SPECIAL REPORT — Dealers around the country are facing conditions that change daily amidst the realities of the COVID-19 crisis. Yet, despite the challenges, owners and managers still find ways to support customers, staff and their communities in imaginative ways.
Home Hardware dealer-owners are stepping up for their communities. In Lacombe, Alta., Nowco Home Hardware raised donations for the local food bank through a contest which it promoted through a humorous online video.
Shoppers were invited to bring a food donation to the store and enter a draw for a free case of toilet paper. In the end, the store was able to hand over a shopping cart full of donations to the food bank—along with the toilet paper, which both winners chose to donate. “We came up with a way to give back and make people laugh at the same time,” dealer-owner Tyler Nowochin told the Red Deer Advocate.
In Ontario’s Muskoka country, Gravenhurst Home Hardware joined forces with a local coffee shop to prepare care packages of leftover food to older and low-income residents of the town. The store’s team bagged the items, keeping a suitable distance from each other, at an empty former store location.
In British Columbia, Ashcroft Home Hardware is waiving delivery fees for local residents, as well as offering curbside delivery and a streamlined online shopping experience.
Several banners have announced special measures to help protect against the spread of infection. Home Depot Canada and Lowe’s Canada are both paying premiums on wages to workers during the COVID-19 crisis, following similar moves by Canadian Tire and Giant Tiger. Home Depot stores have also been outfitted with plexiglass shields to protect staff and customers, a measure which Kent Building Supplies has taken as well.
One dealer keeps on trucking
At E&J Millworks, a Castle dealer in Yarmouth, N.S., Ivan Cottreau had a close call with an extra delivery vehicle he had just acquired when the outbreak began. “Our business has been growing a lot over the last few years,” he says, explaining his decision to purchase a third truck. “We added a retail store that we never had before.”
With news of the outbreak, Cottreau began to feel buyer’s remorse. “I thought, well, that was a bad idea,” he says. Instead he’s seen a surge in deliveries since stay-home advisories have made DIY projects more attractive to homeowners. “They’re anticipating being stuck at home during the summer. Everybody’s calling for deliveries. We’re booked up for a week.”
Cottreau doesn’t expect the trend to last but he’s doing a brisk business for the time being. “Once everyone has their stuff, I expect a big drop. Right now, it’s very hard to manage.”
NOTE: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that E & J Millworks was a TIMBER MART dealer. In fact, the store is a Castle dealer and has been for three years. We apologize for the confusion. As we work to cover the changes in this industry, we thank you all for keeping us updated as we try to manage this crisis together.
