residential specialty trade distribution company serving the professional roofer, landscaper, and pool contractor. SRS has 760 branches across 47 states and a sales force of more than 2,500, together with its 4,000-plus truck fleet and jobsite delivery capabilities. The deal is valued at about $18.25 billion.

According to a release, “SRS will accelerate The Home Depot’s growth with the residential professional customer. SRS complements The Home Depot’s capabilities and will enable the company to better serve complex project purchase occasions with the renovator/remodeler, while also establishing The Home Depot as a leading specialty trade distributor across multiple verticals.”

Throwback Thursday: 22 years ago, Ace Canada signed UFA

Throwback Thursday is a regular feature in which we dip into the archives of the Hardlines Weekly Report.

More than two decades ago this week, Ace Hardware Canada made news in the pages of Hardlines for finalizing a deal with United Farmers of Alberta to supply it with hardware. The deal, which closed in March 2002, aimed at expanding UFA’s focus beyond strictly farm products. It was the result of trials in two stores that began in mid-2001 after Ace beat out other suppliers for the program.

“We refurbished and tested in two stores, and based on the test results, UFA wanted to move forward and expand their hardlines assortment,” said Dunc Wilson, at the time vice-president of merchandising and marketing for Ace Hardware Canada (shown here post-Ace).

The program was to involve all 34 of UFA’s farm supply stores throughout Alberta.

Ontario RONA affiliate expands

RONA inc. has announced that Shawn Sauve and Brandy Sauve Puccio, the siblings who own RONA Belle River in southwestern Ontario, have acquired the neighbouring RONA Tilbury and RONA Comber stores. These stores were previously owned by father-and-son team Blake and Bret Drew. Bret Drew will stay on board as manager for both stores, and their existing teams will remain unchanged.

Hardlines is at the National Hardware Show

The National Hardware Show is underway at the Las Vegas Convention Centre and Hardlines is on-site. Premium Members can look for full coverage of this flagship industry event in a forthcoming edition of the Hardlines Weekly Report. Pictured are Hardlines publisher David Chestnut and Jillian MacLeod, administration and sales assistant.

Meet our Young Retailer of the Year in our latest podcast

The latest instalment of our podcast series What’s In Store is live! In this episode, we talk to Barry Eidt, co-owner of Arthur Ace Hardware. The winner of the 2023 Outstanding Retailer Award in the Young Retailer category co-owns two other stores with his parents, who founded their first store in Mitchell, Ont., when he was just 13. Sign up now to get updates about the latest free podcasts in your inbox!

Home Hardware supports Skills Canada

Home Hardware Stores Ltd. has signed on as a presenting sponsor of the Skills Canada National Competition for 2024. Skills/Compétences Canada is a not-for-profit organization that actively promotes careers in the skilled trades and technologies to youth and their communities in Canada. The competition will take place in Quebec City on May 30 and 31.

Sign up for a free floor pass to DX3 in Toronto

Canada’s biggest retail, marketing, and technology event, DX3, is back at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on April 9 and 10. Learn how technology is transforming the retail and marketing industries. Discover how to build supply chain resiliency, leverage AI for growth, and navigate an increasingly chaotic marketing landscape. Our readers can register for a free floor pass by using coupon code HLPASS.

Canadian Tire and Petro-Can combine loyalty programs

Canadian Tire Corp. has forged a joint arrangement with Petro-Canada that ties together their loyalty programs. Through the new loyalty partnership, Canadian Tire’s Triangle Rewards members can earn Canadian Tire Money at Petro-Canada, and Petro-Points members can earn and redeem their points at Canadian Tire’s Gas+ locations.

In addition, members of each respective loyalty program continue to earn existing benefits, including savings and rewards on fuel and other purchases. Together, the points can be earned at more than 1,800 Canadian Tire Gas+ and Petro-Canada locations across the country.

BeautiTone unveils exterior colour of the year

BeautiTone, the paint business of Home Hardware Stores Ltd., has revealed its 2024 exterior colour of the year. “Pacific” is described as a “dramatic hue that draws inspiration from the deep blue sea.”

“For several years now, Canadians have embraced neutral tones on the exteriors of their homes, but with ‘Pacific’ we have entered a new, more vibrant era,” Kristen Gear, lead design and colour specialist at BeautiTone, said in a release.

Why Air Miles is still good for dealers: TIMBER MART’s Bernie Owens

Loyalty programs are playing an increasingly important role in the offerings of many home improvement retailers. One customer points program that took a hit was Air Miles Canada. Numerous retailers and service providers have dropped the program. But after being purchased by Bank of Montreal, it’s expected to regain traction.

That’s the outlook of Bernie Owens, president and CEO of TIMBER MART, the national buying group. TIMBER MART, along with Kent Building Supplies in Atlantic Canada, continues to offer Air Miles among home improvement retailers.

“I do believe there’s value for the dealers that Air Miles can deliver,” Owens says. He adds that the program is optional for his dealers.

(Full story on the direction of Air Miles with TIMBER MART appears in today’s edition of our flagship publication, Hardlines Weekly Report. Get the full story. Subscribe to HWR today!)